The combination of supporting regional greenway trails and having a whole load of fun has become something of a tradition for communities throughout the Shuswap each winter.
Now into its eighth year, the annual Shuswap Trail Alliance fundraiser dance and silent auction kicks into gear with tickets at $30 now on sale just in time for Christmas stockings.
This year’s Shuswap Trail Party and Silent Auction is set to roll Friday, Feb. 7 at the SASCU Recreation Centre.
The perennial dance band favourite Scarecrow is booked, along with Patrick Ryley spinning his DJ magic. Local foods will again be featured, thanks to the talents of Blue Canoe Bakery Cafe.
“We anticipate the same challenge as last year,” says Trail Alliance chair, Winston Pain, who encourages everyone to nab their tickets early. “We were fielding calls for three weeks prior to the event last year, telling folks there simply were no more tickets.”
Pain says support continues throughout all the communities of the Shuswap to see better connections made for walking, cycling and all the self-powered ways to move.
Funding from ticket sales and the silent auction, combined with private donations, ensure base costs of working with community partners are in place. This includes funding for insurance, tools, equipment, the ShuswapTrails.com website, the trail report hotline, and volunteer events.
“We’ve seen an incredible transformation in support of trails and pathways over the last nine years,” says Phil McIntyre-Paul, Trail Alliance executive director, who notes this past year, more than 40 regional partners worked together to create 12,000-plus metres of new trail at 15 different Shuswap locations. Maintenance included clearing, improvements and signage of more than 160 kilometres of existing trails.
Pick up tickets at Lakeside Insurance or Skookum Cycle and Ski. To make a sponsor contribution to the silent auction and for info on the Shuswap Trails celebration, call Pain at 250-804-6451, or email wpwinston2@gmail.com. To find out about Shuswap Trails, visit www.shuswaptrails.com.
