• Epic Trails( large, long trails)
• More accessible trails
• River Park, surfable waves
• Gravel bike riding opportunity
• Improved and collaborative maps
• Acknowledge motorized recreation and collaborate on riding areas, mapping
Area A Businesses provided comments on processes / frameworks to support sustainable tourism and recreation. The top responses were:
• Broad community / business representation on NGO boards such as Trails Alliance, Elk River Alliance
• Continued monitoring and surveying
• Using the Tourism Master Plan as a guiding document
• More funding support for all these needs – government, user-pay
• All towns working together with RDEK on economic and tourism / recreation planning
• More data, surveying, tracking, engagement to inform decisions
• More government collaboration on tourism, recreation and industry – conflicts between agencies / ministries – one supporting while other taking away
• Improved mapping
DRAFT
Area A Businesses, some final comments:
• Tourism is one of the economic pillars of the area and community. The largest industry in BC( prepandemic) and the second largest in the area. We hope that it starts getting the attention and funding required to sustain and expand the industry in the Elk Valley.
• Not everyone recreates on mountain bikes or hiking. Be more inclusive of the motorized user- they are tax payers, public land owners and these trails exist in all kinds of places.
• We have a responsibility to deliver a balanced professional and recreational lifestyle to our guests, employees and overall community
SECTION 4- RDEK‘ AREA A’ NGO SURVEY – 20 participants
Who were the participants:
• WildSafe BC
• Fernie Nordic Society
• Elk River Alliance
• Fernie Trails Alliance
• Cokato Community Association
• Grizzly Bay Water Ski Club NGO
• Elkford Trails Alliance
• Wildsight
• RDEK
• Fernie Search & Rescue
• BC Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
• Fernie Youth Soccer / Erin Amundsen Memorial Pavilion
• Senior Citizens Club of Fernie & District
• Mountain Meadows Golf Club Society
• Tourism Fernie Society
• Fernie Rod & Gun Club
• Nature Trust of BC
• Sparwood & District Fish & Wildlife Association
• Elk Valley Cruisers
• Elkford Nordic Ski Club
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