UPDATES - If you would like to be on our Update email list, please contact us at activetwa @ gmail.com
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ATWA Updates: February 27, 2025
1. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: Finally, we have some good news to report. In a recent email exchange with Parks and Community Development, we asked if Parks had any idea as to the format of the “further engagement” promised as a result of the concerns raised by the people of Whitehorse North in a survey that followed the approval of the neighbourhood trail plan in 2022.
We received the following response from Landon Kulych who has returned to his position as Manager of Parks and Community Development:
“Staff have engaged a consultant to begin moving the project forward. Currently the anticipated time frame for engagement with Whitehorse North residents is set to begin in April. The format of this engagement will be consistent with neighborhood trail plan engagements post adoption of the 2020 trail plan. As you are aware, the task force model ceased in lieu of something more targeted at residents of the neighbourhood at hand. A targeted survey and charrette open to residents of Whitehorse North is the anticipated approach.”
This gives one the impression that the whole process is about to begin from scratch, in part because the format for the neighbourhood trail planning process outlined in the 2020 Trail Plan was not followed. It seems like the City has learned the error of its ways.
However, we need to keep an eye on whether or not the City follows through on its new commitment. You may be interested to know that this is the third attempt the City has made in trying to come up with a trail plan for the area. One wonders how much time, money, and energy has been spent to date in an effort to get a trail plan for Whitehorse North.
If you are interested in learning more about what happened, or more accurately what did not happen the last time around, please see our 2023 email to those doing the review of the then newly completed trail plan. (See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.html and read down to the following line: So, is ATWA satisfied with the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan process. The answer is NO!)
2. Off-Road Vehicles and Children: An article from The Canadian Press of February 24, 2025 by Nicole Ireland and entitled, Off-road vehicles not safe for kids, Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) warns, is an article that is very applicable to our part of the world. Of course, the CPS has been saying this for years, but governments continue to ignore the information. (See https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/off-road-vehicles-not-safe-for-kids-canadian-paediatric-society-warns/.)
3. Warming climate, wacky weather create skating trail trials and tribulations: Climate change is impacting recreation. This CBC News article of December 31, 2024 by Bartley Kives, looks at how Canadian outdoor skating trails and rinks are being affected by warming temperatures. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/skating-ice-canada-rivers-ponds-1.7420551.)
4. Bike Sharing: This kind of public transportation is growing fast is the title of a CBC News article by Emily Chung and posted on July 11, 2024. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/what-on-earth-bike-sharing-1.7260301.)
5. 2020 Trail Plan: For your information this is the new link to the video of the December 07, 2020 City Council meeting at which the 2020 Trail Plan was approved by City Council. (See https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2020-12-07.mp4.html.)
Please note that the City now only provides video of the last four years (2021-2024) of council meetings.
We thank Legislative Services (Michael Prowse and Noah Brown) for making the effort to find this video in existing archives.
Please go to Topic #15 “New Trail Plan” and scroll to 108.25 where Councillor Boyd told citizens that, “administration confirmed that a top priority [would be] to identify the policies and bylaws that need to be updated” to reflect the intentions of the 2020 Trail Plan.
Unfortunately, the Trail Plan has not as yet been updated “to reflect the intentions of the 2020 Trail Plan,” a plan that is now into the half way mark of its ten-year life. Perhaps City Council needs to add a “Follow-Up” committee to ensure such promises are kept.
6. Bad News for Mountain Bikers: A CBC article by Rafferty Baker dated January, 19/2025 and entitled, Rocky Mountain Bikes under creditor protection as global bicycle industry reels from effects of pandemic is a sad, but interesting story. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rocky-mountain-bike-creditor-protection-1.7434928.
7. Safe Snowmobiler and Safe ATV Cards: It took three months, but we finally got a response from Bylaw Services. Unfortunately, the response did not include the figures for which we asked.
We sent a repeat request for both figures, and for a meeting that would allow a better understanding of the response we received.
Just so you know Elizabeth Beecroft, is the new Manager of Bylaw Services. Contact: 867-668-8317.
8. Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment: On February 18 the following email was sent to a member of City Council:
“It is my understanding that councillors were taking part in a strategic planning session in late January.
I am not sure if you are permitted to provide the information I am asking, but thought if there was any chance, I should at least try.
I would like to know if ATWA’s request for amendment to the Snowmobile Bylaw made it on the list. If it did, would you have any idea as to when the subject might come before City Council?
If it did not make the list, were any reasons given as to why not?
If it did not make the list, do you think despite this, that any councillor might introduce a motion before City Council to amend the bylaw?
If there is no hope of the issue coming before City Council via the strategic planning route, or the councillor motion route, I would like to know.”
We have not as yet received a response.
9. Active Transportation Fund Funding Application: (Whistle Bend Connector Paved Trail)
Background:
“A budget amendment was presented to add the Whistle Bend Active Transportation Connector project to the 2026 Provisional Capital Budget. A detailed funding strategy will be presented as part of the next capital budget cycle, but as of now, the project is expected to cost a total of $12,500,00, with 75% ($9,375,000) being funded through the new Active Transportation Fund from the Government of Canada.” (City Administration Package for council meeting of February 24.)
Apparently, this paved so-called Active Transportation Trail is to connect Whistle Bend to the Downtown Area. The Government of Canada defines active transportation as “the movement of people or goods powered by human activity and includes walking, cycling and the use of human-powered or hybrid mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters, e-bikes, rollerblades, snowshoes, cross-country skis, and more.” This definition mirrors that of the City of Whitehorse.
It is thought that this paved trail will be some 4 to 6 kilometres long. Its route has not been decided. Apparently, there will be public engagement on this project.
At a recent council meeting it was said that maintenance costs would run around $10,000 per year per kilometre, so if it is 6 kilometres long that would amount to $60,000 a year. There was no confirmation as to whether or not this would include both snow clearing and pavement maintenance costs.
Editorial Comment: Not sure how the City can apply for this funding as due to the Snowmobile Bylaw any so-called active transportation trail built outside the Downtown Area, as defined by both the Snowmobile and ATV Bylaw, would be open to snowmobile use in winter. As such, it could not be considered as an active transportation trail.
In order to become such a trail, an amendment would have to be made to the Snowmobile Bylaw to add the trail to the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. And, there is no guarantee that such an amendment would be approved by City Council. And, the amendment process could not start until after the paved trail was built.
This would suggest that the City cannot guarantee that if it received funding from the Active Transportation Fund, that when built, the trail would not be open to snowmobile use in winter. As such, an application should not be made. However, this is only your editor’s opinion.
Emails have been sent to Mayor and Council raising this concern, but no reply has been received. It will be interesting to see how the City will address the issue. Of course, it is always possible that the City does not see it as an issue.
Apparently, the former application date of February 26 has been extended, and that currently the City intends on submitting an application at the end of next week.
If you would like to learn more about the Active Transportation Fund, go to https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/trans/index-eng.html.
ATWA Updates: January 15, 2025
1. City Launches New Snowshoe Program: This City of Whitehorse (COW) initiative is something that many of you would probably enjoy. The COW provided the following information on the program:
“Join the City and get to know Whitehorse’s neighbourhood trails.
Every second Thursday from January 16 to March 27, the City will host a family-friendly snowshoe walk along a neighbourhood trail. A knowledgeable guide will be on-hand for each walk, sharing facts about local plants and wildlife.
The walks will take place from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on a different neighbourhood trail each time. No need to register; simply show up at 4 p.m. at the walk’s location.
The first walk will take place in partnership with the Yukon Conservation Society on January 16 at Birch Loop in Crestview off Rainbow Road.
All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Snowshoes will be provided by the City for free. Each walk can accommodate up to 15 participants on a first come, first served basis.
Those taking part are reminded to dress in layers and bring water bottles for this scenic adventure.
Walks will be cancelled if the temperature is -25C or lower including wind chill.
For more information, contact [email protected].”
2. CALL TO ACTION EMAIL: We could really use your help on this. All associates were sent this CALL TO ACTION email on the 8th of January. Without your support it will be difficult to convince City Council to at least consider amending the Snowmobile Bylaw as ATWA has proposed. Please copy ATWA if you do send an email to Mayor and Council.
Please go to our website at https://www.activetwa.org/change-snowmobile-bylaw.html.
Scroll down to “How You Can Help.” There are three simple steps that you can follow to aid us in getting our amendment proposal before City Council. Open the Download File at the top left of this page for the reasons why we believe the amendment proposal should be considered by City Council.
3. Cycling Improvements Coming to Black Street: The following information has also been provided by the COW.
“New bicycle pushbuttons will be installed on Black Street at the intersections of 2nd Avenue and 4th Avenue next week.
The pushbuttons will allow cyclists to activate the pedestrian signal without entering the sidewalk, enhancing the commute for those on foot and cycling.
This is a step towards cycling improvements for downtown east-west corridors with connections to the Millennium Trail implemented as part of the Active Transportation Spot Improvement Capital Project. The City is committed to continually improving the active transportation network. Stay tuned for more upgrades!
For more information, contact Engineering Services at [email protected].”
4. Capital Budget: On January 13 ATWA provided input at City Council’s public input session on the 2025-2028 Capital Expenditure Program. Our presentation centred on two items found under the Parks & Community Development budget for 2025. One item concerned the $100,000 to be spent on the 2020 Trail Plan implementation, and the other, a $222,000 item, for the removal of the Chadburn Lake (Rotary) cabins.
Apparently, these are the former Rotary cabins. The COW is removing them as they “are a liability to the public, and are beyond repair.”
Apparently, the high cost of removal is due to the cabins “remote location and the hazard assessment done on the buildings, [and that] it will require adequate funding to safely and properly remove the cabins without disturbing the natural surroundings or being disruptive to bats,” as the cabin and its immediate surroundings are prime brown bat habitat*.
According to the COW, staff “worked with YG bat specialists last fall to install a new bat house beside the cabin. A second bat house will be installed this year as well. We are also planning ahead to ensure de-construction of the cabins does not occur during migration times for the bats.”
One of the initiatives of the 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan was to "Conduct a building inspection of the Rotary Cabins at Chadburn Lake and develop a strategy for managing them, while being careful to protect bat habitat.” So, this initiative has been satisfied, but unfortunately the structures proved to be unsalvageable. (See 2.2., page 25 of Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, June 2017)
5. Wild Discoveries: A “caribou hike” up Fish Lake ridge is scheduled for Saturday, January 18. This starts at 12 noon and ends at 5 p.m. Registration is required. Go to https://yukon.ca/en/wild-discoveries for more information on this hike and on others scheduled later in the year.
6. ATV and Snowmobile Safe Cards: These cards are a bylaw requirement for all ATV and snowmobile operators. We have been trying for almost two months to find out how many of these cards have been issued since the program began.
We contacted Bylaw Services on November 19, and were told that the information would be sent to us. Apparently, it appears that getting the required information is not as easy as one might think. In August of 2021, there were 605 snowmobile operators who had obtained a Safe Snowmobile Card.
At the time (2021) we did not ask for the number of ATV operators who had obtained a Safe ATV Card, but have now asked for that information as well.
The requested information would give us some idea as to the success of the Safe Card program, and to the actual number of responsible ATV and snowmobile operators in Whitehorse. Hopefully, we will have this information for our February Updates.
7. Globe and Mail E-Bike Article: Andrew Clark wrote this Nov. 15, 2024 Globe and Mail article entitled, “We could make e-bikes safer for everyone or continue the Canadian
tradition of doing nothing.” (See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/culture/article-we-could-make-e-bikes-safer-for-everyone-or-continue-the-canadian/.)
8. Yukon Conservation Meeting: If you are a member of the Yukon Conservation Society, you will have undoubtedly received its recent email to the organization’s membership.
“The Board of Directors would like to invite you to a Membership Brainstorming Session on Thursday, February 6th from 6pm to 8pm at Parnell House and virtually to discuss the path forward.” The email explained why this meeting is necessary.
If you are a member, we encourage you to attend. If you are not a member, please consider joining, and then attend the meeting. (See https://www.yukonconservation.ca.)
ATWA Updates: December 11th, 2024
1. McIntyre Creek (Chasàn Chùa) Regional Park Survey: This survey is now closed. According to information provided on the survey site, “The Steering Committee will make a recommendation to the governments about a boundary and the way to protect the area.”
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a timeline provided as to when the recommendation will be made, other than sometime in the “near future.”
With five governments involved, it will be interesting to see how this process actually develops. Let’s hope there is something left to protect when the time comes around to approving a management plan for the park.
ATWA was not permitted to attend the so-called “stakeholder” meetings, even though we asked, as we are not a registered society. This is a new restriction on public input that was not publicized on the survey site. However, we did submit a short submission to the Steering Committee on the subject.
Unfortunately, as we did not know what park issues were to be discussed at the stakeholder’s meetings, we were somewhat restricted in providing pertinent information that may have been helpful for the committee.
You can view our submission under Issues. Scroll down to McIntyre Creek, or simply go to https://www.activetwa.org/mcintyre-creek-park.html and open the file located at the top left corner of the page.
Some of you may be wondering what has happened with regard to the Chadburn Park Management Plan. Well, so are we. Seven years have passed since the management plan was approved, and the City of Whitehorse (COW) has yet to issue any update on what has been accomplished. You can view the plan at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChadburnLakePMPlanJune2017.pdf.
2. Alaska Highway Multi-Use Trail Survey: You are probably aware of this new territorial government survey. Information about the proposed project and access to a survey on the subject can be found at https://yukon.ca/en/alaska-highway-multi-use-trail-plan-whitehorse. Please note the survey closes on January 05, 2025.
According to the information provided, “This project will create a well-connected trail network in Whitehorse. The improved trails will support active transportation like walking, biking, and skiing.”
Things that you might want to consider before completing the survey:
a) According to the City of Whitehorse, in order for a trail to be considered an active transportation trail it would have to be free of motorized use.
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
“Any form of human-powered travel, such as walking, cycling, skateboarding, cross-country skiing and more. Walking and cycling are among the most popular and can be combined with other modes, such as public transit.” (2020 Trail Plan p. 44)
However, there are exceptions for certain types of e-bikes as follows:
“Class 1 e-bikes and aMTBs are permitted on all Trails and Bicycle lanes.
Class 2 e-bikes, e-scooters and e-mobility devices are permitted only on Type 1 Trails described in Schedule “A” of this bylaw, motorized multiple-use trails, and Bicycle lanes.”
Class 3 e-bikes are permitted only on Roadways, Bicycle lanes, motorized multiple use trails and the Two-Mile-Hill multiple use trail.”
Note: An Adaptive Mountain Bike (aMTB) is not considered a Motor vehicle for the purposes of this bylaw.
If you are curious about the definitions of each of the various classes of e-bikes you can consult the COW E-Bike Bylaw.
The COW seems to imply that an “accessible” trail would also have to be free of motorized use.
Accessibility – Providing safe, accessible options for all to walk, cycle or wheel on the trails will be increasingly important to support older adults, families with young children and those with mobility constraints. Ensuring accessible options is not only important for residents but also for visitors. (2020 Trail Plan, p. 2)
b) Information given at the site also says that, “As part of this project, we’ll explore options for including space for off-highway recreational vehicles like snowmobiles and ATVs.”
It goes on to say that the project will accommodate “off-highway recreation vehicles.”
The information does not indicate how this “accommodation” will occur. One doubts that there is enough money floating around to support two trails on the same side of the highway even if only one is paved.
According to the COW motorized trail map, there is a Motorized Multiple Use trail on the west side of the Alaska Hwy that extends from the junction of Hwy #2 at Forestview, south to Chronkite Road.
As that trail already serves the motorized user, one would think this would free up the other side of the highway for a paved active transportation trail. Some road crossing infrastructure might have to be provided for motorized users. Please note the condition of this MMU trail, and see if you think it measures up to the MMU definition of a “designed” trail. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/LatestMMUtrailmapupdatedMa.pdf.)
c) In 2018, according to the Bicycle Network Plan, a kilometre of 3-metre-wide paved trail would cost some $600,000 to build. Inflation alone since that time would bring the cost up to $696,000. One must consider the fact that one way or another it will be the public that will have to pay for the cost of this project.
d) Who will be responsible for grooming the trail in the winter? (Some might want the trail cleared down to pavement.) Who will be responsible for putting down and maintaining tracks for XC skiing, if the trail is not cleared down to pavement? Who will be responsible for the cost of maintaining the trail?
e) On whose shoulders will fall the necessity of policing any motorized sections to ensure these vehicles are following the city’s ATV and Snowmobile Bylaws. Our Bylaw Services is stretched to the limit as it is.
f) Will this project attract more motorized recreational vehicles to neighbourhoods along the Alaska Highway? Or, will it serve as an Out and Away route for such vehicles? Was not the idea of Out and Away routes to get these vehicles out of town and away from residential areas?
Please do take the time to fill out the survey, but consider the above comments prior to doing so.
3. ATWA Delegate Presentation of December 2nd: It was felt necessary to address some of the comments made during the Community Services Committee section of the November 18th City Council meeting. (You can view that discussion by viewing #22 Community Services Committee at https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-11-18.mp4.html.)
To view the December 2nd Delegate Presentation, go to https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-12-02.mp4.html. Click on #5. At the same site go to #16 Community Services Committee to hear discussion on at least one aspect of the presentation.
There was a December 3rd, CBC radio interview with the delegate that was featured on its afternoon program. CKRW also had a brief note on its website on the subject. (See https://www.ckrw.com/2024/12/04/active-trails-whitehorse-association-wants-citys-snowmobile-by-law-updated/.)
4. What do people think of e-scooters in Welsh cities: Although one does not see many of these devices in Whitehorse, we should be aware that their use could grow. This BBC November 26 article by Georgia Ferda, discusses some of the pros and cons of their use. (See https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgl4w9x7ddko.)
5. Yukon Conservation Society presentation: The YCS will be holding a board meeting on the evening of December 16. The board has agreed to allow ATWA to make a ten-minute ZOOM presentation with regard to getting YCS support in our effort to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw.
At present, we are asking the City of Whitehorse to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw, and prohibit snowmobile operators from using non-motorized multiple use trails (as defined in the 2020 Trail Plan), greenbelts, and open spaces, and to restrict snowmobile operation to motorized multiple use (MMU) trails that are designed and designated for their use.
We certainly appreciate the opportunity to appear before the YCS board.
Enjoy the holidays!
ATWA Updates: November 28, 2024
1. Injured cyclists can't sue province: This is (in part) the title of a CBC News article by Adam Carter posted Nov 21, 2024. For those of you who spend time cycling in city centres, including Whitehorse, you might be interested in giving this article a good read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-bike-lane-bill-amendments-1.7390145.)
2. Valleyview South Master Plan (VSMP): Apparently, 4.9 kilometres of paved Non-Motorized Multiple Use trail will eventually be built in this area.In the Master Plan under the title, Recreational Motor Vehicles, is a most interesting paragraph. We have broken this paragraph into sections in order to facilitate comment.
The paragraph begins by saying that “The Transportation Concept does not direct further expansion of the City’s motorized trail network.”
In light of the last sentence of the paragraph one must wonder how such a comment could be made.
“The area is already well served by the Hamilton Boulevard motorized [Multi Use Paved trail] and the new neighbourhood’s Multi Use Paved (MUP) trail can offer an alternative experience for non-motorized users.”
Again, we are given the impression that the new MUP trail will be free of motorized users.
“All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are allowed to use City streets for the purposes of connecting to the nearest motorized multi-use trail and/or permitted open space, subject to other requirements of the ATV Bylaw.”
This is interesting in two ways. One, there is no mention of the fact that snowmobilers outside the Downtown Area (as defined by the Snowmobile Bylaw), are also free to “use City streets for the purposes of connecting to the nearest motorized multi-use trail . . .”
The point being that all motorized users have alternatives that make it unnecessary for them to use the so-called non-motorized multiple use paved trail when it is built.
And, according to the VSMP, ATVs are permitted in open spaces. This is completely contrary to the ATV Bylaw, which clearly states that ATVs are not permitted in any open space as defined in the Definition section of the Bylaw. (See #8 under Prohibited Area p. 5)
Finally, the plan says that, “Snowmobiles are generally allowed on trails, subject to the Snowmobile Bylaw.”
So, for half the year the paved trail will be open to snowmobilers unless the trail is added to the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
If this is not done, the 4.9 km trail will simply become yet another MMU trail, and will result in the increase and “further expansion of the City’s motorized trail network.” Go to Engage Whitehorse, and scroll down to Valleyview South Master Plan at https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/ (p.38)
3. Snow Dog Trail: It looks like this trail has been given a new name by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club. Apparently, it is now called Ollie’s Trail.
4. Fraser B.C. Webcam: You can access the webcam at this site: https://www.windy.com/-Webcams-Fraser/webcams/1635962357?60.283,-122.168,4,m:fijacry. This may give you a better idea as to the conditions in the area if you are thinking of heading out to do various winter activities. Of course, you should also consult other sources to ensure you will not be disappointed when you arrive.
5. Hamilton Blvd. Paved Trail: This motorized multi-use paved trail was in the news recently. A November 9, 2024 Yukon News article entitled, Whitehorse cyclist group pushes city to clear Hamilton Blvd. trail, by Talar Stockton, discusses the Urban Cycling Coalition’s attempt to have City Council “take over snow and ice removal on the trail.”
There is lots of interesting information in this article. (See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/whitehorse-cyclist-group-pushes-city-to-clear-hamilton-blvd-trail-7635747).
For example, Krista Mroz, the director of community services, said the city has a $10,000 memorandum of understanding with trail stewards to maintain multiple trails throughout the city. She emphasized the agreement was not a service contract but rather a stewardship agreement.” (One wonders what the difference is between a service contract and a stewardship agreement.)
It is also interesting to learn that the Klondike Snowmobile Association (KSA) “maintains six hundred kilometres of trails.” It is not made clear in the article as to whether or not these trails are all within the City of Whitehorse. One would think though, that all are maintained primarily for snowmobiling, which is only logical as the KSA is a snowmobile organization.
Another interesting piece of information found in the article tells us that the KSA “meets with the city’s parks and recreation department once a month, and they are in regular contact via email.”
As for the Hamilton Blvd paved trail, Mark Daniels President of the Klondike Snowmobile Association, tells us that “The original [Hamilton Trail] was pioneered by the KSA [and] intended to be an out-and-away route. It was never intended to be an active transport route and [he] understand[s] it does not meet the engineering standards of one.”
He also said that “The trail was widened and paved when the population in the area grew.” (Email to ATWA of 11/05/2024)
Mark is not aware of who did the actual paving work, or from where the funding came to build the paved trail.
According to Parks & Community Services, the “trail was paved when the Hamilton Boulevard improvement project was completed by [the] Yukon Government.”
As to whether or not funds for the building of the paved trail came from federal Gas Tax funds, we are still in the dark.
For your information the current trail is 4.68 kilometres long.
6. McIntyre Creek Regional Park: Do not forget that “You can share your thoughts on protecting Chasàn Chùa (McIntyre Creek) with [the Steering Committee] until December 6.
To share your thoughts with the committee, you can fill out an online survey at https://www.chasanchua.ca/have-your-say. One assumes that besides completing the survey, you could also send in a more detailed written document.
The above site has lots of additional information which you are encouraged to read prior to filling out the survey or making a formal submission.
7. Active Transportation Paved Trails: On November 18, ATWA made a presentation before City Council on so-called active transportation paved trails located outside the Downtown Area, as defined by the Snowmobile Bylaw.
You can view that presentation at https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-11-18.mp4.html. Go to #5 Delegations. ATWA was the second presenter.
At that same meeting, members of City Council did discuss aspects of our request to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw. You can view that discussion by viewing #22 Community Services Committee.
It was an interesting discussion in which comments were made that may have to be challenged at subsequent council meetings. Of course, that means going before City Council as a delegate yet again.
8. Re-submission. Associates may recall that on March 4/2022, ATWA sent a document to City Council’s Community Services Committee requesting an amendment to the Snowmobile Bylaw. In the document we outlined the various reasons why we felt the bylaw should be amended. We provided references that supported our reasons.
Twenty-one associates added their names to that request.
Unfortunately, we did not receive a response to our submission.
Now that we have new members of City Council, and in light of our November 18 delegate presentation, it was thought that we should re-submit an updated version of the 2022 document.
At the very least, it should give members of council a better idea of why ATWA continues to ask for an amendment to the Snowmobile Bylaw.
On November 26 we provided members of City Council with a hard copy of that fifteen-page document. As well, we sent a digital copy of the document to Mayor and Council.
9. Barrage of carnage: For those of you who mountain bike you may want to read this Vancouver Sun Nov. 25, 2024 article by Lori Culbert. (See https://vancouversun.com/feature/bc-spinal-surgeon-warns-of-rise-in-mountain-biking-injuries.)
10. November not good for cyclists: A Nov. 25, 2024 CBC article by Adam Carter entitled, Ontario passes bill that allows major Toronto bike lanes to be ripped out, is one that all urban cyclists should read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bill-212-bike-lanes-highway-413-passes-1.7392821.)
ATWA Updates: October 31, 2024
1. ATV Season Coming to an End: As per the ATV Bylaw, “A person may operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail during the time period April 1 to October 31 in each year and shall not operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail from November 1 to March 31 in each year.”
So, after October 31, you should not be seeing any of these machines operating on any trails within the boundaries of the City of Whitehorse. Unlike snowmobiles, ATVs can only operate on MMU trails, and only between April 1 and October 31.
2. Bike Lanes and Traffic Congestion: A CBC article of October 22, 2024 by Nicole Mortillaro entitled, “Do bike lanes really cause more traffic congestion? Here's what the research says” is an interesting read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/bike-lanes-impacts-1.7358319).
3. New City Council: The following is from the City of Whitehorse:
“Whitehorse residents have elected a new City Council. Kirk Cameron is Mayor-elect of Whitehorse.
Dan Boyd, Lenore Morris, Paolo Gallina, Anne Middler, Jenny Hamilton and Eileen Melnychuk are Councillors-elect of Whitehorse City Council. The new City Council will be sworn-in to office on [Friday] November 1 and serve a four-yearterm. [The ceremony will take place at City Hall at noon.]
The 2024 Whitehorse Municipal Election took place on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
The results of the election are now official, confirming the preliminary results announced on October 17.
A total of 6,115 eligible electors participated in the 2024 Whitehorse Municipal Election, representing a voter turnout of approximately 27%. In 2021, a total of 6,042 eligible electors participated, representing a voter turnout of approximately 31%.
Find additional info, including the full list of official results, online at whitehorse.ca/election.”
What is sad about the election is that only 27% of eligible voters actually voted. This lack of participation is something that the new City Council might want to address before the next municipal election occurs in four years’ time.
4. Snow Dog Trail: It appears that this trail is now completed and open to fat biking, skiing, and snowshoeing. According to the original application, “the Contagious Mountain Bike Club is committed to grooming this trail in winter for all users as well as any summer clearing for down trees or excessive vegetation growth.”
At present, the groomed trail is about 63.5 centimetres or 25 inches wide, so please take care as there is no room for skiers, or those on snowshoes to safely get around fat bikers or vice versa without going off the groomed trail.
You can access one end of the new trail from the Magnusson Parking lot. Just look across the road and you will see a power pole to your right. The new trail goes off to the left of the pole, and the old trail goes straight up the little hill by the power pole. The new trail is groomed when possible, so it should be readily apparent. Eventually, the new trail cuts back to the Grey Mountain Road opposite the sign for the Rest in Peace trail (RIP).
5. Active Transportation Paved Trails: There are a number of issues that we would like to bring before the new City Council. One of these involves the Myth and the Reality of so-called paved Active Transportation Trails.
We have put together a document on the subject, which we will be sending to Mayor & Council after the swearing-in ceremony on November 1. A response will be requested.
You can view that document under Issues on our website. See Active Transportation Trails at https://www.activetwa.org/active-transportation-trails.html.
If you have any comments on the document, please send us an email at [email protected].
6. The Right to Backpack: An Outside Magazine article of October 8, 2024 by Adam Roy will be interesting to those who have spent time on the trails of England, and/or those who backpack anywhere. (See https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/the-right-to-backpack-is-on-trial-in-england/.)
7. McIntyre Creek Regional Park: Today (October 31) we sent out an email to all our associates entitled, McIntyre Creek Protection Process begins.
Apparently, “You can share your thoughts on protecting Chasàn Chùa (McIntyre Creek) with us [Steering Committee] until December 6. To share your thoughts with us, you can:
The Steering Committee will also be reaching out to stakeholders (not us apparently) in the community to gather their feedback on protecting Chasàn Chùa (McIntyre Creek).”
When you go to chasanchua.ca/have-your-say make sure you click on all the titles at the top of the page as there is much information there to review before filling out any survey. (See Background, The Process, Have Your Say, Contact, and News.)
If possible, the following report should be read before filling out the survey, or going to the open house next week (Wednesday, Nov. 6). (See McIntyre Creek Protected Area Report by Michael Walton Consulting (March, 2021) at https://yukon.ca/sites/yukon.ca/files/emr/emr-mcintyre-creek-protected-area-report.pdf.) This report will provide you with much information concerning the area and will allow you to make more informative comments when filling out the survey and/or making individual written submissions (if permitted).
Apparently, Current Opportunities [for input] include “Stakeholder Meetings and Sessions [which]
will take place in November by invitation.
Unfortunately, despite the fact that ATWA tried to register today for these meetings and sessions we have now been told that, “The government partners have requested that session participation be limited to registered societies in good standing.” This information was not provided under Current Opportunities.
So, as we are not a registered society, we are not permitted to take part in these stakeholder meetings. This despite the fact that we were accepted as a stakeholder when it came to the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChadburnLakePMPlanJune2017.pdf Acknowledgements.) This is a concern that we will definitely raise at the coming Open House.
ATWA Updates: September 28, 2024
1. Municipal Election: It is a good idea to ensure that you are registered to vote. You can do this by visiting the City of Whitehorse Home Page. Scroll down to Official Election Candidates.
The following information was received from the City of Whitehorse on September 26.
The nomination period for the 2024 Whitehorse Municipal Election closed at noon on September 26. Election Day is Thursday, October 17, 2024.
Official Candidates
The official list of candidates for the 2024 Whitehorse Municipal Election has now been confirmed. To determine the order in which candidates will appear on the ballot, names of confirmed candidates were chosen through a drawing of the lots as follows.
The candidates running for Mayor are:
Kirk Cameron
Dino Rudniski
Dan Bushnell
Stephen Kwok
Jack Bogaard
The candidates running for Councillor are:
Ken Schick
Tony Lundgaard
Gary Smith
Daniel Schneider
Andrew Robulack
Sarah Newton
Anne Middler
Jenny Hamilton
Nesty Paron
Norma Felker
Jay Wilneff
Michelle Stimson
Marta Rogers
Paolo Gallina
Eileen Melnychuk
Jean-Sébastien Blais
Dan Boyd
Lenore Morris
2. Ontario Bike Lanes: A September 19, 2024 CBC article by Travis Dhanraj entitled, Ontario eyes barring new bike lanes where car lanes would be cut, is certainly one that is worth a read. Having recently flown over Toronto I can certainly attest to its problems with congestion. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-government-bike-lanes-1.7328878.)
3. Whitehorse Nordic: For those of you who spend much of the winter on Whitehorse ski trails, please be aware that Whitehorse Nordic will be hosting the Canadian Masters Championships from February 19th to 23rd, 2025. Volunteers will be needed. Of course, if you meet the requirements for participation, then you might want to start your training.
4. McDonald Creek Trail: This trail, located in the Carcross Area (Montana Mountain), will be closed as of October 1st, 2024. This is a seasonal trail closure. (See destinationcarcross.ca for more information.) If you have not as yet visited this site, make sure you do. It has a wealth of information about the Carcross area (that if accessed) will make your visit even more enjoyable.
5. Potential Change to Bicycle Laws: A September 7, 2024 CBC article by Chad Pawson entitled, Stop or yield? New research supports law change for cyclists, discusses the results of a recent study that may help to initiate new laws with regard to cyclists and stop signs. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rolling-bicycle-stops-oregon-state-university-study-british-columbia-reaction-1.7315683.)
6. Whitehorse Trail Closures: The following information is from the City of Whitehorse Facebook Page.
“Attention Whitehorse trail users. Between September 28 and October 10 some trails in the north and south growth areas may be closed due to geotechnical work. Consult the attached maps or follow the links to see when and where these closures are taking place: bit.ly/3N07iSo or bit.ly/4dp1g8u.
This work is part of ongoing feasibility studies in the north and south growth areas. You can learn more about this project here: bit.ly/4ehg9eq.”
7. A 150-Million Dollar Two-Kilometre Trail: An August 18, 2024 CBC news article entitled, Councillors question $150M cost of 2-km trail extension, makes for an interesting read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/councillors-react-railpath-extension-1.7295724.)
8. Snow Dog Trail: As of September 26, the new Snow Dog Trail located in Chadburn Lake Regional Park was still undergoing work by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club.
ATWA Updates: August 28, 2024
1. Damage to McIntyre Creek Regional Park Wetlands: The following email, written by Becky Striegler, was sent to various local governments and enforcement officials on August 5. On August 9, it was published in The Yukon Star. She has given us permission to include her letter in this month’s ATWA Updates. It reads as follows:
Dear governments and enforcement officials, August 5, 2024
You’ve promised to protect McIntyre Creek and make the area a park. But what have you done to truly protect it?
Some ATV riders continue to ignore city bylaws and ride through the wetlands of McIntyre Creek, including the pond at Takhini. I’ve attached photos from recent activity, including fresh tracks from this week.
This damaging action is contrary to the city ATV bylaw and yet it continues, and has for years, with no effective communication or enforcement.
You’ve acknowledged that McIntyre Creek is a sensitive area worthy of protection. Yet there is nothing communicating that when you go to the creek itself. There are large, prominent signs (photos attached) in both Granger and Whistlebend that ban motorized activity in protected areas — yet nothing, nada, zero like this around McIntyre Creek in Takhini.
