In This Issue

Membership news

CRGA Memberships are on the climb due in part to a tremendous show of support and the very successful Barn Dance held at the K2 Ranch in May. Accolades to Barb and Bob Shaunessy who hosted this well-attended and fun evening on their ranch. The CRGA now boasts over 100 members, and welcomes new members and partners at any time!

Tax Receipts

Remember, contributions to the CRGA are tax deductable, and membership entitles you to discounts and perks with local supporting businesses.

Watch for your tax receipt, membership card and more information on discounts and affiliations early in 2010!

Membership Extension

If you provided your membership contribution to the CRGA during 2009, your membership will be valid through to January 2011. It's our way of showing appreciation for your enthusiasm, and your patience as we get receipts and membership cards out. Thank you!

Greenways brings in Winter 2010
Wishing the best of the new year to all our members

Winning awards for Radium signage

Interpretation Canada has awarded their silver medal for interpretive excellence to the Columbia River Greenways Alliance (CRGA) for the Sinclair Creek Trail's A Stream Through Time educational signs in the village of Radium.

Ice-in winner gives back

CRGA sponsored the Ice-In contest which ran this fall as a fundraiser to assist the Lake Windermere Whiteway initiative. The contest was a raffle, where each ticket allowed the purchaser to predict the time at which the lake would reach 0ºC or colder for 1 hour.

A temperature data sensor was installed in the water at Kinsmen Beach, and the temperature was taken with a remote radio transceiver.

There were several days where the lake temperature was very close to 0ºC, but then it warmed up. On the night of November 29, a strong wind blew the very thin ice from parts of the lake into Kinsmen bay and forced the protruding temperature sensor into the water. Then during the next night the lake froze with the sensor under the ice. The exact time when the lake 0ºC couldn't be determined for an hour, because the data could no longer be transmitted. It was certain the lake froze the night of November 30 - whether it was late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, we couldn't be sure. So every individual with a guess in the possible time period was entered into a random draw. The winner - Sherry Doerr - was presented with a cheque for $1500 for her 2 am supposition.

When Greenways board members Sue Crowley, Ross MacDonald and Taoya Schaefer gave Sherry her prize money, Sherry handed it straight back!

The raffle sold 234 tickets at $5 each. It is only with Sherry's tremendous generosity that Greenways could raise money for the Whiteway. Thank you Sherry, and all the folks who purchased a ticket and provided their prediction in support of this initiative!

Trailwork: Forging a network of open natural places

Dry Gulch to Radium complete

Trail work this fall has extended the Old Coach Trail from Dry Gulch fully into the Village of Radium Hot Springs. Work continues on the Old Coach Trail educational material with design of the Kiosk signs now completed and the text for the brochure in its third draft.

New Trail opens in Canal Flats

The Source of the Columbia Trail in Canal Flats has been officially opened. Interpretative signs have been designed and will be fabricated and installed for Spring.

Golden Trail Connections

Columbia River Greenways Alliance has been digging up its Golden Heritage Trail connections through Irv Graham, and cooperative efforts with the Golden Museum Historical Society and the Columbia Shuswap Area A Parks commission.

The Columbia River Lumber Co. had one of the largest mills of its type in BC a century ago, located on the river at Golden. From the riverbank in Nicholson, a logging railway climbed across the West Bench to Donald, with over 50 km of tracks that sustained the mill and community until the devastating West Bench fire in 1926. The vision to discover, survey and build trails to follow the old railbed has great potential to link up to the Canal Flats to Donald trail corridor - which is part of the CRGA's long-term master plan.

Thanks to the Golden Cycle Clubs Moonraker Trail System, and Dawn Mountain Nordic Trails Society, the railbed trails are already there to enjoy and experience. CRGA and its Golden partners are excited to begin planning, surveying and developing the missing links along the Golden Heritage Rail Trail concept. Please support this project! Become a Golden CRGA member and discover more about this heritage trail project by contacting Irv or the Golden Museum.