CLIMBERS' ACCESS SOCIETY OF B.C.
ACCESS NEWS - April 11th, 2007
A. SKAHA - 2007 AND BEYOND
SUMMARY
Access to Skaha is in place for 2007, and The Land Conservancy of B.C. (TLC) and Skaha rockclimbers have been working hard on public access to Skaha for 2008 and beyond, with support from Mountain Equipment Co-op, the Access Society, and others.
TLC has agreed to buy 300 hectares of nearby private land (sublot 18 - southeast of Braesyde). When/if the land is bought, and needed work done, it will provide permanent public access to Skaha. Thanks to TLC’s partners, a generous donation by the current owner, and other donations, much of the needed money has been raised. We need to raise $1 million by June 30th, and the climbing community must do everything it can to help. (The owner of sublot 18 extended the deadline from April 30th.)
Please forward this newsletter to all those who may be interested in it.
MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO-OP DONATION - $250,000
Mountain Equipment Co-op announced on April 10th that it will contribute $250,000 to the Skaha purchase. It is the largest such grant in MEC’s history, and a great contribution toward protection of the area for its outstanding recreation and conservation values.
MEC also recently announced that it has joined 1% For The Planet, an alliance of businesses that believe in providing financial support to environmental initiatives. Since 1987, MEC has given in excess of $9 million to Canadian conservation and access projects through its grant programs. Now it will donate 1% of annual gross sales to Canadian causes. This translates to an estimated $2 million in 2007 alone. See
http://www.mec.ca
ACCESS SOCIETY COMMITMENT - $10,000
The Board of the Access Society has committed $10,000 toward the Skaha purchase. It is a major investment for the Access Society, our biggest ever. The Board believes it important that the Access Society show leadership on this issue, on behalf of all the climbers of B.C. We hope that all climbers, and other climbing-related organizations and businesses, will follow our lead. It's essential for the climbing community to show that it supports the purchase, in all ways possible.
MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO-OP - MATCHING MEMBER DONATIONS, UP TO $100,000
Mountain Equipment Co-op will also match donations by its members to TLC's Skaha fund, up to $100,000 total. To donate, see
http://www.conservancy.bc.ca/MEC-skaha
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Make a donation to TLC, soon, and encourage all your friends to also do so. If you're a member of MEC, make your donation at
http://www.conservancy.bc.ca/MEC-skaha, and double your donation. Otherwise, see the links below.
Join the Access Society, renew your membership, make a donation. Members + resources = more effective. Memberships, renewals, and donations are all helpful - $10,000 is a lot of money to us.
If you can help with fundraising, or have ideas or connections that may help, contact TLC or the Access Society.
Make sure all your friends know what's happening, and are helping. Spread the word!
SUPPORT THE LAND CONSERVANCY
Please send all donations to TLC. They encourage you to not only make a donation, but to also become a member.
Donations & Membership: To make a donation, go to
http://www.conservancy.bc.ca, and click on the ‘Skaha Bluffs’ icon at the bottom of the home page. It takes you to the donations page – click on the green ‘MEC Members’ button. Membership icon also on the main page, or by mail.
Contact Information: TLC's head office is at #301 - 1195 Esquimalt Road, Victoria, B.C. V9A 3N6, phone (250) 479-8053.
Capital Campaign & Corporate Donors: If you can contribute a substantial amount, or know someone who might be able to, contact John Keller at TLC in Burnaby, at (604) 733-2313 or
jkeller@conservancy.bc.ca
TLC’s intention is that sublot 18, together with Skaha Bluffs themselves, will become part of a new provincial park, managed for both its outstanding recreation and natural values. If for some reason the purchase is unsuccessful, TLC will keep aside all money raised, and use it either for whatever other solution is arrived at for Skaha, or for another project of direct benefit to the climbing community of B.C.
PARKING AND ACCESS - 2007
Parking will continue at Braesyde, through 2007 only.
$10/passenger car/day, $20/day for vans (6 - 15 passengers), $30/day for buses, $75 for an annual pass, $5 for drop offs.
Please use only Braesyde for parking and access. There is no legal parking along Valleyview Road, which leads to Braesyde, and all other accesses to Skaha require trespassing on private land.
Valleyview is a narrow, winding road. Please drive carefully, and watch for children, animals, and other safety concerns.
The Dunlop family continues to own Braesyde. They have generously provided public parking at Braesyde, and access to Skaha, since 1992. Thanks to the Dunlops for their hospitality, and to the city of Penticton and the Agricultural Land Commission for permitting the parking.