I’m sure you’ll have all sorts of process responses, but at the very least, the city could act on its duty to enforce its ATV bylaw, which bans ATV riding through “open water,” “open spaces,” “environmentally sensitive” areas and on “non-motorized trails,” and prohibits the destruction of vegetation and “making of ruts.” All of this prohibited activity is happening at McIntyre Creek. As you see.
Please, no polite letters and phone calls, telling me this is an area that’s tough to enforce. And putting the onus on me to gather evidence.
We’ve been hearing this literally for decades. You know what the issue is. You can solve it if you have the will.
I’m trying to be polite, and aware of everyone’s needs, but it’s hard to stay polite when I see, year after year, week after week, the deep and damaging tracks of motorized vehicles in the soft mud, grasses and water where fish and birds live, particularly in areas like McIntyre Creek where there’s been widespread acknowledgement by governments - including by you — that it’s a precious ecosystem that needs to be and will be protected. But when will real protection actually happen? When will action replace words?
Perhaps after certain areas are so damaged there will be nothing left to protect?
We thank Becky for bringing the damage to the attention of local governments, Bylaw Services and others (including ATWA) via email, and to the general public via The Yukon Star.
Her email certainly had results. On the City of Whitehorse Facebook Page of August 16, the following information appeared.
“With the recent rain we’ve had, some Motorized Multi-Use (MMU) trails may not be fully dried prior to the long weekend. While enjoying time on your ATV, embrace environmental stewardship – when a trail is soft, choose other options.
Rain or shine, when riding an ATV, stay off non-motorized trails.
ATVs have the potential to cause substantial damage to trails, streambanks and wetlands. Protecting sensitive areas from long-term damage is the prime reason for our regulations, and for this message.
Find maps and additional information about MMU trails in Whitehorse at whitehorse.ca/ATV
If an offence is observed, please contact the Trouble Line at 667-2111 or email [email protected].”
The Facebook posting also included photos of the damage and of the boulders that Parks staff placed at various access points to the wetlands in an effort to curtail entrance by various off-road-vehicles. Mention was also made of increased patrols in the area by Bylaw Services constables.
On August 13, ATWA received additional information from Bylaw Services. Apparently, the department “has been trying to monitor this [wetland area] following previous complaints. Officers have been making patrols on our own UTV in that area. Several persons have been spoken to about their use of off-road vehicles in the area and advised of the areas where such use is not permitted.
Unfortunately, the city’s trail maps are not entirely clear about where multi-use trails exist, and signage is a little inconsistent in the area.
Having said that large rocks and better signage has been added this morning to several points of access to that wetland. Hopefully that, and our continuing patrols, will discourage and prevent future use of this area for unapproved activities.”
As indicated previously, you can find photos of the damage on the City’s Facebook Page. ATWA has placed two photos of the damage in our website’s Photos section, but this does not illustrate all of the harm that was done to the area.
Photos of the rocks and signage that Parks & Community Development has placed at various access points to the wetland area, have also been put in our website’s Photos section. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
The email ATWA received from Bylaw Services contains some excellent points concerning trail maps and signage, concerns which ATWA has raised in the past, but with limited results.
The actions taken will not solve the issue, but may help to make people more aware that using the area in question as a motorized playground is not acceptable.
ATWA has constantly provided the City of Whitehorse with numerous suggestions as to the improvements that could be made to address concerns related not only to motorized users, but also to non-motorized users and to the environment in general, but with little success.
The City often fails to follow the initiatives and actions in the plans and policies that pertain to regional parks, open spaces, and trails. If this was done, some of these concerns would be better addressed. A piecemeal approach to the issue(s) does not work in the long run.
2. Access Gates Pilot Project Update: The “gate” on the paved trail that leads into Takhini after crossing McIntyre Creek has been repaired and is now closed. This gate was part of the Access Gates Pilot Project and was to have been permanently closed last November, as a result of the findings of that project.
Hopefully, the recent attention given to the McIntyre Creek Regional Park area will discourage further acts of vandalism to this structure, as it is located directly across from some of the trails that access the wetland area, trails that have now been blocked with large boulders and signed appropriately.
A photo of the gate in question can be found on our website in the Photos section. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
You will note that such gates located on paved active transportation trails are unlikely to stop motorized vehicles other than cars and trucks from passing through, but they do serve as a deterrent for ATVs.
The City of Whitehorse permits snowmobile use of so-called non-motorized paved active transportation trails located outside the downtown core, unless listed under Excluded trails as detailed in Schedule “E” of [the Snowmobile] Bylaw. At present, there are only three paved trails listed: Birch Loop Trail (Crestview), Millennium Trail, and the Whistle Bend Paved Perimeter Trail (Whistle Bend).
We are also happy to report that the gate structure on the Millennium Trail located near the Skate Park has finally been locked, nine months after the City of Whitehorse promised to do so. All that was required was the placement of two locks! It was opened during the Access Gates Pilot Project, but the findings of that project indicated the necessity of keeping it closed.
Although not part of the Access Gates Pilot Project, after numerous requests the gate on the East side of the Millennium Trail at the entrance to the Rotary Centennial Bridge is now operational (locked and closed).
Hopefully, these actions will both discourage motorized vehicles from entering the paved trail and crossing the bridge, and help to remind cyclists to temper their speed and reduce the potential danger to non-mechanized users.
We thank Parks & Community Development for addressing these gate concerns.
Photos of all the gates in question are found on our website’s Photos section. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
3. Chadburn Lake Regional Park: The Management Plan for this park was adopted (after much public input) in June of 2017. The plan suggested that it would “take at least 10 years to fulfill and realize the major goals of the plan’s vision.” (Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, p. 23.)
Seven years have passed and yet we have heard little about what progress has been made on carrying out the Goals & Initiatives outlined in the plan. During the approval process ATWA argued for a yearly review of the steps taken to achieve these Goals & Initiatives, and this request was reflected in the document where it says that the “implementation plan should be reviewed annually in order to respond to change and take advantage of opportunities.” (Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, p. 23.)
One would think that city administration should come before City Council once a year and give a review of what has been accomplished over the course of the previous year, and what is proposed for completion in the coming year. In other words, the public should be given some idea as to how implementation of the plan is proceeding. To our knowledge this has yet to happen.
Photos taken at the two road entrances to the park are quite revealing. One entrance has no sign indicating that one is entering a Whitehorse regional park, let alone one that has a management plan.
The other has a sign that is in very poor condition and is difficult to even see, due to the fact that it is partially blocked by vegetation. It simply reads Chadburn Lake Recreation Area and lists some of the prohibited activities.
You can find current pictures of the one existing sign located at the start of the Chadburn Lake Road and of the Grey Mountain Road entrance point on our website under Photos. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
One of the initiatives listed under Goal #3 reads as follows:
The City may undertake a place-based branding exercise, which would consider formally recognizing and acknowledging First Nation place names and renaming Chadburn Lake Park with a more culturally appropriate name. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChadburnLakePMPlanJune2017.pdf 3.1 p. 27)
The key word here is may and one suspects that the use of the word gives the City of Whitehorse an out. However, to hold up placing park entrance signage for seven years while waiting for the completion of the above initiative is unreasonable. ATWA has made numerous attempts to get appropriate signage installed, but to no avail.
Proper signage would illustrate to park users that the latter is an important area for all citizens of Whitehorse, and one that deserves respect and adherence to the existing Park Management Plan.
Another initiative listed under Goal #3 reads as follows:
Develop and deliver marketing and communication materials to promote the park and its various tourism products to residents and tourists. Marketing and communication materials could include brochures, maps, and related web products or a package at the Whitehorse Visitor Information Centre with suggested trail loops, cultural attractions, and more. (3.2 p.27)
In a recent visit to the Whitehorse Visitor Information Centre no material directly related to the promotion of Chadburn Lake Regional Park could be found. Staff was not aware of the existence of any such material. What a wasted opportunity to promote the park and all it has to offer.
4. Bikes and Audible Signals: In our ATWA Updates of June 24 (#3) we mentioned that “one of our associates has approached the City of Whitehorse with a suggestion to provide appropriate signage on such well-used trails such as the Millennium Trail, that would remind cyclists of the need for an audible signal when overtaking other trail users within the one metre of required separation.
Our associate also made a personal visit to Bylaw Services. Staff suggested to our associate that lots of education is going on with regard to the issue. Another request was made for more signage that would enhance whatever education is taking place, education that is failing to address the issue. Unfortunately, there is a time where enforcement becomes a necessity. Perhaps that time has come.
5. Transportation Trail: The following is from the City of Whitehorse:
Starting August 20 until September 30, the active transportation trail on the west side of Two Mile Hill Road will be closed between the Chilkoot Way intersection and the Second Avenue intersection.
The City’s contractor, Arctic Backhoe Services, will be replacing a section of the water transmission trunk main on the west side of Two Mile Hill. Fencing will be in place to contain the work area.
Southbound trail users will be directed to the pedestrian crossing at Chilkoot Way, while northbound trail users will use the pedestrian crossing at the Second Avenue intersection during the closure.
The trail on the east side of Two-Mile-Hill Road will remain open for use throughout the construction period.
For more information, please contact the City’s Engineering Services department at 668-8305 or [email protected]. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/partial-trail-closure-on-two-mile-hill/.)
6. Snow Dog Trail: As of August 24, the new Snow Dog Trail was still being worked on by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club.
7. Electric unicycles are everywhere, but aren’t they illegal to ride: This is the title of an August 18, 2024 Globe and Mail article by Jason Tchir. So far this does not seem to be an issue here in Whitehorse, but as Bob Dylan said “the times they are a-changin.” (Seehttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/culture/article-electric-unicycles-are-everywhere-but-arent-they-illegal-to-ride/.)
8. Dezadeash River Trail: Although our Mission Statement confines our work to the City of Whitehorse, we thought you might be interested in this concern.
Most of you have at one time or another enjoyed walking on this 5.5 km interpretive trail, which was opened to the public in 1991. Only a small part of the trail is actually in Kluane National Park. The part which includes 300 metres of boardwalk and the viewing platform is within the boundaries of the Municipality of Haines Junction. The first 300-metre section of the trail was originally designed as being wheelchair accessible.
Unfortunately, the trail is no longer accessible for those in wheelchairs, as the boardwalk is in terrible condition. The viewing platform is surrounded by flagging tap, as it presents a hazard to anyone who might be tempted to use it.
Parks Canada and the Municipality of Haines Junction recognize the problem and are trying to work together to address the issue, but neither has the funding required to complete the necessary repairs.
In 2024, the Municipality of Haines Junction made application to the Community Development Fund (CDF), for financial support that would lead to revitalization of the trail. Unfortunately, the application was denied.
Apparently, the municipality is going to submit another application in January, 2025. I have sent a personal letter of support to the Municipality of Haines Junction in its effort to obtain funding from the CDF that would allow it to revitalize the Dezadeash River Trail.
If you too would like to add your voice in support of the application to the CDF, then please do so by sending an email to the following person: David Fairbank, Chief Administrative Officer, Municipality of Haines Junction, Box 5339 Haines Junction, Yukon Y0B 1L0. ([email protected])
If you would like to review a copy of the letter of support I sent to Mr. Fairbank, please send a request to [email protected], attention Keith Lay. (The letter gives more information of which you may not be aware, so it may be helpful in the preparation of your personal response.) However, please use your own words when preparing your letter/email. It does not have to be very long. Just speak from the heart!
If you believe this to be a worthwhile pursuit then please encourage others to write Mr. Fairbank indicating support for the application.
9. Urban Parks and Biodiversity: A CBC article of August 9, 2024 by Benjamin Shingler, entitled Can urban parks protect biodiversity as they welcome more visitors, makes for an interesting read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/mount-royal-urban-parks-biodiversity-1.7288911.)
ATWA Updates: July 30, 2024
1. Bike Sharing: A July 11, 2024 CBC article by Emily Chung entitled, This kind of public transportation is growing fast, presents another option for affordable transportation in our urban centres.
2. Ticks: Considering the amount of time our associates spend in the outdoors, this July 13, 2024 CBC article by Lauren Pelley entitled, Tick-spread illnesses are on the rise in Canada is certainly worth a read.
3. Snow Dog Trail: The Contagious Mountain Bike Club received approval for the construction of the Snow Dog trail in Chadburn Lake Regional Park. Work has commenced on this build and it may have already been completed.
4. Electric Transportation: A July 24, 2024 Reuters article by Alien Fernandez entitled, Havana’s roads change as Cubans adopt electric bikes and vehicles, discusses the impact that alternate transportation is having on Cuba.
5. Whitehorse Named Yukon’s Most Active Community: One of the reasons for this is our wealth of both paved and unpaved trails. The City of Whitehorse Press Release on this story can be found at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/whitehorse-is-the-yukons-most-active-community/.
6. Wild Discoveries: The following information was obtained from the Wild Discoveries website at https://yukon.ca/en/wild-discoveries. A map of the start location can be found on the site.
Neighbourhood nature: Wolf Creek subdivision Tuesday, July 30.
This week on our neighbourhood nature walk, we’ll start along a lush creek and climb a small ridge offering a picturesque view over a wetland and look for a family of ducks. We’ll continue looking for other birds and interesting plants along the ridge before looping back to the trailhead.
This event involves walking up to 4 km on undulating single-track trails with two short but steep hills.
Time: 7 to 8:30 pm
Cost: free
Location: Meet at the trail entrance on Harbottle Road, roughly halfway between Boss Road and Langholz Road, in the Wolf Creek subdivision (on the opposite side of the highway as the Wolf Creek campground). Look for the Wildlife Viewing sandwich board.
ATWA Updates: June 25, 2024
1. Contagious Mountain Bike Club Trail Development Application: The application for a new Grey Mountain trail was approved by City Council on May 13. Indications are that the trail will be called Snowdog after the machine that is used by the club to groom bike trails.
The approval could be seen as a lost opportunity to improve the area of Chadburn Lake Regional Park in which this trail will be located. It is already an area of intense recreation as indicated in the Park Management Plan. It seems illogical to add to that negative aspect by adding yet another trail to the mix.
On May 7, the following email was sent to all members of City Council. This followed a delegate presentation before City Council on May 6. See https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-05-06.mp4.html. Scroll down to #12.
To members of City Council:
You have an opportunity to do something here that will benefit not only the CMBC, but other user groups, and the forest environment of a regional park.
The use of the existing trail between RIP and the Magnusson parking area will satisfy two of the concerns of the CMBC: safety, and a grooming loop, which was the stated purpose of the its trail development application. (See below.)
Improving the existing trail will allow it to be used by a variety of non-motorized users, whereas the newly stated width of the proposed trail will certainly not allow, especially in winter.
What is now proposed is (for all intents and purposes), a single-track mountain biking trail designed for mountain bikers.
The Trail Maintenance Policy defines a single-track trail as "a trail where users must travel in single file. The tread width of a single-track trail is generally 30 to 70 cm wide but can be as wide as 100 cm.”
Single-track trails are only permitted in intensive recreation areas of the park and may only be considered under certain conditions as outlined on page 19 of the Chadburn Lake Management Plan. (See 3.5 Area-Specific Management Directives #3.)
Upgrading the existing trail to allow its use by bikers, runners, walkers, skiers, and those using snowshoes will allow a more diversified selection of recreational users of trails to enjoy their respective activities in the park.
As well, it will prevent the negative physical impact on the land, and the fragmentation of same, that will result by the creation of a new 800 metre trail within a beautiful forested area.
I urge you to either review the photos sent, or (even better) visit the area yourself. (Just follow the order of the photos.)
Action #23 of the 2020 Trail Plan called for the “update [of] the Trail Development Application process.” Unfortunately, this (along with many other “actions” of the Trail Plan) have yet to be initiated. This application has certainly pointed out that the approval process is sadly lacking in a number of aspects starting with the application form itself, which does not address crucial information which would allow one to better evaluate the worth of the proposal.
The public needs to be given greater opportunity to provide input on all trail development applications. Public meetings should be held involving Parks and Community Development staff, the applicant, interested members of the public, representatives from City Council, as well as other interested governments. At the very least these meetings would make all concerned parties more aware of what should be considered before such applications are presented before City Council for approval.
The following information from the Trail Development Policy states the qualifications one must have in order to either develop a new trail or enhance existing trails.
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
So, at present, walkers (and at times, other non-mechanized trails users) will have to put up with the development and enhancement of trails that do not necessarily meet their needs.
There should be a process whereby individuals or groups of individuals could at least make proposals for a new trail, or the enhancement of existing trails, or the closure of trails. If approved, the City’s trail crew could be involved in carrying out the work with the help of the applicant.
2. New Yukon Public Lands Legislation: Since most of us do not confine our outdoor recreational activity to the City of Whitehorse, but take advantage of the wilderness around us, you would be well-advised to learn more about this coming legislation. See https://yukon.ca/engagements/new-public-lands-legislation.
At this site you will be asked to read the public lands legislation discussion document before taking the online survey which is available until July 12. The discussion includes questions that would help you when providing additional written feedback.
Additional written feedback on the proposed legislation can be sent to [email protected].
The survey is found at https://surveys.yukon.ca/S2/1/NewLandsLegislation/. The survey will take an hour of your time, but as this legislation will directly impact those of you who spend time in our backcountry, it is well worth the effort. Remember the survey must be completed by July 12, 2024.
3. Bikes and Audible Signals: Concerns have been expressed about bicycles (including e-bikes) passing non-mechanized users on trails without providing an audible signal. Apparently, this is particularly noticeable on the Millennium Trail. Please note the following information taken from the Bicycle and E-Bike Bylaws.
“Notwithstanding any other provisions of this bylaw, unless a person operating a bicycle can provide more than one metre of separation when overtaking another developed trail user, the person operating a bicycle shall give an audible signal by voice, bell or other signalling device before overtaking another developed trail user.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BicycleBylawupdatedApril20.pdf.)
“Notwithstanding any other provisions of this bylaw, unless a person operating an e-bike, e-scooter, e-mobility device or aMTB can provide more than one metre of separation when overtaking another Trail user, the person operating an e-bike shall give an audible signal by voice, bell or other signalling device before overtaking another Trail user.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/202122EBikeRegulationBylaw-2.pdf.)
One of our associates has approached the City with a suggestion to provide appropriate signage on such well-used trails, that would remind cyclists of the need for an audible signal when overtaking other trail users within the one metre of required separation.
4. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Update: As mentioned previously, there will be no additional engagement with the citizens of Whitehorse with regard to this neighbourhood trail plan until 2025. This despite the fact that “most Whitehorse North residents indicated that they were not satisfied with the plan (73%), [and that the] majority of survey responses identified that the final plan does not address their expectations for the Whitehorse North Trail Plan network.” (See What We Heard Report, located on the Engage Whitehorse site under Whitehorse North Trail Plan.
Apparently, any updates with regard to further engagement will appear on the Engage Whitehorse website at https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.”
The above information has apparently not been passed on to the citizens of Whitehorse North as a whole, which one would think would be a priority. It is unfortunate that the results of the survey were not presented before City Council, since it was City Council that approved the neighbourhood trail plan that the people of Whitehorse North have found to be inadequate.
5. Access Gates Project Update: On June 19 the following email was sent to Parks and Community Development:
“Once again, the “gate” (McIntyre Creek near disc golf course), which was part of the Access Gates Project has apparently been vandalized. It is now completely open to all forms of vehicular traffic.
According to the City analysis of the Access Gates pilot project, this was one of the gates where compliance to rules relating to use was very poor.
Safety concerns suggest that this needs to be attended to immediately.
The use of rocks that are similar in size to the ones adjacent to the paved trail at this location would address the issue, if placed properly in order to allow baby carriages through and perhaps wheelchairs (the latter of which I have never seen on any of the paved trails in my area of Porter Creek).
It is becoming obvious that “barriers” such as the one currently in place at this location, do not work well in areas that are not easily seen by the public.
Please note that rock barriers have worked in other areas of the City. They are no more “dangerous” than any other types of barriers. And, one would think, that installation would be less costly especially considering the number of times the City has had to repair existing barriers such as the one in question.
The gates on the Millennium Trail near Second Haven Skate Park were also part of the Access Gates Pilot Project. The gate is still wide open despite the fact that the City said on 11/07/23 that they would be closed. Neither side of the gate in question appears to be broken. All both sides need is the installation of locks.
The gates on the East side of the Millennium Trail at the entrance to the Rotary Centennial Bridge are not functioning as intended and need to be repaired.
I would appreciate hearing what Parks and Community Services will do to address these three concerns.
Thanks for your attention to these matters.
We received the following reply from Parks and Community Development:
“Addressing these gate issues is on our workplan for this summer. We were not aware of the damage to the gate off the McIntyre pumphouse road – thank you for notifying us about that one. We’ll address this one as well.”
6. Yukon Conservation Society: Free Guided Interpretive Hikes in Kwanlin (Miles Canyon) are once again being provided by Y.C.S. These are usually a couple of hours long and are offered from Wednesday to Saturday. They start at 10 a.m. from the Miles Canyon Suspension Bridge, and will be available until August 17. For more information see https://www.yukonconservation.ca/guided-hikes.
7. Wild Discoveries: According to online information Wild Discoveries “is a program that provides opportunities for Yukoners and visitors to learn about and engage with the natural world. We offer interpretive walks and hikes, talks and public presentations that focus on a specific wildlife topic.” These free events require registration. See https://yukon.ca/en/wild-discoveries for more information.
ATWA Updates: April 28, 2024
1. Friends of McIntyre Creek: You are invited to attend the group’s Annual General Meeting. It will be held on May 13, 2024 at Hellaby Hall, 4th & Elliot Street from 7:00-8:30 p.m. There is a scheduled presentation by a representative of the Yukon Government on the current status of McIntyre Creek Regional Park. If you have any questions, or would be interested in joining the FOMC Board please email: [email protected].
2. McIntyre Creek Regional Park: An April 26 p. 10 Whitehorse Star article, entitled MOU solidifies McIntyre Creek protection plans can be seen at the following site: https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/mou-solidifies-mcintyre-creek-protection-plans.
3. Valleyview South Master Plan: An April 26 Whitehorse Star article by Jim Butler, entitled Council implored to save Valleyview greenery can be seen at the following site: https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/council-implored-to-save-valleyview-greenery.
4. ATWA Delegate Presentation: An ATWA delegate presentation was made at the April 22 City Council meeting on the subject of the Valleyview South Master Plan. You can view that delegate presentation at the following site: https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-04-22.mp4.html. Scroll down to #16.
You can also read the presentation on our website by going to Issues and scrolling down to Valleyview South Master Plan. See https://www.activetwa.org/valleyview-south-master-plan.html.
5. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Review: Early in March ATWA questioned City administration as to what form the promised further engagement was going to be done considering the citizens of Whitehorse North had indicated (via survey) that they were not happy with the neighbourhood trail plan approved by City Council.
Parks & Community Development replied that its “focus right now is to do an internal audit of our trail system which will aid future decision making-processes. This may include policy reviews and a change in practice on how we do signage. As you are aware, Whitehorse has a pretty large trail network, so this it is going to take us some time to complete this work. Therefore, no further engagement on the Whitehorse North Plan is scheduled for 2024.”
It concerns us that the City is going to delay finding a resolution to this problem.
As mentioned in our March Updates, Councillor Kirk did send a request to the City Manager for a response to our concerns about the delay, but almost two months have passed and we have heard nothing.
6. New National Park in Yukon: An April 22 press release discussed the possibility of the creation of a new national park in Yukon. (News Release #24-188) It would be located in the Peel Watershed and would be half the size of Prince Edward Island. You can read the press release at the following site: prhttps://yukon.ca/en/news/new-national-park-yukon-being-explored-gwichin-tribal-council-first-nation-nacho-nyak-dun-and-governments-canada-and-yukon.
7. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project: The gates located at Normandy Road South, and at Rhine Way and Range Road are now closed and locked. (April 13) However, we await action on others that were supposed to be closed/repaired at the conclusion of the project.
8. Contagious Mountain Bike Club Trail Development Application: Still no word as to a decision by Parks and Community Development as to whether or not the club’s most recent Trail Development Application will be sent to City Council for approval or rejection. Eight months have now passed since administration received the application.
9. No Update in May: As mentioned in our recent email to associates, there will be no Update issued in May. Hopefully, by the end of June we will have more information on some of the issues we have mentioned in the April Update.
ATWA Updates: March 28, 2024
1. Rigid Bollards and Cycling: Recently, we had an email exchange with Forest Pearson of the Urban Cycling Coalition concerning the user status of the Airport Trail. The exchange also included discussion of the use of gates, particularly those used on City of Whitehorse paved trails. He provided some specific information as to why the use of bollards is not appreciated by urban cyclists. See the following site: https://bikehub.ca/about-us/news/hub-position-rigid-bollards.
The article indicates that although bollards are “a safety issue for people cycling,” they “can be effective at limiting motor vehicle incursion if used correctly.”
Unfortunately, without adequate barriers on some of our trails both users and the environment would suffer even more from motorized activities. Barriers may be an inconvenience and may be potentially dangerous, but unfortunately in some cases they are a necessity, especially when it comes to non-paved trails. Unfortunately, City Council refuses to amend the much-dated Snowmobile Bylaw to restrict snowmobiles to designated and designed motorized multiple-use trails, which (in part) results in a continuing need for barriers.
2. Airport Trail: Forest Pearson agreed with ATWA’s belief that the Airport Trail (both paved and unpaved sections) is a year-round non-motorized trail, despite the fact that it is not included in the Exclusive Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
Even Parks and Community Development does not seem to know under what authority the Airport Trail has become closed to all motorized use. Perhaps its non-motorized (summer and winter) status falls under a grandfather clause. In any case, any attempt to change its current status would meet with much opposition. This is simply another example of the confusion that results when a city does not update its bylaws to effectively deal with such situations.
If any of you walk the trail on a regular basis, please check to ensure that signage indicating that it is off-limits to all motorized vehicles has not been removed. Please let us know if this occurs.
3. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Review: As mentioned in our February Updates, review survey results suggest that further engagement with the citizens of Whitehorse North with regard to its trail plan is required. Yet, despite the results, administration tells us that “no further engagement on the Whitehorse North Plan is scheduled for 2024.”
ATWA approached Councillor Cameron about this matter. He in turn approached administration and indicated that when the City Manager (Jeff O’Farrell) returns from Spring Break he will respond to our concerns. So, we wait, and hope that we will hear from the City Manager in the immediate future.
4. ATVs Return: The ATV Bylaw says that “A person may operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail during the time period April 1 to October 31 in each year and shall not operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail from November 1 to March 31 in each year.”
So do not be surprised to see such vehicles being used on MMU trails starting on April 1. Please remember that unlike snowmobiles, ATVs are not permitted on non-motorized trails in the City of Whitehorse.
In order to operate an ATV within the City of Whitehorse the following requirements must be met:
“A Safe ATV Card shall be issued by the City or a City-approved agency to a person who has paid a fee and has successfully completed and passed:
(1) an ATV safety course with a mark of 80% or higher; or
(2) an ATV safety and trail use examination with a mark of 80% or higher.
A person who operates an ATV is guilty of an offence if, on demand of a Designated Officer, he or she fails to produce any of the following:
(1) a valid operator’s license as required by this bylaw;
(2) a valid certificate of registration in respect of the ATV;
(3) a valid registration plate attached to the ATV;
(4) a valid insurance card in respect of the ATV; and
(5) a valid Safe ATV Card as required by this bylaw.”
5. Contagious Mountain Bike Club Trail Development Application: Still no word as to a decision by Parks and Community Development as to whether or not the club’s most recent Trail Development Application will be sent to City Council for approval or rejection. Seven months have now passed since administration received the application.
6. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project: Another tour was made of some of the access gates that were supposed to have been closed at the end of the pilot project in November. As of March 25, the findings are as follows:
a) Both sides of the Normandy Road (North) gate remain open.
b) Both sides of the Normandy Road (South) gate are now open, whereas on January 24, 2024 only one side was open.
c) Both sides of the gate at Rhine Way and Range Road are open.
d) The gate at Sunset Drive North and Park Lane remains open. (This is the gate which we previously mistakenly referred to as being located at Hillcrest Drive North and Park Lane, and
also mistakenly indicated that it was not a part of the Access Gates Pilot Project. It was included in the project.)
e) Both sides of the gate on the Millennium Trail near the Skate Board Park remain open.
f) Although not part of the Access Gates Pilot Project, the gate at the East entrance to the Rotary Centennial Bridge is wide open. One side needs repair, and the other needs a functioning lock placed in the correct position, to allow closure.
It would seem that almost all of the above gates could be returned to the closed position simply with the addition of appropriate locks.
As the final report on the Access Gates Pilot Project stated that with the exception of the Airport Trail, leaving gates open on the other trails included in the pilot project presented “a significant safety concern,” it would seem that immediate attention to the aforementioned gates is warranted.
Councillor Cameron was told “that the work is planned for this spring.” Spring has now sprung!
This past week we sent an email to Parks and Community Development asking that action be taken to close these gates. Along with the email, photos taken on March 25 of all the gates in question were sent.
7. Copper Ridge Development Area Master Plan: You can find information on this plan at the Engage Whitehorse site. See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/copper-ridge-development. Apparently, City Council has sent the plan back to administration for more work, and it will be at least a month before it comes before City Council again.
The plan fails to include definitions for the terms: passive recreation, active recreation, active transportation, non-motorized universally accessible trail, and non-motorized multiple use trail. Without clear definitions and explanations as to the actual meaning of these terms, and the relationship between those definitions and potential trail use, citizens of the area may not have a clear understanding of who may use the various trails located in the development area.
In ATWA’s submission to the Copper Ridge Development Area Master Plan, we recommended the inclusion of all non-motorized multi-use trails and all non-motorized universally accessible paths mentioned in the Master Plan, into the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw, or (more logically) change the Snowmobile Bylaw to restrict snowmobile use to designed and designated motorized multiple-use trails.
You can view ATWA’s submission on our website under Issues/Copper Ridge Area Plan. See https://www.activetwa.org/copper-ridge-area-plan.html.
ATWA also made a March 18, associate presentation before City Council on the issue. You can view that delegate presentation at the following site: https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-03-18.mp4.html. Scroll down to #5.
8. City of Whitehorse Statement on Spring Trail Use: You have probably seen the following statement, but just in case you have not, it is repeated below.
“As snow melts from the City's trail network, please exercise caution while the surface conditions change frequently.
Variable conditions may be present on paved trails, and can be difficult to prevent during the freeze-thaw cycle we're experiencing. Paved surfaces can become slippery and hazardous for users during this time. Pooling water may result in icy patches, and leftover grit applied through the winter may also result in reduced traction on dry, paved surfaces prior to sweeping operations.
On natural surface trails, ice and mud-covered sections may still exist on trails that are otherwise dry. When a trail is soft, please consider other options. Wet and muddy trails are more vulnerable to damage than dry ones, and may result in poor trail conditions, safety issues, and increased maintenance requirements.
If you notice trail related issues, notify Parks staff by sending your concerns to [email protected].”
ATWA Updates: February 29, 2024
1. Contagious Mountain Bike Trail Development Application: It is now six months (August 29, 2023) since ATWA was informed by Parks and Community Development that a trail development application had been received from the Contagious Mountain Bike Club (CMBC).
On February 5th we received the following information from Parks and Community Development:
“We’ve made no decision on this file. As mentioned previously, applications become public once they are on a Council agenda, which has not happened yet.”
The CMBC was contacted about the delay and this is what the club told us on February 21st:
“CMBC is no longer involved after we submit to the city and we are not sure what the delay is here.”
The club suggested that we contact Parks and Community Development, which we had already done on a number of occasions to no avail. It is surprising that the CMBC has not followed up on its own application.
So, it looks like the only way we are going to find out if this application is going to come before City Council, is to carefully scan every forthcoming City Council Agenda to see if the development application is on said Agenda.
2. Bylaw Review: Councillor Cameron has informed us that “there is no overall bylaw review underway or contemplated.” Apparently, the City of Whitehorse is looking at updating the Procedures Bylaw, and we know that the Zoning Bylaw is being looked at, but there is no movement on updating the 2012 Snowmobile Bylaw.
So, it looks like our only hope on changing the bylaw lies with the next elected City Council. Councillor Cameron is the only sitting City Council member that has given us any help with our goal of getting the Snowmobile Bylaw amended.
3. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project: As mentioned in our January Updates, “as of January 22/2024, both sides of the Normandy Road (North) gate were broken and open. Previously, (prior to the commencement of the project) only one side was broken.
As of January 24, 2024 the left side of the gate located on the Millennium Trail near the skate park was open and broken.
As of January, 22/2024 the left side of the Normandy Road (South) gate was open and broken.
Although not part of the Access Gates Opening Pilot Project, the gate located at Hillcrest Drive North and Park Lane is wide open, despite the fact that the trail is supposedly off-limits to motorized vehicles and is located in a supposedly Protected Area.”
We brought up the issue with Parks and Community Development and was told that “Administration has been investigating this. Some of the gates are broken as you note and will need repairs. We don’t have a schedule yet as to when the repairs will happen and I am not sure at this point if this can happen in the Winter.”
We then contacted Councillor Cameron to see if he could find out anything more. He did, and the response he got was “that the work is planned for this spring.”
Recently, we had a conversation with another City of Whitehorse department member and was told that if it is only the actual locks that are broken on the gates, that there may be some hope of getting those replaced before spring.
So, on March 19 spring begins, and as the saying goes, hope springs eternal that all repairs and closures will also begin!
4. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Review: The long-awaited review of this plan is now complete. Go to https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca and scroll down to Whitehorse North Trail Plan and then scroll down to Documents on the right side of the page. There you will find the What we Heard document entitled, 2023 Whitehorse North Trail Plan Satisfaction Survey. It is a document that is quite revealing, so give it a look.
The Satisfaction Survey indicated that “Out of the 92 responses, 71% of participants indicated they were not satisfied with the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan. In Whitehorse North, 73% of participants indicated they were not satisfied with the Plan.”
