When our team completed a portion of our project in Coquitlam, we wanted to find a creative way to benefit the people who live, work, and play in the area. We learned the space we once used for storage connects to the West Coast Scale Trail where radio-controlled vehicle enthusiasts regularly practice their hobby. The space also provides easier access to Eagle Mountain which is important to four-wheel drive off roaders looking to explore the backcountry.
FortisBC community relations liaison (EGP), Chloe Finn explains the reasons that inspired the donation.
“We learned that the area is a popular spot for members of the West Coast Scale Trail and Four Wheel Drive Association of B.C.” Chloe said. “So, along with our partners at SMJV, it made sense to connect with everyone involved to see how we could help make that area more accessible and useful in a way that made sense to those communities.”
Creating something meaningful for the community
Chloe reached out to superintendent at Surerus Murphy Joint Venture (SMJV), Gunar Hermanson, and to West Coast Scale Trail president, Robin Lawrence. They discussed how the space we’d leave after we’d completed our work could be used best. Everyone agreed a designated space to park for easier access to the trails would mean a lot to hobbyist communities.
The West Coast Scale Trail is a popular destination for RC hobbyists, hosting a network of scaled courses designed for radio controlled vehicles. Robin explains how important a place to park and to attend events is to the RC community.
“Our community represents a rapidly growing hobby in British Columbia. This trail is considered Canada's largest public RC course. But we never really had a place to have events or parking. Relying on residential parking when we've had over 100 people here, clogged up the area. Now we can fit everybody in here and the event space all at once. We can have a good-sized community gathering in a large area that's ours. For our community, it's a place we can call home.”
Little vehicles and big ones, too
Another important contributor to the parking lot project whom Chloe reached out to was Morgan McMillian from the Four Wheel Drive Association of B.C. Morgan represents the off-roading community who have the same enthusiasm for greater access to the area, specifically to Eagle Mountain. He played a decisive role in making the area one that supports full-sized four wheel drive vehicles.
Morgan connected with the idea of a new parking lot as a reflection of his Association’s code of ethics. This includes responsible land use and care while giving people access to the backcountry.
“Chloe and her team were amazing to work with on this project.” Morgan said. “From coordinating with the field supervisors to arranging meetings and securing approvals, they made the entire process smooth and collaborative. FortisBC made it clear that they truly support the communities they work in. It was great to see how the materials from the pipeline project were recycled back into local improvements, constructed using repurposed materials. This is an approach that benefits both the project and the environment.”
Morgan sees the dedicated space for parking as an invitation to his membership to more easily enjoy their hobbies together in a place where they feel welcome.
“The space is a huge asset to our community.” Morgan continued. “Having a place to park near Eagle Mountain as a starting point for off-roading allows us to host events without impacting residential streets, and it makes setup and maintenance far more convenient for our volunteers. This support from FortisBC has put wind in the sails of all the 4WDABC and WCST volunteers who are working to make this an outstanding outdoor recreation space for everyone.”
An important message to the community
Our EGP team worked with these hobbyists throughout the project, so we had an opportunity to learn what was important to them and some of the challenges they faced. That’s what led to this project. Chloe talks about what the new parking lot means for the community and the message it helps to send.
“We want to help create something valuable for the people who live in the places where we operate.” She said. “Transitioning a former storage space for a parking lot may seem like a small thing from the outside. But to the community, it means so much.”
To keep up with our progress on the Eagle Mountain – Woodfibre Gas Pipeline Project, be sure to check out our project updates page.
