Owners, dignitaries and members of the public came together in Enderby Friday, May 10, to mark the official opening of the first two kilometres of the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail.
Enderby’s Belvidere Park was the scene of the grand opening of the pilot section of the trail, and while the rail trail owners and politicians took time to celebrate the progress made on the trail, a number of farmers showed up with tractors and signs, quietly advocating for easements to be provided in stretches of agricultural land which the rail trail will one day run through.
Splatsin, the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) are the owners of the railway corridor. The proposed rail trail will span 51 kilometres from Sicamous to Armstrong, and Friday’s grand opening saw a buzz of excitement about the project’s future.
Splatsin Kukpi7 (Chief) Michael Christian said the First Nation has played a significant role in getting the project to its current stage, adding its goals for the project are to protect environmental, agricultural and cultural values.
Christian added the rail trail will create tourism opportunities and improve community health.
“When we get to the end of this project and the trail is complete, you’re going to be able to bike from Armstrong to Sicamous,” Christian said. “Splatsin leadership is in full support of this project and we are excited to see it reach a successful conclusion.”
Christian mentioned Splatsin was awarded a $12.5 million Infrastructure Canada Active Transportation grant to develop 42.6 kilometres of the trail.
“As soon as we receive this grant, construction of the remaining portions of the rail trail will commence,” he said.
“I hope to be part of another opening ceremony, one to celebrate the conclusion of the project.”
Phil McIntyre-Paul, with the Shuswap Trail Alliance, read statements on behalf of Sean Fraser, minister of housing, infrastructure and communities; Lana Popham, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport; and Anne Kang, minister of municipal affairs.
“The completion of the Enderby-Splatsin section brings us one step closer to the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail becoming a reality,” read Fraser’s statement. “Once completed, it will preserve local ecosystems while providing more active transportation options for communities within Secwepemc territory.”
Kevin Flynn, chair of the CSRD, said work on the rail trail has involved an “unprecedented collaboration, possibly in the whole country.”
Flynn said he’s already made use of the “test strip” of the trail many times.
Throughout the event, a number of farmers stood on the sidelines quietly holding signs that read ‘No Rail Trail without Easements of Necessity to Farmers’ Land: Farms Come First.’ The farmers own agricultural land that connects to the railway corridor and are concerned about the potential loss of access to their properties if easements are not granted.
Flynn told The Morning Star that the rail trail owners are open to having discussions with the farmers, but said they don’t want to hamper the decisions of future politicians with permanent easements.
“We feel the crossing permits make it very easy to continue agriculture and have no negative impact, or very little,” Flynn said. “I personally, as a chair of the regional district right now, do not want to encumber future boards with permanent easements on property that 150,000 people technically own.”
At the end of the grand opening, attendees were invited to take a ceremonial stroll along the stretch of trail that has been completed.