In the Conclusion section of the document the following is written:
“The online survey received a high level of participation from the general public and residents of Whitehorse North. The majority of responses were submitted by residents of Whitehorse North (72%), and most Whitehorse North residents indicated that they were not satisfied with the plan (73%). The majority of survey responses identified that the final plan does not address their expectations for the Whitehorse North Trail Plan network. The most frequent comments were location specific, which addressed motorized and non-motorized trail designations that resulted from the plan, as well [as] existing trails left off the map.”
Apparently, as the document indicates, “The results of this survey aim to help determine next steps, and whether further engagement is necessary.”
It seems obvious that the survey results suggest that further engagement with the citizens of Whitehorse North is required.
Of course, one wonders who is going to make that determination, and when that determination will take place.
5. Chilkoot Trail: You have probably already read the Whitehorse Star article of February 21, entitled U.S. National Park Service unveils Chilkoot Trail Plans. Apparently, the U.S. side of the trail will only be open to mile 4, at which point you will have to turn around. This means that for yet another year there will be no possibility of hiking the entire trail.
6. Finnish cyclists say biking makes sense year-round — even in Northern cities: This CBC Feb 21, 2024 article by Caitrin Pilkington, makes for an interesting read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/finnish-cyclists-oulu-whitehorse-biking-infrastructure-1.7120655.)
7. Why the e-bike boom is raising fire fears: This BBC Feb 8 article by Christine Ro should be of interest to those of you who own e-bikes. (See https://www.bbc.com/news/business-68055288.)
8. Radelet Peak - A Three Day Trek in The Yukon's Remote Backcountry: Radelet Peak has been in the news of late. (See CBC Feb 07, 2024 article entitled, Yukon musician gets $125K to fly grand piano deep into Kluane park for video shoot at https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-125-prize-winners-matthew-lien-kluane-1.7107194 and scroll down to A first ascent.)
Thought you might enjoy this YouTube video which features a hike to the peak. (See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8sCFx1g5i4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8sCFx1g5i4.)
9. Yukon Conservation Society: The YCS will hold its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, March 20 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. at 302 Hawkins St. and online via Zoom. For more information contact the YCS at 668-5678 or at [email protected].
10. Watermelon Snow: For those of you heading out for spring mountain skiing, the following article may peak your interest. The CBC January 08, 2024 article by Wallis Snowdon is entitled, New study investigates threat of 'watermelon snow' to mountain glaciers. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/algae-watermelon-snow-mountain-glacier-research-1.7074420.)
11. Parachute Article: Parachute was formed in 2012 and according to its website its role is to “educate and advocate for preventing serious injury in our homes, in sports and recreation and on our roads.” See the following site for an article on snowmobiling: https://parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/winter-sports-and-recreation/snowmobiling/.
12. War In The Woods: This BC Magazine December 21, 2022 article by Ryan Stuart discusses the issue of over use and overtourism and its impacts on outdoor activities. (See https://www.bcmag.ca/war-in-the-woods/.)
13. 35 Incredible Facts About the Yukon: Cannot remember if this article has been provided to you before, but it is a great article to place on one of your devices when you go on holidays in foreign lands, and to use to encourage people to visit Yukon. Of course, it is up to you to ensure the accuracy of the incredible facts!
The October 29, 2020 article (updated on May 05, 2023) is by Christina Pfeiffer and was found on the travel2next site. (See https://travel2next.com/yukon-facts/.)
14. Bylaw Services: Just a reminder from Bylaw that if you see any ORV (snowmachines, ATVs, or dirt bikes) owners breaking the rules of use as outlined in the Snowmobile and ATV Bylaws, to call them.
Yes, you may not be able to identify the operators or read the number of a non-existent license plate, and the operators may be long gone before Bylaw gets there, but Bylaw does record where the infraction took place. If Bylaw gets a number of calls concerning the same area, they will then get officers to patrol the location with their own ORVs.
Bylaw Services: 867-668-8317 or [email protected] Trouble Line: 867-667-2111
Give as much information as you can when you call: location, time, date, license plate number (if at all possible), approximate age of operator (adult or child), and the perceived offence.
15. What is an accessible/active transportation trail? There seems to be some confusion as to what is meant by the terms accessible trail and active transportation trail.
The 2020 Trail Plan says an accessible trail is one that provides “safe . . . options for all to walk, cycle or wheel on the trails” [and that such trails] “will be increasingly important to support older adults, families with young children and those with mobility constraints.” (See page 2 of 2020 Trail Plan.)
There is no mention of these accessible trails being open to motorized users, although the 2021 E-Bike Bylaw does permit the use of such trails by operators of certain classes of E-Bikes.
The City of Whitehorse defines active transportation as “Any form of human-powered travel, such as walking, cycling, skateboarding, cross-country skiing and more.” (2020 Trail Plan/Glossary)
Again, such trails would have to be non-motorized both in summer and winter in order to meet the definition of an active transportation trail.
The bottom line: According to the City’s own definitions, an accessible/active transportation trail would be one that is free from motorized use over the course of the entire year. Usually, such trails are about three metres wide and to be truly accessible would be paved.
Whistle Bend’s paved Perimeter trail is a 2.3 kilometre paved accessible/active transportation/recreation trail. It meets the City’s definitions of what constitutes both an accessible and active transportation trail, as it is not open to motorized traffic year-round. And, it is listed in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
Porter Creek has a number of gas tax funded paved (so-called) non-motorized trails that were intended to be active transportation/recreation trails. However, as none of them are included in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw, they are open to snowmobile traffic in the winter and, as such, cannot be considered as being accessible/active transportation/recreation trails.
All paved trails in the downtown area are off-limits to snowmobiles and ATVs, as per the respective bylaws, and qualify as accessible/active transportation trails.
The Millennium Trail, although outside of the downtown core, is protected via the ATV and Snowmobile Bylaws, and qualifies as an accessible/active transportation trail.
The Airport Trail is signed as being non-motorized in both winter and summer and has been for a very long time, but it is not included in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
The trail (which is partly paved) is not found on the City’s Motorized Multi-Use Trails map, so it does not qualify as a designed or designated MMU trail. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/LatestMMUtrailmapupdatedMa.pdf.
We have asked administration for clarification and this is the response we received:
“With respect to historical “no snowmobile” signs, I cannot speak to those, however, we are undertaking an inventory of those to confirm whether they are in good standing relative to City bylaws.”
This does little to provide any assurance that the Airport Trail will remain closed to motorized use over the entire year. Nor does it give any assurance that other trails in our community that for whatever reason are signed non-motorized, and clearly indicate that that restriction includes snowmobiles, are at risk from losing their historical status as being truly non-motorized trails.
Conclusion: Outside of the downtown area it would appear that there are only three paved trails that would qualify as accessible/active transportation trails in the City of Whitehorse, and the status of one of those (the Airport Trail) seems to be in limbo. (For the purposes of accessibility only the paved portion of the Airport Trail would qualify as being an accessible and active transportation trail.)
Of course, it would seem logical to consult those with accessibility concerns to determine what they consider to be an accessible trail. It may mean looking at far more than just the trail itself. After all one must be able to access the trail in the first place.
16. Whitehorse Star Article: Take a look at this Whitehorse Star Feb. 28 article by T.S. Giilck entitled, Councillor treads a path to trail improvements. The article concerns a motion that was presented at the Feb. 27 City Council meeting. Apparently, the motion was eventually divided into two. If you want to see a video of the debate on the motion(s) go to https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-02-26.mp4.html and scroll down to #35. (The council meeting went on for over six hours!)
The Whitehorse Star article can be found at the following site: https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/councillor-treads-a-path-to-trail-improvements.
ATWA Updates: January 29, 2024
1. Trail Development Application: It is now four months (August 29, 2023) since ATWA was informed by Parks and Community Development that a trail development application had been received from the Contagious Mountain Bike Club (CMBC).
Section 40 of the Trail Development Policy (TDP) requires the Manager of Parks to “notify relevant stakeholders, community groups and other organizations of proposed trail developments and [to] receive comments for a period of three weeks after notification when:
(1) a proposed trail exceeds 500 meters in length [which this one does];
(2) a proposed trail exceeds 1.5 meters in width; and/or
(3) a self-propelled power driven machine for moving earth or clearing land of vegetation is proposed for construction (this excludes the use of ATVs, automobiles and snowmobiles for transportation of tools and materials).”
It is difficult understand why it would take over four months to make a decision as to whether or not the application should be forwarded to City Council for approval or denial. Such a delay is certainly not beneficial to the applicant, nor is it appropriate for those who take the time to comment on whether or not the project should go before City Council for approval or denial.
Having visited the site on several occasions, it became readily apparent that the limited information received from Parks and Community Development concerning the application was not sufficient to make a knowledgeable evaluation of the trail development request. This suggests that the application form itself needs to be improved to ensure relevant information is made available to those who are asked to comment on the proposal.
As well, those asked to make comments should have been reminded by Parks and Community Development that there is both a 2017 Chadburn Lake Management Plan and an East of the Yukon River Trail Plan that have to be considered, as the proposed trail is located in an area subject to those documents.
The 2020 Trail Plan’s Action #23 actually called for an update to the application process, although it is now obvious that even more attention needs to be given to the improvement of the application form.
The following is what the 2020 Trail Plan says about the subject:
Action #23: Update the Trail Development Application process
“Update the Trail Development Application process by establishing intake deadlines for new trail development applications to streamline the review and approval process:
• Establish clear application intake deadlines, such as: August 15th, November 15th, February 15th and May 15th
Amend the Trail Proposal Form to include:
• A section for the applicant to demonstrate previous trail building experience, such as participation in trail building workshops, or volunteering.” (p. 24)
It should be noted that although the Trail Development Policy itself provides a reference to the actual trail development application form, that reference leads to an Error 404. In other words, the application form is no longer available via the policy document. ATWA has informed Parks of this problem.
ATWA associates were asked to consider making comments with regard to the CMBC trail development application. Hopefully, those who did, took the time to visit the site of the proposed development, and also review the documents previously mentioned that govern trail expansion in the area.
You can view one such submission on our website under Issues. See Trail Development Applications; https://www.activetwa.org/trail-development-applications.html.
Photos of the site in question can be found on our website under Photos at https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html. The red line in the first two images from Parks show the proposed CMBC trail. (There are fourteen images to view.)
And, if you have a chance of obtaining the fall edition of Explore Magazine, you should look at an article by Ryan Stuart entitled, Loved to Death. The article starts with the following comment: “Recreation activities are the third-greatest threat to species at risk in Canada.” It is an article one should read before building recreational trails for any user purpose.
2. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project: The Access Gates Opening Pilot Project came to an end on 11/07/2023 with the publication of a Summary Report on the subject. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot/news_feed/winter-2023-update.)
At that time, the public was told that a "decision [had] been made to close the majority of the gates, with the exception of the airport trail." A list of the gates that were to have been closed was provided as follows:
Elijah Smith Elementary School
McIntyre Creek near disc golf course
Millennium Trail near the skate park
Normandy Road [There are actually two gate systems here one on the North and one on the South side of the road]
Ortona Avenue
Sunset Drive North & Park Lane
Rhine Way
Unfortunately, some of these gates have not as yet been closed, even though two and a half months have passed since the Summary Report was made available to the public. You can view photos of the gates mentioned below on our website under Photos. See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html. Scroll down to the Normandy Road North photo to view these pictures.
As of January 22/2024, both sides of the Normandy Road (North) gate were broken and open. Previously, as the photos indicate, only one side was broken.
As of January 24, 2024 the left side of the gate located on the Millennium Trail near the skate park was open and broken.
As of January, 22/2024 the left side of the Normandy Road (South) gate was open and broken.
Although not part of the Access Gates Opening Pilot Project, the gate located at Hillcrest Drive North and Park Lane is wide open, despite the fact that the trail is supposedly off-limits to motorized vehicles and is located in a supposedly Protected Area. (See signage on photos.)
This gate needs to be closed.
As well, the gates on the East side of the Rotary Centennial Bridge are open and may need repair as well. The gates are there to help discourage motorized use of the bridge and to slow down bike traffic. These gates need to be closed and (if necessary repaired).
ATWA has asked the applicable City of Whitehorse departments as to when action is going to be taken to rectify the above concerns. Despite the fact that it is winter, there should be no problem initiating the repair and closure of the gates mentioned.
3. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: After an additional request, ATWA has been informed by Parks and Community Development that the What We Heard Report promised in December will be issued this week.
The information should be available on the Engage Whitehorse site. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca and scroll down.)
If by chance you have forgotten what this plan review was all about, the following information is provided on the Engage Whitehorse site:
“In 2022, the City completed a neighbourhood level trail plan for Whitehorse North, which encompasses the MacPherson, Hidden Valley, Forestview, and Mayo Road area. Due to concerns expressed by some residents in the area about the results, we've decided to conduct a public survey to review and help determine whether residents are generally satisfied with the plan or not.”
4. Trail Maintenance Solution Proposal: An article in the Yukon News by Jim Elliot and entitled, Trail maintenance solution for sleds and bikes pitched to Whitehorse is of interest, particularly to those who use the Hamilton Blvd trail. See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/trail-maintenance-solution-for-sleds-and-bikes-pitched-to-whitehorse-7301445.
If any of you have comments about this proposal, please let us know.
5. Copper Haul Road Possible Closure: Another article in the Yukon News by Jim Elliot and entitled, Culvert work may close Whitehorse’s Copper Haul Road this year will be of interest for any who use the road for recreation. See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/culvert-work-may-close-whitehorses-copper-haul-road-this-year-7300899.)
6. Concrete Tunnels and Permafrost: How Sweden is Future-Proofing Skiing: This BBC article of January 19, 2024 by Matilda Welin is certainly food for thought. Even if we are not so worried here about lack of snow, the idea would be great for those who do not like to cross-country ski when the temperature drops below -20 C. See https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240118-concrete-tunnels-and-permafrost-how-sweden-is-future-proofing-skiing.
7. Zoning Bylaw Rewrite: On January 3/2024, ATWA submitted a response to the Zoning Bylaw Rewrite that addressed issues specific to Environmental Protection zones and to Greenbelt zones, but which also related to trails, regional parks, greenbelts, and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs). That document included a number of questions, to which we asked for a response in order to clarify our understanding of the issues that we continue to face.
On January 11/2024 we received a response from Darcy McCord who is a Senior Planner with Planning and Sustainability Services, City of Whitehorse. He provided a very detailed and informative response. It was most appreciated and gives us a much clearer understanding of the concerns we raised. He also referred questions that related to the Snowmobile and ATV Bylaws and their relationship to the current Zoning Bylaw on to the Manager of Parks.
Although we are still reviewing the response, we have already highlighted some material that might be of immediate interest to our associates.
Mr. McCord writes that “No City bylaw takes precedence over another. Generally, bylaws provide regulations for a discrete purpose, and should be coordinated and complement each other where they are performing a related function. Where different bylaws provide regulations on the same matter, the more restrictive regulation typically applies.”
He goes on to say, “Part of the process for the Zoning Bylaw Rewrite involves reviewing other City bylaws and policies to ensure alignment between these documents. Where appropriate, the new Zoning Bylaw will be updated to align with other bylaws and policies. In some instances, it may be more appropriate for the other bylaw/policy to be amended instead. Where this is the case, the department responsible for the document will be notified and they can incorporate it into their work plan as priorities and resources permit.”
This information could be of significance in our continuing effort to provide more protection for our city’s Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Environmental Protection Areas, open spaces, greenbelts, and so-called non-motorized trails.
8. City launching Climate Action Plan Engagement: You might be interested in taking part in this City of Whitehorse Initiative. The following information is provided by the City of Whitehorse:
“The City of Whitehorse is launching its Climate Action Plan (CAP) engagement.
The CAP will help inform city-decision making when it comes to climate change. The final plan will include a strategy on how to improve climate change mitigation and adaptation across the city, and set clear benchmarks for greenhouse gas emission reduction.
Starting January 30 until February 16, residents can share their perspectives on climate change in the community and the steps they are taking to reduce those impacts through a survey. The feedback from this survey will inform the draft plan, which will be shared with the public for comment later this spring.
A webinar to meet the team and learn about the process is also scheduled for Tuesday, January 30 at 7 pm. The recording will be made available to all residents for the duration of the engagement.
To learn more about this project, join the webinar and take the survey, visit engagewhitehorse.ca/climate-action-plan.”
ATWA Updates: December 20, 2023
1. Zoning Bylaw Rewrite: Hopefully, as many of you as possible will take the opportunity to complete the Zoning Bylaw Survey. Yes, it may take a little time to complete, as there is ample room for written responses to the questions asked. The survey is to be completed by January 5, 2024.
The current Zoning Bylaw can be found at the following site: (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2012-20-Zoning-Bylaw-2012-20.pdf.)
There is little in the survey that specifically addresses issues that ATWA has brought up in the past. However, we encourage you to complete it, as in one way or another zoning issues concern us all.
You can find the survey and additional information with regard to the Zoning Bylaw and to the process under which it is going to be reviewed at the following site:
https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/zoning-bylaw-rewrite.
You can also make written or oral comments directly to Darcy McCord (Senior Planner/City of Whitehorse) at [email protected] or 689-0342, or to Chelsea Fleming (Planner 2/City of Whitehorse) at [email protected].
ATWA is preparing a response to the Zoning Bylaw Rewrite, that will address issues specific to Environmental Protection zones and to Greenbelt zones, but which also relate to trails, regional parks, greenbelts, and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs). That document will include a number of questions, which we hope will solicit a response and clarify our understanding of some of the issues that we continue to face.
Please let us know if you have any issues concerning the above and we will include them in our submission(s) to City planners.
2. Mining Exploration in and near Whitehorse: Considering we are undergoing a review of the Zoning Bylaw, you might be interested in a November 22, 2023 Yukon News article by Jim Elliot entitled, Whitehorse council hears from residents concerned with mining exploration in and near city. (See https://www.yukon-news.com/local-news/whitehorse-council-hears-from-residents-concerned-with-mining-exploration-in-and-near-city-7113932.)
3. No battery E-Bikes: An associate has referred a December 5, 2023 euronews article by Oceane Duboust to us. Perhaps one day this new device will become an alternate to battery operated e-bikes.
(See https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/12/05/this-french-company-has-designed-the-first-e-bike-that-doesnt-need-a-battery.)
4. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Review: According to the City’s website, administration will be “reporting and sharing information with the public” this month (December, 2023). As of
December 20, no new information has been provided. However, there is still time remaining in December, so keep your eye on the following site for information updates. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.)
5. Contagious Mountain Bike Club Trail Development Proposal: There is still no word as to the present status of this application. It is now four months since we were informed by Parks and Community Development that the application had been received. This certainly suggests that the trail development process is not working as it should. No one benefits from such a delay.
Action #23 of the 2020 Trail Plan calls for the City of Whitehorse to “update the Trail Development Application Process.” That has not happened. The Trail Plan’s list of Action items is turning into a list of inactions. However, considering the amount of work that Parks & Community Development is being asked to handle, it is not surprising that things do not get done as we would like.
6. Capital Budget 2024-2027: There were several questions presented by those who were involved in the Capital Budget public input process, that concerned issues of which ATWA is interested.
These were included in Appendix A, which is found in the December 4, 2023 Standing Committee Meeting Agenda. You can judge for yourself as to whether or not the answers given address the questions raised. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/SC-Agenda-2023-December-4.pdf.)
APPENDIX A
Public Input for the 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program General Questions and Comments:
McIntyre Creek Management Plan
Q: What is the source of the McIntyre Creek Management Plan's external funding, and when is it expected to be forthcoming?
A: This is a multi-year project with an anticipated start in 2024. The funding source is to be determined.
2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan
Q: Does the 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program include allocating funds to implement the 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan? If not, why?
A: The 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program includes the Long Lake Trail and Parking Lot Accessibility project that addresses an action item in the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan.
Q: Will the City address the initiative found in Section 2.5 of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan in 2024? Will any funds be applied to placing new signs at all road entrances to the park?
A: The 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program includes the Long Lake Trail and Parking Lot Accessibility project to address the 2040 Official Community Plan, Idea for Action #25, to develop a strategy or program to advance Chadburn Park planning initiatives. In addition, the Trail Plan Implementation project will aim to complete trail developments and initiatives listed in the 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan.
Trail Plan Implementation
Q: How were the funds approved in 2023 for the trail plan implementation project used? How much was spent on what specific projects? How does the City plan to spend the allotted $100,000 in 2024?
A: A majority of the funds approved in 2023 supported the trail crew and maintenance of City trails. Some of the 2023 funds were used for feasibility studies and assessments. The 2024 budget will be used to undertake improvements to the trail network as outlined in the 2020 Trail Plan and Neighbourhood Trail Plans and initiatives. In addition, the funds will be used to create an interactive online trail map for the City of Whitehorse website.
Q: What progress has been made in implementing the 30 Actions listed in the 2020 Trail Plan? Does the 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program capture any capital projects related to the 30 Actions?
A: Various actions have been completed, including neighbourhood level trail plans, the development of the City's first E-Bike Bylaw as well as general improvements to the trail network. Administration is working through other action items such as policy and bylaw review.
[Note: The Whitehorse North Trail Plan is still under review.]
Wayfinding Plan
Q: What does the Wayfinding plan entail?
A: This initiative, recommended by The Downtown Plan (2018) and the Downtown Retail and Entertainment Strategy (2016), will identify points of interest, signage and map design, locations, and logistics for installation in Whitehorse. The plan aims to elevate exposure for attractions, including the Visitor’s Center, museums, heritage sites, and commercial areas. By incorporating First Nation themes, language, and culture, the plan seeks to unify signage and communication, promoting a cohesive downtown identity while upholding higher urban design standards.
Other submissions specifically requested that the City of Whitehorse:
Implement snow clearing along Hamilton Boulevard for active transport users.
Develop of a Downtown Trail plan for the Downtown and adjacent areas.
Construct a paved multi-use trail along Lewes Boulevard and lower escarpments trail pathway to complete the Downtown loop.
Ensure the protection and integrity of the airport perimeter trail.
Consider the concept of the Yukon River pedestrian bridge.
In response to those submissions administration indicated that, “The proposed 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program includes several projects with active transportation components.”
Airport Fence Trail Improvements - will protect and maintain the integrity of the Airport - Puckett's Gulch paved trail, a crucial active transportation route, by addressing the issue of extreme snow blowing and drifting during the winter season.
The installation of slats along the airport's perimeter fence has been tested over a 30-meter section and proven effective in reducing snow blowing and drifting onto the trail, ensuring safer passage for trail users and reducing maintenance efforts.
Selkirk Street Active Transportation - an asphalt path from Nisutlin to Selkirk Elementary School and improvements to the pedestrian crossing at Selkirk and Nisutlin will enhance accessibility for pedestrians. It will strengthen the active transportation network in the area, providing a designated path that promotes walking and cycling, fostering a safer and more accessible route for pedestrians and cyclists.
In response to the construction of a paved trail along Lewes Boulevard, the City recently painted a buffer for the dedicated bike lane along Lewes Boulevard from Nisutlin to Grey Mountain School. Additionally, the City is allocating funds in 2024 to assess neighborhood roadway speed reductions. The combination of these two initiatives will greatly increase the safety for cyclists/pedestrians on Lewes Boulevard in the near term. Larger cycling infrastructure improvements on Lewes Boulevard will be coordinated with future surface or underground rehabilitation work in the area.
The City values asphalt paths in park spaces and has recently extended the Lower Escarpment Trail north of Black Street with the Cook Street reconstruction project. At the south end of the existing Lower Escarpment Trail, the next extension will pass adjacent to a future development at 5th & Rogers. This development will likely require a landslide mitigation berm, which the future trail will be placed upon. The installation of a future trail in this area will be subject to development on that parcel and integrated into the design.
The idea of the Yukon River pedestrian bridge is being explored further within an existing 2023 capital project for the assessment of 2nd River Crossing, and the horizon for potential implementation will be established as part of the long-range transportation planning completed with the Transportation Master Plan. At this time, there is not sufficient information, and the idea has not progressed enough to support a capital project in the 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program. [To read the entire report go to the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/SC-Agenda-2023-December-4.pdf.]
ATWA Updates: November 30, 2023
1. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project Summary Report: We first mentioned this pilot project in July of 2022, and have never been impressed with how it was conducted.
The project only involved “barriers” located on a specific number of paved trails. The entire Summary Report, which is certainly worth reading in its entirety, can be viewed at the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot. Go to Documents on the right side of the page and click on AccessGatesOpeningPilot in order to download and view the report.
Included immediately below are sections from the Summary Report entitled, Analysis, Recommendations, and Conclusions. The Recommendations have been paraphrased.
Analysis
“Limited positive feedback was recorded from the community regarding the opening of the aforementioned gates. There are several recorded complaints regarding vehicles on the trails and an increase in trail user’s speed at high conflict intersections. The City implemented a system for reporting vehicles on the trail and its findings proved poor compliance to the rules at particular at Elijah Smith and McIntyre Creek. Additionally other observations were made and recorded of non-permitted vehicles using the trails once the gates were opened. Vehicles on the paved trail caused property damage and a significant safety concern. The risks outweigh the benefits to leave the gates open for the majority of locations. Airport trail is the exception with no reported issues and a low perceived risk of miss-use the gate can remain open maintaining ease of access for trail users.”
Recommendations
The Airport Trail is to be permanently opened."
Note: This should not result in a change to its status as a non-motorized trail. It is currently signed as being off-limits to all types of motorized use including snowmobiles. This has been the case for years.
Of course, this highlights the confusion over trail usage in Whitehorse, as both the paved trail section and the non-paved section are located outside the downtown core, and although signed as truly non-motorized summer and winter, it is not included in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
Even Parks and Community Development does not seem to know under what authority the Airport Trail has become closed to all motorized use. Perhaps its non-motorized (summer and winter) status falls under a grandfather clause. In any case, any attempt to change its current status would meet with much opposition. This is simply another example of the confusion that results when a city does not update its bylaws to effectively deal with such situations.
The gates that are to be closed are found at the Elijah Smith Elementary School, McIntyre Creek near the disc golf course, the Millennium Trail near Second Haven Skate Park, Normandy Road, Ortona Avenue, Sunset Drive North & Park Lane, and Rhine Way. These gates were supposed to be closed prior to the commencement of the pilot project, but some were already broken and, as a result, already open.
Conclusion and Next Steps
“Airport trail is currently open and will remain open as a result of the analysis completed for this project. All other locations are to be closed and are not planned to be re-opened. A redesign of gates or an alternative installation that improves access around them for intended users should be explored.”
If you would like more background information on this topic, please refer to Issues/Access Gate Opening Pilot Project on our website. See https://www.activetwa.org/access-gate-opening-pilot-project.html.
A November 10, CBC article by Katie Todd entitled, Whitehorse's open-gate experiment ends with locked gates, frustrated cyclists, indicates that the pilot project was “prompted by a request from the Whitehorse Urban Cycling Coalition (WUCC).” This information was not made available at the commencement of the project, despite our request that it be revealed. A representative of the WUCC is quoted as saying that “A lot of the gates have these spike-like contraptions.” See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/whitehorse-open-gate-pathways-pilot-project-1.7025350.
ATWA is not sure as to what the representative is referring, but having twice visited all the project locations (in summer and winter), only one presented any physical barrier to non-motorized users. Obviously, winter presents its own challenges to paved trail users, particularly those with disabilities.
On November 9, T. S. Giilck wrote an article in The Whitehorse Star entitled, City shelves its ungated trails project. However, you can only access this article if you have an online subscription to the paper, or purchase a hard copy. You can view a slideshow featuring the gates and barriers in question in our website under Photos. Scroll down to the second-to-last photo. Click on the arrow at top right to view each slide individually. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
ATWA will do a revisit of the gates in question at some point in December in order to ensure that all the gates scheduled to be closed are in fact, in good working order, and closed. However, if you live near one of these gates take a look. If not closed or broken, contact Colby Knowler at Parks & Community Development at 689-0859, or by email at [email protected].
2. No Snowmobile Sign Removed: One can only shake one’s head and laugh!
The “No Snowmobile” sign has now been removed from the paved trail near Takhini, and gates have been reinstalled. These “gates” only prevent trucks and cars from passing through. They do not prevent ATVs or snowmobiles from passing through.
Gates located at this site have been vandalized and repaired previously, only to be repeatedly vandalized. One suspects that this will continue.
So, what have we achieved here?
First the City of Whitehorse took down the damaged gates as part of the now discontinued Access Gates Project.
Then, two new signs were added: a shared pathway sign (bikers and walkers), and a no ATV sign.
Then, a No Snowmobile sign was finally added to the mix a year after said sign was promised by Engineering Services.
Then, that sign (after being up for just a few weeks) was removed. And now, the gates have been reinstalled. One wonders what all this activity cost the City of Whitehorse and its taxpayers.
Instead of the City of Whitehorse honouring the intent of gas tax paved trails as per use (non-motorized summer and winter), it continues to use the Snowmobile Bylaw to justify their use by snowmobiles. However, it also continues to refer to these paved trails as active transportation routes.
And, just so you know, in case you have concerns with any motorized multiple use trail in your area the Manager of Parks and Community Development has the authority under the Snowmobile Bylaw to "temporarily or permanently close a motorized multiple use trail or trail, or a portion thereof.” (See Section 29 of Snowmobile Bylaw.) So do not hesitate in contacting [email protected] if you do have concerns.
3. Canada invests in study of safe active transportation options under the Alaska Highway: This June 9, 2023 news release from Infrastructure Canada announces a $50,000 investment to “support community-led efforts to study active transportation in two neighbourhoods along the Alaska Highway in Whitehorse.”
The press release goes on to say that “This investment will support an active transportation feasibility study undertaken by the Cycling Association of Yukon and supported by Takhini residents, the Hillcrest Community Association, and the Whitehorse Urban Cycling Coalition.”You can read the entire press release by going to the following site:
https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2023/06/canada-invests-in-study-of-safe-active-transportation-options-under-the-alaska-highway.html.
4. Capital Budget 2024-2027: The Public Input session on the budget was held at Monday night’s (Nov. 27) regular City Council meeting. Unfortunately, only four people appeared before council. Hopefully, more have sent written comments to administration. The City of Whitehorse has provided the following information on the next steps in the process of Capital Budget approval:
“December 4, 2023
Report on Public Input – Public input collected from the time of First Reading until the Public Input Night is summarized and presented in a report to Council to consider prior to finalizing the Capital budget.
December 11, 2023
Second and Third Reading of Capital Expenditure Program 2024-2027.”
You can view the 2024-2027 Capital Budget at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/budget/.
Some items in the Capital Budget relate to areas that may be of interest to our associates.
Under Planning and Sustainability Services there is a 2024, $315,000 item (Subject to External Funding) entitled, McIntyre Creek Park Management Plan.
It seems as though the money is to be spent on the development of a McIntyre Creek Park Management Plan, something which many in our community would welcome. Of course, as indicated, the item is subject to external funding.
A delegate at Monday’s council meeting asked for confirmation that the intent is to develop a park management plan for McIntyre Creek Regional Park in 2024, if external funding is forthcoming. The question was also raised as to where this external funding is to come.
One would think that an evaluation of the now six-year-old Chadburn Lake Management Plan should be undertaken prior to the development of a McIntyre Creek Management Plan. It would be helpful to know if any difficulties have occurred in trying to implement the various goals of the Chadburn Lake Management Plan. Such information might help to make for a better McIntyre Creek Management Plan.
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any capital expenditures specifically related to the implementation of the 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan.
There is a reference in the Capital Budget under Parks, to a Long Lake Trail and Parking Lot Accessibility item in the 2025 Capital Budget, that is subject to external funding amounting to some $510,000.
A question was asked if this item is intended to address the initiative found in section 2.5 of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan. (See 2.5 p. 26 of the plan.)
In 2024, $100,000 is to be spent on implementation of the 2020 Trail Plan. Last year (2023), $100,000 was also allocated to this implementation.
A delegate wanted to know if all of the $100,000 was actually used in 2023, and if all or part of it was used, on what specific capital projects it was spent.
The delegate also wanted to know on what capital projects the 2024 allotment of funds is intended to be spent. (Appendix D of the 2020 Trail Plan lists a number of possible capital projects.)
Under Planning and Sustainability Services there is also a 2024, $37,500 item for a Wayfinding Plan, which is subject to external funding being approved. A question was raised as to what this plan entailed. It may be related to Goal #2 (2.1) of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChadburnLakePMPlanJune2017.pdf p. 25.
5. Entrance Signs for Chadburn Lake Park: ATWA has mentioned the need for park entrance signs on several occasions before City Council, yet six years into this ten-year plan and there is still no indication at entrances that the area is a City Regional Park. Current signage still refers to the park as a Recreational Area!
Signs should not only indicate the name of this regional park along with a reference to its existing management plan, but also according to that same plan, be “culturally appropriate.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChadburnLakePMPlanJune2017.pdf 3.1 p. 27.)
New signage would help people better appreciate how important the park is to all our citizens, and help to increase the respect that one should give to such an area.
Last Friday (11/24) information was received that leads us to believe that work is currently in progress to design these signs. Hopefully, money for their design, construction, and installation will be forthcoming.
6. Time for Updates: On November 27th a request was made before City Council
to provide updates for both the 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan and the 2020 Trail Plan. In other words, it is important that the public be informed as to what progress has been made over the last six years to realize the Goals and Initiatives of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, and over the last three years to address the thirty Actions of the 2020 Trail Plan.
7. When Google Maps gets it wrong, who's to blame? And how do you get it fixed? A November 20, 2023 CBC article by Karin Larsen is worth a read. It is a reminder that, as mapping software expert Will Cadell says in the article, “Google Maps and similar apps have their limitations.” (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/google-maps-error-whos-to-blame-1.7032369.)
8. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Review: Although we have tried to get a better idea as to when the results of this review will be released to the public, we have not as yet received any update from Parks and Community Development.
9. Contagious Mountain Bike Club Trail Development Proposal: There is still no word as to the present status of this application. It is now three months since we were informed by Parks and Community Development that the application had been received.
