Vancouver, BC – May 29, 2015 – The Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC) has awarded its 2015 Silver Award for Excellence in Policy Planning for Small Towns & Rural Areas to the Northern BC Mountain Bike Recreation & Tourism Development Strategy.

The project conducted by the Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA)  in association with David Nairne & Associates and in partnership with the Northern BC Tourism Association and the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition has laid the foundations for further development of mountain biking in the region.  Northern BC is recognized for its vast wilderness and outdoor recreation opportunities and is increasingly gaining attention as a mountain biking destination.  Mountain biking enthusiasts living in communities along the Yellowhead corridor have been building and maintaining trails for mountain biking for over a decade.  The strategy offers a sustainable approach to development based on regional collaboration, support for ongoing trail improvements, and local capacity building that will encourage greater community participation and destination awareness.

The Mountain Bike Development Strategy was only possible due to the support and enthusiastic participation of everyone from each of the communities involved in the project.  “This project would never have come together if it hadn’t been for the support of the staff and leadership, the local community groups that hosted and coordinated meetings, the riders who took us out on the trails, the community members and club reps who took time out of your busy schedules to attend our meetings and review the reports and documents’, said Patrick Lucas, lead planner for the project.  “Receiving this award shows that this project has established the work and efforts being undertaken by the communities to support mountain bike recreation and tourism development is setting new standards for best practices.”

The Awards Ceremony will be held on June 18, 2015 in the Pender Room of the Oceanic Plaza Building (1035 West Pender Street) in Vancouver, beginning at 5:45 PM.

The project team included Martin Littlejohn (MBTA), Patrick Lucas (David Nairne & Associates) and Donna Green (market research specialist).  For any inquiries or to obtain a copy of the report please contact Martin Littlejohn at martin@mbta.ca