Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail construction underway
Development work on the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail has started for the 2024 season. Following the development of a hugely...
The Shuswap, Secwépemc Nation Territory, British Columbia – The Shuswap Trail Alliance (STA) would like to extend sincere thanks to the community for their generous support of the STA’s 2022 fundraiser! “The community support continues to blow us away”, said Jen Bellhouse, the Executive Director. “We weren’t sure how an online auction would go for a second year, but not only did we do well, supporters showed up in a huge way and we raised more than any other year.” Through the generous support of businesses and individuals alike, the Shuswap Trail Alliance raised nearly $61,000, which will be used towards the ambitious trail projects throughout the Shuswap area!
This successful event would not have happened without the community, and of course the team of extraordinary volunteers: Sylvia McMahan and Diane Little worked tirelessly to get the auction set up, along with the help of Joan Mitchell who ran around picking up items for the auction; the auction site proof reading team Barb McKinnon and Cindy Sholinder.
This year the winner of the $1,942.50 50/50 prize was Amy Guest! Alana Rooney won the WestJet Gift of Flight raffle, which was a new addition for 2022.
Top tier platinum sponsors for this year's event included contributions of $1,000 or more from Kintec Footwear & Orthotics, Center Point Automotive, Jacobson Ford, Canoe Forest Products, Isabel Reinertson & Phil Wright, Home Building Centre, Backroad Mapbooks, Lawson Engineering Ltd., Proair Heating & Cooling, DeMille's Farm Market, Bounce Radio - Bell Media , Ian Gray's Salmon Arm GM, K3 Cat Ski, Barb McKinnon & Reg Walters, Shuswap Coffee Company, Ironman Directional Drilling, Edge Craft Construction Inc, Royal LePage Access Real Estate, The Kuzek Family, Cindy Derkaz - Royal LePage, Shuswap Orthodontics, Tina Cosman - Royal LePage, Sutherland's Bakery, Dave Peel, WestJet, Sorrento Centre, BDO Canada, Joop Langelaar, Jeff & Diane Rushton. They joined 106 other community sponsors to support the event and help put in place the critical funding.
Upcoming projects for 2022 include supporting the Sicamous-to-Armstrong Rail Trail, West Bay Connector and Secwepemc Landmarks and Trailhead Sign projects. Along with East Shuswap Alpine Trail improvements, CSRD Parks, Rec Sites and Trails, BC Parks, Salmon Arm Greenways, South Canoe Greenspace, Ida View Trail, Chase trail planning, North Shuswap plans, and the regional Trails Roundtable.
The February fundraiser lays the foundation that allows the Shuswap Trail Alliance to work with regional partners throughout the year. The funds are leveraged with matching grants, donations, in-kind contributions, dedicated community project budgets, and an extraordinary contribution of volunteer time to grow local greenway trails throughout the region.
“Again, we want to express our appreciation to our sponsors, volunteers, and bidders. You have secured funds for the trails we love for another year! Stay tuned for some major trail improvements in the East Shuswap this season and the completion of the East Canoe Creek bridge”, said Jen Bellhouse.
The STA would like to encourage you to visit the auction sponsor’s stores and use their services – without them the fundraiser would not have been possible.
In total, the event raised $61,000 to support Shuswap Trail projects throughout the region in 2022. For more on the work of the Shuswap Trail Alliance and Shuswap Trails visit www.shuswaptrails.com.
For more information on this release, contact:
Jen Bellhouse, Executive Director, The Shuswap Trail Alliance
250-804-3530