10. Trails across Canada for city dwellers to walk this winter: Although this CBC article by Jen O’Brien is three years old, as it was first posted on Dec 07, 2020, it is still relevant. It is always nice when good things are said about trails in the Whitehorse area. The trails surrounding Chadburn Lake are mentioned in this article. (See https://www.cbc.ca/life/travel/trails-across-canada-for-city-dwellers-to-walk-this-winter-1.5827166.)
11. Canada’s Most Livable Cities: This Globe and Mail article by Mahima Singh and Chen Wang with illustration by Kathleen Fu, was published on November 25, 2023. Whitehorse ranks 53 out of 100.
There is lots of informative material about our community found in this article, which you should find interesting. Have a look! (See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/article-most-livable-cities-canada-2023/ and click on the More Information box.)
ATWA Updates: October 28, 2023
1. Parks and Community Development Meeting: On October 19, Pat Milligan and Keith Lay met with three staff members from the Parks and Community Development department.
A variety of topics related to neighbourhood trail plans, regional parks, environmentally sensitive areas, paved pathways (outside of the downtown core), trail signage issues, Pee Wee Hill trail concerns, the Snowmobile and ATV Bylaws, communication issues, the lack of progress on ensuring that policies and bylaws reflect the intentions of the 2020 Trail Plan, and Alaska Highway trail concerns, were discussed.
Only time will tell if any of the issues we raised will see some resolution. However, we appreciated the opportunity to meet with Parks and Community Development members in order to air the concerns in person.
2. ATV Bylaw: Please note that according to section 15 of the ATV Bylaw, “A person may operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail during the time period April 1 to October 31 in each year and shall not operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail from November 1 to March 31 in each year. Please note that ATVs are not permitted on non-motorized multiple use trails, open spaces, or greenbelt areas at any time of the year. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/AllTerrainVehicleBylawupda.pdf.)
So, you should not be seeing any recreational use of ATVs in Whitehorse after October 31.
3. New Signage now in Question: One has to laugh! After a year and a half of discussion with Engineering Services surrounding the placing of a “no snowmobile” sign at the access gate area on the paved trail leading to Takhini, it was finally installed in August.
Within a month of its installation, Parks and Community Development asked Engineering Services to take it down because its placement does not conform to the dictates of the Snowmobile Bylaw, which it argues, allows for the use of such paved trails located outside of the downtown core by snowmobiles. This, despite the fact that the money to build the trail came from the federal government’s Gas Tax Fund, and such trails were to be used for active forms of transportation. In other words, they were to be non-motorized.
It is our understanding (subject to confirmation by the appropriate authorities) that Gas Tax funded paved trails could be motorized if a municipality so wished it, as long as non-motorized uses were allowed. However, one would think that the only way this could happen is through a public process. In other words, the municipality would have to consult and obtain approval of its citizens before a Gas Tax funded paved trail could be motorized.
To the best of our knowledge all public information released by various governments concerning the building of Gas Tax funded trails in Whitehorse indicated that they would be used for active forms of transportation and recreation.
Infrastructure Canada says “Eligible [Gas Tax] projects include investments in infrastructure for construction, renewal or material enhancement in each of the following categories:
It should be noted that Section 28 and 29 of the Snowmobile Bylaw says that the “The Manager of Parks and Community Development may temporarily or permanently close a motorized multiple use trail or trail, or a portion thereof, and upon so doing, shall erect signage, which shall for the purpose of this bylaw be considered a traffic control device, in a conspicuous location at each end of the trail or portion of trail which indicates such closure, [and that] Notwithstanding any other provision of this bylaw, at no time shall a person operate a snowmobile on a motorized multiple use trail or trail that has been temporarily or permanently closed.”
There are a number of trails around Whitehorse that are closed to snowmobile use, yet are not listed in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. Perhaps Section 28 and 29 of the Snowmobile Bylaw is the reason why.
If the City of Whitehorse amended the Snowmobile Bylaw to confine snowmobile use to City designated and designed motorized multiple use trails, there would be no paved trail issue and no signage issue.
The following is a quick review of some of the funding sources for trails in general.
We have the Gas Tax Fund, which now is referred to as the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF). We also have the new Active Transportation Fund Government of Canada (ATFGOC) which seems particularly concerned with the building of active transportation pathways of various types.
It is our understanding that this fund is separate and distinct from the federal gas tax fund (now the CCBF). “The Fund will . . . help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges, as well as support Active Transportation planning and stakeholder engagement activities.”
This funding is available not only for municipal projects in the territories including projects in Indigenous communities, but also for non-profit organizations.
As to what the rules are re: permitted use of paved or unpaved trails built using these ATFGOC
funds, is something the City should explore and once determined, should pass its findings on to citizens.
Hopefully, such active transportation/recreation trails will maintain the non-motorized aspect and eliminate the ability of a municipality to turn them into motorized trails.
4. Separated Bike Lanes: Given the recent controversy surrounding Chilkoot Way, this CBC article of Oct. 21, 2023 by Jason Peters might be of interest. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bike-lanes-penticton-1.7003386.)
5. Gibsons BC Trail Signage: Looks like this community of less than 5,000 residents knows that Latitude should be placed before Longitude when used on trail signs. Perhaps it is because it is a coastal community, and ocean travel is vital to its existence. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
If any of you do find trail signs in Whitehorse that correctly put Latitude before Longitude, take a photo and send it to us. Please identify its location.
6. Proposed Trail Development by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club: No word as yet as to whether or not this proposal will go before City Council for approval or rejection.
7. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Public Review: Apparently, Parks and Community Development is still in the process of reviewing the results of the recent review. As mentioned in our September Updates, ATWA made a submission to administration on the subject. Copies were also sent to each member of City Council.
The submission can be found on our website under Issues/Whitehorse North Trail Plan. See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.html.
8. Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail: ATWA is still waiting for a reply from the Director of Community Services to our September 23 email concerning the situation with regard to the Pee Wee Hill alternate trail.
9. Hot Springs Resort Trails: If you are out visiting the hot springs and/or Bean North take the time to explore these trails. We have placed a photo of the sign that is located at the start of the trail system on our website. It has all kinds of information on it, which should be read before using the trails.
These trails are funded and maintained by the Hot Springs Resort Trails Society. They are not open to any form of motorized use in either summer or winter. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html, and scroll down to the second photo.)
10. E-Bike Story: A Scotland News story by Auryn Cos raises concerns about the responsible use of e-bikes. (See https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-67242398.)https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-67242398.)
ATWA Updates: September 24, 2023
1. Proposed Trail Development by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club: As mentioned in our August Updates, the Contagious Mountain Bike Club (CMBC) has submitted a trail development proposal to the City of Whitehorse.
An outline of the proposal was sent to Active Trails Whitehorse Association (ATWA) by Colby Knowler (Projects & Trails Coordinator/Parks) on August 29, 2023. That information was sent to all ATWA associates.
ATWA made clear in the information that associates should make personal submissions on the subject if they have some comments they would like to make.
ATWA’s immediate concern about such applications is that proper process is followed, and there is adherence to the Trail Development Policy.
To date, ATWA is satisfied that proper process has been followed.
Submissions on the proposal closed on September 15. However, should administration find the proposal to have merit, it will have to come before City Council for approval. At that point any member of the public will have a chance to make a delegate presentation either in support or in opposition to the proposal.
ATWA has been told that it will be notified if that should happen, in order that we can inform our associates as to the date that the proposal would go before City Council.
However, it is always wise to have a glance at the agenda for each Monday evening meeting of council, just in case there is something on the agenda that may be of particular interest to you. (You can see the Agenda for each City Council agenda at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/our-government/city-council/meetings/agendas-minutes-and-reports/.)
A personal submission on the trail development proposal was made by Keith Lay on September 14. This submission can be found on the ATWA website under Issues at https://www.activetwa.org/trail-development-policy--application-process.html.
If any of you have made a submission and are willing to have it posted on our website for review, please send it along.
2. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Public Review: The survey and review process came to an end on September 15. According to the City this review was deemed necessary, "Due to concerns expressed by some residents in the area about the results [of the original Whitehorse North Trail Plan.]"
ATWA made a submission to administration on the subject. Copies were also sent to each member of City Council.
The submission can be found on our website under Issues/Whitehorse North Trail Plan. See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.html.
We will have to wait and see what happens as a result of the review. One would think that at some point the results will have to come before City Council. It would be wise to keep a close eye on future council agendas to ensure one does not miss any discussion on said results.
3. October Meeting: As mentioned in our August Updates, ATWA had been promised a meeting with Mélodie Simard, the Manager of the City’s Parks and Community Development department, in order to discuss some of ATWA’s concerns with regard to the 2020 Trail Plan, 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, and the Whitehorse North Trail Plan, as well as recent issues surrounding Environmentally Sensitive Areas and the Snowmobile Bylaw.
This meeting is now scheduled for October 19. If any associate has an issue that you would like us to raise concerning trails, regional parks, open spaces, bylaws, city policies, or concerns related to proper process, please contact us via email.
If all goes as planned Pat Milligan and Keith Lay will be attending the meeting.
4. Town of Inuvik and ATVs: Seems like Inuvik has some safety issues concerning the use of ATVs in their community. This September 15, 2023 CBC News article by Dez Loreen explains the issue. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/inuvik-atv-safety-warning-1.6967492.)
5. Pee Wee Hill and Alternate Trail: Recently an email was sent to
Krista Mroz, who is the Director of Community Services. She was the person with whom ATWA met in September of 2022 concerning Pee Wee Hill and the alternate switchback trail.
Photographs were included in the email that showed the current signage, the existing side trails that have infiltrated the switchback trail, and the state of the trail over the course of two winters. These can be viewed in the photo section of our website. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
The email read as follows:
Just wondering if you could give us an update with regard to Pee Wee Hill and adjacent alternate switchback trail, as you met with ATWA in September of 2022 to discuss (in part) this issue.
Shortly after the meeting, “Administration communicated that an assessment of the Peewee Hill “alternate hill” was conducted on September 27 (2022), with Parks trail staff, Parks Manager, and A/Director, Community Services.
Potential recommendations for improvements to the trail and nearby area were identified, including the need for additional signage. It was noted that signage installation was likely to occur this fall (2022), with additional improvements identified for the spring (2023) work plan.
Administration [was also to do] an assessment of the snow impacts over the winter (2022/2023). Potential recommendations may be added to the spring) work plan.”
Two tiny signs have been placed on a tree part way along the trail. Neither can be seen at the start of the trail (bottom of hill). One has to question the value of these two signs. No signs indicate what uses are allowed on the trail and/or what uses are not permitted.
Are any more signs anticipated? If so, what will they indicate?
What “additional improvements” were identified for the spring 2023 work plan? Were any of these “improvements” carried out?
What "recommendations” were added to the spring work plan to address the snow impacts that were obvious over the winter of 2022/2023? Were any of the suggestions implemented?
For the last two winters (2021/22 and 2022/2023) it has been impossible to use the trail for its intended purpose, which was to allow “a wide range of users to access the trail networks [within the Grey Mountain trail network] in all seasons.” (Action #15 of the 2020 Trail Plan)
Two of the photos below, taken over a year apart (January 2022 and February 2023) of the same section of the alternate trail, show how inaccessible the trail has been over the course of two winters.
It also appears that no effort has been made to block the several “side” trails that now cut into the switchback and present potential safety concerns to those using the switchback route. (Three of those side trails are seen in one of the photos below. There is at least one other.)
Will any effort be made to close these side trails?
We would appreciate a response to our questions.
Thanks for your help,
Keith Lay (Active Trails Whitehorse Association)
www.activetwa.org
Unfortunately, the Director will not be available until October 19, so it will be some time before a response is forthcoming.
6. New Signage in Place: As mentioned in our August Updates a “no snowmobile” sign has been placed at the access gate area on the paved trail leading to Takhini and located near the disc golf course in Porter Creek. A photo of the new sign can be viewed in the photo section of our website. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html and scroll down.)
ATWA Updates: August 30, 2023
1. Access Gates Opening Pilot: With regard to the status of this project, we have received the following information from Tracy Allen, who is the Director of Infrastructure & Operations for the City of Whitehorse: “As for revisiting the project in the future, at this time I do not believe it is in the current or future capital projects plan.”
It appears that the project will not be completed as intended.
As mentioned in our July Updates, part of the project involved the placement of a sign at the access gate area on the paved trail leading to Takhini and located near the disc golf course in Porter Creek. (The access gate was removed as part of the project.) The sign was to indicate that snowmobiles would not be permitted on the paved trail.
ATWA was recently in contact with Taylor Eshpeter, who is the Manager of Engineering Services for the City of Whitehorse, concerning the sign and was assured that it would be installed.
The sign has now been placed at the site in question. ATWA would like to thank Mr. Eshpeter for his attention to this matter.
Hopefully, the sign will encourage snowmobilers to keep to the MMU trails in the area and will enhance safety for all concerned.
2. Proposed Trail Development by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club: On August 29, ATWA received an email from Colby Knowler, Projects & Trails Coordinator/Parks, City of Whitehorse.
We forwarded his email to all our associates on the same day.
The email indicated that the purpose of the proposed trail is “To complete a single track link from RIP back to Magnusson parking lot that would provide a climbing route off away from motorized traffic on Grey Mountain road, creating a viable continuous climb trail to Magnusson parking lot as it continues from RIPURT. This will also create a valuable grooming loop in winter as there is currently no connection back to Magnusson area for the Snow Dog trail groomer. The trail will be built with mountain biking in mind and encourage people to ride up grey mountain rather than drive. This will also improve safety on grey mountain road.”
Please note that the proposal involves the construction of an 800-metre-trail. Walk twice around the 400-metre- long running track at F.H. Collins and you will get a better idea as to how long the proposed trail will be, if built.
You are asked to send any comments, questions, and/or concerns [with regard to this proposal] to [email protected], or alternatively to [email protected]. Comments must be received by 18/09/2023.
ATWA would also appreciate hearing from you if you have any comments, questions and/or concerns about this proposal.
The proposed trail development raised a number of questions with regard to the approval process. As a result, the following email was sent to Coby Knowler. He replied immediately to the questions and his comments will appear in blue. We very much appreciate the quick response!
"I have some questions about this trail development application and the Trail Development Policy.
You said that the application involves the building of a "single track link [800 metres long] from RIP back to Magnusson parking lot . . .”
Therefore, this would not be a trail enhancement, but rather a new trail.
Correct, this is an application for a new trail.
According to the Trail Development Policy, “trail enhancement” means trail works that change the characteristics of a particular trail to improve user experience such as minor reroutes (under 100 meters), large contiguous resurfacing projects (over 10 meters) and construction of structures, such as boardwalks, bridges, TTFs or other structures, of a long-term or permanent nature.”
The definition clearly indicates that the building of an 800-metre-long trail cannot be considered as a trail enhancement, but simply new trail construction, even if it is considered to be a link or a connector trail.
Section 12 of the policy says that “City Council shall (1) authorize new trail construction; (2) designate new trails; and (3) adopt new trails into the Trail Maintenance Policy.
Section 13 of the policy also says that the Manager of Parks must "recommend and present trail development authorizations to Council."
According to the section 16 of the Trail Development Policy the "Construction of trails on municipal and/or Crown lands within the City of Whitehorse boundary is not permitted unless authorized by Council.”
Section 40 of the policy goes on to say that the “Manager [of Parks] will present complete applications to Council for approval. Council approval consists of authorizing trail construction, designating proposed trails and adopting proposed trails into the Trail Maintenance Policy.”
It appears that this particular application must be approved by City Council at a Regular Council Meeting and introduced at a Standing Committee Meeting. Members of the public would be able to appear as Delegates at the Regular Council Meeting where a decision would be made by City Council as to whether or not the trail application is approved.
Question: Is this correct? If not, why not?
Yes, this is the process we must follow for a single-track, hand-built trail between 500-1000m in length with a corridor width of 1.5m or less. Following a notice for comment period, we would take this trail development application to Council for approval.
Comment: If this application does have to go before City Council for approval, then the mentioned “light clearing” could not take place until the approval was granted. Given the difficulty of getting items on council agendas, it could be well into winter before approval may be granted.
No work will be permitted to take place on this proposed trail unless approved by Council, and not before then. It may not be possible for this trail development to commence before winter if it does not make it onto a Council agenda in the next month.
Question: If the application does have to go before City Council for approval, then will Parks immediately inform relevant stakeholders, community groups and other organizations” of this requirement, and (when known) the date of the Council meeting where those interested could appear as Delegates in support or in opposition to the application?"
When I know a Council date for the decision on this trail development application, I can inform those who have been contacted with this notice for comment as to when it will be happening.
For those of you who would like to review the Trail Development Policy you can go to the following site:
https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/TrailDevelopmentPolicyJune.pdf.
3. Whitehorse North Trail Plan New Survey: Information with regard to this survey and public comment period can be found once again on the Engage Whitehorse site at https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.
According to the information provided “You can provide your input via [the] online survey, or send an email with the subject line “2023 Whitehorse North” to [email protected](External link). Of course, you could do both! You have until September 15 to provide input.
More information on the Whitehorse North Trail Plan can be found under Issues on our website.
4. Bike Racks: For those of you who have such devices attached to your vehicle, the following August 13, 2023 Globe and Mail article by Jason Tchir should be of interest. See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-can-i-really-get-a-ticket-for-having-a-bike-rack-on-the-back-of-my/.
5. Motorcycle for children? This August 7, 2023 New York Times News Service article by Matt Richtel was picked up by the Globe and Mail. See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/article-motorcycle-for-children-e-bike-maker-super73-blurs-lines/.
6. September Meeting: ATWA has been promised a late September meeting with Mélodie Simard, who is the Manager of the City’s Parks and Community Development department, in order to discuss some of ATWA’s concerns with regard to the 2020 Trail Plan, 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, and the Whitehorse North Trail Plan, as well as recent issues surrounding Environmentally Sensitive Areas and the Snowmobile Bylaw.
Apparently, the Manager is away until September 18th, so the meeting will not take place until after that date.
ATWA Updates: July 31, 2023
1. Access Gates Opening Pilot: The project no longer appears on the Engage Whitehorse site. It just disappeared with no apparent explanation. Notification of this change was not sent to ATWA, despite the fact that two submissions were sent by an ATWA associate to the City’s Engineering Services department.
As a result, we sent the following email to the department:
A) “The Access Gates Opening Pilot no longer appears on the Engage Whitehorse site as a Featured Project. However, it can be found under the section entitled, Current & Past Projects. As the project is no longer current, then it must be a Past Project.
One would think that if it is considered to be a Past Project, then it would have been completed. However, that is obviously not the case.
As the Timelines were not met and the individual who was the project manager has left the City’s employ, it would seem that the project is now dead in the water.
ATWA spent a considerable length of time preparing two submissions for this project. (See https://www.activetwa.org/access-gate-opening-pilot-project.html.) Yet, we received no notification when the project was removed from the current Engage Whitehorse site without any explanation.
We would like to know if we are correct in making the assumption that the pilot project has been shelved. We would also like to know if the City intends to revisit this pilot project at some time in the future.
B) As part of the project a sign was to be placed at the access gate area on the paved trail leading to Takhini and located near the disc golf course in Porter Creek. This sign would have indicated that snowmobiles are not permitted on the paved trail.
We were told by [the project manager] in January (2023) that the sign had been ordered and once received would be installed. Of course, the ground was frozen at that time, so we expected to see it installed in the spring of 2023.
Unfortunately, the sign has not appeared.
Despite the apparent failure of the City to complete this project, the sign was promised and as such we would appreciate it being installed as soon as possible and certainly prior to the ground freezing as winter approaches.
I include a copy of the email ATWA sent to the project manager (including photos of the area in question) on January 17/2023, along with his response.
Please let us know when the sign will be installed as promised.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Hopefully we will receive a response.
2. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: As you are aware if you have kept up-to-date on all the material ATWA prepared and submitted on this plan, the manner in which it was conducted left much to be desired. Similar concerns were raised with the Whitehorse South Trail Plan, although despite presentations before City Council and numerous appeals to administration they were ignored.
Now the City is “looking for [the public’s] feedback about the results of the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan.”
Apparently, “due to concerns expressed by some residents in the area about the results, [the City has] decided to conduct a public survey to review and help determine whether residents are generally satisfied with the plan or not.”
And so, another survey has been prepared which the City asks the public to complete by September 15, 2023. The survey consists of five questions, three of which have nothing to do with trails. One of the latter actually asks for the participant’s year of birth and another asks for the participant’s gender identity!
The map of the Whitehorse North Trail Plan that is provided is not labelled as to trail designation, so how is one to make any determination as to one’s satisfaction with the plan.
One must go to the following site to get a labelled map: https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Whitehorse-North-Trail-Map.pdf. It is unlikely that many will access this site as few will know where to look.
Please be aware that at a City Council meeting of December 12, 2022, administration made a proposal that would see the lower section of the one approved so-called non-motorized multiple use trail in Whitehorse North be blocked off in the winter to snowmobile use. (It is currently closed to ATV use in the summer as per the ATV Bylaw.) This section would then become the only truly non-motorized multiple use trail in Whitehorse North, as it would be closed to both ATV and snowmobile use.
As this proposal came after City Council had approved the Whitehorse North Trail Plan, ATWA questioned the appropriateness of the suggestion. We still do not know whether or not this administration proposal will be enacted, but there is no indication on the council approved Whitehorse North Trail Plan map that it will be.
In the documentation provided along with the survey, the City includes a Glossary which defines the term Motorized Multi Use (MMU) Trails and the term Non-Motorized Trail, neither of which conform to the definitions given in the 2020 Trail Plan. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/DraftTrailPlanFullReport.pdf. P. 45.)
As well, the failure to clearly explain the relationship between the 2020 Trail Plan, the Snowmobile Bylaw and the Trail Maintenance Policy simply adds to the confusion surrounding trail designation. The City needs to explain that the outdated Snowmobile Bylaw trumps both the 2020 Trail Plan and the Trail Maintenance Policy, despite promises that bylaw(s) would be amended to reflect both these documents.
It also needs to tell the public that the most expensive trail to build, maintain, and enforce is a motorized multiple use trail that permits non-motorized users.
You are encouraged to fill out the survey which is apparently opened to all Yukoners as one of the survey question suggests, although one would think that citizens of Whitehorse who actually use the trails of Whitehorse North should be the ones consulted. Of course, the citizens/residents of Whitehorse North should have the most say as to how the trails in their area are used. See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/whitehorse-north-trail-plan?tool=survey_tool#tool_tab.
Strangely enough, although the opportunity for comment and for completion of the so-called survey is September 15, the information no longer appears on the main Engage Whitehorse site under Featured Projects.
It has now been transferred to the Current and Past Projects site. See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.
It is questionable as to whether or not people will view that site when the main Engage Whitehorse site is where the latest City featured engagement projects are listed.
However, as of today (July 31) one can still use either of the above listed sites to get to the information and the survey.
August 1st Update on the Whitehorse North Trail Survey:
Today (August 1st) one of our associates was able to contact Colby Knowler (Projects & Trails Coordinator at Parks) who had been out of his office since the middle of last week. Apparently, he was unaware that the Whitehorse North Trail Survey was taken off the home page by the Communications department. That has now been corrected and it is available again on the front page of engagewhitehorse.ca under "Featured Projects”.
Colby also said that "If you click the image on the Engage Whitehorse page [https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/whitehorse-north-trail-plan], it will take you to the full map which includes a legend [https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Whitehorse-North-Trail-Map.pdf].This can also be accessed on the sidebar of the webpage under the "Important Links" section by clicking the link that says "2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan Map”.
We thank our associate for contacting Colby. We also thank Colby for correcting the “home page” issue and providing more information about the trail map image.
3. Chilkoot Greenway: According to the Engage Whitehorse site, “The City of Whitehorse is improving active transportation opportunities along Chilkoot Way, connecting the Riverfront Trail with Two Mile Hill pathway.”
More information on this project can be found at the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/chilkoot-greenway.
There is also a Quick poll that the City would like you to take.
4. CBC Article: This July 28 article by Geoff Nixon explores how some Canadian cities are trying to make it easier for both cyclists and pedestrians “to get around this summer.”
See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/open-streets-efforts-canada-cities-2023-1.6914490.
5. Inclusivity Advisory Committee: Administration provided an update on the Inclusivity Advisory Committee. Apparently, the committee has met four times, and despite awaiting new member recruitment, work plans are in process and will be brought forward soon. This update was found in the City Council Administration Package of July 10, 2023.
The committee is mandated to “Identify opportunities to increase inclusivity through City bylaws, policies and programs . . . .”
One wonders if the committee would entertain a presentation concerning a trail designation system which appears to give preference to motorized trail users over non-motorized users. It would be interesting to explore this possibility.
6. For Reference: Although this has been mentioned before, it is worth repeating. “Engineering controls the classification and design of paved pathways in the City whereas Parks is responsible for non-paved trails throughout the City.”
ATWA Updates: June 26, 2023
1. Yukon Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) Rewrite: Recently, we received the following information from Aldous Sperl, Director Highways and Public Works.
“We are writing to update you on the Yukon Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) rewrite. During our public engagement in 2019, we reached out to your organization to participate. We are now entering the final stage of engagement which will follow-up on feedback we heard in 2019 and provide you an opportunity to give final thoughts for the new Motor Vehicles Act.
Attached is a hand-out that explains where we are in the process and where we are going. Also included is a summary of the “What We Heard” report from the 2019 engagement. You can find the full report online on https://yukon.ca/en/motor-vehicles-act-public-engagement.”
The section of the “What We Heard” report that deals with ATWA concerns is found on pages 8 and 9, and is entitled “Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) and Snowmobiles.”
Please be aware that municipal bylaws can be stronger than territorial legislation with regard to ORVs and snowmobiles. Currently, the City of Whitehorse has much stronger regulations with regard to such vehicles. Those regulations can be reviewed by looking at the Snowmobile and ATV Bylaws. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SnowmobileBylawUpdatedJuly.pdf and https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/AllTerrainVehicleBylawupda.pdf.)
Hopefully, the territorial government will ensure that the much needed and much delayed improvements to regulations with regard to the operation of ORVs and snowmobiles in the territory are placed in the draft MVA.
ATWA has been invited to a presentation with regard to the review, although a specific date has not as yet been confirmed. If we are not able to attend on the date provided a written response will be sent.
If after reading the section of the report concerning ORVs and snowmobiles, you have comments you would like to make, you are encouraged to send those comments to Patti Balsillie (Engagement Strategist) at [email protected].
As well, you might consider sending a copy of your comments to Minister Nils Clarke (Minister of Highways and Public Works): [email protected]/867-333-1007.
Once the new act is approved you will undoubtedly have to live with it for many years to come, so please tell the government what you think should be included in the regulations dealing with ATVs (ORVs) and snowmobiles.
2. Globe & Mail Article of June 18, 2023: This article entitled, Two girls suffer life-threatening injuries in off-highway vehicle collision in Alberta demonstrates why stronger regulations concerning ORV use are needed. (See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-two-girls-suffer-life-threatening-injuries-in-off-highway-vehicle/.)
3. CBC Article of June 20, 2023: This article by Pratyush Dayal and entitled, Calls for ATV safety grow after 3 people, including 13-year-old, killed in recent crashes, raises issues associated with ATV regulations. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/atv-groups-ask-for-more-safety-regulations-following-two-deaths-1.6879748.)
4. Access Gates Opening Pilot: A recent effort by ATWA to get an update on the project proved fruitless. Unfortunately, the contact person for this pilot project will no longer be with the City of Whitehorse as of July 03. After that date we have been advised to contact [email protected], if we have any questions.
As part of the project a sign was to be placed at the access gate area on the paved trail leading to Takhini and located near the disc golf course in Porter Creek. This sign would have indicated that snowmobiles are not permitted on the paved trail.
We were told in January that the sign had been ordered and once received would be installed. Of course, the ground was frozen at that time, so we expected to see it installed in the spring.
Unfortunately, the sign has not appeared. As mentioned previously, when we asked for an update on the project and in particular about the snowmobile sign, no information was forthcoming.
One suspects that it will be back to square one in our effort to get this sign installed. As to the Access Gates Opening Project time will tell if it proceeds. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot for any updates.)
5. Łu Zil Män (Fish Lake) Local Area Plan process: (See https://yukon.ca/en/fish-lake-local-area-planning.) ATWA encouraged our associates to fill out the survey that was provided and/or make comments on the original draft, so some of you may be interested in viewing the latest information on this process.
6. Map-Reading: A June 11, 2023 CBC article by Natalie Stechyson, entitled Is map-reading a lost art? is definitely worth a read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/maps-cartography-skill-1.6871726.)
7. Lyme Disease: Apparently, due to climate change, tick populations are growing at various locations across Canada. A June 03, 2023 CBC article by Adam Miller, entitled Climate change is fuelling a spike in Lyme disease cases across Canada, gives some valuable information on this problem. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/climate-change-lyme-disease-canada-ticks-1.6862244#:~:text=Canadians%20need%20to%20be%20more%20vigilant%20about%20the%20rapid%20growth,places%20you%20may%20not%20expect..)
8. Transportation Master Plan: The City is launching the second phase of public engagement with regard to this project. The City of Whitehorse asks you to “share your views on the potential improvements and draft plan through our online survey from June 7 to 30.”
You can take the survey and find out more about the Master Plan at the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/tmp.
9. YCS’ Free Guided Interpretive Hikes: The Yukon Conservation provided the following information:
"Our 2023 Interpretive Guides are ready for you at Miles Canyon Suspension Bridge at 10 AM and 2 PM from Tuesday to Saturday every week! Come along!”
ATWA Updates: May 28, 2023
1. Active Commute Week: The May 26, City News Highlights provides the following information: “Log your commute June 5 to 9! Active Commute Week is a City initiative dedicated to promoting alternative modes of transportation, such as walking, cycling, rolling, and transit, instead of driving solo. Learn more at: activecommutewhitehorse.ca.”
2. Robert Service Way Escarpment Update #12: The Engage Whitehorse site provides the following information:
“Following the slope movements that were first observed late yesterday afternoon, the City and its geotechnical team have increased the level of monitoring and inspections for the escarpment on Robert Service Way.
This extra monitoring will support the City’s plan to extend opening hours for Robert Service Way from 7 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week. When the escarpment stabilizes, we’ll return to planning for a 24/7 opening.
The Millennium Trail will also be open to users during the hours of 7 am to 10 pm.
Road users are asked to monitor Engage Whitehorse and the City's social media accounts for the latest information. We appreciate the public’s patience throughout this response.”
For up-to-date information on this topic please refer to the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/escarpment-2023.
3. Graffiti: As you are probably aware we are encountering increased instances of graffiti being applied not only to buildings in our community, but also to signage that is used on our City’s trails.
ATWA has passed photographs of some of these damaged signs on to City staff and members of City Council.
Recently, the City of Whitehorse has decided to “[take] aim at graffiti and you can help. Your actions can help reduce the spread of graffiti in Whitehorse and keep our community safe and clean.”
For information on how you can help, please refer to the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/graffiti. We encourage all of you to participate in this effort.
4. Copper Ridge New Development Area: You can view the What We Heard document by going to the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca. Click on Copper Ridge New Development Area and scroll down to the What We Heard document. There are a number of references to trails and green spaces in the document.
Another public engagement activity will be held as indicated below.
Tuesday, May 30 – Canada Games Centre Green Room, 4 pm to 8 pm
Wednesday, May 31 – Canada Games Centre Green Room, 4 pm to 8 pm
5. Access Gates Opening Pilot: We have reported on this initiative on a number of occasions. The site has not been updated as to the pilot project’s current status and the timelines have proven to be unrealistic. You can find this site at https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot.
A second document was submitted to the City of Whitehorse with regard to this pilot project on January 23, 2023, which you can find at https://www.activetwa.org/issues.html. Just scroll down to Access Gate Opening Pilot Project.
6. Carcross/Tagish land guardians step up efforts to protect nesting birds, spring lambs: This CBC News article by Ross Bragg and dated May 27, 2023 is one which all users of Yukon trails should find informative. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/ctfn-land-guardians-wildlife-1.6391258.
7. B.C. government offering e-bike rebate of up to $1,400: This May 25, 2023 CBC News article has some interesting information with regard not only to B.C.’s rebate program, but also on entry-level e-bikes. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/e-bike-rebates-bc-1.6855065.
8. Bear Awareness and Bear Spray Virtual Course: This is a great time of the year to view this video. See https://www.youtube.com/watchapp=desktop&fbclid=IwAR2IZzJ8_dMKka7SALRypoYD838BiKvUSzFidG8G_sYlIHAvBRXJs1GHUgk&v=Zv5Mqc6yJhI&feature=youtu.
9. Illegal Bike Jump Proves Costly: An April 28, 2023 CBC News article by Paula Duhatschek is worth a read. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/illegal-bike-jump-yoho-park-1.6824986.
10. Dutch Reach: If you have yet to hear about how this action may help protect cyclists, then this CBC News article by Verity Stevenson will be informative. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/saaq-recommends-dutch-reach-1.6814523.
ATWA Updates: April 17, 2023
1. McIntyre Creek Regional Park: An April 13 CBC article by Meribeth Deen entitled, Whitehorse commits to protecting McIntyre Creek as parkland is worth a read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/whitehorse-mcintyre-creek-protected-park-1.6808807.)
2. Parisians overwhelmingly vote to banish for-hire e-scooters: This April 2nd Associated Press article by Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters, and published in the Globe and Mail, indicates that not all are happy with the use of such devices in urban areas.
Although it appears that there are relatively few of these units presently being used in Whitehorse, that situation may change in the coming years. (See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-parisians-vote-to-ban-e-scooters-from-french-capital-2/.)
3. Robert Service Way Escarpment Update #1 April 13, 2023: According to the latest news from the City of Whitehorse, “Robert Service Way will remain closed along with portions of the Millennium Trail, the Upper Escarpment trail, and trails along the lower escarpment until further notice.” (For more information see https://www.whitehorse.ca/robert-service-way-escarpment-update-1/.)
