I Love the KVR Trail Advocacy Sample Letters

Sample Letter #1 [Local Resident]

To: The Honourable George Heymen, Minister of Environment & Climate Change Strategy

To: The Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Finance

To: The Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport

To: MLA Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development

RE: Kettle Valley Rail Trail Flood Damage Repairs

I am writing to you today to request your support for the KVR rail trail and repairs needed from the 2021 flood damage.

My name is John Doe, I am a 42 year-old mine manager with a family of 4 that resides in Princeton, BC. I have lived in the Similkameen Valley for 18 years and enjoy fishing, kayaking, biking, hiking, atving, equestrian riding and cross-country skiing.

One of the primary reasons we choose to live in the region is the recreational opportunities including the KVR rail trail. The KVR provides significant recreation values to my family, connecting us to the trail networks, lakes, rivers, historic sites and scenic viewpoints that we enjoy year-round. One of our fondest memories is our weekend trips exploring historical sites that we are no longer able to access due to the damages on the KVR rail trail.

In addition to recreation values, the KVR also acts as a public safety transportation corridor connecting rural communities throughout the Similkameen Valley allowing local trail users and tourists to safely travel from community to community across the region, avoiding the narrow, winding, mountain roads with no shoulder and sweeping blind corners that are used by all types of vehicles including loaded logging trucks.

The KVR provides economic benefits to our rural communities with revenue from tourism, creating jobs and improved quality of life, that promotes local business and community growth, providing opportunities for people to earn a good living so that they can remain in the region.

The floods have also shown us that the KVR trail provides protection against natural disasters for homes and properties, acting as a natural barrier to protect against the impact of climate change disasters triggered by extreme weather as the KVR protected many properties during the 2021 flood.

The month of November 2022 marks the 1 year anniversary of the flood damage, therefore I urge you to please support repairing the trail and allocating funding in the 2023 Budget for the repairs needed to the KVR rail trail so that my family and I can once again enjoy the activities that attracted us to the region.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

John Doe

Email: xx@gmail.com

Tel 250 555 5555

Sample Letter #2 [Local Business]

To: The Honourable George Heymen, Minister of Environment & Climate Change Strategy

To: The Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Finance

To: The Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport

To: MLA Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development

RE: Kettle Valley Rail Trail Flood Damage Repairs

I am writing to you today to request your support for the KVR rail trail and repairs needed from the 2021 flood damage.

My name is Jack Jones, I am a 53 year-old business owner in Tulameen, BC. My family has owned XYZ Building Company for multi-generations. My family and I have lived in the region our entire lives and our children are now working for the family business as well. The last few years have seen an explosion in house building, with folks buying recreation properties and permanent residences wanting to get out of the city, with the abundance of recreational opportunities attracting them to region, so much so, that the real estate listings feature “close proximity to the KVR for four season recreation”

We enjoy all season activities including canoeing, hiking, biking, atving, equestrian riding, gold panning and exploring old historical sites.

One of the primary reasons we choose to live in the region is the deep ancestral roots that we have in the area, and the appeal of country life with endless outdoor recreation opportunities with the KVR a major part of the recreation infrastructure. One of our fondest memories is our regular outings on the KVR where we would stop along the river for a picnic and spend the day with the family, teaching our children to respect the environment and land that gives us so much, however we are no longer able to access these areas on the KVR due to the washouts from the 2021 flood.

In addition to recreation values, the KVR acts as a transportation corridor connecting rural communities throughout the Similkameen Valley driving economic success in a number of ways, including trail tourism providing an influx of money to the communities, creating jobs, improved quality of life, community health, and local business growth making our rural communities more desirable.

The month of November 2022 marks the 1 year anniversary of the flood damage, and on behalf of XYZ Building Company, I urge you to please support repairing the trail and allocating funding in the 2023 Budget for the repairs needed to the KVR rail trail so that my family and the community as a whole, can once again safely enjoy the outdoor activities that the region is known for.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Jack Jones

Email: xx@gmail.com

Tel 250 555 5555

Sample Letter #3 [Recreation Property Owner]

To: The Honourable George Heymen, Minister of Environment & Climate Change Strategy

To: The Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Finance

To: The Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport

To: MLA Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development

RE: Kettle Valley Rail Trail Flood Damage Repairs

We are writing to you today to request your support for the KVR rail trail and repairs needed from the 2021 flood damage.

My name is Mary Smith, I am a 58 year-old retired teacher, and live with my husband, a semi-retired realtor, at our main residence in Vancouver, BC and own recreation property in Tulameen, BC. We purchased our property in Tulameen 36 years ago where we spend all our vacation and recreation time. We enjoy all season activities including birdwatching, paddle boarding, biking, hiking, atving, equestrian riding and snowmobiling.

One of the primary reasons we chose to purchase property in the region is the access to the backcountry and recreational opportunities. The KVR provides significant recreation opportunities that enrich our life, connecting us to extended trail networks that allow us to travel to Merritt, Brookmere, the Coquihalla, Coalmont, Lodestone, Granite Creek and Princeton to enjoy the local lakes, rivers, historic sites and scenic viewpoints that we enjoy year-round.

