Kamloops canoe instructor pushing for improved access to local waterways

“Some of our parks in theory have access to the water, but in practice, the parking has been blocked so far back and the trails are in such poor condition that accessing the water is actually quite difficult for someone carrying a canoe, someone carrying a kayak, or for people with small children or mobility issues.”

Rankin says he has met with the City of Kamloops parks department, and did make some progress on access points at the Tournament Capital Ranch in Rayleigh.

While Rankin acknowledges pre-existing private property shouldn’t be forced to create public trails where they didn’t exist before, he’s more focused on maintaining existing trails and adding them to future development plans.

“I don’t have a problem with private ownership, necessarily, where it exists already. Those property owners do have rights,” said Rankin. “But in certain areas where there are access points, the city has put up fences, the city has put up barriers to that access. I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

A Facebook group Rankin launched earlier this week has already garnered more than 75 members, and he has penned a letter to Kamloops council.

A meeting for interested volunteers is planned for next week.

“It can’t just be me,” said Rankin. “It has to be a group of people who broadly represent our society. And there’s a lot of work to do. This is going to be a multi-year project; I’d assume five, 10, 15-plus years to get a lot of these changes implemented. So I need lots of help.”

“As Kamloops grows and as we want to have really good livability, as we want to attract doctors and other business professionals to the city, it’s really vital. We have a huge asset with the lake and the rivers here. Right now, we’re selling ourselves short by not showcasing the wonderful waterways that we have. We need to do a better job.”

by James Peters

Kamloops canoe instructor pushing for improved access to local waterways

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