Rail trail gets cash infusion
Officials hope $500,000 upgrade, including addition of wifi, will attract more visitors to the area
The KVR is stunning, and seeing it firsthand, being able to witness the rebuild of the 12 trestles that burned was truly inspiring.
Minister of tourism, arts and culture Lisa Beare
The Kettle Valley Rail Trail will be getting a $500,000 upgrade, which officials are hoping will attract more visitors to the area. The money, awarded as part of the provincial government’s rural dividend program, will be used to implement phase one of the Thompson Okanagan Regional Destination Trail Project, which will include consulting with local First Nations people, heritage organizations and ecological experts, as well as bringing the Myra Canyon trail to the digital age.
“We’re putting it towards digital marketing, developing our wayfinding signage along the trail, developing digital platforms along the trail, wifi so you can actually get your cellphone to work even in remote areas,” said Glenn Mandziuk, CEO for Thompson Okanagan Tourism.
Mandziuk said he expects changes, including the wifi, to be in place by next summer.
Lisa Beare, minister of tourism, arts and culture was in Kelowna Friday to announce the funding.
“The KVR is stunning, and seeing it firsthand, being able to witness the rebuild of the 12 trestles that burned was truly inspiring,” she said.
“This is an excellent opportunity to not only provide a beautiful place for our locals to spend their time as they already do and increase the capacity for that, but by investing in the Kettle Valley trail, we put this region on the map to be a world destination for visitors. Having such an iconic, historic trail will bring worldwide visitors to your doorstep.”
The $500,000 is part of the $1.8 million being invested in this region and the $10.1 million across the province through the rural dividend program.
“It’s all focused on creating increased (economic) opportunities in the region,” said Beare.