Party raises trail money

Photo: Contributed

Salmon Arm Councillors Kevin Flynn and Tim Lavery sport fetching Canada 150-themed red and white at this year's Shuswap Trails Party and Fundraiser.

They partied the night away and raised a lot of money doing it.

The Shuswap Trail Alliance's annual bash raised $37,000 which will be used to create and maintain trails in the Shuswap area.

In its 12th year, the alliance acts as the meeting point for regional partners to work together to design, sign, maintain and promote greenway trails.

The fundraiser is supported by hundreds of individuals and businesses throughout the Shuswap and this year had a Canada 150 theme in honour of the nation's 150th birthday.

In 2016, the alliance worked on 70 projects with more than 75 partners, building 10 new trails totalling 8,200 meters. Another 1,200 meters were repaired, 184,000 meters maintained, two new boardwalks, 10 bridges, three sets of stairs built, 383 new trail signs installed and 21 trail plans developed.

"We saw 70 volunteer trail event days with over 340 volunteer stewards out," said Reg Walters, alliance board chairperson. “And 2017 is looking just as promising, with new trail plans in the works, improved trail management targeted for our Alpine areas, and a sub-committee underway through the trails roundtable to update our trail sign standards including Secwepemc leadership developing naming protocols. Plus buzz is growing about major legacy trail projects including the Sicamous-to-Armstrong Rail-Trail and the West Bay Trail projects.”