STANDING UP FOR THE KETTLE VALLEY RAIL TRAIL
“This week in the Legislature, I had the opportunity to speak about one of British Columbia’s most remarkable recreation and heritage corridors — the Kettle Valley Rail Trail (KVR).”
Member statements are intentionally brief and non-partisan, but they provide an important opportunity to raise the issues that matter to our communities. I was proud to use that time to highlight the value of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and share a vision for its future.
MLA Donegal Wilson highlights the value of the KVR in the BC Legislature
Stretching across the southern Interior, the KVR connects communities, landscapes, and generations. What was once a vital transportation corridor that helped build our province now serves a new purpose: bringing people together through recreation, tourism, and shared history.
Today the trail welcomes hikers, cyclists, equestrians, snowmobilers, and families who want to experience the outdoors in a way that is accessible and deeply connected to our past.
In many rural communities, the KVR has also become an important economic driver — supporting small businesses, tourism operators, and local events that bring visitors to communities across the region.
A Provincial Asset Worth Protecting
The Kettle Valley Rail Trail is more than a trail. It is a provincial asset entrusted to the people of British Columbia as a recreational corridor for current and future generations.
Unfortunately, sections of the corridor have already been lost. Following the floods of 2021, the section near Princeton was abandoned. More recently, another section between Christina Lake and Castlegar has also been closed.
Each loss chips away at the long-term potential of the entire trail.
In my statement to the Legislature, I spoke about the importance of recognizing the KVR not simply as a collection of individual trail segments, but as a continuous corridor with historic, economic, and recreational value for the entire province.
A Vision for the Future
During my remarks, I also shared a possible path forward: recognizing the Kettle Valley Rail Trail as British Columbia’s first linear provincial park.
This approach would not be about restricting access. In fact, it could do the opposite.
The Kettle Valley Rail Trail has long been valued as a multi-use recreation corridor. Hikers, cyclists, equestrians, snowmobilers, and other users all share the trail across different seasons and in different regions. That diversity of use is part of what makes the KVR unique and valuable to communities along its route.
Creating a provincial park designation would provide a framework to protect the corridor while developing a comprehensive park plan for the entire trail.
Importantly, the creation of a park plan would also allow the Province to engage British Columbians in shaping the future of the trail. Local communities, trail organizations, recreation groups, tourism operators, and Indigenous partners would all have an opportunity to participate in the discussion about how this corridor should be protected and managed.
A park designation does not automatically mean non-motorized access only. In this case, the value being protected is a multi-use recreational corridor, and a park planning process would allow for thoughtful discussions about how those uses can continue to coexist and be managed responsibly.
By developing a park plan, the Province could document the trail’s history, protect the integrity of the corridor, and establish a long-term vision that reflects the voices of the communities and users who care deeply about the Kettle Valley Rail Trail.
How You Can Support the KVR
Many residents and trail users across British Columbia have already stepped forward to support the preservation of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail.
If this trail matters to you, there are several ways to help:
Sign the petition:
Save the Kettle Valley Rail Trail
https://www.change.org/p/save-the-kvr
Join the community discussion:
Save the KVR Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1529220984817712/
Read my letter to the Minister:
Community voices matter. Together we can help ensure that the Kettle Valley Rail Trail remains a place where people can connect with nature, history, and each other for generations to come.
