Provincial Trails Advisory Body wraps up
Fernie Trails Alliance photo
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy recently notified ORCBC that the Provincial Trails Advisory Body is ending. In response to the letter, the two co-chairs from ORCBC and Recreation Sites and Trails BC issued this message to the members of the Provincial Trails Advisory Body.
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November 24, 2023
Re: Conclusion of Provincial Trails Advisory Body (PTAB)
Dear Members of the PTAB,
We are reaching out to confirm the decision to bring the activities of the Provincial Trails Advisory Body (PTAB) to a close. Since completing the work of providing recommendations to government on improving the Trails Strategy for BC (the Strategy), the PTAB has fulfilled its mandate. With the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (MECCS) embarking on a comprehensive outdoor recreation strategy we believe that many of the strengths and opportunities presented in the Strategy can be better realized through this work. The outdoor recreation strategy work being undertaken by MECCS is taking into consideration the various reports, recommendations, and research that PTAB completed in reviewing the Strategy.
Since its inception in 2015 the PTAB has been instrumental in numerous impactful initiatives to enhance outdoor recreation in BC including:
providing vital guidance to stakeholders on the Occupiers Liability Act to address risk and liability concerns for trail maintenance organizations;
conducting an independent legal review from a stakeholder perspective on liability implications for organizations engaging in partnership agreements with Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC) and BC Parks;
crafting the "Working in a Good Way" document to offer guidance to trail proponents on effective engagement with local First Nations and Indigenous communities; and,
securing a $10 million Outdoor Recreation Fund through a provincial endowment.
A significant aspect of PTAB's work involved establishing a diverse provincial group focused on openly and collaboratively addressing outdoor recreation management challenges and opportunities. This group served as an invaluable platform for government and non-government entities to address broader recreation management issues and support the strategy.
From 2019 to 2021, the PTAB conducted a thorough review of the Strategy, completing background research, detailed and widespread engagement and finally developed recommendations to the provincial government to improve and implement the Trails Strategy. This review was the most comprehensive assessment and engagement process regarding recreation values and management ever conducted in the province.
Following the completion of the Trails Strategy Review, the PTAB presented seven recommendations to the provincial government. While immediate decisions regarding implementation of the Strategy were not made, many of PTAB's suggestions related to provincial recreation have gained traction due to the comprehensive review of the strategy.
While the PTAB is concluding, the recreation strategy will consider how provincial agencies engaged in outdoor recreation management and the recreation sector can continue to build and strengthen relationships to support a shared provincial vision for outdoor recreation. We hope to see the creation of a new collaborative sector engagement framework going forward that builds on the strengths of the PTAB.
As PTAB co-chairs, we extend our sincere thanks to each of you for your contributions to the PTAB. We believe that the PTAB has achieved a lot that we can all be proud of. Beyond the various tools, reports and the Outdoor Recreation Fund, the PTAB also solidified many relationships within the outdoor recreation sector and between government and non-government agencies and staff. We celebrate these achievements and look toward a promising future where outdoor recreation becomes an even stronger contributor to health, wellness, prosperity and sustainability for people and communities across British Columbia.
Warm regards,
Louise Pedersen, Executive Director, Outdoor Recreation Council of BC
Tennessee Trent, Trails Manager, Recreation Sites and Trails BC
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ORCBC will make recommendations to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy on a new approach to sector engagement to support the BC Outdoor Recreation Strategy work that is underway and led by the Ministry.