News & features.
Destination BC | Sherpa Cinemas
Future of Recreation: Navigating the planning path
In recent years, the provincial government has rolled out a bewildering alphabet soup of agreements, frameworks and policies: land, water and marine planning, cumulative effects assessments, old growth reviews, managing for ecosystem health, biodiversity commitments, tripartite cooperation, conservation finance, plus so many acronyms (UNDRIP, MLUP, IPCAs, FRPA). It’s all part of a dramatic shift in how lands and waters are managed in B.C.
Future of Recreation: Volunteer crisis or crossroads?
“Critical lack of volunteers…” “Not-for-profit struggling to recruit…” “Fewer people giving money and time.” It’s a trend mirrored by what the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC hears from many of its members. It’s why we hosted a webinar in December focused on recruiting and retaining volunteers. But the webinar’s three panellists had an alternative take on the crisis.
Webinar Recap: Improving volunteer recruitment and engagement
Volunteers are the heart of outdoor recreation. Most non-profits couldn’t function without them. To help the outdoor recreation sector tackle the volunteer crisis ORCBC hosted a webinar focused on recruiting and engaging volunteers. Here are our key takeaways.
Outdoor Recreation Council applauds BCIT for making a Guichon Creek spillway passable for salmon
The 100,000-member Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) applauds the BC Institute of Technology (BCIT) for the major work now underway to modify the last major impediment to the movement of salmon along Guichon Creek so that it will become “fish passable.”
Future of Recreation: Planning for the better
Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. As the provincial government introduces a new planning regime, the six Ps apply to Crown land, too. For the recreation community, the changes mean significant new opportunities to express priorities and opinions.
Provincial Trails Advisory Body wraps up
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy recently notified ORCBC that the Provincial Trails Advisory Body (PTAB) is ending. Here’s our letter to the PTAB.
B.C. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework
The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship has released the draft B.C. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework. The deadline for feedback is January 15, 2024.
Future of Recreation: The power of catalysts
The same geography that makes Nelson synonymous with skiing, means when the snow melts the Kootenay city is equally great for hiking. Access to mountain trails is what attracted Scott Matson to town in 2018. After hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, Scott moved from Nebraska to Nelson where he started Northern Ultralight, a company that makes backpacking gear inspired by his adventures.
ORCBC Story Series
From access to nature to apps and AI, the evolution of trail construction to electric power, this story series looks at how recreation will change and evolve over the short and long term.
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This story series explores the connection between climate change and recreation. Through conversations with scientists, advocates, land managers, recreationists, and more, we look at how a warming world and more extreme weather is impacting the activities we love. But more than glum news, we’re interested in how the recreation industry is already hard at work preparing for change, reducing the impacts, and actively trying to slow global warming.
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In this story series, we feature recreation organizations that are advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through trail and outdoor recreation projects. We hope these stories inspire other community groups to contribute to advancing reconciliation in a meaningful and positive way, thereby ensuring the long-term sustainability of the outdoor recreation activities we love.
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In a time when trails, roads, campgrounds, rivers and lakes are busier than ever, it’s important to remember that it takes a community to make fun possible. This story series profiles the people who work behind the scenes in B.C., so you can have that special moment today.