Deluxe donation to Williams Lake Cycling Club from Taseko Mines
The Williams Lake Cycling Club received some funds from Taseko Mines' Gibraltar Mine in support of trail maintenance of Hillbilly Deluxe in July. Pictured are Matt Graham (from left), trail dog Foster, Shawn Lewis, Lauren Bernard, Ekai Jorgenson, and Soren Christensen.
Williams Lake Tribune
By Ruth Lloyd
Taseko Mines' Gibraltar Mine provided a financial boost to mountain bikers in Williams Lake with a grant towards trail maintenance for Williams Lake Cycling Club.
The Williams Lake Cycling Club (WLCC) was happy to receive $2,500 from Taseko's Gibraltar Mine recently.
WLCC applied for the grant funds to help out with maintenance of Hillbilly Deluxe, part of the Fox Mountain trail network.
It takes a lot of time, energy, and tools to maintain the extensive mountain bike network the WLCC oversees, and the funds will help complete some much-needed work on the classic downhill trail.
The club hopes to install stickers along the trail signs to showcase the company's support of the trail.
The funds will further the club's goal of maintaining and enhancing what already exists within the trail network, explained Shawn Lewis, club president.
This year, the club has already invested into Shuttle Bunny, another Fox Mountain network trail next to Hillbilly, in advance of the Ride Your Ride Ladies Bike Fest, which the club supported. Lewis said improving Hillbilly works into their plan to provide progressive options for riders.
The club is also hoping to use this funding to kick off a trail adoption program, where area businesses can do something similar. Businesses could sponsor a specific trail, for which they would then be acknowledged in signage. Businesses could contribute financially to do maintenance or provide support through staff volunteer hours as a team-building or community engagement program.
While the grant is only a fraction of the operational budget of the club, this is the second largest private donation the club has ever received.
The Williams Lake and District Credit Union has donated three years in a row towards the Boitanio Bike Park.
Lewis hopes the trail adoption program can grow to help create a more sustainable organization and network.
