Big gift for rail trail

Okanagan Rail Trail organizers had not yet finished celebrating some big cash grants from the province when local philanthropist George Galbraith stepped in to offer more cash.

As he stood on the Kekuli Bay section of the trail in the sunshine on Monday, Galbraith announced a $150,000 donation toward building the 48.5 km line – in honour of his parents and grandparents, pioneer families who settled in the Vernon area.

“Both sets of my grandparents, John and Frances Galbraith and Harold and Effie Ewer were pioneers in the Okanagan in the early 1900s,” said Galbraith, who was born and raised in Vernon. “My parents, Harold and Lillian Galbraith, similarly worked in the Okanagan and contributed greatly to the community.”

Galbraith also offered another $150,000 in matching donations, effective now until June 30th, the day before Canada Day.

“I want to see the trail developed so that it is safe and enduring, and finished soon so I can enjoy biking the trail with my grandchildren.”

The first donation arrived just moments later when Galbraith's four-year-old grandson, Oscar, marched up to donate a toonie he had saved for the occasion.

”March was a really good month,” said Leanne Hammond, executive director of Community Foundation of the Okanagan, which handles the donations. “Between government grants and donor money, over $2 million came in in March alone. We are now well over the $4 million mark so we are over the halfway point.”

Work on the design and safety issues, including installation of barriers and rock scaling, will take place this year.

"Design work and environmental, it's scheduled to happen and some of it is already underway, with some archeological work and surveying," said Brad Clement, trail ambassador.

There will also be some bylaw presence, said Bob Fleming, Electoral Area B representative.

"Everybody anticipated it would be well used and it has been," said Fleming, as he stood among the cyclists and hikers who attended the announcement. "I think what we are seeing is a lot of local use all over the area.

"But I think as you move into the summer, despite the fact it's going to be in construction to some extent, there will be a lot of visitors interested as well so it's going to be a challenge to manage that and I hope we're going to be able to do that."