4. With some help from studded tires and snow-clearing, Montreal's bike-share service is going year-round: This April 12 CBC News article by Antoni Nerestant concerns an all-year long bike-sharing service in Montreal. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bixi-cycling-all-year-season-1.6807858.)
5. Official Community Plan: City Council recently adopted the new Official Community Plan (OCP). Unfortunately, a recent visit to City Hall in order to obtain a hard copy met with failure, as none were available.
Hopefully, in the near future copies will be placed at City Hall's front desk. It is suggested you call the City of Whitehorse to ensure copies are available before going to pick one up.
You can access a digital copy at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Whitehorse-2040-Official-Community-Plan-1.pdf.
A Whitehorse Star article on the passage of the OCP can be found at the following site: https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/plan-charts-city-s-future-through-to-2040.
6. Walking advocate wants Whitehorse's Schwatka Lake project to include trail expansion: This April 6th CBC news article by Meribeth Deen, features an interview with Peter Long, and concerns the improvement and extension of a trail located on the west side of Schwatka Lake. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/schwatka-lake-project-1.6804688.)
The Schwatka Lake Area Plan can be viewed at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SchwatkaLakeAreaPlan_Final.pdf. A viewing of the plan will give you a better understanding of what is being proposed.
ATWA Updates: March 28, 2023
1. Delegate Presentation: On March 20, one of our associates who lives in Whitehorse North made a delegate presentation before City Council.
Although her presentation focused on motorized trail designation that resulted from the completion of the Whitehorse North Trail Plan, she also referred to the “flawed” public consultation process that resulted in the development of that plan. (See the March 24, Whitehorse Star article by Chuck Tobin, entitled “Make North trail non-motorized, resident urges,” and located on page 4 of that edition.)
Please note that although the article suggested that “She received no response from council members,” Councillor Cameron did have a question. The question and the response of the delegate to same can be viewed on the video of the meeting.
You can view the presentation in video by going to the City of Whitehorse website. See http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2023-03-20.mp4.html. (See #5.)
As well, a copy of Chuck Tobin’s article can be found on our website at https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.html.
2. Trail Sign Graffiti: Unfortunately, a number of trail signs in various locations throughout the city have been vandalized. If you see any sign that has been impacted, please send an email and, if possible, a photo of the sign(s) to the City’s Parks Trails Coordinator, Colby Knowler. He can be reached at [email protected]. Please state the location of the sign(s).
Hopefully, the City of Whitehorse can get these signs cleaned up before the tourist season begins. However, if people do not inform Parks when and where they see such damage, action may not be taken.
3. “Wildlife is tired of running: The following is from the Carcross Tagish Renewable Resource Council, and appears to be directed to those using snowmobiles.
"Wildlife is tired of running. It's been a long winter and the snowpack is getting soft with the warmer weather. Stay on designated trails and give wildlife a wide berth to help them get through this last stretch." (See https://www.facebook.com/CarcrossTagishRenewableResourceCouncil). March 20, 2023.
4. New Manager of Parks and Community Development: Melodie Simard, MCIP RPP is the new Manager of Parks and Community Development and is on a transfer assignment. Apparently, she would like to meet with a couple of our associates, after she has had time to settle into her new role. She has asked us to “collect [our] concerns and [give] feedback on our trail system, including our policies.”
Of course, we have been doing this for years and passing on our concerns to both administration and City Council with little success, so it almost seems like we are being asked to start from scratch. However, perhaps the change in the Park Manager position indicates a new direction for the department, so a future meeting may be a positive step in addressing some of our concerns.
Just so you know (I did not), “MCIP stands for ‘member of the Canadian Institute of Planners’. The Canadian Institute of Planners is the professional institute that represents over 7,000 professional planners across Canada. RPP stands for Registered Professional Planner.” (Internet source)
5. ATVs are back as of April 1st: The ATV Bylaw says, “A person may operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail during the time period April 1 to October 31 in each year and shall not operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail from November 1 to March 31 in each year.
Hopefully, common sense will prevail and ATV operators will avoid trails that are not yet ready to receive such use. Of course, all of us whether mechanized or not, should be cognizant of the damage we can do to trails at this time of the year.
6. Sea Breeze Sailing Society: On March 13 the organization’s conditional use application was approved by City Council by a 6-1 vote. Councillor Cameron was the only one who voted against.
You can view the discussion that took place prior to the vote at the following site: http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2023-03-13.mp4.html. (See #23.)
Yours truly gave a delegate presentation at the council meeting, but as an individual, not as an associate of ATWA. You can view that presentation under #5.
Instead of the three shipping containers that the society originally wanted to add to the two already in place, two will now be added for a total of four (if my math is correct). And, there will be more fencing.
As to what colour or type of fencing that is to be installed, well you will have to view the video of the meeting to find out. After around three hours of meeting time, I lost interest in the “fence” discussion, which seemed to take an inordinate amount of time, when (in my view) there were more serious concerns to address.
Please be aware that the location is within the boundaries of Chadburn Lake Regional Park, which is the only regional park within the City of Whitehorse that has a management plan.
7. Town Hall Meeting: The March Town Hall that was held at the Guild Hall in Porter Creek appeared to be well attended. There were lots of interesting questions and discussions. Hopefully, more of these meetings will be held in the future, as it is a good way of interacting with both City administrators and members of City Council.
8. Horses on Whitehorse City Trails: We have had some discussion recently about the use of horses on City of Whitehorse Trails. If any of you use horses on City trails and have any concerns, please let us know. Similarly, if you have any issues with regard to the use of horses on City trails, please let us know.
Appendix D: of the 2020 Trail Plan provides a number of Etiquette Guides for trail users, and has a section on horses. It is found at the end of the plan. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/DraftTrailPlanAppendices-1.pdf.
ATWA Updates: February 27, 2023
1. Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail: At the end of October 2022, ATWA was sent the following information from city administration. This was in response to a meeting we had In September, 2022 with Krista Mroz A/Director Community Services and Landon Kulych Manager/Parks concerning the two Pee Wee Hill trails.
“Administration communicated that an assessment of the Peewee Hill “alternate hill” was conducted on September 27, with Parks trail staff, Parks Manager, and A/Director, Community Services.
Potential recommendations for improvements to the trail and nearby area were identified, including the need for additional signage. It was noted that signage installation was likely to occur this fall (2022), with additional improvements identified for the spring (2023) work plan.
Administration will conduct an assessment of the snow impacts over the winter (2022/2023). Potential recommendations may be added to the spring 92023) work plan.
UPDATE: design for signage was recently completed, and staff anticipate installation by mid-November (2022).”
Comment: One tiny sign has been placed at the bottom of the trail. Unfortunately, on a recent visit to the trail, it was found impossible to access its top to check for other signage.
Indeed, for the last two winters (2021/22 and 2022/2023) it has been impossible to use the trail for its intended purpose, which was to allow “a wide range of users to access the trail networks [within the Grey Mountain trail network] in all seasons.” (Action #15 of the 2020 Trail Plan)
To be specific, Action #15 of the 2020 Trail Plan calls for the creation of “more accessible connections to access Grey Mountain trails within Chadburn Lake Park.” It goes on to say the following:
“Well used connections to access the Grey Mountain trail network within Chadburn Lake Park have difficult, often slippery conditions as a result of steep grades. Trail improvements should be implemented to allow a wide range of users to access the trail networks in these areas in all seasons.
Unfortunately, it appears that all the city has done is to create another trail that has many of the same problems as the old Pee Wee Hill trail. In other words, the alternate trail has done little if anything to improve the ability of users to provide better access to the trail system above Pee Wee Hill.
It will be interesting to see if the winter assessment of “snow impacts over [this] winter” will bring recommendations that will result in the trail being of some use in the winter of 2023/24.
This summer, associates who use the Chadburn Lake trails should keep an eye out for any city “improvement” activities on Crocus Ridge and Heartbreak Hill, as Action #15 of the Trail Plan also indicated that work will be done on these trails in order to allow for better access to the trail system in Chadburn Lake Regional Park.
Hopefully, the city will do an improved job of notifying the public of its intentions with regard to these two trails in order to receive public feedback, and to ensure that a similar situation as to what has occurred with the alternate Pee Wee Hill trail is not repeated.
You will find a short slide show on Pee Wee Hill on our website under Photos. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html. Scroll down to the last photo and then view the short slide show. The photos will clearly indicate that the trail cannot be used to access trails above Pee Wee Hill in winter.)
2. Policies, Plans, and Bylaws: In an October 2021 summary provided by administration with regard to its September, 2022 meeting with ATWA, the following comments were made:
“It was . . . noted that there is some confusion in how the policies, plans, and bylaws are applied. More specifically, where does the authority lie when applying the various documents?
[ATWA] recommended a policy flowchart be developed and shared to provide greater clarity in the application of policies, plans, and bylaws.
UPDATE: this recommendation has been forwarded to our Legislative Services department for consideration.
As yet, we have not had any indication that this recommendation has been implemented. However, we do intend to contact Legislative Services to see whether or not it has decided to pursue our suggestion.
3. Yukon Conservation Society: The YCS will hold its Annual General Meeting on March 22. Apparently, it will be in the form of a ZOOM meeting. In order to attend you must RSVP to the ZOOM. For more information contact the YCS at [email protected] or by calling 668-5678.
4. Town Hall Meeting: The next Town Hall Meeting will be held in Porter Creek on Thursday March 9, again starting at 5:30 and closing at 7:30 p.m. It will be held at the Guild Hall (27-14th Ave.). If you are able to attend, please take the time to do so.
5. Conditional Use Application–km 1.5 Chadburn Lake Road-Yukon Breeze Sailing Society: The Public Input Session for the Conditional Use Application – Yukon Breeze Sailing Society is now closed.
A report of the input received will be presented at [City Council’s] Standing Committee meeting on March 6, 2023. Council will make a decision March 13, 2023 as to whether or not the application, that involves the addition of two sea cans and increased fencing to the existing infrastructure, will be approved. You can read the public input that has been received on this issue by going to the following site: (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/business-in-whitehorse/zoning/current-amendments/#1651593002424-fdb7d5c6-5a3a.)
6. Meeting with City Councillor: Recently, Pat Milligan and Keith Lay met with Councillor Cameron to discuss (among other things) the Snowmobile Bylaw. As you are all aware our various attempts to get the bylaw amended, or at the very least, have additional trails placed it the bylaw’s Excluded Trails section, have met with failure.
We brought up the following points:
Administration has established contemporary trail definitions in the 2020 Trail Plan. However, Council has allowed the Snowmobile Bylaw to hijack the true meaning of a non-motorized trail as defined in that trail plan.
In our view, council is clearly favouring one trail user group. One wonders why this is the case considering that non-motorized users make up the largest trail user group.
City administration continues to either avoid identifying non-motorized trails in the first place, or when forced to do so, avoids asking City Council to place such trails in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw, effectively making them motorized trails for half the year.
We are supposed to have a trail system that provides neighbourhood trails for both motorized users and non-motorized users. Instead, we have trails that are open for motorized use over the entire year, and neighbourhood so-called non-motorized trails that are actually open to motorized use for half the year. How fair is this?
There should be more oversight and direction of administration staff by City Council.
People who have taken part in City of Whitehorse neighbourhood trail surveys, have not been told what it actually takes to make a so-called non-motorized trail truly non-motorized.
Administration often ignores trail survey results and applicable plans and policies when presenting trail information to council.
Strangely enough, administration has refused to release the results of the recent Whitehorse North Trail Survey despite the request of residents.
Accountability is lacking!
Although with the completion of the Whitehorse North Trail Plan, it would appear that neighbourhood trail planning has been completed, that is not quite the case. The Valleyview South Master Plan is under development, and there will be trail concerns that need to be addressed in that area. As well, the Copper Ridge Development Area will also involve trail considerations.
Obviously, there are many other trails in Whitehorse that may come up in the future for designation as either motorized or non-motorized trails.
Unfortunately, there will be little hope for the latter’s status as truly non-motorized if the city continues to ignore its own 2020 Trail Plan.
Truly non-motorized trails should be identified and protected (“i.e.” placed in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw) and proper signage and necessary barriers (where needed) installed.
If the Snowmobile Bylaw was harmonized with the ATV Bylaw and snowmobiles were not permitted on non-motorized trails, in greenbelts, and in open spaces, a more balance trail system would be created, and there would be no need to amend a Snowmobile Bylaw to ensure the truly non-motorized status of such trails.
There should be trail designations and trail linkages established along the Alaska Highway.
Other northern cities (Beaver Creek and Talkeetna Alaska) have established MMU trails along highways, which are clearly marked and enforced. These actions are favourable for tourism and demonstrate contemporary trail planning.
Council has a fiduciary responsibility to both homeowners and the environment to develop contemporary trail planning that involves proper process and ensures public involvement.
Non-compliance of city bylaws by motorized users continues to be a problem.
Bylaw Services does not appear able to effectively address the issue, possibly because it has not been given the necessary resources. Responsibility for that situation rests with Mayor and Council.
7. Delegate Presentations: For those of you who may be interested in appearing as delegates before City Council on any particular issue you will find the following information to be of value.
At our recent meeting, Councillor Cameron mentioned the importance of providing delegate presentations (in digital or written form) to councillors prior to the actual presentation. This gives councillors a chance to review the material prior to the council meeting. ATWA tries to do this whenever presentations are made before City Council.
However, it should be realized that at Regular City Council meetings, delegates can only speak on items that are on the agenda. Unfortunately, as one only finds out what is on the agenda late on the Friday prior to the Monday council meeting, it is often difficult to prepare a five-minute written presentation in the time allotted.
Delegates to City Council Standing Committee meetings can speak on any topic or issue that they would like to bring before council. (There is at least one exception of which we are aware, and that concerns Public Input Sessions. Once they are closed, no additional comment can be made on the subject by members of the public.)
Needless to say, it is far easier to make presentations before Standing Committee meetings, as one could have up to two weeks to prepare both a written and oral presentation.
In addition, Councillor Cameron suggested that a presentation could consist of a request by the delegate that councillors ask administration to respond in writing to questions that the delegate brings up in the presentation. Of course, you should ensure that administration also receives a digital copy of your presentation to facilitate matters.
8. Engage Whitehorse: Once again you are encouraged to review this City of Whitehorse site on a regular basis in order to learn about the Featured Projects in which the city is currently engaged.
ATWA Updates: January 24, 2023
1. City Council Delegate Presentation: An ATWA presentation was made on December 5, 2022 on the topic of amending the Snowmobile Bylaw. Go to Issues/Letters on our website and scroll down to Dec. 5, 2022 Download File. (See https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.)
2. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Motion: On December 12, 2022 Councillor Cameron presented his motion with regard to the Whitehorse North Trail Plan. It read as follows:
WHEREAS October 17, 2022 Council approved the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan which includes one existing trail designated as Non-Motorized Multi-use Trail and one area yet to be developed as "Future Non-Motorized Trail loop in this area. Precise route to be determined.
WHEREAS this identified trail and area do not prohibit the use of snow machines. WHEREAS to prohibit use of this trail and area requires reference to them in the City's Snowmobile Bylaw in Schedule E Excluded Trails.
WHEREAS there are now three trails identified in Schedule E of the Snowmobile Bylaw, namely: 1. Birch Loop Trail (Crestview) 2. Millennium Trail 3. Whistle Bend Paved Perimeter Trail (Whistle Bend).
WHEREAS the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan has a substantial number of trails that accommodate many uses and none are designated for no motorized use (including
no snow machines).
AND WHEREAS there are many individuals in Whitehorse who choose to exercise active living with no motorized machines on our extensive system of trails.
Therefore Be It Resolved: that Council direct Administration to bring forward an amendment to Schedule E of the Snowmobile Bylaw to include the one existing trail designated as Non-Motorized Multi-use Trail and one area yet to be developed as "Future Non-Motorized Trail loop in this area. Precise route to be determined." as referenced on the Map for the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan.
You can view the debate on the motion at the following site: http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2022-12-12.mp4.html. Scroll down to #17.
The motion was defeated (6-1). However, ATWA certainly appreciated Councillor Cameron's efforts in bringing forth the motion, as its preparation involved much work .
Within minutes of the commencement of the debate, administration made a proposal that would see the lower of the two (actually one) approved non-motorized multiple use red trails in Whitehorse North be blocked off in the winter to snowmobile use. (It is currently closed to ATV use in the summer as per the ATV Bylaw.)
This was the first ATWA had heard of this proposal, and it was quite obvious that it was the first time that councillors had heard of it as well. ATWA’s representative at the so-called charrette held at the end of the input process for the plan also does not recall any discussion of such a proposal.
One has to wonder why administration did not inform Councillor Cameron (prior to the December 12 council meeting) of its proposal concerning the Lower Red Trail, as if he had been made aware of the proposal it is obvious that he would have changed his motion accordingly.This suggests that there is a lack of communication between council members and administration.
One would have thought that administration’s proposal would have been discussed during council’s approval process of the Whitehorse North Trail Plan, as administration would have been required to explain how any kind of control measure was going to work. It asks councillors (and the public) to have faith that effective barriers can be put in place without providing any evidence to support that claim.
There will have to be a least two sets of potentially costly blockades placed at either “end” of the Lower Red Trail. Having visited both ends of the Lower Red Trail it is quite obvious that should they wish, snowmobile operators will be able to get around any barriers via the surrounding flat greenbelt that they are allowed to access under the Snowmobile Bylaw, so the potential effectiveness of barriers is questionable.
It is also strange that administration would make such a proposal (one that involves barriers) in light of the fact that it has an on-going project (Access Gates Opening Pilot) that is currently looking at concerns related to "the accessibility, effectiveness, necessity, and safety of access gates to non-motorized multi-use pathways.”(See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot.)
Although it is believed that this project is focused only on paved City of Whitehorse pathways, the information obtained could eventually be applied to non-paved non-motorized multiple use trails in the city.
In our view a better approach would have been to place the Lower Red Trail into the Schedule “E” Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
This combined with the installation of signs at the start and end of the Lower Red Trail indicating that All Motorized Vehicles [are] Prohibited, along with city public awareness and education activities concerning permitted use of the Lower Red trail, should have sufficed for starters.
If costly barriers were needed and the Access Gates Opening Pilot project reveals that they should be considered, then look at the possibility of physically blocking the trail. (However, it should be noted that barriers have been ineffective in the past when installed on trails in Whitehorse North.)
City Council approved the Whitehorse North Trail Plan (WNTP) without any discussion of this proposal of administration. In doing so, it approved the non-motorized multiple use status of both the Upper and Lower Red Trail, and assured that both would be open to snowmobile use in the winter as long as operators do not damage vegetation or ground. (Of course, this is the same status that both trails had, prior to the passage of the WNTP.)
Bottom Line: If administration does block the Lower Red Trail as proposed, it will be closed to both ATV and snowmobile use, effectively making it a truly non-motorized multiple use trail, but one which is not included in the Exclusive Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
Administration does have some operational ability under various trail related bylaws and policies to block trails if circumstances indicate that necessity, but this does not mean that proper process should be circumvented to do so.
In this case, it would seem that proper process would have had the proposal presented to City Council during the trail plan approval discussion in order to determine whether or not the proposal was the best route to follow. However, the more one becomes involved in council/administration procedures, the less one understands how city affairs are conducted.
Summary: There will be one short trail in Whitehorse North (Lower Red Trail) that will be closed to all motorized use through the use of some form of barricade(s), which we understand will be constructed this summer.
Unfortunately, there is no indication on the city posted approved Whitehorse North Trail map that this is the case. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Whitehorse-North-Trail-Map.pdf.)
The Upper Red Trail will be a non-motorized multiple use trail open to snowmobile use in winter as long as snowmobile operators do not damage vegetation or ground. This is the same status that it had before the passage of the Whitehorse North Trail Plan.
There are several trails in Whitehorse North that have now been designated (but not as yet designed) as motorized multiple use trails. Strangely enough, the “proposed” and now designated motorized multiple use trail (MMU) that runs through both Hidden Valley and MacPherson, was already on the city’s Motorized Multi-Use Trails map prior to the commencement of the trail plan process for Whitehorse North. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Whitehorse-North-Trail-Map.pdf.)
The circled area on the trail plan map is a proposed Future (so-called) Non-Motorized Trail Loop. In the past, such circled areas usually meant single-track mountain bike trail development, so it will be interesting to see what use is actually made of this area.
One should also note that despite the fact that the Trail Maintenance Policy (TMP) says that no motorized use is permitted on single-track trails, due to the Snowmobile Bylaw, that statement is not worth the paper it is written on. The Snowmobile Bylaw trumps the TMP. In addition, the recent actions of City Council with regard to trails in Whitehorse North make it unlikely that any trail in the circled area will be included in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw when it is developed.
All other trails in Whitehorse North will remain non-motorized multiple use trails open to snowmobile use in winter as long as snowmobile operators do not damage vegetation or ground. Unfortunately, such trails are not designed to accommodate motorized use, putting snowmobilers and non-motorized users at needless risk. It may also lead to the widening of trails, which could expose them to other types of (illegal) motorized use in the summer.
Conclusion: It seems readily apparent that the city is only interested in designating motorized multiple use trails, in that it has failed to place even one trail in Whitehorse North into the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. Whatever happened to the idea (confirmed by the 2020 Trail Plan) that we are supposed to have two major types of trails in the City of Whitehorse: Motorized Multiple Use trails and Non-Motorized Multiple Use trails?
3. Second City Council Delegate Presentation: Another ATWA delegate presentation was made on January 9, 2023 concerning the Snowmobile Bylaw. Go to Issues/Letters on our website and scroll down to Download File Keith Lay. (See https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.)
4. Clarification: Stefan Baer (Engineering Services, City of Whitehorse) provided the following information in correspondence concerning the Access Gates Opening Project:
“For your reference, Engineering controls the classification and design of paved pathways in the City, whereas Parks is responsible for non-paved trails throughout the City, so Parks might have different standards and rationale.”
So, if you have questions concerning our city’s paved pathways it would be best to contact Engineering, not Parks. The department can be reached by calling 668-8305, or by email at [email protected].
5. Projects & Trails Coordinator (Parks): This position is now filled by Colby Knowler. He can be reached at 689-0859. His email address is [email protected]. If you have any concerns with non-paved trails in the city this is the person you should first contact.
6. E-Bike/Scooter Fires: Those of you who own E-bikes or scooters should take a look at this CBC article by Kimberley Molina entitled, E-bike, scooter fires in Ottawa prompt warning about safety. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ebike-fire-increasing-battery-safety-advice-tips-1.6703146.
7. Climate Change and Wildlife: A CBC article entitled, Climate change is forcing wildlife to move north and they’re bringing diseases with them by Darius Mahdavi, is certainly worth a read.
8. Town Hall Meeting: The first of a series of Town Hall meetings was held on January 18, 2023 at the Yukon Transportation Museum. There were at least forty citizens at the event. Anything that improves communication between citizens, members of City Council, and City of Whitehorse administration is welcomed.
The next Town Hall will be held on Wednesday, February 15 at the MacBride Museum of Yukon History (1124 Front St. in downtown Whitehorse), starting at 5:30 and closing at 7:30. There will also be one in Porter Creek on Wednesday, March 8, again starting at 5:30 and closing at 7:30. It will be held at the Guild Hall (27-14th Ave.).
One immediate benefit of the January 18 meeting was that Councillor Laking has agreed to meet with a resident of Whitehorse North (who attended the Town Hall) to an on-site review of trail concerns in the area.
9. Millennium Trail: As you are probably already aware, “A section of the Millennium Trail near the Robert Service Campground is closed due to a significant accumulation of ice. A detour around the site is in effect, and barricades and signage will be in place.” (This from the City of Whitehorse.)
10. Yukon Breeze Sailing Society: A Conditional Use Application for km 1.5 Chadburn Lake Road and within Chadburn Lake Regional Park, has been made by the Yukon Breeze Sailing Society. You can view the Administrative Report on this application at the following site: (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PB-05-2022-Admin-Report-Conditional-Use-km-1.5-Chadburn-Lake-Road.pdf.)
There will be a public input session on this application. It is currently scheduled for the regular council meeting of February 13, 2023. If you wish to appear in person, or call into the meeting, you are asked to notify Legislative Services by 12 p.m. of the day of the meeting at [email protected].
Written submissions are due on the day of the Public Hearing. Send written submissions to [email protected]. Obviously, you do not have to wait until the 13th of February to make a written submission.
Please make yourself aware of this issue, especially if you use the area in question. If you have concerns with the application then make an individual submission.
See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/city-news-briefly-69/ for a Yukon News article on the subject.
11. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project: We have been keeping a close eye on this project as there are a number of concerns that have become apparent.
A slideshow has been put together for your viewing that will give you a better idea of the “gates” that are supposed to be part of the initial project. Commentary is attached to each photo.
See also the city’s information on this project at https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot.
You can view the slideshow on our website under Photos. Scroll down to the last photo. Click on the arrow at top right to view each slide individually. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
For more information on this subject, you can go to Issues/Access Gate Opening Pilot Project on our website. (See https://www.activetwa.org/access-gate-opening-pilot-project.html.) Scroll down to the Second submission: January 23, 2023. This submission was sent to [email protected], who is with the city’s Engineering Department and is the go-to person for this project.
If you have any input with regard to this project, Stefan would be happy to hear from you.
12. Did You Know: “The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada, Sixth Edition (MUTCDC) guides the use of road signs, traffic signals, pavement markings and other devices that inform travellers about road regulations, hazards and temporary conditions. It helps Canada’s federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments to apply traffic control devices in a consistent and harmonized manner, which is an important factor in road safety.” (See https://www.tac-atc.ca/en/publications-and-resources/mutcdc.)
13. Climate Change Impacts Backcountry Travel: A CBC article by Yvette Brend entitled, Ice climbers and mountain adventurers fear climate change creates new unpredictable risks, is an interesting read.
14. Meeting with Councillor: Councillor Cameron has agreed to meet with two of our associates in early February to discuss several issues, one of which will be how to proceed with our efforts at amending the Snowmobile Bylaw. We look forward to the opportunity.
ATWA Updates: November 28, 2022
1. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Motion: Councillor Cameron “presented a Notice of Motion to bring forward at the next Regular Council meeting on December 12, 2022 proposing an amendment to Schedule E of the Snowmobile Bylaw as it relates to the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan.” (Minutes of Community Services Committee/November 21)
Councillor Cameron’s motion concerns placing the one proposed so-called non-motorized trail in Whitehorse North, and the future non-motorized trail loop in the area, into the Excluded trails/Schedule “E” section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. Doing so would make these trails truly non-motorized all year round. As indicated previously, the motion will be debated by councillors at the December 12 Regular Council meeting.
You can view Councillor Cameron’s motion at the following site: http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2022-11-21.mp4.html. (See #7.)
Councillor Cameron’s efforts are certainly appreciated and we hope that his motion will be carried.
Perhaps his motion will make other councillors realize that if they really wanted to bring clarity and equity to our trail system, end the confusion associated with so-called non-motorized trails, improve safety and trail protection, and reduce costs, then they would amend the Snowmobile Bylaw to reflect the ATV Bylaw, and prohibit snowmobile operators from using non-motorized multiple use trails, greenbelts, and open spaces, and restrict snowmobile operation to motorized multiple use trails that are designed and designated for their use, and which are featured on the City’s new motorized multi-use trails map.
2. Trail Blazing: Those of you who have hiked the Berg Lake Trail at Mount Robson Provincial Park in British Columbia might find this article by Rhianna Schmunk, and video by Gian-Paolo Mendoza to be of interest. You may have heard that the trail was severely damaged by flooding in 2021, due to the negative impact of climate change. (See https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/features/2022/trailblazing/.)
3. Are We Doing Enough? Two pages of the 2016 Edition of the Canadian Paediatric Society on Canadian public policy and child and youth health relate to one of ATWA's concerns. Page 20 and 21 discuss All-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. Note the mention of Whitehorse on page 21. (See https://cps.ca/uploads/advocacy/SR16_ENG.pdf.)
4. Putting a price on nature can help municipalities adapt to climate change: This CBC article by Molly Segal is one that both the public and local politicians should read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whatonearth/pricing-nature-climate-change-1.6646588.)
5. Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail: Unfortunately, a recent visit to both Pee Wee Hill trails determined that the additional signage that administration indicated “was likely to occur this fall” has not appeared.
It was also noted that the alternate trail was extremely slippery and quite dangerous. If you are considering using it take poles and wear some kind of “spiked” footwear (ice grippers). The bottom of the old Pee Wee Hill trail was also treacherous and the same suggestions apply as to the use of poles and “spiked” footwear.
If you recall, Action #15 of the 2020 Trail Plan was supposed to ensure “more accessible connections to access Grey Mountain trails within Chadburn Lake Park [in all seasons].” The Trail Plan indicated that the Pee Wee Hill area was in need of improvements that would allow such a connection. Unfortunately, it appears that the situation has been made worse.
Administration has indicated that it will assess snow impacts on the respective trails over the winter and any “potential recommendations may be added to the spring work plan.”
If any of you use the area, we would welcome your input as to the winter condition of both trails. Send your comments to [email protected] and (if possible) include a few photos as well.
6. Valleyview South Master Plan: This is a subject in which you may find interest. Trails, parks, and open spaces are involved. A short survey was released on November 21, and will run for three weeks until December 12. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/valleyview-south.)
Please note the following information concerning the survey provided by Karmen Whitbread City of Whitehorse.
“Questions 3a to 3f are star rating questions (not a check a box), where the more stars means more agreement with the statement. It is not indicating that a 4-star rating means the respondent “agrees” with [the] statement while also strongly disagreeing . . . .” Just like a 4-star hotel rating doesn’t mean it’s also a 1, 2, or 3 star hotel. The highest star applies and will be recorded as the answer.”
7. Transportation Master Plan: If you have not as yet considered reviewing this plan you might want to take a look, as we all use various forms of transportation within the City of Whitehorse whether motorized or non-motorized. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/tmp.)
8. New Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club Trail: The ski club has provided the following information:
“The WCCSC is proud to present a new addition to our trail system.
We built a NEW TRAIL between Best Chance Corner and Gravel Pit. It’s an intermediate and dog friendly trail. This trail was built by our staff and volunteers and is using old existing roads and cutlines in the area, which needed to be brushed widen and leveled, as well as brand new sections of trail to connect those roads.
For now, we are calling it "New Trail" but we are planning to come up with a new name with our partners and the community.”
It is suggested you check at the ski club as to the New Trail’s condition before heading out.
9. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project: You can now report a motorized vehicle on a non-motorized multi-use pathway that is under study during this pilot project. The locations (and complete instructions) are found at the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot/maps/report-a-motorized-vehicle-on-a-non-motorized-multi-use-pathway.
There is no need to phone bylaw as long as you are reporting motorized vehicles on the paths under study.
10. Yukon Conservation Society & CPAWS Yukon: Holiday Open Houses and Pop-Up Art Shop will be held at 301 and 302 Hawkins St. on Saturday, December 3 from 11 am to 3 pm.
11. Regional Parks Plan (2014): In light of the concerns related to McIntyre Creek Park it might be a good time to review the Regional Parks Plan. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Regional-Parks-Plan.pdf.)
Please remember we have five regional parks located within the City of Whitehorse. Only one of those parks has a management plan, that being Chadburn Lake Park. Its management plan was adopted by the city on June 26, 2017. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChadburnLakePMPlanJune2017.pdf.)
ATWA Updates: October 28, 2022
1. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: The plan was given approval by City Council on Monday, October 24. You can review the discussion that took place prior to approval at the following site: http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2022-10-24.mp4.html. Scroll down to #24.
ATWA made a delegate presentation on the 17th and another on the 24th, but to no apparent avail, as of yet. You can see those presentations under Issues/Whitehorse North Trail Plan on our website. (See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.html.)
Councillor Kirk Cameron is in the process of preparing a motion for a City Council Standing Committee Meeting in November, that relates to ATWA’s concern that due the Snowmobile Bylaw, even the one proposed non-motorized trail in Whitehorse North will be open to snowmobile use in the winter.
The motion would then come up for formal debate and a vote at a later Regular City Council meeting.
Keep an eye on upcoming November council meeting Agendas in order to see when the motion will come forward. See Upcoming Events at https://www.whitehorse.ca/. Scroll across to council meetings (Standing Committee Meeting or Regular Council Meeting) and click on same.
Please note that council agendas are not usually posted to the City’s website until late on the Friday before the meeting.
Whitehorse North is the last neighbourhood trail plan that will be developed for the City of Whitehorse, as all areas have now been covered.
2. Whistle Bend to Downtown Trail: Apparently, there is hope for such a connector, but it could be a long wait. It is included in the 2023-26 City of Whitehorse capital budget. Design of the planned trail is tentatively scheduled for 2026 as part of the Range Road North Reconstruction Project.
3. New Proposed Updates to Official Community Plan: According to the City’s website, “These changes trigger a second public hearing which is scheduled for November 14, 2022.” You can see all the proposed changes by going to the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/ocp.
Of particular concern to our associates would be the following: One of the proposed changes involves the possible “removal of the transportation corridor study through the proposed McIntyre Creek Regional Park.
Another, concerns the possible removal of “Stevens quarry as the City’s priority area for gravel extraction, [and instead] including [it in] a natural resource area reserve.”
“This proposed Community Plan is the most current document, and is now out for public input. To provide your feedback on the proposed changes, email [email protected] by November 14. If you wish to provide your comments in person, you can attend the public hearing on November 14 at City Hall.
Following the public hearing, staff will provide a summary of the feedback to Whitehorse City Council on December 5, 2022.”
4. Haeckel Hill: Eagle Hill Energy LP has sent out another update concerning construction status. It reads as follows:
“The access road will remain closed to the public until late fall while active construction is underway. We are encouraging recreational users and the general public to avoid the top of Haeckel Hill over the winter season. There will be several dangerous construction hazards that may become concealed by snow.”
If you would like to learn more about what is going on at the top of Haeckel Hill, have a view of the following site: https://www.chuniikwan.ca/eagle-hill-energy.
