The Pemberton Valley Trails Association (PVTA) held its latest annual trail expo and free pancake morning on a sunny April 5—bringing in a record 100 attendees with a wide range of outdoor interests, from mountain bikers to runners, paragliders to hikers, dirt bikers to equestrians.
PVTA members and local volunteers of all ages worked with tools provided by the association to get the trails ready for action this season.
“We were thrilled to see the community come out together again and grow this event even further this year,” said PVTA president Kyle Leitch in a statement. “Seeing so many different trail user groups come together to celebrate, collaborate and give back to the trails is what the PVTA is all about.”
The free pancake breakfast, sponsored by local businesses including Pemberton Valley Supermarket and Pemberton Coffee Co., has been running for more than 15 years.
Booths from Lil’wat Nation’s Title and Rights Department (formerly the Lands and Resources Department) and local organizations like the Pemberton Off Road Cycling Association (PORCA), Pemberton Wildlife Association (PWA), and more, gave attendees a chance to connect, learn, and get involved.
The PVTA noted last year’s event helped formally launch the Pemberton Valley Horse Association (PVHA), which returned as a first-time vendor this year. The development is “an example of how events like these help deepen community and collaboration across user groups in the valley,” according to a release by the PVTA.
Lil’wat’s Xzúmalus Roxanne Joe and Lhpatq Maxine Bruce closed the Expo with reflections on community and land stewardship. The department represents the Nation in the massive Pemberton Valley Trails Working Group, which brings together key stakeholders—including the PVTA, PORCA, and PWA.
After the pancake breakfast and comments from users, the event switched gears to the first of eight spring Trail Days. This first expedition, sponsored by local business Murphy Construction Ltd., saw more than 50 volunteers join the PVTA’s trail crew to help “complete essential maintenance on a variety of trails—including mountain bike routes, horse trails and kid-friendly favourites.”
The next volunteer trails event is set for Sunday, April 13. For a full list of the planned trail days, visit the PVTA’s website.
