Trails BC

Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, we honour Survivors of the residential school system, the children who never returned home, and their families and communities.

The Trans Canada Trail is situated on the traditional territories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. We recognize that reconciliation requires more than reflection on one day. It requires listening, learning, accountability and sustained action.

Our commitment extends beyond September 30 through the work of our Indigenous Advisory Committee, our support for Indigenous-led Trail projects and our work with Trail partners to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities.

Today, we encourage everyone to continue learning about the truth and lasting impacts of residential schools and about the Indigenous Peoples whose lands and waters we live, work and travel on.

Every Child Matters. Today and every day.

Just think if some of them had a safe, comfortable and accessible rails to trails all over BC. Some are designated but the long distance ones of the Trans Canada Trail are open to motorized ORVs and cars and trucks. People love to ride bicycle, roll and walk on non-motorized rail trails.

Tourism is BC’s Economic Superpower, and its impact can be seen in communities, businesses and households across the province.

It is a story of 163,000 direct jobs, more than 17,000 businesses and $23 billion in annual revenue. It is also a story of wages, exports, tax revenue, Indigenous entrepreneurship and opportunity in communities across the province.
The numbers are impressive, but the real impact is found in what those numbers make possible.

Tourism helps small businesses grow, gives people meaningful work, supports families, strengthens rural communities and contributes to the public services we all use.

It introduces visitors to the places, people and cultures that make British Columbia unlike anywhere else in the world.

TIABC is the voice of tourism in BC, and we will continue speaking up for the people, businesses, investment and policies needed to keep the sector strong.

Put it all together and the message is clear: Tourism is BC’s Economic Superpower.

Share the final post in the series, tag someone who strengthens BC tourism and help keep this important conversation moving.

Be there and walk bike and roll to the active transportation summit.

We'll be there sharing our perspective on the need for designation of some of the BC Rail Trails in this province

Non-motorized greenways will bring huge health and fitness dividends for communities too, we'll have to dive into the data to see if that is quantified with this work. Recreation that doesn't produce greenhouse gases contributes to less warming of the atmosphere. Society is very slowly finding out what the disaster costs of burning fossil fuels are.

Trans Canada Trail

🌲 $6.6 billion in real GDP. About 86,000 jobs.

That’s B.C.’s outdoor recreation economy in 2024, putting it on the same economic scale as major industries such as tourism, oil and gas extraction, and mining.

The findings come from B.C.’s new Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, developed by BC Stats with support from the Ministry of Environment and Parks and the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth.

The account also found approximately $4.4 billion in labour income and nearly $3 billion in federal, provincial and municipal tax revenues.

For the first time, B.C. can measure the outdoor recreation economy as a whole and track how it changes year over year.

For ORCBC, this gives communities, organizations, businesses and governments much stronger data to inform decisions about access, infrastructure and investment.

We’ve pulled together the key findings, links to the full data and a short FAQ.

Read all about it here: https://www.orcbc.ca/blog/outdoor-recreation-satellite-account

Meet Kelly Pearce.

If you’ve lived or recreated in Hope within the last 20 years, you’ve probably heard of him. And if you haven't, this is one heck of an introduction!

Get ready to ride through history! 🚴‍♂️✨

Join Kelly, our local historian, as he brings the past to life with stories and photos from the Kettle Valley Railway's (KVR) heyday.

Hope Mountain Centre invites you to an unforgettable autumn adventure as we celebrate the 110th anniversary of the KVR with a guided 25 km point-to-point bike tour along the historic Coquihalla! 🌲🍂

(Don't let the 25 km distance intimidate you—it’s mostly downhill! 🙌)

What to Expect:
Epic Views: Ride along the original railbed to see collapsed tunnels, massive trestle bridge ruins, and historic avalanche sheds.

Fully Supported Ride: On-hand bike mechanic support and a shuttle bus at the end to transport you and your bike back to your vehicle! 🚌

Stunning Autumn Scenery: Enjoy the crisp mountain air and beautiful fall colors surrounding the Coquihalla River.

🗓️ Event Details:
📅 When: Saturday, October 3 | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
📍 Where: Departs from Hope. We will caravan up to start our ride at the Coquihalla Lakes Rest Area and ride down to Portia Station.
🚴 Distance: ~25 km (Moderate, mostly downhill gravel/trail riding)
🎟️ Tickets: $225 (Includes shuttle service, guide, bike mechanic support, and emergency backup)

Spots are limited, and registration fills up fast!
Grab your helmet, pack a lunch, and come ride with us!

https://www.hopemountain.org/event-details-registration/kettle-valley-railway-bike-ride-2

Great opportunity with the Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning to learn history about the KVR. This is an important section of the Trans Canada Trail.

Get ready to ride through history! 🚴‍♂️✨

Join Hope Mountain Centre for an unforgettable autumn adventure as we celebrate the 110th anniversary of the Kettle Valley Railway with a guided 25 km point-to-point bike tour along the historic Coquihalla! 🌲🍂

If 25km seems daunting, note that it’s mostly downhill! 🙌

What to Expect:
Epic Views: Ride along the original rail bed where we’ll see collapsed tunnels, massive trestle bridge ruins, and historic avalanche sheds.

Fascinating Stories: Local historian Kelly Pearce will bring the past to life with stories and photos from the KVR’s heyday.

Supported Ride: Bike mechanic support on hand and a shuttle bus at the end to take drivers back to their vehicles! 🚌

Stunning Autumn Scenery: Enjoy the crisp mountain air and beautiful views surrounding the Coquihalla River.

🗓️ Event Details:
📅 When: Saturday, October 3 | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
📍 Where: Starts in Hope, where we’ll caravan up to start our ride from the Coquihalla Lakes Rest Area down to Portia Station.

🚴 Distance: ~25 km (Moderate, mostly downhill gravel/trail riding)

🎟️ Tickets: $225 (Includes shuttle service, guide, bike mechanic support & emergency backup)

Spots are limited, and registration fills up fast!

Grab your helmet, bring your lunch, and come ride with us!

https://www.hopemountain.org/event-details-registration/kettle-valley-railway-bike-ride-2