BC Trails Day 2023
We held 1 special event in the Thomas Hayes Park, over 2 days, this year, Two BC Trails Days. We teamed up with the Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) for both days.
BC Trails Day is a day for celebrating and caring for BC’s trail systems, educating about responsible recreation and encouraging more British Columbians to enjoy trails and outdoor spaces. This initiative was launched by the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC in May 31st, and June 3rd, 2023 were the 2 dates chosen and our 3rd time participating in this event.The first date involved only PVSS students and the second date was open to the public. The students were taught about invasive plants found in the Park and then we conducted a weed pull.
By Pat & Ron
Update on our Bat Houses
By Marge
We have 2 bat houses in TH. They are located just west of Coyote Loop trail in the meadow, fairly close to water. They have been up for 1 full season and we thought we should check them out to see if they had been used. To our delight, 1 had been. We contacted BC Bats and were told that if we collected the guano (bat droppings) that we could send them away for DNA analysis to determine the species. This has since been done and we should get the results back this spring. Stay tuned!
Promotional Events
In 2023 we did more PR events than we have ever done – 10!
- The Armstrong Spallumcheen Volunteer Fair (Mar 14th)
- Green Fair (Apr 22nd)
- 2 BC Trails Days (May 31st & Jun 3rd)
- 3 Farmers Markets (Jun 24th, Jul 22nd & Sep 16th)
- IPE (Aug Green Fair 30th – Sep 2nd)
- Recreation Fair (Sep 9th)
- Christmas Market (Dec 2nd)
Aside from our usual green Fair Farmers Markets and Farmers Market events that we have a booth at, we added the Volunteer Fair and the Recreation Fair (hosted by and thanks to the Armstrong Curling Club) this year. Both were new in 2023. All events offer a wonderful opportunity to sell memberships and T-shirts, promote our local trails and hand our maps (thanks to our local Chamber of Commerce). Our display usually attracts a steady stream of interested public.
By Pat & Ron
IPE
Our largest event of the year, with the most number of volunteers and time commitment (19 volunteers, and ~ 200 hrs), was the Interior Provincial Exhibition, held Aug 31th – Sept 2nd. We were invited to participate as the IPE’s ‘Charity of Choice’ in 2023 was Mental Health. What better way to deal with your mental health then to be outside! Thanks to the IPE we had incredible exposure, coming into contact with hundreds, if not, thousands of people.
By Marge
We were able to display our new 4’X4′ theme panels of Mt RS (Rare & Endangered Species, Flora, Fauna and History). We sold many memberships, a few T-shirts, talked about the excellent hiking in Thomas Hayes Ecological Park and Mt Rose Swanson. One thing of great interest to the public was talking about what logging is proposed for Mt RS, during the winter of 2024/25 and the possible future plans of a Conservancy for the mountain. Many people showed their support of a Conservancy by signing a petition.
By Pat & Ron