5. ATV Winter Rules: As per the ATV Bylaw, ATVs are not permitted on City of Whitehorse trails from November 1, to and including March 31. You can view the bylaw at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/AllTerrainVehicleBylawupda.pdf.
To report any infractions of this requirement contact Bylaw Services: 668-8317 or [email protected]. Trouble Line: 867-667-2111.
6. Trans Canada Trail/Haines Junction: If you visited Haines Junction this summer you may have noticed that work was being done on paving the TCT between the Pine Lake Territorial campground and Haines Junction.
The work has now been completed. (See the following articles:
https://yukon.ca/en/news/government-yukon-invests-trans-canada-trail-upgrades and
https://www.ckrw.com/news/local-news/haines-junction-celebrates-a-new-link-in-the-trans-canada-trail/.)
7. City of Whitehorse Updated Website: You can now find many of the resource documents (policies, plans, bylaws, and maps) that may in some way apply to trails, regional parks, greenbelts, and open spaces within our city, at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/our-government/bylaws-policies. There are two lists: Bylaws and Policy.
We have updated the section of our website entitled, Applicable City Documents/Resources to reflect this change. However, there are still some documents that are not on the City’s website, so their site location is included on our website’s Resources section. (See https://www.activetwa.org/applicable-city-documents.html.)
8. Conditional Use Application: Yukon Breeze Sailing Society’s application for a zoning change concerning its location on Schwatka Lake, will apparently come before City Council in the first week of January, although it has yet to appear on the City’s Current Amendments page. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/business-in-whitehorse/zoning/current-amendments/#1651593002424-fdb7d5c6-5a3a.)
As mentioned in our September Updates, you may want to make an individual response to the application when it does come before City Council, as at that time there will be an opportunity for public input.
You can view City Council Agendas under Upcoming Events at this site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/. Scroll across to council meetings (Standing Committee Meeting or Regular Council Meeting) and click on same.
9. Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail: In September a meeting was held with Krista Mroz A/Director Community Services and Landon Kulych Manager/Parks concerning the two Pee Wee Hill trails. The former provided “a summary of [that] conversation, and [the] next steps [that will be taken] regarding Pee Wee Hill & the Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail.” The summary follows below:
· Administration provided background on the alternate trail project, and clarified the process.
· Administration communicated that an assessment of the Peewee Hill “alternate hill” was conducted on September 27, with Parks trail staff, Parks Manager, and A/Director, Community Services.
· Potential recommendations for improvements to the trail and nearby area were identified, including the need for additional signage. It was noted that signage installation was likely to occur this fall, with additional improvements identified for the spring work plan.
· Administration will conduct an assessment of the snow impacts over the winter. Potential recommendations may be added to the spring work plan.
UPDATE: design for signage was recently completed, and staff anticipate
installation by mid-November.
Policies, Plans, and Bylaws
· It was also noted that there is some confusion in how the policies, plans, and bylaws are applied. More specifically, where does the authority lie when applying the various documents?
It was recommended a policy flowchart be developed and shared to provide
greater clarity in the application of policies, plans, and bylaws.
UPDATE: this recommendation has been forwarded to our Legislative Services
department for consideration. The point of contact for this initiative remains
with Parks as the lead.
The meeting was much appreciated and hopefully improvements will be made
that will address some of our concerns. In particular, the policy flowchart
recommendation (if enacted) would be of great help.
10. Kluane National Park and Reserve Draft Management Plan: Just a reminder that you have until November 14th to make your comments on the new plan. (See https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/yt/kluane/gestion-management/consultation.)
The survey is available at the following site: https://parks-parcs.simplesurvey.com/f/s.aspx?s=BB3AF21E-DF7F-4204-B2F0-749F2831F342&ds=dbmOxcXnA9.
ATWA Updates: September 28, 2022
1. Official Community Plan Adopting Bylaw: The Public Hearing Report will be presented on October 3, 2022 at City Council. You can read the Public Input Submissions at https://www.whitehorse.ca/business-in-whitehorse/zoning/current-amendments/#1651593002424-fdb7d5c6-5a3a.
2. City Website: As mentioned in our August Updates the City of Whitehorse has a new website. As a result, many of the City’s website addresses have changed.When using our website you may find that when you click on previous references related to City documents that the Ooops – Error 404 comes up. You will be directed to the City’s Homepage. From there you will have to search for the document referenced.
The new website takes some getting used to, but it is certainly worth a good look. See https://www.whitehorse.ca. It is suggested that you review this website on a regular basis in order to keep in touch with City concerns and issues. As well, you might want to check out the City’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cityofwhitehorse/.
3. Kluane National Park and Reserve Draft Management Plan: Those of you who spend time in the park and care about its future might want to take in one of these events.
Public Open Houses are planned for Burwash Landing on October 4 at Jacquot Hall from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and in Haines Junction on October 6 between 5 and 7 pm at the Da Ku Cultural Centre.
Apparently, “Parks Canada staff and Kluane National Park Management Board members will be available to answer questions and collect your feedback on the draft plan. Refreshments will be provided!” You are asked “to read the plan and supporting documents, and to fill out the survey, [and to] visit [the park’s] website at: parkscanada.gc.ca/kluaneconsultation. Share your thoughts by November 14th, 2022 to help shape the final management plan and the future of the park.”
4. Hidden Lakes Trail Reclamation: The City provided the following information: “Residents are advised that following the completion of recent heritage assessment work, the reclamation of the Hidden Lakes Trail will begin on Monday, September 26.
The work will include reshaping the edges of the trail with small tracked equipment and hand tools. The work is expected to take all week, and following this initial work, further communication will be shared as to the status of the remediation.
Portions of the trail will be closed periodically while machines are operating, and signage will be placed at trailheads to inform of any trail closures.
5. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: The drop-in event for this trail plan was held on September 14. We had a representative at the meeting who presented concerns related to process, and to the failure of the City to clearly explain what has to be done to ensure that a trail becomes truly non-motorized in the City of Whitehorse.
The draft map is now available for public perusal, although you will have to ask to have it sent. Contact Kim Schlosser/Supervisor • Parks
City of Whitehorse • 867.334-3175 and ask for a copy.
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any trails on the draft map that can be considered as non-motorized summer and winter. In fact, there is only one trail that is labelled “proposed non-motorized multi-use trail.”
There is as yet no indication as to when the draft trail plan will come before City Council. However, when it does the public will have an opportunity to comment, if willing to register as a delegate.
6. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: We have not received any response to our email of August 4 asking if any trails in Whitehorse South were to be placed in the Excluded Trails (Schedule “E” of the Snowmobile Bylaw). Doing so would ensure they would be truly non-motorized both in summer and winter.
Although there was also no response to our question, as to when the approved Whitehorse South Trail Plan Map would be placed on the City’s website, it has now been included. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-Whitehorse_South_Trail_Map_Final.pdf.)
Note the disclaimer in small print at the bottom of the map, a disclaimer that is also found on the Whitehorse North draft trail map.
Needless to say it is highly unlikely that any trails in Whitehorse South will be added to the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
7. Paved Trail Barrier Repairs: As mentioned in our August Updates, a call was made to Bylaw Services concerning three broken barriers that were among the ten gates/barriers featured in the City’s Access Gate Opening Pilot Project. A Bylaw Service officer repaired one himself, and put a work order in to have the other two gates fixed.
In now appears that due to the Access Gate Opening Pilot Project (fixed or not) all three will be opened for the first phase of the project, which has yet to be officially launched and is well behind schedule.
It is suggested that you keep a keen eye on this project. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot.)
8. Conditional Use Application: Another Conditional Use Application was recently received by the City of Whitehorse from the Yukon Breeze Sailing Society. It was originally placed on the Agenda of City Council’s Standing Committee meeting of September 20, but was pulled from the Agenda late on the afternoon of the meeting.
It appears that the item was pulled due to Section 4.16.1 of the Zoning Bylaw, which says “another application on the same site for the same use or a use similar to that which was refused shall not be accepted from the same or any other applicant until at least six months after the date of the refusal.”
As such, the current application should not be brought forward to City Council until December 13, 2022. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ZoningBylawupdatedJanuary2-1-1.pdf. (Page 40)
Of course, the City could find a way around this section, so if you are interested in the Chadburn Lake area you might want to keep an eye on the Current and Recent Amendments section of the City’s website. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/business-in-whitehorse/zoning/current-amendments/#1651593002424-fdb7d5c6-5a3a.
The application no longer appears in this section, so until it does you will not be able to get a clear picture of what is proposed and how it is different from the previous application, which City Council rejected on June 13, 2022.
The City permitted a delegate presentation on the application even though it had been pulled from the Agenda, and despite the fact that there was a question as to when the City could legitimately accept it for consideration.
There were two media articles on the presentation. (See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/city-news-briefly-69/, and https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/sailing-society-makes-another-bid-for-sea-cans.)
One wonders if the City has any regulations concerning safety requirements and sea cans.
Other municipalities require that steps be taken to ensure such containers meet certain safety standards. For example, they must have adequate ventilation. They must have a system that allows people/children to escape should they be locked in. The storage of certain materials may be prohibited due to the possibility of explosions.
If no such safety requirements exist, then one would think this is something that City Council should address.
You may want to make an individual response to the application when it does come before City Council, as at that time there will be an opportunity for public input.
You can view City Council Agendas under Upcoming Events at this site: https://www.whitehorse.ca.
9. Pee Wee Hill Trail Issue: Although we have received no response from the Community Services Committee with regard to our two submissions on the subject, a meeting was held with Krista Mroz, the City’s Acting Director of Community Services and with Landon Kulych, Manager Parks on the Pee Wee Hill Trail issue.
We received assurances that more will be done to ensure that the alternate trail will at least be made more accessible for walkers. However, work to do this will have to wait until the spring.
The trail will be monitored over the course of the winter to see if anything can be done to prevent it from becoming inundated with snow, which at present makes its use questionable during the winter months.
There is a possibility that signage will be installed before winter to indicate the existence of the trail, but at present the City is having problems getting the material required to create the signs.
There may be some work on the old Pee Wee Hill Trail to address the erosion channel that one finds in the middle of the trail.
The meeting with the Acting Director and Manager of Parks was much appreciated.
10. Snowmobile Bylaw: The impression we received (once again) at the meeting referred to above, is that nothing will be done to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw in the manner ATWA has suggested. One suspects that unless people are willing to come before City Council in person and ask for changes, that change is unlikely.
11. City of Whitehorse Trail Coordinator: At present, this position is vacant.
ATWA Updates: August 29, 2022
1. Official Community Plan Adopting Bylaw: The following information is provided by the City of Whitehorse.
A new Official Community Plan (OCP) named “Whitehorse 2040” is proposed to replace the current 2010 OCP. The proposed OCP is intended to guide growth and development in the municipality for approximately the next 20 years.
For more information, visit engagewhitehorse.ca/ocp or contact Planning and Sustainability Services at [email protected].
A Public Hearing will be held on September 12, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers is open to the public. Physical spacing is in place and some COVID-19 protocols apply.
Email comments to [email protected] by September 12, 2022 at noon. Any written submissions will be provided directly to Council for their consideration at the Public Hearing.
Any person wishing to make a submission regarding the proposed OCP may do so in writing, by phone, or in person. If you wish to call in or appear in person, please register with the office of the City Clerk at Legislative Services l[email protected] by Monday, September 12th, 2022 at 12:00 pm (noon), as there is limited space in the gallery.
Written submissions must be submitted to the office of the City Clerk at City Hall or by email to [email protected] no later than Monday, September 12th, 2022 at 12:00 pm (noon). Any written submissions will be provided directly to Council for their consideration.
ATWA’s May 29, 2022 submission to the Draft Official Community Plan can be found at the following site: https://www.activetwa.org/official-community-plan.html.
2. City of Whitehorse Website: A much improved City of Whitehorse website has now appeared. It can be reviewed at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca.
It is suggested that you take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the new website.
3. Fish Lake Local Area Planning Project: Please note that you have until August 31 to reply to the survey. For more information on this project and access to the survey see the following site: https://yukon.ca/en/fish-lake-local-area-planning.
If you are a cross-country skier, hiker, mountain biker, or other recreational user of the area you have an opportunity via the survey to ensure your interests are represented.
4. Access Gate Opening Pilot Project: A personal visit to each of the sites chosen for this project was quite enlightening. You can review a personal submission on our website under Issues/Access Gate Opening Pilot Project. (See https://www.activetwa.org/access-gate-opening-pilot-project.html.)
Since the deadlines mentioned in the information package have not been met, it may be that the project will have to start from scratch next summer. However, the City may have other ideas.
As this project could well expand into other areas of the city, you might want to review the project and make your individual comments.
(See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot for more information, and how you can take part in this issue.)
Please note that the information asks the public to “Use the Report a Motorized Vehicle tool to let us know where you notice illegal motorized vehicle access.” However, that particular tool is not available on the site.
When the City was informed of this omission the following response was received:
“Thanks for flagging this for us. We will launch this tool once the pilot has "officially" launched.”
This was rather a confusing reply as one would think the pilot project has already been “officially launched” as it appears on the Engage Whitehorse site.
5. Paved Trail Barrier Repairs: As a result of visits to each of the ten sites undergoing review as per the Access Gate Opening Pilot Project, it was found that three of the sites were not functioning as intended. In other words, the barriers were broken.
One of these happens to be the one located on the paved trail near Takhini that ATWA tried to get the City to repair this summer, but to no avail.
Last week a call was made to Bylaw Services concerning the three broken barriers. An immediate response was given. In fact, a Bylaw Service officer repaired one himself, and put a work order in to have the other two gates fixed.
So, we now know where to get help when we find damaged barriers/gates on City of Whitehorse trails!
Our thanks go out to Bylaw Services!
6. Pee Wee Hill Issue: Although we have received no response from the Community Services Committee with regard to our two submissions on the subject, we have received an offer of a meeting with Krista Mroz, the City’s Acting Director of Community Services. We are told that an effort will be made to meet sometime in late September.
7. Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment: Nothing to report here, as we still have not heard back from the Community Services Committee with regard to our submission of March 4, 2022. We sent a follow-up request for a response on May 12, to which we have not received a response.
8. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: We have heard nothing (officially) from the City with regard to the development of this trail plan.
9. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: On August 4 we sent an email to Parks and Community Development administration asking the following question:
Could you tell [us] if any truly (summer and winter) non-motorized multiple use trails came out of the Whitehorse South Trail plan process?
We have heard of no changes to the Snowmobile Bylaw to add any of the Whitehorse South trails to the Excluded Trails (Schedule “E”) section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. Will these be forthcoming?
And, do you have any idea as to when the approved Whitehorse South Trail Plan Map will be placed on the City’s website?
Although we sent a follow-up email on August 13, we have had no response.
10. Draft Management Plan Kluane National Park: For those of you who spend time in Kluane National Park here is some information from Karen Murray A/Public Relations and Communications Officer, Yukon Field Unit Parks Canada / Government of Canada.
“Parks Canada is pleased to announce the consultation period for the draft management plan for Kluane National Park and Reserve will be open from September 12- November 14, 2022.
The draft plan was developed in collaboration with the Kluane National Park Management Board after a state of the park assessment, evaluation of the 2010 management plan, public and stakeholder feedback, consulting on First Nations’ perspectives, and assessing strategic priorities.
We want to hear from you!
Starting Monday, September 12, 2022 the draft plan will be available online for review, and there will be an online comment card available to provide feedback.
Stay tuned for announcements on dates and times of our upcoming information booths and public open houses to learn more about the draft management plan!”
11. I've been able to dream big': 62-year-old Canadian becomes oldest woman to summit K2 in Pakistan: This CBC news article by Sara Jabakhanji should inspire all of us. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/k2-pakistan-oldest-woman-mountain-climber-liliya-ianovskaia-1.6562819.)
12. Information Session – Puckett’s Gulch Zoning Amendments: Those of you who use the Airport Trail and/or are interested in the protection of environmentally sensitive areas may want to attend this information session held by the Government of Yukon. The event will be held on Wednesday, August 31 from 4 pm to 7pm at the Yukon Transportation Museum.
ATWA Updates: July 24, 2022
1. E-Bike Purchases: Some of you may be considering purchasing an e-bike. This Globe and Mail article of July 1, 2022 by Matt Bubbers looks at what you need to know before making that purchase. (See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/article-as-e-bike-demand-surges-heres-what-you-need-to-know-before-buying-one/.)
As well, you may want to review the City of Whitehorse E-Bike Bylaw to learn where you can legally operate various types of e-bikes within the city. (See https://whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14941/637553694277970000.)
2. Pee Wee Hill Submission: As ATWA had received no response to the two documents sent to the Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) in February concerning the Pee Wee Hill trail issue, ATWA made a delegate presentation before City Council on June 6.
Despite this, a response from City Council or administration as to what (if anything) is to be done to address the issue was not forthcoming.
As a result, an email was sent to Councillor Cameron to see if he could find out if any action was going to be taken. He forwarded our inquiry to the Acting City Manager in an effort to get a response from administration.
Councillor Cameron received the following response from the Acting City Manager, which he passed on to us:
“The Pee Wee Hill trail bypass was built in accordance with the City’s Trail Development Policy. The installation of some signage for this short section of trail is planned for this summer, as is some trail maintenance work.
Administration is not currently aware of any conflicts between the Chadburn Lake Management Plan and the 2020 Trail Plan but will research that suggestion. Parks will close the loop with Mr. Lay and if a problem with our plans exists we will let Council know.
Administration isn’t currently planning any proposed amendments to the City’s policy framework governing wilderness trails as that subject matter isn’t within Council strategic priorities.”
The information from the City’s Acting Manager required a response, which reads as follows:
“Yes, we know that the trail bypass was built in accordance with the City’s Trail Development Policy. However, building the alternate trail was not what administration said it was going to do in 2017 in a WTGC meeting.
We provided councillors and administration with the minutes of that meeting. To reverse that decision without public consultation was unacceptable, despite what the Trail Development Policy says about new trail construction.
In addition, why is administration “not currently aware of any conflicts between the Chadburn Lake Management Plan and the 2020 Trail Plan, when those conflicts have been made apparent to both councillors and administration in written documents, including in our last delegate presentation before City Council on June 6 of this year, written copies of which were provided both councillors and administration?
The information was also made available to the Community Services Committee on February 14, 2022! (This included reference to our website where a number of photographs of the alternate and old trail were provided that demonstrated some of our concerns.)
It was because we had received no feedback with regard to that submission, despite sending a follow-up email to the committee on May 12 asking for a response, ATWA was forced to go before City Council on June 6.
This was something we were trying to avoid as we thought that this was an issue that councillors and administration could resolve internally.
According to Mr. O’Farrell’s email, “Administration isn’t currently planning any proposed amendments to the City’s policy framework governing wilderness trails as that subject matter isn’t within Council strategic priorities.”
Yet, the 2020 Trail Plan claims that it will “build upon and integrate existing policies, bylaws, management plans, memoranda of understanding[s], and safety documents associated with City trails.” (2020 Trail Plan, p. 3)
In fact, the Minutes of Meeting #2020-25 of the Community Services Committee of November 30, 2020, (Page 2) state, “In response to questions raised, administration confirmed that a top priority [in Trail Plan implementation] will be to identify the bylaws and policies that need to be updated. This is what the public and members of City Council were told in November of 2020. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14571/637426880962330000.)
So, despite not being a current City Council strategic priority, it is a declared administration top priority, and City Council should ensure that administration keeps its word and commences work on this integration without further delay.”
Last week ATWA received an email from the City’s Park Manager concerning (in part) the Pee Wee Hill issue, which after additional review and a very probable reply, we will discuss in our August Updates.
You can view the delegate presentation made before City Council on June 6 on our website at the following site. (See https://www.activetwa.org/pee-wee-hill-trail.html.)
An article on the issue also appeared in the Whitehorse Star of June 10. (See https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/public-not-consulted-about-trail-association.) Please note that a copy of the delegate presentation was sent to the Whitehorse Star.
Unfortunately, there were two errors in the article. These were made known to the Whitehorse Star. The latter was asked to write a correction, but it is not known if this was done.
The two errors are as follows:
a. "[The delegate] said park management will argue the Trail Development Policy allows it to build new trails without notification if they are 1,500 metres or fewer in length.”
What was actually said was that the Trail Development Policy allows management to build new trails without notification if they are “500” metres or fewer in length.
b. "Apparently, since there were no set timelines for the construction of the new trail, it was not communicated to the public, [the delegate] said.”
Unfortunately, the above was not what was actually said, and it leaves an incorrect impression.
The 2020 Trail Plan (Action #12) says that the City’s Strategic Communications department is to provide communication updates to inform the public of trail related initiatives.
This was not done because (according to administration) there were no set timelines for the completion of the Action #12 initiative. So, Strategic Communications was not prepared (for some reason) to inform the public of the trail construction.
The timelines had nothing to do with the construction process, only with the establishment of a system that would allow Strategic Communications to communicate trail related initiatives to the public.
The following is what was actually said in the presentation:
Action #12 of the 2020 Trail Plan, says that the City, “In collaboration with Strategic Communications [is to] provide communication updates to highlight trail initiatives throughout the community, such as City Trail Crew projects, approved trail development projects, and other trail related initiatives.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14132/637463002087130000 p. 27)
3. Draft Community Plan: The draft is available at Engage Whitehorse at the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/.
4. Access Gate Opening Pilot (Project): It is suggested that you take a very good look at this proposal. The impression one gets from a first reading is that the City has already made its decision with regard to opening up access gates.
It is interesting that for years ATWA has been trying to get the City to a) better enforce the rules concerning motorized vehicles; b) install appropriate signage on so-called non-motorized routes; c) repair damage to existing barriers; and d) amend the Snowmobile Bylaw to ensure that snowmobiles are prohibited from so-called non-motorized trails.
It would be interesting to learn which trail user groups and organizations are opposed to the use of access gates. However, the City does not provide that information.
It looks like this project will require close scrutiny. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot for more information, and how you can take part in this issue.)
5. Talking Together Initiative: As mentioned in our May Updates, after a City Councillor was not able to find out the status of this initiative, ATWA sent an email to Jeff O’Farrell (Interim City Manager) to see if he could provide us with an update on the initiative.
This was his response: “I have made some inquiries on this. Other than learning a bit more about the history, I haven’t discovered much with respect to the status of initiative.”
So, it looks like after all the time, money, and effort spent on this initiative nothing has been achieved. Maybe the City should consider establishing a new committee: a Follow-Up committee!
6. Yukon Energy Viewpoint Trail: It is becoming increasingly apparent that there are too many potential roadblocks with regard to our attempt to get maintenance work done on this short trail. (See previous Updates.)
The 2020 Trail Plan’s Action #30 calls for the expansion of “the trail stewardship concept by implementing programs such as Adopt- a-Trail.”
As far as we know nothing has been done as yet to implement this program. (See page 37 of the 2020 Trail Plan at https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14132/637463002087130000.)
However, it would seem to be a worthwhile endeavour.
7. Conditional Use Application: The Conditional Use Application received by the City of Whitehorse from the Yukon Breeze Sailing Society has been rejected by City Council, so there will be no additional shipping containers installed at the society’s Chadburn Lake site.
8. Fish Lake Local Area Planning Project: You may be interested in learning more about this project and, after reading the summary and background reports, consider replying to the survey that is available until August 31.
You can also visit the Fireweed Farmer’s Market in Whitehorse, on the afternoon of July 28, where there will be a booth where you can find out more about the planning project. (See https://yukon.ca/en/fish-lake-local-area-planning.)
9. Yukon Conservation Society: Do not forget that the YCS offers free-guided hikes at Kwanlin/Miles Canyon. (See https://www.yukonconservation.ca/news-items/guided-hikes for more information.)
10. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: The process of creating a neighbourhood trail plan for Whitehorse North has resumed.
Recently a survey consisting of six questions was sent to the residents of Whitehorse North. Residents were given a month to respond to the survey which had to be completed by July 20.
This survey is only open to residents of Whitehorse North.
Apparently, a community charrette will be held in September to gather feedback from other trail users, interest groups and the general public. However, Phase 2 of the trail planning process indicates that there is supposed to be a Resident, Stakeholder, & Indigenous Engagement component held in June/July. We have yet to receive any information with regard to Phase 2, and July is quickly coming to an end.
Conducting such a process during the summer months when people are often otherwise engaged is questionable.
It should be noted that he charrette held for the Whitehorse South Trail had few characteristics of what one considers an actual charrette. It was basically a drop-in event.
Action #22 of the Trail Plan said, “Instead of task forces, the City should consider a more inclusive public consultation process, that includes charrette style public workshops as part of the planning process.”
One expects that a drop-in event will be held for Whitehorse North, which will be called a charrette to technically satisfy Action #22 of the Trail Plan.
Unfortunately, the term non-motorized trail is once again being misrepresented in this neighbourhood trail planning process. We went through the same problem concerning the Whitehorse South Trail Plan, and although our concerns were expressed to administration and to City Council, history repeats itself.
Due to the existing Snowmobile Bylaw the definition of a non-motorized multiple use trail should actually read, “Trails designated to be used by a variety of non-motorized users (but also by snowmobilers), unless said trails are included in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.”
Of course, such a definition is ridiculous (although correct) and one expects this may be one reason why the City does not seem to want the public to become cognizant of the situation.
The old 2012 Snowmobile Bylaw trumps the relatively new 2020 Trail Plan’s definition of a Non-Motorized Multiple Use Trail.
People are again given the incorrect impression that if a trail is considered non-motorized that it will be free from snowmobile use in winter.
Residents of Whitehorse North should be told what has to be done to ensure that is the case. (The Snowmobile Bylaw would have to be amended and the trail(s) added to the Excluded Trail section of the bylaw.)
You may recall that the approved Trail Plan claims that it will “build upon and integrate existing policies, bylaws, management plans, memoranda of understanding[s], and safety documents associated with City trails.” (2020 Trail Plan, p. 3)
Yet, the Snowmobile Bylaw, and Trail Development Policy (among others) have not been amended to reflect this claim.
We had hoped that administration would ensure that residents were made aware of the above situation during the process that will establish a trail plan for the area.
However, when this misrepresentation was again brought to the attention of administration we were told that “All trail designations are being properly represented and in accordance with City Bylaws. Like with Whitehorse South, Administration will include the additional clarity to where snowmobiles can go during the scheduled charrette.”
So, it appears that all those who participate in the survey will not be given the clarity that is needed in order to answer the survey questions properly. They may then attend the promised so-called charrette only to find out that they filled out the survey under the incorrect belief that a non-motorized multiple use trail is non-motorized year round.
11. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: Although it has been some time since City Council approved the Whitehorse South Trail Plan, the neighbourhood trail map has yet to appear on the City’s website.
It will be interesting to see if any of the so-called non-motorized trails in the area are placed in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw to ensure they are truly non-motorized.
12. Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment Request: Unfortunately, there is nothing to report on our request. We have heard nothing.
As you know we sent our Snowmobile Bylaw amendment request to the Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) and all other members of councillors on March 4, 2022. Considering the number of people who supported this request, one would think that a response would be forthcoming.
13. Haeckel Hill Access Road: This road will be closed from June 28 to October 30, 2022. For more information see the following site: http://www.chuniikwan.ca/eagle-hill-energy.
ATWA Updates: May 29, 2022
1. Pee Wee Hill Submission and Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment Request: The constant placing of these two issues in our Updates is getting repetitive!
It is now well over three months since ATWA sent two documents to the Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) concerning the Pee Wee Hill trail issue. You can review those two documents on our website at https://www.activetwa.org/pee-wee-hill-trail.html.
We asked that the committee take the lead in addressing the concerns raised in both documents, and to bring those concerns to the attention of all city councillors. On February 17, we received an email from the committee indicating that the documents have been passed on for discussion. However, since that time we have heard nothing.
In April we sent letters to both the Yukon News and the Whitehorse Star about the Pee Wee Hill trail issue. You can view the original on our website under Issues/Letters at https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html
We sent our Snowmobile Bylaw amendment request to the Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) and all other members of councillors on March 4, 2022. We have yet to receive a response.
As a result, we sent the following email to Councillors Murray and Friesen on May 24, 2022 concerning the lack of a reply:
I have been asked to contact you about these issues before proceeding with any additional steps in our effort to get some resolution to both concerns.
As you may remember ATWA sent your committee a number of documents related to a) the alternate Pee Wee Hill trail, and b) the Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment request.
We have yet to hear anything with regard to these documents.
Unfortunately, administration (Parks) does not seem willing (or able) to deal effectively with these issues, so it is up to members of council to initiate changes that will result in ensuring a more inclusive trail network, and to ensure proper process is followed with regard to the many policies, plans, and initiatives associated with our trail system and its maintenance and development.
As you know, a number of people added their names to the Snowmobile Bylaw amendment request and they deserve a response.
Could you please tell me if anything is going to be done by City Council on either of these issues?
Thank you for your attention to these matters.
Keith Lay (Active Trails Whitehorse Association)
Unfortunately, as of the time of writing this Update, we have not received a reply.
This is extremely disheartening considering the amount of time and effort spent on the preparation of the various documents. As well, for those of you who allowed the addition of their names in support of the Snowmobile Bylaw amendment request, we can only offer our apology. We can only suggest you send an email to the councillors asking for a response.
(Contact [email protected] and [email protected].) Perhaps you will have more success if you contact them personally.)
It will now be necessary to appear before City Council as a delegate on one or both of these issues. Of course, we now have a third issue, and that is the failure of City Council to even give us the courtesy of a meaningful reply to our concerns.
2. Draft Official Community Plan (OCP): ATWA has now completed its submission with regard to the Draft OCP. We hope that it correctly mirrors the views of our associates. The submission will be posted to our website and will be found under Issues/Official Community Plan.
For the purpose of the Draft Official Community Plan (OCP) review, Active Trails Whitehorse Association (ATWA) focused our attention to concerns related to trails, regional parks, and greenbelts.
As mentioned in our email to all associates concerning the draft plan, the City will also be hosting an online meeting for all stakeholders, which ATWA will be attending.
That meeting takes place on Monday evening from 6 – 7 pm, so once again, if you have any environmental and/or recreational concerns with regard to our regional parks, environmentally sensitive areas, greenbelts, or trails that you would like us to bring up, please let us know ASAP.
The public has another avenue of engagement available to it, as there is an online “Info Session” from 7 – 8 pm on Tuesday May 31. This is the link: https://tinyurl.com/WhitehorseOCP.
You can provide your feedback on the draft OCP though an online survey by Sunday, June 5. However, it is recommended that you read the draft plan, and ATWA’s submission, before completing the survey. The survey closes on Friday, June 3.
You can also make written submissions as well, but the opportunity for input will end the same week as the survey closes. Submissions can be made to Mélodie Simard (Manager of Planning and Sustainability Services), City of Whitehorse at [email protected].
We wish that the City had provided more time to comment on the plan, as the latter is some 89 pages long, but we certainly appreciate the opportunities for input.
3. Talking Together Initiative: In light of recent trail damage in Chadburn Lake Regional Park (see associate email of May 27), and of what happened with regard to the Pee Wee Hill Trail, and with the lack of response to our submissions to the City with regard to both the Snowmobile Bylaw amendment request, this initiative takes on a new level of importance.
We have already indicated that ATWA would try to determine whether or not the Public Engagement Capacity Development Project, which came about as a result of the Talking Together Initiative is actually being instituted and, if so, its current state of progress.
Unfortunately, the councillor we approached on March 29 about the project has not as yet been able to provide any information.
We have sent an email to Jeff O’Farrell (Interim City Manager) to see if he can provide us with an update on the initiative.
4. Chadburn Lake Regional Park Trail Damage: Our email of 5/27 provided our associates with visual evidence of the damage. One suspects that a lack of communication may have been at the heart of this matter. One wonders as to how many people know there is a City approved Chadburn Lake Management Plan for this regional park. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000.)
Perhaps the City will now consider placing (the long requested) appropriate signage at park entrances to let everyone know that it is a City approved regional park.
If you missed the Whitehorse Star article on this story you can view it at this site:
(See https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/what-the-hell-woman-writes-of-damage.) Some of the comments that follow the article are unsettling.
It will be interesting to see what the promised remediation will look like. Hopefully, the City will contact and consult with the public before embarking on any remediation effort.
5. Yukon Energy Viewpoint Trail: On May 16, we sent an email to our associates, which (in part) read as follows: We would like to hear from any of our associates who might be willing to help (under supervision) with trail maintenance. This would not involve a major commitment. You would be looking at a few hours of work over a couple of nights, and would involve one specific short trail, which is easily reached.
The “specific short trail” is the Yukon Energy Viewpoint Trail, which starts opposite the Fish Ladder. We have tried for the last two years to get the City to do maintenance on this trail, which is closed to both ATV and bicycle use.
The request was the result of a concern expressed by one of our associates as to the poor condition of the trail. (The trail is part of the Yukon River Trail Marathon route, which this year takes place on August 7.)
Unfortunately, Parks has not put this trail on this summer’s list for work. Parks has suggested we “partner with Contagious Mountain Bike Club (CMBC), [which] does trail maintenance.” The latter have an MOU with the City, which allows the club to do such maintenance.
Prior to contacting the CMBC, ATWA first contacted Ken Sylvestre of the Boreal Adventure Running Association, the group that organizes the Yukon Trail Marathon. He was very supportive of our desire to improve the condition of the trail.
Recently, Ken walked the short trail and, for the most part, agreed that our assessment of the trail was “pretty accurate.”
ATWA then contacted the CMBC to see if it would partner with both the Boreal Adventure Running Association and ATWA to do the required work.
Hudson Lucier replied that, “As the trail is not a trail bikes are allowed on we can't provide a ton of support. But we can post on social media promoting [a trail work night.] I will also walk the trail with you to provide suggestions on what should be done and what can be done without a trail application.”
Last Wednesday Hudson walked the trail with one of our associates and provided his expertise with regard to what could reasonably be done to address the trail’s maintenance concerns. It was a most informative exercise and his comments were much appreciated.
