The Parksville Qualicum Beach area could be part of an ambitious Salish Sea Marine Trail 'Blueway'.
John Kimantas of the B.C. Marine Trails Network Association spoke to the Regional District Nanaimo (RDN) board at their regular meeting Tuesday about an ambitious loop running from Victoria up the east coast of Vancouver Island to this area, across to the Sunshine Coast and down past the Lower Mainland.
With 27,000 km of coast, B.C. is fertile ground for marine trails, which the website (www.bcmarinetrails.org) describes as a "network of access points and campsites along the entire B.C. coast... to ensure continued coastal access by... non-motorized and motorized small boats."
Kimantas said they hope to co-ordinate with the Trans Canada Trail, officially opening on July 1, 2017, Canada's 150th birthday. He was looking for a letter of support from the RDN which he hoped would become a stakeholder. The board appeared supportive and asked staff for a report on what their support would entail.
• The board agreed to enter into a dispute resolution process with the Town of Qualicum Beach and other interested municipalities regarding the RDN's Regional Growth Strategy.