"I’m just excited that this is finally happening."
This was part of Coun. Debbie Cannon's response to the awarding of a contract for the West Bay Connector Trail, a proposed safe pedestrian connection between Salmon Arm and neighbouring Neskonlith and Adams Lake bands.
"I know this has been a lot of work for our engineering department and I just want to thank him for all he’s done and look forward to this project finally moving baby steps ahead," continued Cannon at the Aug. 12 council meeting, where ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd. was awarded the preliminary design work. ISL's bid, $280,908 plus taxes, was one of six received by the city through a request for proposals process.
"While there are many trails and connections throughout our communities, there currently is no direct connection for pedestrian/cyclist travel from the City downtown core to the north-western edge of the community," reads a city staff report. "The only available corridors for use are the shoulder of the Trans-Canada Highway, or along the edge of the CPKC Rail corridor. Neither one of these options are considered safe for frequent use by individuals or groups."
Along with supporting the award going to ISL, council also voted unanimously in support of a budget amendment to reflect additional funding of $190,000 for the first phase of the project, with $10,000 from the Adams Lake band; $30,000, for a total of $50,000, from the Municipal & Regional District Tax program; and $150,000 in federal active transportation grant money received by the Adams Lake band for an environmental assessment and compensation plan, a traditional use and archaeological assessment and a site survey, terrain mapping engineering design, alignment and costing.
The city has another $125,000 allocated in its 2024 budget for the project.
Engineering and public works director Rob Niewenhuizen noted the bands asked that the city manage the project, which council agreed to.
"This is communities and individuals working together to make this happen," commented Coun. Tim Lavery. "I am so proud of what the community has done."
In January 2020, the city signed a memorandum of understanding with the Neskonlith and Adams Lake bands for the trail’s creation. The city and bands are partners in the West Bay Trail Working Group, which includes the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, Interior Health, CP Rail, the MLA, the MP, Province of BC, Switzmalph Cultural Society and the Shuswap Trail Alliance. At that time, more than 40 people had died along the railway tracks between Salmon Arm and lands to the west.
A Jan. 13, 2020, media release from the Shuswap Trail Alliance (STA) noted the signing was of particular significance to then Neskonlith Band Coun. Louis Thomas, who had been advocating for the connector trail for the past 40 years
“To me, it’s about all the lives that were lost there…,” said Thomas. ” I see other benefits that come with it; originally it was about safety of people, and now I want people to enjoy what the delta has to offer, the loons, otters and ducks.”
Mayor Alan Harrison referred to the preliminary design work as a "big step" towards a dream.
"It’s been a dream of certainly our Indigenous neighbours and Louis Thomas and his family to have the West Bay Connector connect Peter Jannink Park to the Mary Thomas Neskonlith Cultural Centre around the bay," said Harrison. "And this is a giant step along the way."
Harrison noted past city councils (present and past) have been moving towards this dream for the past 15 years. He recognized Niewenhuizen and the trust the bands have in him to manage the project, adding "I know they lean on him as we do."
Before council's vote, Harrison reflected on his hope to one day walk the trail with Louis Thomas.
"Louis Thomas and I were joking the other day that we hope in the next number of years to walk along that trail together and I think we will."