Some of our fondest memories are enjoying the sandy beach and swimming hole at White Sands, and camping at Granite Creek where we regularly camp with our family that visits from across BC, however we are no longer able to access these areas on the KVR from our home due to the flood washouts between Coalmont and Tulameen.

We spend a considerable portion of our income in the region, including property tax, building materials, property improvements, maintenance contractors, utilities, groceries, liquor, gas, restaurants, and accommodations when extended family visits. We own a cabin in town, near the lake, and rent it out on a weekly basis during the peak summer and winter season, which has greatly supplemented our pension income.

The month of November 2022 marks the 1 year anniversary of the flood damage, therefore we are asking you to please support repairing the trail and allocating funding in the 2023 Budget for the repairs needed to the KVR rail trail so that we can once again enjoy the activities that attracted us, to purchase, and eventually retire in the region.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Mary & Peter Smith

xxx@gmail.com

Tel 250 555 5555

Sample Letter #4 [Frequent Visitor]

To: The Honourable George Heymen, Minister of Environment & Climate Change Strategy

To: The Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Finance

To: The Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport

To: MLA Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development

RE: Kettle Valley Rail Trail Flood Damage Repairs

I am writing to you today to request your support for the KVR rail trail and repairs needed from the 2021 flood damage.

My name is Frank Waters, I am a 35 year old frequent visitor to the region for the past 8 years. I live in Chilliwack and was introduced to Coalmont by friends that have a cabin on the river, and now we come every year with our extended group of friends and family and stay at the motel or rent cabins in Tulameen.

We spend our summer and winter vacations here, with the close proximity to the lower mainland, we can enjoy all four seasons within a 3 hour drive from our home in Chilliwack, and that includes stopping for gas and supplies in Princeton as we always shop local to support the local economy.

One of the primary reasons we spend our vacation time in the region is the outdoor recreation opportunities including the KVR rail trail. The KVR acts as a recreation corridor allowing trail users and outdoor enthusiasts a means to access the natural playgrounds, of lakes, rivers, and mountain views, connecting the communities to the seemingly never-ending trail networks, leading to outdoor sites and attractions.

One of our fondest memories is riding to Princeton for lunch and ice cream with the family which was a favourite activity of our children, to ride on the KVR, across the trestles and through the tunnels, with even the little ones recognizing the beauty of the land, in one of the most scenic areas of our province, however sadly we are no longer able to access these areas due to the KVR flood damage.

It is my hope that this historical trail that has played such a significant role in the fur trade and early settlement of BC, that was built by hand, over canyons and impossible terrain, will be preserved for generations to come, as part of our province’s lasting legacy so that one day my children can take their children on the same epic adventures that we have enjoyed.

The month of November 2022 marks the 1 year anniversary of the flood damage, therefore I am requesting that you please support repairing the trail and allocating funding in the 2023 Budget for the repairs needed to the KVR rail trail so that my family and I can continue to enjoy the activities that attracts us to the region.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Frank Waters

Email: xx@gmail.com

Tel 250 555 5555

Sample Letter #5 [KVR / Trans Canada Trail Supporter]

To: The Honourable George Heymen, Minister of Environment & Climate Change Strategy

To: The Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Finance

To: The Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport

To: MLA Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development

RE: Kettle Valley Rail Trail Flood Damage Repairs

I am writing to you today to request your support for the KVR rail trail and repairs needed from the 2021 flood damage.

My name is Stacy, I am a 24 year old outdoor trail enthusiast, and live in Kelowna, BC with my husband and daughter. We are avid outdoor recreationists, that enjoying camping, hiking and biking, and do regular day trips and overnight stays travelling throughout the province enjoying outdoor recreation trails and activities including the KVR rail trail which is a 492 km section of the Trans Canada Trail showcasing intricate trestles and tunnels built by early pioneers.

We travel on the Trans Canada Trail many times a year and support the repairs needed to the flood damaged areas of KVR rail trail / Trans Canada Trail.

As the longest trail network in the world, the TCT connects Canadians and visitors to nature and to one another, from coast to coast, through accessible and inclusive outdoor activities.

The Trans Canada Trail is a national legacy, a Canadian asset, and a sustainable gift that fosters unity, collaboration and connectedness.

The 2022 TCT National Survey indicates that 76% of Canadians agree that trails are an important part of economic development for communities, and 78% that trails are an important component of the tourism economy, and in the past year, 85% of Canadians said they support local businesses when they spend money while using trails, 55% plan to include trails in their next vacation, and 91% state that trails are an important source of community recreation.

The KVR / TCT is an iconic trail too important to be forgotten therefore we urge the Province of BC to commit to the restoration and long term preservation of this historically significant trail that has something for everyone.

The month of November 2022 marks the 1 year anniversary of the flood damage, therefore we urge you to please support repairing the trail and allocating funding in the 2023 Budget for the repairs needed to the KVR rail trail / Trans Canada Trail for the benefit of all British Columbians.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Stacy & Tim Johnson

Email: xx@gmail.com

Tel 250 555 5555