Rainbow Rodge Trails
Community

Summer fundraiser launch to improve walking and bicycling trails

CKTZ News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Cortes Community Housing Society (CHS) is launching a summer fundraiser to expand and improve the trail system in the south end of Cortes Island.

Man walking on log – Photo by John Flobrant on UnSplash

Executive Director Sandra Wood explained the fundraiser’s goal is $80,000, which will be used for:

  • Planning the trail route
  • Clearing undergrowth
  • Creating level pathways
  • Installing culverts
  • Creating signage
  • Tree limbing and maintenance
  • Firewood production
  • Building park benches

CHS places an emphasis on generating local economic development and hopes to hire local tradespeople and craftspeople, and use primarily lumber from Community Forest and on-island mills.

The trail improvements will include

  • An east-west segment from Manson’s Hall to the Health Centre
  • A bypass of part of the Rainbow Ridge logging road which will be decommissioned once housing construction begins
  • Aligning the entrance from Cemetery Road to be across from the Siskin Lane trails entrance and raise it to avoid mud in the winter
  • Ultimately, a continuous connection of Smelt Bay to Manson’s Landing
  • Provide pedestrians and bicyclists a safer alternative to the road, thereby increasing foot and bike traffic and decreasing automobile usage

All donations will receive a 2021 Canadian charitable receipt from the CISS–Housing Committee.  You can donate online now by clicking here or by sending a cheque to:

  • Cortes Island Seniors Society–Housing Committee
  • PO BOX 27
  • Mansons Landing, BC,
  • V0P 1K0

American donors can get a US tax deductible receipt via TIDES-US Foundation by designating your donation to the Cortes Community Housing Fund – 2250 via this link

Two exciting events with prizes will also be announced in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, CHS will continue to work with architects and engineers to successfully reapply for BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund, likely in 2022, to begin work on the Rainbow Ridge housing units.

Links of Interest:

Top photo credit: Rainbow Ridge tails photo by Sandra Wood

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Photo credits: (Podcast) Man walking on log – Photo by John Flobrant on UnSplash; (Top) Rainbow Ridge tails photo by Sandra Wood