The entire process of development, from initial visions to opening an officially usable trail system, took about 10 years: 4-5 years to build the vision and identify the means to accomplish the objectives; 2-3 years to start up the Society, identify land owner issues and responsive management strategies, plus find an appropriate insurer and legal access agreement; 2 years to obtain the bulk of the access agreements; and 1 year to sign and begin active management of those initial trails.

Building the Vision:

In the early 1990’s, Rossland City council (Bill Profili, Dave Butler) and key individuals from the area (Don Thompson, Don Ellison, Steve Spencer and Hanne Smith Heintz) began looking for ways to re-vitalize the local economy. It was decided to focus on the “Health & Wellness” niche, given existing natural and cultural assets, including Red Mountain ski resort and an extensive but undeveloped trail system.

During 1993-1994, as part of the City’s official community planning process, the parks and recreation committee (Hanne Smith Heintz, Pat Thomson, Richard Deane, Jerome Cranston) recommended that the City develop the existing trail network in a formal way. Subsequently the concept of developing the trail system became part of the Official Community Plan. Council commissioned a Trail Master Plan, which was created by Highland Planning (Don Thompson and Don Ellison).

Beginning the Process:

The first efforts at trail development occurred prior to 1995. These included an agreement between the City of Rossland and the Village of Warfield to jointly develop the Railgrade as a “linear park”, and an initiative by the local mountain bike club to sign the trails. During this time magazine articles were written about the fabulous trails, a trail map was published, and the term “Mountain Biking Capital of Canada” was coined and used to promote tourism in Rossland.

Unfortunately the landowners were overlooked. To the embarrassment and chagrin of the City and trail volunteers, it was discovered that almost all of the existing trails crossed private property. Owners were understandably upset to find that the world was being invited to use trails on their properties when they’d not been asked for permission. It would be several years before this issue was resolved.

After the Official Community Plan and Trail Master plan were completed, the City asked a number of local citizens, who eventually formed the Trails for Rossland Society, to implement the trail development plan. These individuals (Dave Nutini, Terry Miller, Richard Deane, Eileen Purrsell, John Clark, James Markin, Rob Woroz, Hanne Smith Heintz) spent about three years gathering information; carefully listening to landowner concerns; developing responsible management strategies; building a map base; and then finding an appropriate insurer and an acceptable legal access agreement before they could finally begin approaching owners for permission to use trails on private properties.

What allowed the Society to achieve its goals:

First, there was help from local government. The City of Rossland was pro-active in its support and encouragement. Although the City did not assign its own staff work to work on the trails project, it did enter into a funds-for-services agreement with the Trails for Rossland Society. This allowed the Society to hire a contractor to develop a five-year plan, pay for its insurance policy and also hire Hanne Smith Heintz as a part-time staff person (on contract) to carry on the planning, fundraising, insurance, reporting and trail access work. The City also provided in-kind support, including use of maps, photocopying machine and the City’s postal address. In addition, the City paid its attorney Jaak Ranniste to create the highly successful trail access agreement. Over the lyears it took the Society to get from concept to product, the Mayor and Council stood up for Society members and staff, and deflected criticism from them when members of the public complained about how long it was taking to make trails available to the public.

• The mapping staff at the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary office, with tacit approval by regional administrators, also provided valuable in-kind services by assisting with mapping and identification of rural landowners.
• Second, the Society developed a clear vision of what it intended to accomplish, and persisted through all the years it took to achieve their goals. The initial years were quite tiring, especially as there wasn’t much the board members or volunteers could do on the trails until the process of obtaining legal access was nearly complete.
• Third, the Society realized early on that the job couldn’t be done by volunteers alone and so negotiated with the City for enough money to hire as a part time contractor (Hanne Smith Heintz). It would have been extremely difficult to see the initial stages through to completion (ie, signed access agreements and an available trail network) without a quality staff person on hand to do the bulk of the work.
• Fourth, the Society board members and staff remained firm in their commitment to making the trail system work for the landowners first, and trail users second. Respect, good listening skills, persistence and a positive, we-can-make-this-work-somehow attitude helped the Society as it worked towards these goals.
• Fifth, the access agreement prepared by Rossland attorney Jaak Ranniste is a model of plain language and respect, with the landowners rights paramount, and the responsibilities of the Society clearly laid out. Private landowners found the language of this document to be acceptable, which made it possible for the Society to actually obtain agreements.
• Sixth, the insurance policy carried by the Society covers both landowners and board members for general liability, plus volunteers for accidents while working on the trails. Landowner concerns about liability were eased by the recent change in the province’s Occupiers Liability Act, and also by the extra (no-charge) coverage offered them through the Society’s insurance policy.
• Seventh, the private and corporate landowners displayed enormous generosity and a strong community-minded perspective as they gave – and continue to give – permission to use the trails on their properties. Private landowners won’t be named here, but the Society wants each and every of them to know how grateful we are for their contributions. Corporate landowners include TeckCominco, Jones Ties and Poles, and Red Mountain Resorts, with Beaumont Timber as a possible fourth.

Keeping It Going: What makes it work now the trails are open:

To keep the trail system going, the Society must live up to its responsibilities as identified in the access agreements, ie. signing, maintaining, and mapping the trails, and also maintaining liability insurance coverage. The Society also has a responsibility to communicate with its members, trail users, and funding agencies. We are very fortunate to have an active Society Board that is doing an excellent job in all of these areas.

Meeting responsibilities to landowners and managing and maintaining an extensive, high quality trail network requires consistent funding. The primary source of operational funds prior to 2001 had been the City of Rossland, but is now the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary. Our trail network has been recognized as a valuable regional recreational facility, and we have changed our name to the Kootenay Columbia Trails Society to reflect our broader responsibility.

Another key element of the Society’s ongoing success is the skill of its staff person. Stewart Spooner, the trails manager, has been doing an excellent job of maintaining and developing the trail network, and working with the board to ensure the trails are responsibly managed.  Top

• For more detailed information regarding the history of the Society contact Hanne Smith Heintz: heintz(at)netidea.com.
• Regarding the operation of the Society contact Richard Deane: thedeanes(at)telus.net
• Regarding the development and management of the trails contact Stewart Spooner.

The Society Thanks -

Private and corporate landowners and our volunteers.

RDKB

BEAUMONT LUMBER

ATCO LUMBER

MINISTRY OF FOREST

ROSSLAND CITY

RED BARN LODGE

RED RESORT

TECH COMINCO METALS LTD