There are a number of steps that have yet to be taken before getting permission to do any work on the trail, especially considering the fact that the CMBC is not able to provide direct support.
However, it looks as though we would only need four or five people to help with the work. We think that it would take a couple of sessions that would involve a few hours of work with pick and shovel. We have three volunteers so far. It would not involve the placing of any signage, as that would be something the City trail crew would have to do, if indeed new signage was approved.
Please consider adding your name to the list. Send us an email if you would like to be involved. (The City may also require help for the remediation of the recently damaged trails in Chadburn as well, and it would he nice to have a few people who would be willing to help out if requested/allowed.)
We will let any of our volunteers know if we are able to get permission to do any work on the trail. It would be nice to get the work done prior to the Yukon River Trail Marathon in August.
One thing that the City will be doing is changing the dated signage at the start of the trail. Currently the sign indicates that the trail is a part of the Great Trail. As you may recall, that name has been changed back to what it was originally called, namely the Trans Canada Trail.
6. Latitude and Longitude: We have been informed by Parks that the City will no longer be placing coordinates on trail posts. For years the City placed Longitude before Latitude on trail markers, which did little to enhance our reputation with tourists. One suspects that those signs will not be corrected. However, it is good to know that there will be no chance of making that same mistake again.
7. McIntyre Creek Concerns: At the May 16, 2022 meeting of the Public Health and Safety Committee the following concerns were brought up under New Business.
“Councillor Cameron noted that there are significant problems with damage being done to trails in McIntyre Creek and around the end of Pine Street, and requested an update on how the City is working to control the excessive activities on trails around McIntyre Creek. Administration confirmed that Bylaw is conducting foot patrols and officers are working modified shifts on ATVs. Administration also noted that they have not reached out to the RCMP, but a new motorized trail map is being released to provide public education on requirements for valid driver’s licenses, license plates, insurance, and “safe ATV” cards; signage will also be specifically posted at the top of Pine Street.”
Finally, we may see some action to address the many problems that are occurring in the area related to ORV use. (See https://www.yukon-news.com/local-business/whitehorse-council-plotting-trail-map-for-off-roaders/ to view a related Yukon News article.
8. Whitehorse Motorized Multi-Use Trails Map: We now have a new Motorized Multi-Use Trail map! (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/4210/637890647075659862.) It should be remembered that for safety reasons these trails are supposed to be designed to accommodate both motorized and non-motorized users.
It should also be remembered that non-motorized trails not listed in Schedule “C” or “E” of the Snowmobile Bylaw are open to snowmobile use in the winter.
The following are the only trails not open to Snowmobile Use in winter: Chadburn Lake Ski Trails, Mount McIntyre Ski Trails, Magnusson Ski Trails, Biathlon Ski Trails, the Birch Loop Trail in Crestview, the Millennium Trail, and the Whistle Bend Paved Perimeter Trail (Whistle Bend).
The new MMU map does not give a complete picture of the true extent of motorized trail use in Whitehorse. However, it is much better than the previous offering.
9. City Trail Use Maps: The City has done much work on the trail maps available to the public. We encourage you to take a look at each of the Popular Trails map at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/maps.
We thank the City for a much improved map site.
10. Lime Disease: A CBC article entitled, N.W.T. and Yukon partner with tick monitoring app is an article that all should read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/tick-tracking-app-nwt-yukon-1.6465898?fbclid=IwAR0A_6_KBvGCDEu9NIUyvoGVBBsejAD2ukylJXJf5mkVdeS26bGjPrtkdaA.)
Another CBC article entitled, High-risk areas for ticks in B.C. highlighted in new online map, is also worth a read.
(See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bccdc-lyme-disease-map-1.6468200.)
11. E-Bikes: A CBC article entitled, E-bike buyers deserve cash rebates too, advocates say, illustrates yet another advantage of living in Yukon. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ebike-buyers-deserve-cash-rebates-too-advocates-say-1.6457682.)
12. Lambing Season: Just a reminder to stay off Caribou, Nares, Needle, and Montana mountain until after June 15, as it is lambing season.
13. Yukon Bird Club: The club will be holding a “family-friendly bird walk with Jim Hawkings.” Meet at Boston Pizza parking lot at 5:30 pm on Monday, May 30. There is an optional social event afterwards. It looks to be about an hour and a half event.
14. Conditional Use Application: As mentioned in our May 16 email to associates, a Conditional Use Application has been received by the City of Whitehorse from the Yukon Breeze Sailing Society. This in an “Application to expand an existing Outdoor Participant Recreation Services Use.” You can read the Administrative Report at this site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/16805/637882880134851967.
You can look at the Reference Package at https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/16781/637882881366508521.
We informed our associates, as the application concerns the Chadburn Lake Regional Park. For the information of those who took part in the public input hearing on May 24, there will be a report coming forward on June 20, and a final council decision on June 27.
15. Escarpment Slide Updates: For the latest information see the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/News/News/5076/31?backlist=%2f.
16. Commute by Bike Event: This event starts May 30th. For more information see the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/224971/22?backlist=%2fhome.
ATWA Updates: April 28, 2022
1. Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment Request: Although we sent this request to the Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) and all other members of councillors on March 4, 2022, we have yet to receive a response.
All our associates received a copy of the eleven page document in the email that announced the availability of our March Updates on our website. For privacy reasons the names of submission supporters were not included in the copy provided to our associates.
Once again we would like to thank those associates who allowed the addition of their name to the submission. We hope that we will not have to wait much longer before receiving a response from the Community Services Committee.
2. Pee Wee Hill Submission: Over two months have passed since ATWA sent two documents to the Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) concerning the Pee Wee Hill trail issue. You can review those two documents on our website at https://www.activetwa.org/pee-wee-hill-trail.html.
We asked that the committee take the lead in addressing the concerns raised in both documents, and to bring those concerns to the attention of all city councillors. On February 17, we received an email from the committee indicating that the documents have been passed on for discussion. However, since that time we have heard nothing.
Last week ATWA sent letters to both the Whitehorse Star and the Yukon News concerning the Pee Wee Hill issue. The Star published a slightly edited version of that letter on Friday, April 22. Apparently, the Yukon News published the letter on Wednesday, April 28. You can view the original on our website under Issues/Letters at https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.
3. Talking Together Initiative: In our March Updates the Talking Together Initiative was mentioned. (See #2 under March Updates.)
We indicated that ATWA would try to determine whether or not the Public Engagement Capacity Development Project, which came about as a result of the Talking Together Initiative is actually being instituted and, if so, its current state of progress.
On March 29, we sent an email to a member of City Council asking the councillor to make an effort to access the required information. We were given an assurance that this would be done.
We hope that we will have the information in time for our May Updates.
In light of the lack of response to our submissions with regard to the Pee Wee Hill trail issue and the Snowmobile Amendment request, it seems apparent that the five guiding principles that were a result of the Talking Together Initiative have yet to be instituted. However, it will be interesting to see what the councillor finds out.
4. Engage Whitehorse: Just as we were preparing these Updates, the City of Whitehorse announced what it calls a “new public engagement platform.”
(We have confirmed with the acting Manager of Strategic Communications that the Engage Whitehorse project has nothing to do with the Talking Together Initiative mentioned in #3.)
Jordan Lutz, the city’s acting Manager of Strategic Communications, made the announcement, which (in part) reads as follows:
“We’re excited to announce the launch of our new public engagement platform, Engage Whitehorse.
The City frequently seeks input from the public regarding priorities for policies, programs, projects, and initiatives. Through this easy-to-use platform, residents can share their ideas, provide feedback, and ask questions for many of the City’s projects during our trial of Engage Whitehorse, with more to come throughout the year.
Engaged residents help create strong neighbourhoods, and make our city more welcoming and inclusive. Visit engagewhitehorse.ca to view our current projects, and register today to join the discussion!”
Unfortunately, it appears that citizens are restricted as to the policies, programs, projects, and initiatives on which they are allowed to comment. In other words, the city provides topics on which people can comment. At present, there are six.
There does not seem to be any way that someone can make comments about other areas of concern. However, anything that improves communication between the City of Whitehorse and its citizens will be appreciated, so please consider registering.
Note: Our associates should be aware that Strategic Communications was mentioned in Action #12 of the 2020 Trail Plan. Apparently, Parks and Strategic Communications is supposed to “provide communication updates to highlight trail initiatives throughout the community, such as City Trail Crew projects, approved trail development projects, and other trail related initiatives.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14132/637463002087130000 p. 27)
The new Pee Wee Hill “switchback trail” initiative certainly qualified as one that should have been communicated to the public, but this was not done.
ATWA was told by Parks administration that there are no “set [timelines] for this initiative and the [Strategic] Communications Department has their own timelines to work with and times for when they share information.” (Parks Oct. 27/2021 email to ATWA)
Needless to say the inability of the two city departments to initiate Action #12 of the now two-year old Trail Plan is concerning. ATWA has contacted Mr. Lutz about this situation. He indicated that he would contact Parks administration to see what can be done.
Please note that the Strategic Communications department usually consists of two people. However, it is now down to one as Mr. Lutz is the acting manager.
5. Range Road South Asphalt Path Extension: Information on this project can be viewed on the Engage Whitehorse site at https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/rangeroadsouth-asphaltpathextension.
6. Millennium Trail: On April 22, the city made the following announcement with regard to the Millennium Trail:
“The section of the Millennium Trail between the Rotary Centennial Bridge and the fish ladder will be closed during construction for the safety of Trail users, residents and workers on site. Temporary signage and fencing will be put in place to let users know of the restricted access.”
7. WildWise Yukon: Recently we received a request for a letter of support with regard to an application that WildWise Yukon was making to the Environmental Awareness Fund for its Whitehorse Waste Audit & Signage Project.
According to Elise Brown-Dussault (Program Coordinator), the funding will be used to “to conduct a waste audit (3 surveys) of bear-proof bins around the [City of Whitehorse at road stops, day use areas, and trailheads], so we can report on which areas really need increased capacity and attention in terms of littering and illegal dumping. We also hope to put up signs discouraging illegal dumping and littering at ten of the hardest-hit spots.”
It was felt that this was a worthy project and one which all of our associates would support, so the requested letter of support was provided. We hope that the funding will be realized.
In the meantime, if any of you have any thoughts about what day use areas, road stops, and (in particular) trailheads need more attention please contact Elise at 335-5212 and/or at
[email protected]. Photographs of the site illustrating the problem would be beneficial.
As well, if you see trail areas that need attention due to illegal dumping and or littering be sure to contact Meagan Wilson (Projects and Trails Coordinator for the City of Whitehorse) at [email protected].
If you would like to know more about what WildWise Yukon does, you can go to its website at https://wildwise.ca.
8. Robert Service Campground: A Yukon News April 21 article by Stephanie Waddell, entitled Whitehorse city council contemplates cash for campground building, will get you up-to-date on this continuing saga. (See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/whitehorse-city-council-contemplates-cash-for-campground-building/).
9. McIntyre Creek Regional Park: A Whitehorse Star April 19 article by Tim Giilck entitled, MLA questions potential McIntyre Creek Park complications, provides further information on this never-ending issue.You can view that article at the following site:
https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/mla-questions-potential-mcintyre-creek-park-complications
There is (as yet) no management plan for this park. Only one of the city’s five regional parks (Chadburn Lake Park/June 2017) has a management plan, although it is debatable that the plan has made much difference in how the park is administered. (See ATWA’s, January 22, Updates #6, at https://www.activetwa.org/news.html).
10. Trail Popularity Problems: This BBC article entitled, Snowdonia authority tells hikers to visit toilet before climbing, points out a number of problems that trail or route popularity can bring. (See https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-61138653).
Whitehorse is not immune to the problems mentioned in the article. COVID has certainly resulted in more people becoming involved in outdoor recreational pursuits, and this combined with a significant population increase has put more pressure on our trail system.
11. Solar Powered ATVs: This Canadian Press article by Bill Graveland entitled, Project gives Indigenous communities in the North an option to switch to greener technology, has a Yukon connection.
12. Copper Haul Road Closure: The City of Whitehorse has provided the following information.
“Residents are advised that a section of the Copper Haul Road near Fish Lake Road is closed until further notice, due to the poor condition of a culvert.
A closure is required until the culvert can be repaired.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/News/News/4726/31 for more information.)
13. 20-Minute Makeover Event Approaching: This Neighbourhood Edition will take place on May 25th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information visit the city’s website at https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/News/News/5022/31?backlist=%2fhome.
14. Lambing Season: The Carcross Tagish Renewable Council makes the following request:
“It's lambing season again. Please STAY OFF trails in sheep and goat habitats until after June 15th. Needle Mountain, Caribou Mountain, Nares Mountain, and Montana Mountain are all home to populations of sheep or goats. Please be respectful and give them space until after this sensitive time.”
15. Canadian Wildlife Federation City Nature Challenge Event: This event, which takes place between April 29 and May 8, may be of interest to some of our associates. (See https://cwf-fcf.org/en/explore/inaturalist/cnc/?src=carousel for more information.
16. Yukon Bird Club: The club will be holding a Birdathon from May 27 (5 pm) to May 28 (5 pm). More information on this event will be found in the coming days at the club’s website. (See https://yukonbirds.ca/birdathon/).
17. City of Whitehorse Capital Expenditure Rebudgets to 2022: In reviewing the minutes of a recent City Council meeting we came across rebudget items concerning ATWA areas of interest. As a result, on April 14 we sent the following questions to Valerie Braga (Director Corporate Services).
[We] have some questions concerning APPENDIX A-(Page 5) ‐ CAPITAL EXPENDITURE REBUDGETS TO 2022 BYLAW 2022 ‐ 08 TRAIL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/15753/637850297924430000.)
Under 740c00409 Trail Plan Implementation, the following comment is made:
This project (740C00409) was not completed in 2021 due to staff shortages. These re‐budgeted funds will be used for trail crew operations, staff wages, materials, equipment rentals, and contractor services if needed. This project will be completed by the end of the 2022 season.
Unfortunately, there is no indication as to the specific “project” that was not completed in 2021 due to staff shortages.
Question: Is one to assume that as the “rebudget” eligible amount of $68,506, and the 2021 actual amount spent by Parks on capital projects related to the Trail Plan implementation was $6,494, and that the two together total $75,000 (the amount granted to Parks for Trail Plan Implementation under the 2021 Capital Budget), that the “project” simply refers to any capital monies spent on Trail Plan implementation? In other words, the “project” does not refer to any specific capital project initiative mentioned in the actual trail plan.
Question: The 2022 Capital Budget (740C00409) called for 100,000 for Trail Plan Implementation from 2022 to 2025. Therefore, [are we] correct in [our] conclusion that in 2022 Parks now has a total of $168,506 to spend on the 2020 Trail Plan Implementation?
Question: Why is the public not given a list of the specific capital projects that Parks plans to carry out with monies allotted to the 2020 Trail Plan Implementation?
There were 30 Action Plan items outlined in the 2020 Trail Plan, a number of which would require capital expenditure. However, the public has (as far as we know) no idea as to which one(s) are going to be addressed in 2022 with the funding the budget provided.
[We] also wonder why, when the capital budget is released for public comment, that the capital Trail Plan projects that Parks intends on implementing in the specific budget year are not listed. It may well be that the public may have a different opinion as to which capital projects listed for “action” in the 2020 Trail Plan should be given priority.
Question: Could you tell [us] what specific capital expenditure projects related to Trail Plan Implementation are proposed to be completed in 2022?
Question: Was any part of the $6,494, spent by Parks in 2021 used to construct the new Pee Wee Hill trail? If so, how much?
Question: Under Long Lake Improvements (740c00320) the following statement appears:
The conceptual design was completed in 2020. This re‐budget amount will be spent on the implementation of amenities such as docking infrastructure and potentially a lifejacket loaner station and change stations to support water‐based recreation and aquatics programming. This is the second phase of long lake improvements and the project will be completed in 2022.
Are these improvements a result of the Management Directives that came as a result of the completion of the Chadburn Lake Management Plan adopted in June of 2017?
Thanks for any help you can give [us] with regard to the above questions.
Hopefully, we will get a response prior to our May Updates being sent out.
18. Friends of McIntyre Creek: The organization’s Annual General Meeting will take place on May 10, 2022 at Hellaby Hall (4th and Elliot) from 7 to 9 pm. For more information contact [email protected]. Please let the organization know prior to the meeting if you are interested in becoming a member of its Board of Directors.
ATWA Updates: March 29, 2022
1. Snowmobile Amendment Request: On March 4, 2022 we sent a document to City Council’s Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) calling for changes to the Snowmobile Bylaw. All our associates have now received a copy of that document via email. The reasons for the request were contained within the paper along with supporting documentation.
We included an introduction to the Snowmobile Amendment document in the email sent to the committee. You can read that introduction on our website under Issues/Change Snowmobile Bylaw. (See https://www.activetwa.org/change-snowmobile-bylaw.html.)
We would like to thank those who allowed the addition of their name to the submission. It was much appreciated.
The Community Services Committee confirmed receipt of the document on March 14. We await a response to ATWA’s request.
2. Pee Wee Hill Submission: On February 14, 2022 we sent two documents to City Council’s Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) concerning the construction of a new Pee Wee Hill trail in September of 2021. We asked that the committee take the lead in addressing the concerns raised in both documents, and to bring those concerns to the attention of all city councillors.
On February 17 we received an email from the committee indicating that the documents were received and that they “have passed them on for discussion.” As of yet, we have received no formal response to the concerns raised in the submissions.
3. Talking Together Initiative: In light of our recent submissions concerning the Snowmobile Bylaw and the Pee Wee Hill issue, it is a good time to refer to this initiative.
“On January 10, 2018, the Government of Yukon and City of Whitehorse launched Talking Together: A stronger dialogue between you and your government. The project was a joint effort to learn what Yukoners see as meaningful engagement . . . ”
According to a December 3, 2018 City of Whitehorse Administrative Report the result of this initiative was the establishment of a city project entitled, Public Engagement Capacity Development. “This project entails training and skills development for City staff in proper engagement strategies and techniques . . .” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/10497/636791797639770000 p. 3)
Apparently, there were five guiding principles that came out of this initiative:
1. We will be inclusive - we will be accessible to a broad range of voices and when we don’t hear a voice, we will seek it out.
2. We will be transparent and clear - we will create easily accessible processes for engagement and we will tell people our intentions when we engage the public.
3. We will recognize and value the unique contribution of participants - we will demonstrate care and respect for participants, recognizing that they have valuable, relevant knowledge and experience to contribute.
4. We will be accountable and act with integrity - we will be clear about the goal of the public engagement and how public input will be considered in our decision- making. We will demonstrate what emerged from the conversations and connect input to action and activities.
5. We will build skills - we will help Yukoners to have conversations about complex topics in a productive way, and we will help government staff build their public engagement skills. We will build processes that provide an opportunity for listening, learning and working together. (See https://yukon.ca/sites/yukon.ca/files/engage/yg_-_eco_-_talking_together_what_we_heard_final.pdf p. 10)
In a City of Whitehorse, Development Services Division Newsletter of April 2018 the following information was given about the Talking Together initiative:
Talking Together is a shared initiative between the City and the Government of Yukon focused on improving the way our governments work, talk, and make decisions with the public. Hundreds of people have participated in consultation activities for this project, which have included an online survey, a crowdsourcing tool, and numerous public meetings across Yukon, including an Ideas Fair at The Old Fire Hall held in January. The next step for the City is to share the feedback received with staff from all departments and develop strategies for consistent delivery of public outreach techniques.
The five guiding principles read well, but in light of issues such as the Snowmobile Bylaw and Pee Wee Hill, one must wonder if any of the guiding principles have been adopted by the city.
December 3, 2018 was the last time we heard anything about this Public Engagement Capacity Development project.
ATWA will try to obtain an update from the City of Whitehorse on the current state of this project.
4. Norma Felker: As you are probably aware, Norma Felker has retired after some 38 years of service with the City of Whitehorse. She had been the assistant city clerk since 2006.
It was always a pleasure engaging with Norma by phone, email, or in person. She had a wealth of knowledge with regard to city affairs, and was ready and willing to pass that knowledge on to others. ATWA will miss her presence at City Hall. She certainly deserves a wonderful retirement. Thank you Norma! (See https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/retiring-stalwart-served-seven-mayors-13-councils).
5. Letter to Mayor Cabott: On March 14 ATWA sent a letter to Mayor Cabott with regard to the Pine Street Extension paved trail. The paved trail came up in a discussion that the Mayor had with one of our associates.
The letter was sent to ensure the Mayor was made better aware of the background to the issues associated with this gas tax paved trail. We asked for a meeting with Mayor Cabott to discuss these issues and others mentioned in the document.
We await a response.
You can view this letter on our website under Issues/Letters at https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html. The name of the associate in the first sentence has been deleted for privacy purposes.
6. Trail Etiquette: If you ski at the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club you will have seen the new (this year) trail etiquette signs. The rules apply to all those using the club’s trails. Most (if not all) are applicable when using ski trails in other areas. However, one should always note the specific etiquette rules that apply in other locations.
You can view the City of Whitehorse Trail Etiquette rules, along with other etiquette information on our website under Resources/Trail Etiquette. (See https://www.activetwa.org/trail-etiquette.html.)
We have included a photo of the ski club’s Trail Etiquette signs on our website under (you guessed it) Photos. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html and scroll down to the bottom.)
7. Snow Machines and Wetlands: A Letters to the Editor article appeared in the Yukon News on March 13, 2022. It was entitled Ibex Valley wetland treated like a gravel pit, and was written by Rene Rivard. The article can also be found in the March 14 edition of the Whitehorse Star. See page seven.
(See https://www.yukon-news.com/opinion/this-weeks-mailbox-energy-bills-pushing-cost-of-living-too-high-concerns-over-snow-machines-in-ibex-valley-wetland/ and scroll down.)
8. E-Bike Trails in Banff: A Dec 9, 2021 article by Cathy Ellis entitled, Expansion of e-bike trails in Banff National Park draws controversy is worth a read as it mirrors some of the concerns ATWA has expressed regarding a lack of transparency in decision making with regard to our own trail system. (See https://www.rmotoday.com/banff/expansion-of-e-bike-trails-in-banff-national-park-draws-controversy-4841239.)
9. Chilkoot Trail: The March 24, Yukon Conservation Society’s Email Newsletter tells us that the trail will be open to reservations starting April 25.
Starting “June 1 the Chilkoot Trail will be open for hiking and camping from Bennett to the Chilkoot Pass and back, or Dyea to the Chilkoot Pass and back! Cross-border hiking will continue to be prohibited.” More information can be found at the following site: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/yt/chilkoot.
10. Summer Interpretive Program Coordinator: The YCS Email Newsletter also tells us that the society “is seeking an enthusiastic youth (18-30) with an interest in learning about YCS and supervising the Trail Guide Program, as well as coordinating public events. The full job description can be found on [its] website.”
Applications need to be submitted by April 17, 2022.
If you know of anyone who would be interested in applying for the position, more information is available at the following site. (See http://yukonconservation.org/who-we-are/our-team/join-our-team/.)
ATWA Updates: February 25, 2022
1. City Trail Clearing: City Council has apparently approved both the winter clearing of the Granger and Hillcrest connector trail, and a section of the lower escarpment paved path. The following February 6 Yukon News article by Stephanie Waddell provides additional information. (See “Winter clearing for two trails” approved at https://www.yukon-news.com/news/city-news-briefly-49/.)
2. Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment: We have now completed the final edit of the document and it will be made available to our associates via our March Updates. However, for privacy purposes the names of those who supported the contents of the document will not be attached.
Our intent is to ask the Community Services Committee to consider bringing the issue to the attention of all members of City Council, and consider initiating the process that would lead to a City Council vote on the proposed amendment to the Snowmobile Bylaw.
3. Recent submissions to the Community Services Committee: On February 14, ATWA sent two documents to the Community Services Committee on the subject of the Pee Wee Hill trails. You will find both of these documents on our website under Issues/Pee Wee Hill trail. (See https://www.activetwa.org/pee-wee-hill-trail.html.)
We received notification from the committee on February 17 that the documents have been passed on “for discussion.” Hopefully, the discussion will prove fruitful, and that action will be taken to address the concerns raised.
Just so you know we have placed two more photos of the new Pee Wee Hill trail on our website. These were taken on February 8. You will find them under Photos on our website. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html and scroll down.)
4. Kicksleds: These are becoming increasingly popular in our community. A January 28 CBC article by Alexandre Silberman is an interesting read on the subject. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/beaubassin-est-snow-kicksleds-1.6329598.)
5. Yukon Wildlife Preserve: You can now rent kicksleds at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. Apparently, there are 14 kicksleds available in various sizes. They are rented on a first come, first serve basis. Seems like a great “new” way to enjoy the trails at the preserve. (See https://yukonwildlife.ca/rentals/ for more information.)
6. Yukon Conservation Society: The YCS has a “Special General Meeting and Annual General Meeting . . . scheduled for March 24 (online).” More information is available at http://yukonconservation.org/news-events/.
7. Tracks and Trails Event: This looks to be a most interesting activity and one that will be held on Saturday, March 12. You can find out more about this and other such activities at https://yukon.ca/en/wild-discoveries.
ATWA Updates: January 22, 2022
1. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: Although the plan was adopted by City Council on December 13, it has yet to appear on the City’s Map page as one of Council’s Approved Trail Networks.
It will be interesting to see if, as one councillor suggested, that the trail plan map informs trail users that so-called non-motorized multiple use trails are open to snowmobile use in winter. When the map is posted you should be able to find it by going to the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/maps.
As you know the trail plan called for potential new trail development in the Whitehorse South section of McIntyre Creek Regional Park. ATWA expressed concern about this possibility, as we have yet to have a management plan for this regional park.
Unfortunately, the City has always done neighbourhood trail plans prior to the completion of regional park management plans. This is like putting the cart before the horse. However, it is too late now to reverse the process, as all neighbourhood trail plans but Whitehorse North have been completed.
In any case, City Council has apparently been assured that it will be informed of any new development that is proposed to take place within the park area. One would assume that this includes new trails.
It would be appreciated that those of you who use the area would let us know if you see any activity in the park of which we should be made aware.
In addition, once again we have been told that the Snowmobile Bylaw will be reviewed at some point. However, no indication was provided as to when this will take place. And, as all bylaws are reviewed at some point, this gives us little hope that the review will take place at any time in the immediate future.
However, as the council approved 2020 Trail Plan claims that it will “build upon and integrate existing policies, bylaws, management plans, memoranda of understanding[s], and safety documents” associated with City trails, one would expect that work has already commenced towards enacting this initiative. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14132/637463002087130000 p. 3 #2.)
One expects that members of council will have to be continually reminded of this Trail Plan initiative in order to ensure it is carried out.
2. New Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail: A recent visit to the new trail proved to be quite enlightening. As feared, it is as slippery in winter conditions as is the old Pee Wee Hill trail.
Unfortunately, a section of the trail has virtually vanished under drifting snow, something that due to this section’s location will continue unless snow fencing is installed. The blockage has resulted in a few people taking “short cuts” to get to a lower section of the trail. It did not appear that any trail bikers had made any effort to get through this section, a smart decision.
At present, the old trail is the best route to use, although as indicated it is very slippery in sections. You can view new (January 19) winter photos of the new trail by going to our Photo page. See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html and scroll down. Six photos, five of which were taken on January 19, have been added to the Pee Wee Hill photo section.
As mentioned in our December Updates we are in the process of preparing a letter that we plan on sending to the Community Services Committee in order to bring the issue to the attention of members of City Council. The issue is a perfect example with which to illustrate the confusion related to proper process when dealing with trail concerns.
We are now in the process of editing that letter and hope to get it off to the appropriate committee by the first week in February. At that time it will be posted to our Issues page under Letters. (See https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.)
3. Winter Biking: This Dec 30, 2021 CBC article by Ele Pawelski, will be of interest to those who are either currently using their bikes for transportation purposes, or contemplating doing so. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/opinion-winter-biking-during-pandemic-1.6295158.)
4. Winter Cycling: The City of Whitehorse has a section on its website dedicated to winter cycling. If you cycle in the winter take a look. (See
https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/environmental-sustainability/movement/cycle/winter-biking-safety.)
5. Yukon Conservation Society: The latest YCS Email Newsletter mentioned three Wildlife Viewing Events in which you may wish to participate. It appears that you will need to register for these events. You can do so at the following site: (See https://yukon.ca/wilddiscoveries.)
Wolf Howl – Whitehorse area
Wed., January 26th (7 to 8:30 p.m.)
Yukon Wildlife Viewing
Join wolf program coordinator Peter Knamiller on a night-walk to learn about the life history of these top carnivores. We'll even try howling to see if they answer. Bring a headlamp/flashlight and please dress warmly as we will be outside and stationary.
Muskrat walk – Whitehorse area
Wed., February 9th (5 to 6:30 p.m.)
Yukon Wildlife Viewing
What are those dome-shaped "push-ups" of dirt and vegetation on the ice? Join the wildlife viewing staff for a walk around a local pond to view these "push-ups" and learn all about muskrats.
Ski-bou – Mt Lorne area
Sat., February 19th (1 to 3 p.m.)
Yukon Wildlife Viewing
Bring your cross-country skis and hit the trails with the wildlife viewing staff to learn about the ecology and habits of Woodland Caribou. You'll see tracks and signs of animals in the area, and if you're very lucky maybe even see a caribou itself.
6. 2022-2025 City Capital Expenditure Program: Some interesting information was revealed concerning the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan as a result of public input questions and comments on this subject.
Q: Will the 2022 Capital Budget allocate funds to aid in the implementation of the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Plan?
A: The 2022-2025 Capital Expenditure Program does not propose new expenditures in this park.
Q: What funds have been allocated (if any) to the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Plan in the years 2019 to and including 2021?
A: Approximately $53,000
Q: Which of the 26 initiatives of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan that were due to be completed in the four and a half years since the plan’s adoption, have been completed?
A: Since the adoption of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, the City has completed improvements in the Long Lake Area, developed the Grey Mountain Summit (Dream) Trail, and continues to monitor and maintain the existing trail network.
Please note the "2022-2025 Capital Expenditure Program does not propose new expenditures in this park,”and that in the years 2019-2021 only $53,000 was allotted to the completion of the 26 initiatives outlined in the management plan, many of which require capital expenditure.
As well, it should be noted that administration lists only three areas where work has been done or is in progress, and one would think that the “[monitoring] and [maintenance of] the existing trail network” was being done prior to the approval of the Chadburn Lake Management Plan.
One wonders how the City of Whitehorse going to complete the plan’s initiatives if it is not willing to spend the money to do so? Why do we go through the effort of creating park management plans if we are not prepared to follow through on the initiatives that those plans propose?
Initiative 3.1 of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan says, “The City may undertake a place-based branding exercise, which would consider formally recognizing and acknowledging First Nation place names and renaming Chadburn Lake Park with a more culturally appropriate name.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000p. 27)
It is now over four years since the management plan was adopted (June, 2017) and we still do not have culturally appropriate signs at its main entrances.
The response of administration was as follows:
A: With respect to initiative 3.1, this initiative may be completed outside of the capital budgeting process, in collaboration with the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.
It should be noted that the Chadburn Lake Management Plan indicated a two-year timeline for this initiative. In any case, the sign that is currently located at one of the two major entrances to the park is an embarrassment.
One would think that after all the effort made in the development of this plan, that one of the first things that would be done was to place culturally appropriate signage at the main routes of entrance to the park to indicate that entrance is being made to a City of Whitehorse Regional Park.
Apparently, other suggestions concerning trails are to be reviewed by City departments. These include the following:
That the City provides funds for a sign at the entrance on the Chadburn Lake Road.
That the City use part of the Trail Plan Implementation budget to correct or replace trail signs that place longitude before latitude.
7. Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment: Recently ATWA prepared a document entitled, Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment that explains why there is a need to change the Snowmobile Bylaw to reflect the ATV Bylaw, and prohibit snowmobile operators from using non-motorized trails, greenbelts, and open spaces.
You can view this document on our website under Issues/Change Snowmobile Bylaw. (See https://www.activetwa.org/uploads/2/2/7/6/22767404/snowmobile_bylaw_amendment.pdf.)
ATWA Updates: December 19, 2021
1. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: On Monday, December 13 City Council adopted the Whitehorse South Trail Plan. We failed to get any significant changes to the final plan. So called non-motorized multiple use trails in Whitehorse South will still be open to snowmobiles and snowmobile conversion vehicles in the winter.
The option was available for City Council to ask administration to go through the process of adding those trails to SCHEDULE “E” EXCLUDED TRAILS section of the Snowmobile Bylaw, but there was no motion made to take this course of action.
There was no discussion at the council meeting of the fact that the City claims that MMU trails are designed to accommodate both motorized and non-motorized users mainly for safety reasons, but that safety does not seem to play a factor when combining snowmobilers and non-motorized users on so-called non-motorized trails that are not designed to accommodate either user group.
There was also little discussion of the potential impact on trails that are not designed to accommodate snowmobiles. The very fact that the Snowmobile Bylaw says that operators must not “damage vegetation or ground” tells us that the City does recognize such vehicles can cause damage to trails, especially if operated on trails that are not designed to accommodate them.
As to how an operator is to determine that vegetation and/or ground have been damaged prior to spring melt is not explained in the bylaw. Unfortunately, such use widens trails and then they become more susceptible to increased machine use in both summer and winter.
At the council meeting we heard the same old story that due to snow cover snowmobiles cause less damage to trails than ATVs.
Surely City administrators must realize that factors such as degree of slope, aspect, height of land, temperature variation, and vegetation cover all affect snow depth. Therefore, snow depth is never the same in all areas of the city. Vegetation located above the snow snaps easily in the cold.
If snowmobilers were required to stay on designated motorized trails and out of open spaces and greenbelts (as are ATVs), then damage would be reduced, particularly to narrow single-track trails.
Requiring snowmobilers to stay on MMU trails and off non-motorized trails would also reduce user conflict, improve safety for all concerned, and make for a more equitable trail network.
