Rails to Trails Officially Open

On Saturday September 18^th The Rails to Trails received its official Opening and ribbon cutting.  A sampling of cyclists, walkers and dogs were there to watch the event.  Mayor Jim Ogilvy thanked the many people involved in the construction of this project.  He especially thanked Al Skukas and Cranbrook City Councillor Bob Whetham. He recalled the day when they both approached him with their vision for the decommissioned  railbed.  He went on to thank municipal staff from Kimberley and Cranbrook for their work and especially CP Rail for without their donation of land this project would not have happened.  Rob Macintyre introduced the joint Rails to Trails Committee consisting of himself, chair, Jen Beswick, Cindy Welch, Dianne Butz, Al Skukas, JohnMandryk, Chris Belanger, and Peter McConnachie.  Al Skukas introduced  two special guests from the Trans Canada Trail organization, Deborah Apps from Calgary, CEO, of the National Trans Canada Trail and Jim Bishop from Vancouver, Director, soon to become chair on the National Board of Directors.  Al commented they look forward to this trail becoming part of the Trans Canada Trail.  The different levels of government were thanked for their major financial contributions to the final $1.8 million budget and the ribbon was cut.

John (Rails to Trails Committee) and Debbie Mandyk waiting for the action.

Key people instrumental in making Rails to Trails happen including (from left)Councillor Bob Whetham and Al Skukas who both had the original vision , Harold Sellars, Trans Canada Trail Project Facilitator BC,  Jim Bishop, Trans Canada Trail Board Member and incoming chair of the National Trans Canada Trail organisation , Deborah Apps CEO of the National Trans Canada Trail and Dave Savage, Trails BC.

If you have not been on or are unable to get on the trail this link provides some lovely photos;
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=635037