For years, the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club has talked about building a paved cross-country skiing/biathlon trail at Otway Nordic Centre.
That dream to make it possible for athletes to train year-round and host off-season races is about to become reality now that the club has been chosen to receive a $1 million grant from the province through its Destination Development Fund.
The competition trail is one of 14 projects worth $7.026 million the province has selected in northern B.C. to help boost tourism to the region.
Also approved was a $300,00 grant for the Association of Caledonia Trail Builders to improve the Tabor Mountain trail network.
The Prince George Cycling Club will receive $200,000 to revitalize trails in the Pidherny Recreation Site in the northwest quadrant of the city.
The Prince George Backcountry Recreation Society has been granted $241,00 to rebuild the Grizzly Den backcountry cabin along the popular walking trail southeast of Prince George.
The Ride Burns Lake Mountain Bike Association will have $374,117 to fund the Boer Mountain Rehabilitation Project.
The Fort St. James Ski Club has been granted $458,000 for interpretive enhancement of the Murray Ridge trail system north of the city.
Smithers Mountain Bike Association will get $349,563 to build the Round the Mountain trail at Hudson’s Bay Mountain Ski Resort.
Hazelton Trail Society will receive $918,378 to build the Gitenmaax Pumptrack for mountain bike and scooter riders.
Other northern BC destinations selected for the Destination Development Grant are: Tahltan Central Government signage project ($1 million), Village of Masset pier improvements ($998,250), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality for Andy Bailey Regional Park and Campground near Fort Nelson ($538,085), Kaien Island Trail Enhancement and Recreation Society for Cloudberry Trail Phase 1 ($500,000), and Gitselasu Stewardship Society for Kitselas Canyon visitor centre ($49,000).
Ten projects worth $5.476 million were approved for the Cariboo-Chilcotin region, including: Gold Rush Cycling Club’s Quesnel Bike Park completion ($465,437), Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club grooming equipment ($365,000), Wells Wheels ATV Club off-road trail improvements ($193,000), Tsideldel Enterprises Barney's Lakeside Resort development on Puntzi Lake ($1 million) and Barkerville Heritage Trust four seasons accommodations upgrades ($1 million).
The $30 million fund provides one-time grants to support tourism development and rejuvenation of infrastructure, assets and experiences.
The complete list of the 90 projects selected this year is available on the provincial website.
