Fundraising Campaign Gearing Up for Okanagan Rail Trail

Enthusiasm is gearing up for the Okanagan Rail Trail, and in order to make the dream of a multi community pathway a reality, some major fundraising needs to take place.

The Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative will be spearheading the fundraising campaign now that the purchase for the defunct CN line has gone through and the injunction claim by the Okanagan Indian Band dismissed. The next step in the process will be to develop the trail, but that is expected to cost approximately $5 million.

The defunct rail line in Vernon along Kalamalka Lake (Photo Credit: File Photo)

Brad Clement, organizer at the Okanagan Rail Trails Society, says work is underway to come up with a fundraising campaign to begin the development process.

“We are hoping to come up with an idea and plans for the month of August and then launch the campaign sometime in September,” explained Clements. “Our strategy is to reach out to big and small businesses to fundraise, and then go to the community with a public campaign.”

Clement says the group is tossing around several ideas to make donating affordable for those who want to contribute. Some fundraising ideas may include taking a public donation of $100 for a metre of trail with some sort of recognition for the donation. The group will be working with the Central Okanagan and North Okanagan Foundations to raise the money needed, and these groups will hold the funds raised in a trust.

Signs up along the rail line reminding residentst that the trail is not yet developed (Photo Credit: District of Lake Country)

Clement encourages all businesses or individuals interested in donating to reach out to the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative to find out more information. The group’s website is expected to undergo a transformation as more information about the fundraising campaign is released. You can learn more about the trail or how to contribute to the campaign by visiting www.okanaganrailtrail.ca.