Pemberton’s renowned trail system doesn’t just happen by itself. It takes years of work from myriad organizations collaborating through the Pemberton Valley Recreational Trails Working Group (PVRTWG).
On Thursday, April 3, guest speakers from the PVRTWG will be at the Pemberton & District Public Library to host a workshop on sustainable trail-building, followed by a screening of the documentary Dirt Relations. The event will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Working Group will offer “valuable insights into the background of trail-building, its impacts and the principle behind sustainable design,” according to the event description.
The massive group is comprised of representatives from Recreation Sites and Trails B.C., the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, the Village of Pemberton, the Lil’wat Nation Lands & Resources department, Pemberton Valley Trails Association, Pemberton Off-Road Cycling Association, Pemberton Wildlife Association, Stewardship Pemberton Society, and Spel’kúmtn Community Forest.
They meet quarterly to help guide the trail-planning and maintenance process in Pemberton. Their work is on display in the PVTA’s trail map, available online and posted in and around Pemberton.
The talk will be immediately followed by a screening of the movie Dirt Relations, which “delves into the powerful connection between mountain biking, reconciliation and healing intergenerational trauma,” according to the film’s website.
Dirt Relations follows three trail-makers as they work “with Indigenous Communities around B.C. to build trails and empower Indigenous youth.” The film tracks the challenges of recreational colonialism, and investigates themes of allyship, cultural preservation and the power of outdoor recreation.
The official trailer for Dirt Relations is available on YouTube.
Attendance at the event is free, but an RSVP through the Library’s website is required.
