News & features.
Destination BC | Andrew Strain
Outdoor Recreation Council applauds BCIT for making a Guichon Creek spillway passable for salmon
The 100,000-member Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) applauds the BC Institute of Technology (BCIT) for the major work now underway to modify the last major impediment to the movement of salmon along Guichon Creek so that it will become “fish passable.”
Future of Recreation: Planning for the better
Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. As the provincial government introduces a new planning regime, the six Ps apply to Crown land, too. For the recreation community, the changes mean significant new opportunities to express priorities and opinions.
Provincial Trails Advisory Body wraps up
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy recently notified ORCBC that the Provincial Trails Advisory Body (PTAB) is ending. Here’s our letter to the PTAB.
B.C. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework
The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship has released the draft B.C. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework. The deadline for feedback is January 15, 2024.
Future of Recreation: The power of catalysts
The same geography that makes Nelson synonymous with skiing, means when the snow melts the Kootenay city is equally great for hiking. Access to mountain trails is what attracted Scott Matson to town in 2018. After hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, Scott moved from Nebraska to Nelson where he started Northern Ultralight, a company that makes backpacking gear inspired by his adventures.
Announcing a new guide for outdoor stewardship actions
The Stewardship Inspiration Guide is a response to the growing need to take collective responsibility for the places where we live and play as more and more people engage in outdoor activities. The guide is a valuable resource to engage outdoor recreation groups and citizens in stewardship projects in their local communities.
Future of Recreation: The connection between outdoor gear manufacturing and infrastructure
A webinar on October 16, hosted by the ORCBC, will explore the connection between gear makers, outdoor recreation infrastructure and place. How a thriving outdoor manufacturing industry depends on a thriving recreation ecosystem and what needs to happen to ensure they both continue to grow. Register for the webinar here.
The 2023 BC Trails Day impact report is here
The 3rd Annual BC Trails Day was our biggest trail celebration yet. Read the report to learn about all we accomplished together.
ORCBC Story Series
From access to nature to apps and AI, the evolution of trail construction to electric power, this story series looks at how recreation will change and evolve over the short and long term.
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This story series explores the connection between climate change and recreation. Through conversations with scientists, advocates, land managers, recreationists, and more, we look at how a warming world and more extreme weather is impacting the activities we love. But more than glum news, we’re interested in how the recreation industry is already hard at work preparing for change, reducing the impacts, and actively trying to slow global warming.
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In this story series, we feature recreation organizations that are advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through trail and outdoor recreation projects. We hope these stories inspire other community groups to contribute to advancing reconciliation in a meaningful and positive way, thereby ensuring the long-term sustainability of the outdoor recreation activities we love.
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In a time when trails, roads, campgrounds, rivers and lakes are busier than ever, it’s important to remember that it takes a community to make fun possible. This story series profiles the people who work behind the scenes in B.C., so you can have that special moment today.