The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) recently published a new guidebook: called “Outdoor Recreation for Community and Economic Development”
As part of that, they’ve used Tumbler Ridge’s Outdoor Recreation Association (TRORA) as one of their main case studies.
The guide is for both communities and community organizations. It recognizes that most communities have not been systematic in their development of an outdoor recreation economy and therefore will be “bringing elements together in a way that matches the local context and capacity.”
The guide quotes Manda Maggs, the executive director of the Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark. “All the user groups have different visions, but we all want the same thing, the trails to be available in the future,” says Maggs. “We have to come together to make it happen.”
The guide talks about how people move here to work in mining or forestry, but stay for the outdoors, then transitions to talking about TRORA, which is an umbrella organization for the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society, the Tumbler Ridge Mountain Bike Association, the Grizzly Valley ATV Club and the TR Ridge Riders Snowmobile Association.
TRORA is a venue, says the guide, for the groups to communicate and collaborate, and, maybe most importantly, break down stereotypes.
“It’s a great point of finding common ground and a place to help each other,” says Maggs. “One club might be good at events, while another can offer advice on retaining volunteers. Through those discussions you get to know the folks on the other side of the table and learn that everyone has common goals.”
The guide goes on to focus on how Outdoor Recreation can help community well being and economic development. “This guide assists rural BC communities to identify, understand, and pursue improvements to the local economy and residents’ quality of life through outdoor recreation.”
While the guide is written mostly for local governments, they recognize that typically outdoor recreation development is typically an organic process, “sparked by one or two dedicated residents that gradually builds into a community priority that needs intentional planning and coordination to fully realize the benefits. For that reason, this guidebook is designed so that other audiences like economic developers, outdoor recreation-focused non-profit organizations, and Indigenous Nations will also find value.”
The guide is available for download at the ORCBC website at orcbc.ca.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
