Trail: thinking too small

Photo: Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative

Are regional politicians thinking too small when it comes to the Okanagan Rail Trail?

Okanagan Valley communities should be thinking big when it comes to the Okanagan Rail Trail and tourism but they're not, according a Vernon city councillor.

“Right now we're looking at it piecemeal,” said Coun. Catherine Lord, pointing to the lack of coordination between communities following the $22 million purchase of the 48-kilometre line between Kelowna and Coldstream.

In April, Lake Country farmer Alan Gatzke urged communities to name and trademark the trail before it officially opens.

However, the one meeting organized to discuss such an endeavour was not attended by the mayors of Kelowna and Vernon or a member of the Okanagan Indian Band – all of whom were busy with other matters. 

“I think (Gatzke's) plan was really, really good,” said Lord. “Nobody was ready for it yet but they should have been thinking about this for the last year now and I think that's the direction we need to go.”

The councillor said the interjurisdictional team that has been responsible for getting public feedback and advising on the trail “has not been forthcoming with that much information so there've been a lot of times when the politicians themselves have said 'how come we didn't know about this?' So the decisions are being made at the wrong level.”

Lord called the trail a huge boon for the region.

“Look at the Kettle Valley, this could be twice as good if we pull it together.”

Lord is also frustrated with planning for the trail in the North Okanagan.

She expressed her concern during a meeting of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee on Thursday that got bogged down in a discussion about toilets for the trail.

“This started as a visioning session,” Lord said during the meeting, urging participants to move forward in a logical way.

“They're thinking way too small,” Lord said following the session. “This whole community has really come on board for this because they envision it as a world tour thing, right?"

Lord said she would have liked to have seen an advisory committee formed involving members of staff, politicians from the City of Vernon and the District of Coldstream and representatives from groups who use the trail, including Ribbons of Green and the Naturalists Club.

“That's not happening. (GVAC) itself is making all of those decisions and I don't think they're equipped to do it, I really don't."