The organization called Trails of the Okanagans is looking to establish an integrated and co-ordinated system of cycling trails that would stretch from Osoyoos through the South Okanagan and north across the Okanagan Valley. The organization is holding an information session in Penticton on Saturday, April 26 and everyone who is interested is welcome to attend.
Can you imagine being able to cycle from the Town of Osoyoos all the way to the north end of the Okanagan Valley on a series of co-ordinated, integrated and safe system of pathways and trails?
That’s the ultimate goal of the newly-organized Trail of the Okanagans, said steering committee chair Connie Denesiuk.
While there are numerous individual communities involved in building, organizing and developing cycling trails within their own geographical boundaries, there hasn’t been a co-ordinated effort to build the trial system across the entire South Okanagan and Okanagan Valley, said Denesiuk.
The Trail of the Okanagans steering committee believes the vision to build an integrated and co-ordinated system across the entire region is not only desirable, but a vision with the potential for massive economic development opportunities, said Denesiuk.
“The potential for this is huge and there are a large group of people who believe in this vision,” she said. “Everyone that you talk to believes that this is a great idea, but it’s a huge job to get this all co-ordinated and to get all of the individual communities across the region committed to making this happen.”
Biking a pathway throughout the entire South Okanagan, with its stunning views, is closer to reality thanks to the efforts of this grassroots community group and its bold vision to develop a trail connecting Osoyoos to Penticton, Summerland and further north, said Denesiuk.
The Trail of the Okanagans’ steering committee is inviting tourism operators, other business owners, winery owners, cyclists, walkers, runners and all interested citizens to discover the growing excitement about a proposed multi-use pathway at an information session set for Saturday, April 26.
The free session will be held at the Days Inn Conference Centre, located at 152 Riverside Drive in Penticton, from 1-3 p.m., with a formal presentation set to begin at 1:30 p.m.
Speakers will include Ian Lobb, a cycling tour director who was instrumental in developing the Waterfront Trail in Ontario, which features more than 700 kilometres of pathways linking 68 communities around Lake Ontario.
Lobb brings experience working with regional governments on building and developing cycling pathways around the world, said Denesiuk.
Penticton city councillor and cycling enthusiast Andrew Jakubeit, who has pioneered the concept of making the South Okanagan a leading cycling destination, will also speak at the meeting.
The final speaker will be Mark Woods, community services manager with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), who led the development of the 2012 regional trails master plan.
The reality is cycling tours are overtaking golf as both an activity of choice for all ages and major tourist attraction for destination travel, said Denesiuk.
“This means economic benefits, jobs and sustainable growth for the communities that recognize its potential,” she said.
Colleen Pennington, an economic development officer with the City of Penticton, agrees.
“Bike tourism represents a huge economic opportunity for the South Okanagan,” she said. “We already benefit from great bike events and tours, however, this is only the tip of the iceberg given the potential growth from showcasing the unparalled terrain of the region.”
There are many places in Europe where cyclists can travel for hundreds of kilometres of groomed, scenic trails and travellers from around the world are planning vacations to take advantage of this, she said.
There are similar extended trail systems in Oregon and in Whistler, B.C., she said.
“We live in one of the most beautiful areas in this country or anywhere in the world for that matter and we believe being able to connect all of our communities through an integrated and co-ordinated system of cycling trail systems would provide massive economic development opportunities, said Denesiuk.
“Great work has been done by many communities across the South Okanagan, but what we need now is for all of the communities to work together to bring something that would provide great economic development opportunities to our region and bring in cyclists from across Canada and around the world.”
Community meetings in several cities and towns, including Osoyoos, which could benefit from the development of an integrated system of trails across the region, will follow the upcoming meeting in Penticton she said.
Anyone wanting more information about the Trail of the Okanagans, can contact Denesiuk at 250-494-8631.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
