Last week mayor and council agreed to provide an in kind donation to the Burns Lake Mountain Biking Association (BLMBA) for next month’s Big Pig Mountain Biking Festival.
A recommendation was made by chief administrative officer Sheryl Worthing that staff time be donated as an in kind donation, rather than providing a monetary contribution.
She went on to say that village summer students are willing and able to help out at the event.
Mayor Bernice Magee said she would also encourage any councillors who have free time to volunteer their services. She said she went to the bike park recently and noticed a number of the campsites were in use. “It is so good to see kids and adults having fun. It is a good opportunity for families.”
Councillor Eileen Benedict said she noticed signs up in Smithers advertising the Burns Lake event. “I am really impressed. There are posters up everywhere.”
During a recent presentation to council, BLMBA members Dawn Stronstad and Patti Dube asked for council’s support of the Big Pig Mountain Bike Festival to either help with the insurance costs of the event or to help with Big Pig event registration and handing out T-shirts to participants on the day.
They also discussed the economic benefits that both the Boer Mountain Bike Park and the festival bring to the community.
BLMBA has now been up and running for five years and continues to grow.
Stronstad said that thousands of man hours have been donated at the site and more than three quarters of a million dollars has been invested on Boer Mountain to date.
More than 75 locals have signed on to be members of BLMBA and she said that tourists are also drawn to the trails from Hwy. 16 signage.
Trail counters have recorded an average of 50 visitors per day on average between May and June. Downhill trail counters have also recorded more than 10 visits per day on average.
“It is a site that is used by not only mountain bikers but dog walkers, the local running club and during winter it is popular with cross country skiers and snow shoers.
“It is truly a multi use set of trails,” she added.
“People from Smithers have told us that they would rather ride here in Burns Lake than at the Smithers trails. We have something special that they don’t have,” Stronstad said.
“There are also the social benefits that the bike parks offers to the community as you can meet people from all over the world.”
The Big Pig Festival is now in its fourth year. Participants travel from across B.C. to enter into the three day event.
“It is fun for everyone,” Stronstad added.
The Big Pig Mountain Biking Festival will take place on Boer Mountain from August 19-21.