It would also allow non-motorized users to enjoy peace and solitude on trails that are more intimate than MMU trails. As well, it would support the right of community members to the quiet enjoyment of their property, local trails and greenbelts.
Having said this there is renewed hope that this council will look at the Snowmobile Bylaw and consider appropriate changes. The Mayor said that the bylaw needs “work,” and that non-motorized users need to have trails that they can enjoy free from motorized use.
You are encouraged to look at the video of Monday’s (Dec. 13) council meeting. (See http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2021-12-13.mp4.html and scroll down to #10.)
City Council did nothing specifically to alleviate the threat of potential trail development in an area of McIntyre Creek Park that is located within the boundaries of Whitehorse South.
Unfortunately, as per the Trail Development Policy any trail development under 500 metres does not need to undergo any oversight by City Council, relevant stakeholders, community groups, other organizations, or the general public.
Public consultation only occurs if “a proposed trail exceeds 1,000 meters in length.” Unless you are a runner, it is unlikely one really understand how long a 500-metre trail actually is. The policy only allows for public consultation if the trail exceeds 1000 metres.
This means trail development could take place without any notification prior to consultation on a management plan for the McIntyre Creek Regional Park.
As the 2014 Regional Park Plan states, “Regional Parks do not operate in isolation from other lands and neighbourhoods. They have an intricate relationship with surrounding areas. Good decision-making will depend on science, our ability to identify linkages, and understand the broader inter-relationships and impacts.” (P. 15)
The “new” trail beside the old (and still used) Pee Wee Hill trail is approximately 140 metres long and certainly demonstrates how much impact on the environment a trail of such a short distance can have.
This was a trail that should never have been built without some form of consultation, despite being well under 500 metres, and given the fact that after a year and a half of consultation and review the City had already decided to grade and widen the old Pee Wee Hill trail, and not build a “new” trail, as according to City employees the latter would be “unsustainable”. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html. Scroll down.)
Unfortunately, there could well be more of these “under the radar” trails built without any notification unless the Trail Development Policy is amended.
The 2020 Trail Plan Action #23 calls for the policy to be “updated,” but it is obvious now that it also needs to be amended to ensure there is better engagement with the public concerning trail construction of any type or length.
Although as mentioned, nothing was specifically done to address the potential of new development in McIntyre Creek Park, the fact is that a number of councillors expressed concerns surrounding that possibility.
As a result, administration will now have to think very carefully about doing development of any kind in the area without informing members of council.
In his delegate presentation before City Council, Wolf Creek resident and ATWA associate Pat Milligan expressed three major concerns with regard to the Whitehorse South Trail Plan:
a) City administration has ignored the premise of the Wolf Creek MMU trail and survey results,and has instead proposed the Dawson South Trail as a MMU Trail in the draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan.
There are other MMU trail options readily available (and used) that do not involve disrupting an Environmentally Sensitive Area or compromising planning for the City of Whitehorse Wolf Creek Regional Park.
b) The Whitehorse South Trail Plan does not include any designated trails along the Alaska Highway corridor.
c) There is a net loss of non-motorized trails in Whitehorse South that results from the proposed Whitehorse South Trail Plan and current bylaws.
ATWA made two City Council presentations on the Whitehorse South Trail Plan (Dec. 6 and Dec. 13). As mentioned, Pat Milligan also made a delegate presentation on Dec. 13 expressing his views on the trail plan.
You can view ATWA’s presentations, as well as two other documents that we have recently posted entitled, Whitehorse South Notes and Whitehorse South Administration Comments, by going to Issues/Whitehorse South Trail Plan. (See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-south-trail-plan.html.)
Pat Milligan’s presentation will be posted to the website as soon as it is available.
2. E-scooter Safety: As we are now seeing more e-scooters around town a CBC article by Kimberley Molina is very apropos. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/escooter-dangers-persist-accessility-community-says-1.6262662.)
3. Mountain Biking Culture: An Adventure Journal article by BY MIKE CURIAK LACE MINE IS AN INTERESTING READ. (See https://www.adventure-journal.com/2018/05/culture-mountain-biking-gone-astray/.)
4. Walking tips for safer strolls this winter: Now this is an article that is very appropriate for our part of the world, especially considering the fact that we spend so much time on local trails in the winter months.This CBC article by Janet Ho is well worth the read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/life/wellness/walking-tips-for-safer-strolls-this-winter-1.5814443?fbclid=IwAR2M2fr1K8OzhXlWY8YwJZlQwE3lylUqF4OV3cwDdWoXAGe9W8r-jQgAUBA.)
5. Tennis Yukon: Great news!The City of Whitehorse is going to ensure there is an outhouse this summer at the Mt Mac parking lot, something that was discontinued in 2015.
Since that time several groups whose members and associates use the area have donated funds towards the renting and cleaning an outhouse adjacent to the Tennis Yukon courts (Tennis Yukon, Active Trails Whitehorse Association, Contagious Mountain Bike Club, Yukon Pickleball, Boréale, and the Whitehorse Cross-Country Ski Club).”
In the summer of 2020 the cost of this service was $1312.50, but that rose in 2021 to over $2200.
On December 6 a letter was sent in the name of all the contributing groups to City Council’s Community Services Committee: Chair: Mellisa Murray/Vice-Chair: Michelle Friesen concerning the issue.
A reply was received on December 14th indicating the City would restore the service it had previously provided.
ATWA joins with all the other contributors to thank the two councillors and the City of Whitehorse for resuming this service and absorbing the cost.
6. Strategic Communications: This City of Whitehorse department “works collaboratively with City Council and staff from all departments to ensure the City engages in discussions and communications with citizens and government partners in a way that is coordinated, timely, and proactive. The department is responsible for the City’s website, social media, advertising, and marketing.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/communications-and-customer-service.)
This is the department that is supposed to “Highlight trail initiatives throughout the community” as per Action #12 of the 2020 Trail Plan.
Unfortunately, no timeline has been set for this initiative, so it is likely that trail builds such as the new Pee Wee Hill alternate trail will not be made known to the general public.
7. Active Transportation: Why this city is Europe's best kept cycling secret is a BBC article by Pedro Garcia, which you might find to be of interest. There is a video attached entitled,Tips from the Netherlands on how to build a nation of cyclists that might be a worthwhile view for those preparing the Whitehorse Transportation Master Plan. (See https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59386433.)
8. Active Transportation Fund Government of Canada: It is our understanding that this fund is separate and distinct from the federal gas tax fund. “The Fund will make available $400 million over five years to help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges, as well as support Active Transportation planning and stakeholder engagement activities.”
This funding is available not only for municipal projects in the territories including projects in Indigenous communities, but also for non-profit organizations. (See https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/trans/active-actif-eng.html.)
9. New Year’s Eve Fireworks: Three of our City of Whitehorse trails are considered to be good places from which to observe this Friday, Dec. 31 event that starts at 8:00 pm. There is much more information available on the City of Whitehorse Facebook page. (See https://www.facebook.com/cityofwhitehorse.)
10. New Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail: We have sent two letters to the Whitehorse Star with regard to this issue. (See https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.)
We are in the process of preparing a letter that we plan on sending to the Community Services Committee early in the New Year. Although the trail is a fait accompli, there are numerous concerns about proper process that still need to be addressed.
11.Trans Canada Trail: The organization has just released its National Guidelines for Classifying Multi-Use Trails in Canada. Yes, this will take time to read and absorb, but anyone who uses trails in Whitehorse, some of which are part of the TCT route, should have a look. (See https://tctrail.ca/national-guidelines-webinars/.)
Please have the best possible holiday season!
ATWA Updates: November 23, 2021
1. Whitehorse South Draft Trail Plan: Our latest information indicates that the draft plan will go before City Council in December. Although we have asked, we have received no reply as to whether or not a What We Heard Document will be provided. Unfortunately, December is not an ideal time for the draft plan to come before City Council, as many citizens will be preparing for the holiday season.
2. New Trail Adjacent to the Pee Wee Hill Trail: ATWA sent a letter to the Whitehorse Star that was published
on Friday, November 19 under the title City must explain its trail-building rationale. We have placed that letter in the Issues section of our website under Letters. (See https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.) It will provide some interesting background information concerning the subject.
This is what we have learned about both the old and new Pee Wee Hill trails that will be of interest to all non-motorized users. Please note that only Class 1 e-bikes are permitted on these trails. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14941/637553694277970000.)
a) The old Pee Wee Hill trail will continue to be open to all non-motorized users. It continues to be off limits to motorized vehicles in both summer and winter.
b) The old Pee Wee Hill trail is used by Fire Protection Services (FPS) to access areas above the hill in case of wild fires. A specially designed ATV is used for such purposes. The power line trail is utilized by FPS to access the bottom of Pee Wee Hill. As such, it would not be prudent to shut the old trail down and commence remediation.
c) The city considers the old trail to be unsustainable, so its degradation will continue.
d) The new trail is also open to all non-motorized users including trail bikers. It is not open to motorized vehicles in either summer or winter.
e) Users can go down or up both trails. In other words, neither trail will be directional.
f) We are told that construction of the new trail has been completed.
We have posted a number of photos applicable to this issue. Go to https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html and scroll down.
ATWA is in the process of preparing a second letter to the Whitehorse Star for its consideration as a Letter to the Editor.
3. Regional Parks: It is worth repeating that we have five regional parks in the City of Whitehorse. They include the following:Chadburn Lake Park (7,550 hectares); McIntyre Creek Park (3,620 hectares; Wolf Creek Park (1,100 hectares; McLean Lake Park (195 hectares); and Paddy’s Pond/Ice Lake Park (190 hectares).
Note:One hectare equals 2.47 acres.
Only Chadburn Lake Park has a management plan, a plan that was approved by City Council in June of 2017. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000).
4. Update of Website: We are in the process of updating our website. One new addition is found under Resources. It is entitled Applicable City Documents. Here you will find a list of City of Whitehorse documents and maps that may in some way relate to trails, regional parks, greenbelts, and open spaces within our city. There are many, and the list will need to be constantly updated. (See https://www.activetwa.org/applicable-city-documents.html.)
5. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): The Contagious Mountain Bike Club has a MOU with the City of Whitehorse, which is referenced on the Trail Maintenance section of its website. It is this MOU that allows it to be considered a trail steward. It is worth a read and can be found at the following site: (See https://940be483-f05e-4066-bf32-b72948db7296.filesusr.com/ugd/68b44a_98d4846fcfba4517b3f020b5b0cdc92f.pdf).
It is our understanding that the Klondike Snowmobile Association also has a MOU with the City of Whitehorse.
6. Globe and Mail Article by Jason Tchir: The article entitled, As scooters gain popularity, scooter safety comes into question makes for an interesting read, especially considering the fact that we are starting to see more of these devices in Whitehorse. (See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-as-scooters-gain-popularity-scooter-safety-comes-into-question/.)
7. Yukon Bird Club Event: Just a reminder that Jenny Trapnell will be doing a lunch-time walk entitled, What’s on the River this coming Wednesday at 12 pm. You are asked to meet at the Fish Ladder and to dress warmly!
8. The Point Feasibility Study (2017): This report by Jane Of All Trades Consulting was prepared for the City of Whitehorse Planning and Sustainability Services. It contains a wealth of information that you might find to be of interest. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/9012/636372813403670000). Pages 7 and 8 of the document have maps of the area under consideration.
9. ATV Bylaw: This is just a reminder that ATVs “shall only operate on motorized multiple use trails between April 1 and October 31 in any given year.” (ATV Bylaw)
Associates are seeing more tracked vehicles in winter. We sought clarification from Bylaw Services as to whether or not such vehicles are permitted to use motorized multiple use trails from November 1 to March 31. Brian White sent the following information:
When ATVs are fitted with tracks they are no longer consider an ATV, they are considered [as] snowmobiles. The Snowmobile Bylaw has the following interpretation:
“SNOWMOBILE” means a motor vehicle, designed primarily for travel on snow or
ice, having one or more steering skis, and self-propelled by means of an endless
belt or belts driven in contact with the ground and includes a snowmobile
Conversion Vehicle;
“SNOWMOBILE CONVERSION VEHICLE” means a vehicle designed to be
capable of conversion to a snowmobile by the repositioning, removal or addition
of parts, which may or may not include steering skis;
So, despite the size of some of these vehicles they are permitted on motorized multiple use trails, trails that (in Whitehorse) also allow non-motorized users.
10. New Brunswick Trail: Yes, it is out of our area, but just in case you ever get to New Brunswick you may want to do all or part of this trail. The following CBC article entitled, N.B. trail makes National Geographic list of world's best adventure destinations, by Marie Sutherland. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/sentier-nepisiguit-trail-national-geographic-1.6258391.)
ATWA Updates: October 18, 2021
1. Whitehorse South Draft Trail Plan: As of today, no “What We Heard” document summarizing the results obtained from the survey or the public engagement drop-in session held on September 2, has been made available to the public.
2. Whitehorse Municipal Election: As you are aware the election takes place on Thursday, October 21. All the information you may need with regard to the election process is available on the City’s website. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/election-2021. There is information about each of the candidates who are running for office.
We urge all of you to learn as much about each candidate as possible prior to voting. As well, we hope you will all vote. Only 37% of eligible voters took the time to cast a ballot in the 2018 municipal election.
3. Klondike Snowmobile Association Questions to Municipal Election Candidates: Our associates may find the responses by candidates to be of interest. (See https://ksa.yk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021CoWKSASurveywebsite-3-scaled.jpg.) As well, some of the statements made by the KSA make for interesting reading, and should be taken with a grain of salt.
4. New Trail: A new trail has been built adjacent to the Pee Wee Hill Trail in Chadburn Lake Regional Park. We only became aware of this new construction through a posting on the Contagious Mountain Bike Facebook page, which indicated the club was doing work on the new trail.
Subsequently, we contacted the CMBC in order to obtain more information about the trail. We received the following reply: “This was a 100% City led project. CMBC provided people power only at the request of the City for this project.” The club suggested that we contact the City, which we did.
Our email to Parks and Community Development read (in part) as follows:
Action #15 of the 2020 Trail Plan does call for the creation of “more accessible connections to access Grey Mountain trails within Chadburn Lake Park.” It goes on to say that, "Well used connections to access the Grey Mountain trail network within Chadburn Lake Park have difficult, often slippery conditions as a result of steep grades. Trail improvements should be implemented to allow a wide range of users to access the trail networks in these areas in all seasons. Specific locations to consider for improved access include Pee Wee Hill, Crocus Ridge and Heartbreak Hill.” (p. 30, 2020 Trail Plan)
However, Action #15 does not make mention of new trail construction to deal with “slippery conditions” on “well used” connecting trails, but only to improvements to the existing connecting trails. As well, any improvements that are to be considered would have to fall in line with what the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan says about improvements, or in this case new trail construction.
And, the management plan called for an inclusion strategy to be developed that would necessitate informing the public about (among other actions) any new trail construction within the park. Even the 2020 Trail Plan stresses the importance of community engagement with regard to the planning of trails.
The reply from Meagan Wilson (Projects and Trails Coordinator) in part reads as follows:
“The trail alongside PeeWee hill is a walking trail built specifically as you’ve quoted from the trail plan. (p. 30, 2020 Trail Plan) It is absolutely not a flow trail, and was built for pedestrians.
Improvements to trails like PeeWee, which is a steep, unsustainable, slippery slope, often look like what we have built alongside it, a sustainable grade walking path. As you are familiar with the Trail Development policy, this trail is under 500m and was approved by the Parks Manager.
[The new trail] has hand rails for walkers and corners not suited to bikes . . .”
Although the reply suggests that the new trail is for pedestrian (walkers) use and is not suitable for bikes, the CMBC on its Facebook page calls it a “climbing trail up Pee-Wee hill.” At last viewing there was no signage in place to indicate who can use the trail, or for that matter, if it is a directional trail.
It should be noted that as this trail is only 140 metres long there is no requirement for Parks & Community Development to inform anyone prior to its construction.
According to the Trail Development Policy, “The Manager (Parks) will notify relevant stakeholders, community groups and other organizations of proposed trail developments and will receive comments for a period of three weeks after notification when: (a) a proposed trail exceeds 500 meters in length;(b) a proposed trail exceeds 1.5 meters in width; and/or (c) a self-propelled power driven machine is proposed for construction.
The Manager will initiate public consultation when:(a) a proposed trail exceeds 1000 meters in length;(b) a proposed trail exceeds 1.5 meters in width; and/or (c) a self-propelled power driven machine is proposed for construction.”
However, it is somewhat confusing when we have a Trail Development Policy that says the City does not need to inform stakeholders, community groups, or the public about the construction in question, and a Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan that suggests that the public should be informed about “any new trail construction within the park.”
In addition, as noted previously, Action #15 of the new Trail Plan does not specifically mention new trail construction to deal with trails that have steep grades and at times slippery conditions, only trail improvements.
We followed up our initial email by asking the following questions:
“If the Pee Wee Hill trail is considered unsustainable will it now be closed (blocked off) and trail users be directed to the new trail? And, will the new trail be only for the use of pedestrians/walkers or will mountain bikers be allowed on the trail if they walk their bikes up and down. (As mentioned previously CMBC indicates that this trail will be a climbing trail.)
We have not as yet received a response to these questions. It seems pointless to build a new trail and allow the unsustainable existing trail to remain.
One of the perceived problems with our trail system is the presence of a myriad of trails, a number of which are simply unnecessary and should be decommissioned or consolidated (where feasible).
Photos of the new trail (plus comments) have been placed on our website along with a picture of the first hill on the Chadburn Lake Road (as an illustration of a form of mass wasting), and of the Pee Wee Hill trail itself. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
If any of our associates know anything about soil erosion/slope degradation and could tell us whether the new switchback trail is a feasible solution to the existing Pee Wee hill please send us an email. ([email protected])
When we made our final presentation to the City on the Draft Trail Plan we made reference to what became Action #15. It makes for an interesting read in light of this new construction. (See https://www.activetwa.org/2007-trail-plan-rewrite.html. Scroll down to 2020 Draft Trail Plan Response/Date: September 30, 2020, and then down to Action #4: Create more accessible trail connections at the north and south ends of Grey Mountain.
5. United States Forest Service: The Forest Service has a Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook that has some informative information on trail construction. See https://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/htmlpubs/htm07232806/page12.htm.
6. International Mountain Bike Association: If you would like to learn more about this association visit the following site: https://www.imba.com/.
7. Trail Repairs:Unfortunately, the City’s trail crew has ceased operations for the year. As a result, the damage done to a barrier on the paved trail that is found between McIntyre Creek and Takhini, which we reported, will not be repaired.
On April 29, we also asked the City to look at the Yukon Energy Viewpoint Trail as one of our associates was concerned about its condition. We sent the following email to the City along with applicable photos to illustrate our associates concerns. You can view those photos on our website. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
“One of our associates is concerned about the state of the Yukon Energy Viewpoint Trail. As you know this is a switchback trail that heads up from the fish ladder. Unfortunately, there is a subsequent trail that leads off from the right hand side of the Life on the Sunny Side sign, and which re-joins the switchback trail lower down. (The first two photos show what this looks like as one is walking up the trail.
The third photo indicates where the shortcut trail starts next to the Life on the Sunny Side sign.) It is being used as a shortcut, something that often happens with switchback trails, and which in this case leads to increased erosion and destruction of the vegetation that holds the steep slope together.
There is also what can only be described as a GIANT step (deep erosion) near the top of the trail, which needs to receive attention. (See photo four.)
There is a tiny sign on the post at the bottom of the switchback, which is probably missed by most people. It asks that cyclists stay off the trail. (Photo #5 shows the post.) Another (and more visible sign) needs to be placed at the top of the trail.
Considering that this is a popular trail, and one located on such a fragile slope, the city needs to upgrade the trail to aid in the prevention of erosion. This could involve installing a simple barrier or barriers to prevent shortcutting, better signage, and physical work on the trail itself.
You may already be aware of this situation, but our associate would like to know if anything can be done or will be done to address the problem.”
Despite bringing the concerns about the trail to the attention of the City nothing has been done.
8. Yukon News Letter to the Editor: On Oct. 13 a rather disturbing letter entitled, Sharing the trails — a plea and a warning appeared in the Yukon News. (See https://www.yukon-news.com/opinion/letter-sharing-the-trails-a-plea-and-a-warning/?fbclid=IwAR3NxCbxRhUVa68vydnJSoJwTwK9m5d2jCbTGfqD5n1qWPi6e-NALn2imZU.)
9. Yukon Bird Club: The club is holding a one hour lunchtime event on Wednesday, November 24 at 12 pm. Jenny Trapnell will lead a walk across the Rotary Centennial Bridge to view birds in the area. You are asked to meet at the Fish Ladder and wear WARM clothes!
10. Chuck Creek Trail (Samuel Glacier): The following notification was found on the Yukon Hiking Facebook page.
“BC Parks is undertaking a trail assessment of the Chuck Creek Trail (Samuel Glacier). Unfortunately due to early season snowfall they were unable to undertake this in person. If you hiked the Chuck Creek Trail (Samuel Glacier), please contact Devin at mailto:[email protected] to share your experiences.”
ATWA Updates: September 16, 2021
1. Whitehorse South Draft Trail Plan: On Thursday, September 2 the City held a public meeting concerning the development of the Whitehorse South Draft Trail Plan.
At the meeting ATWA presented an copy of the September 1st document that we sent to all our associates, to Heidi Redman, Landscape Architect, LEES + Associates. The next day we sent an updated digital copy to Heidi, Landon Kulych, Manager of Parks and Community Development, City of Whitehorse, and to Meagan Wilson, Projects and Trails Coordinator, City of Whitehorse. We also sent a copy to the Mayor and members of City Council. You can view that document on our website under Issues/Whitehorse South Trail Plan. See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-south-trail-plan.html.
We certainly hope that administration will consider some of the concerns we have raised including our request that it asks City Council to add all trails in Whitehorse South that are not designed and designated as MMU trails, to the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. This would make such trails off-limits to motorized use in both summer and winter, and honour the definition of a non-motorized multiple use trail as found in the 2020 Trail Plan.
We were given the impression at the public meeting that a "What We Heard" document may be made available that will summarize the results of the Whitehorse South Draft Trail Plan public survey and other public comments on the subject. If this is forthcoming we will pass on the document to our associates.
The draft plan is not scheduled to come before City Council until after the October 21 civic election. Hopefully, the new council will look more favourably on our effort to bring equity to our trail system, provide greater protection for our so-called non-motorized trails and their users, and end the current confusion surrounding the use of such trails. In addition, we feel that our suggested changes would decrease the time and expense associated with the trail designation process.
2. Whitehorse City Council Election: As mentioned in our ATWA August Updates, our civic election takes place on October 21 and nominations end on September 23. Another two candidates have put their names forward for a seat on City Council. See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/ted-laking-announces-candidacy-for-city-council/. See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/robin-reid-fraser-seeks-whitehorse-council-seat/.
If any of you are contemplating running for City Council you can get all the necessary information on the subject at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/election-2021/information-for-candidates.
3. Skagway overhauls trail system as part of economic stimulus plan: This September 3 article by Mike Swasey gives us something to look forward to when we are once again allowed to visit Skagway. See https://www.ktoo.org/2021/09/03/skagway-overhauls-trail-system-as-part-of-economic-stimulus-plan/?fbclid=IwAR3IXJIA_sSbst7IU5M_kZI96w7wi_qauMJU0VIz_0E2Z6HOZHTmmGzLrO4.
4. Dream Trail Update: You may be interested in a recent Contagious Mountain Bike Club Facebook page posting. Go to their Facebook page and Scroll down to the August 25 posting to see both the photos and accompanying article. If you have any comments about either the photos or the article please send them to [email protected].
5. Bicycles and Millennium Trail: Once again we have been approached with concerns related to bicycle/pedestrian conflicts on the Millennium. The concerns relate to speed of cyclists and to the lack of warning giving by those on bicycles when they are approaching walkers from behind.
We must all learn to make accommodations when encountering other user groups on the trail. However, if you have specific complaints then please contact Bylaw Services at 668-8317 or [email protected].
6. City of Whitehorse Facebook Page: A September 13 posting contained the following information related to ATV use within city limits.
Before heading out on trails within city limits, ATV riders must have:
• Driver's licence
• Public liability insurance
• Registration
• Attached licence plate
• Helmet
• Safe ATV Card (atvcourse.com/canada/whitehorse/)
Don't forget to Gear Down in Town!
Some operating rules to remember:
When travelling on the roadway, it must only be for the purpose of travelling to a permitted area and must be the most direct route;
On the roadway, the maximum speed is 30 km/h;
When operating on motorized multiple use trails, the maximum speed is 50 km/h unless posted otherwise;
When approaching or passing a pedestrian, animal, or cyclist, reduce speed to 15 km/h;
When on designated trails, ATV operators are required to follow the posted speed limit.
Stay on designated motorized trails and away from environmentally sensitive areas. Please ride safe! Learn more and view the Motorized Multi-Use Trail Map at whitehorse.ca/atv.
7. Friends of McIntyre Creek: The association invites you to join it for the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup being held Saturday, September 18, 2021 @ 10am – Noon. Meeting Location- Eagle Bay Park, Whistle Bend (Mountain View Dr. & Range Rd).
Regardless of where you live in Whitehorse we are sure that the FMC would welcome your help if you happen to be in town on Saturday. Make sure you bring good gardening gloves and wear appropriate shoes.
Contact Dorothy Bradley, President, Friends of McIntyre Creek, for more information by email at [email protected], or by phone at 867-332-3771.
8. Porter Creek Community Association Meeting: The meeting will take place on Monday, September 20th at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. If you are a Porter Creek resident please consider attending the meeting regardless of whether or not you are a member. However, you might consider joining as a vibrant community association can do much for its community.
For more information and to obtain the call-in details for the Zoom meeting, contact the PCCA at [email protected]. You can view its website at https://www.portercreekcommunity.com.
9. Yukon Wildlife Viewing: There are three remaining walks to end off the season. See https://yukon.ca/wilddiscoveriesfor information with regard to each of these informative nature walks.
ATWA Updates: August 21, 2021
1. Whitehorse 2040 OCP Review – Emerging Directions:
“Residents are invited to take part in Whitehorse 2040, the ongoing review of the City’s top-level planning document, the Official Community Plan. Provide your feedback on the emerging policy ideas through an online survey by August 31, 2021.” See the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-sustainability-services/official-community-plan-ocp/whitehorse-2040.
Almost two and a half years ago (Dec. 14, 2018), ATWA submitted its submission on the issues it felt should be addressed in the new plan. The submission can be found at the following site: https://www.activetwa.org/official-community-plan.html.
Please realize that since that time, the City of Whitehorse has approved a new Trail Plan, so some parts of the ATWA submission may no longer apply. However, this would be a good time to review that submission.
We encourage all of you to fill out the survey and/or provide written comments.
2. Whitehorse City Council Election: Apparently, there will be at least four new members of council after the October 21 election. See the Yukon News article of August 14 on the subject at https://www.yukon-news.com/news/whitehorse-council-members-set-out-plans-for-fall-election/.
If any of you are contemplating running for City Council you can get all the necessary information on the subject at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/election-2018/information-for-prospective-candidates.
3. Whitehorse South Trail Plan:The City of Whitehorse is holding a drop-in meeting at which there “will be an opportunity to ask staff and consultants questions and provide additional specific feedback on the Whitehorse South draft trail map.”
The drop-in meeting will take place at the Frank Slim Building, 100 Ogilvie St. Shipyards Park on Thursday, September 2nd between 4 and 6 pm.
Although it is advertised as a charrette event it hardly qualifies as such. However, it is what it is and any public meeting that allows citizens to participate in the trail planning process is appreciated.
Regardless of where you live in the City, we encourage you to attend the meeting at some point over the two-hour period. Obviously, those who live in Whitehorse South will want to be there. Those who live in other areas of the City, but on occasion use the trail system in Whitehorse South should also make an effort to attend.
People living in Whitehorse North would also find the meeting to be of interest as that area will be the next (and last) part of the City to undergo the trail plan process. It will give those citizens an idea of what to expect when their time comes.
All of you could help by attending the meeting and raising the point that all of the non-motorized multiple use trails that appear on the draft trail plan map for Whitehorse South will be open to snowmobile use in winter. This despite the fact that the recently approved 2020 Trail Plan defines Non-motorized Multiple Use trails as trails “to be used by a variety of non-motorized users,” and despite the City’s pledge in the 2020 Trail Plan to “build upon and integrate existing policies, bylaws, management plans, memoranda of understanding and safety documents.” (1.1 Purpose and Scope 1.1 #2)
In other words, the Snowmobile Bylaw should be changed to reflect the intent of the newly created Trail Plan as to the meaning of a non-motorized multiple use trail as expressed in the 2020 Trail Plan. (Please note that the Snowmobile Bylaw was approved by City Council in 2012. The Excluded Trails section of the bylaw (which lists a grand total of three trails) was added in 2018, and reads as follows:
“EXCLUDED TRAILS means trails on which the use of snowmobiles is prohibited as identified in Schedule “E” attached hereto and forming part of this bylaw. (Bylaw 2018-25 passed 2018-07-09)”
At the very least administration could recommend to City Council that the non-motorized multiple use trails found on the draft trail plan map be added to the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw, which would make them off-limits to snowmobile use in winter.
It is suggested that before you go to the meeting you refer to the Issues section of our website and scroll down to Whitehorse South Trail Plan. There are three documents listed. The first document lists the questions we asked administration and its consultant about the Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan, and the third was our response to the answers we received. Both documents will provide readers with some valuable background information related to the Draft Trail Plan for Whitehorse South, some of which meeting participants might want to raise with staff and consultants.
4. Designed Motorized Multiple Use Trails: As mentioned in our July Updates, there is no “formal document for required design criteria for MMU trails.” Yet, according to the Trail Plan such trails have to be “designed and designated by the City to be used by both non-motorized and motorized users including snowmobilers.”
On several occasions in the past ATWA has provided administration with a reference to the Alberta Recreation Corridor and Trails Classification System. This document outlines the design requirement for various types of trails. (Please note that Alberta uses the term mixed-use trail instead of the term motorized multiple use (MMU) when defining a trail that includes both motorized and non-motorized uses.)
Here is what it says concerning the design requirements for an MMU trail.
“The user group with the highest requirements (widest trail, largest clear zone, and most gentle gradients) will determine the design characteristics for the trail. Design characteristics for each user group can be found in the Non-motorized (pages 10-17) and Motorized (pages 20-26) sections of this report.
If the operator of a mixed-use trail permits both non-motorized and motorized uses on the same trail, the design of the trail is one way to accommodate and manage multiple users. Some of the additional ways to manage mixed-uses are:
• Setting seasonal restrictions for uses;
• Setting separate hours of operation for different uses;
• Providing educational material to inform users how to share the trail with other types of users;
• Providing a policing element to ensure that only the permitted uses are occurring;
• Erecting signage showing approved uses; and
• Providing maps describing the approved uses.”
The document also indicates that MMU trails should be five metres wide. (Paved trails in Whitehorse are three metres wide.) See http://www.albertatrailnet.com/downloads/Rec%20Corridors%20Trail%20Classification%20Manual.pdf.
Of course, many of the above requirements are deemed necessary in order to provide safety for both motorized and non-motorized users. It is concerning that there is no formal City of Whitehorse document that lists design requirements for our MMU trails. And, it is particularly concerning that the City is willing to allow snowmobilers to access non-motorized trails, trails that are not designed for motorized (snowmobile) use.
5.Trail Gate Vandalism: Unfortunately, the latest damage done to a barrier on the paved trail that is found between McIntyre Creek and Takhini has yet to be repaired. We sent a follow up request to have the situation addressed and were told that the City’s trail crew is very busy at present completing its summer work program and is not sure when it will get to the task.
6. Whitehorse City Council Meeting: The next meeting of City Council will take place on Tuesday, September 7. It will be a Standing Committee meeting.
7. Trail Development Application: On August 18, ATWA sent out to its associates the trail development notification (and map) we received from Meagan Wilson (Projects and Trails Coordinator/Parks). It reads as follows:
"The Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club has recently forward a Trail Development Application for three trail enhancements, which are connectors between existing mining roads at Mt. Mac ski area. The purpose of these connectors is to link the old mining roads to create a new ski trail at Mt. Mac. The intended use is cross-country skiing, with summer use for non-motorized recreation. These proposed enhancements would follow appropriate YESAB and YG processes as well.
In alignment with the City of Whitehorse Trail Development Policy, as these proposed connectors are all under 500m but would be over 1.5m in width, we are notifying relevant stakeholders and community groups, and receiving comments for a 3 week period (Until September 2, 2021). If you would like to submit comments or have any other questions, please contact me.”
Meagan was not able to send the map of the proposed development in a manner that would make it more readable. However, the area in which the development is proposed is located between Hawk Ridge and the Copper Trail, and south of the Best Chance Junction. You should be able to locate the area by using the Whitehorse West Trail app.
As Meagan suggests, if you would like more information on this application you can contact her at 334-1152. You could also call the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club at 668-4477. Comments can be made until September 2.
8. Safe ATV and Snowmobile Card: As mentioned in our July Updates (#8)we have tried on several occasions to determine the number of valid Safe ATV and Snowmobile Cards that have been issued by the City of Whitehorse since the program was initiated. That information has now been received and our thanks go out to Brian White of Bylaw Services for his efforts in obtaining the following data.
“The [Safe Card] program was initiated and enforced as of January 6th, 2014.
AVcourse.com card program has been developed by Fresh Air Educators and the City of Whitehorse has endorsed and trusted ATVcourse.com to deliver the best quality ATV and Snow Mobile education and certification.
Year
2014 . . . 255 ATV Cards
2015 . . . 148
2016 . . . 135
2017 . . . 128
2018 . . . . 93
2019 . . . 116
2020 . . . 124
2021 . . . . 74 (August)
TOTAL = 1073
2014 . . 153 Snowmobile Cards
2015 . . . 97
2016 . . . 58
2017 . . . 46
2018 . . . 49
2019 . . . 52
2020 . . . 97
2021 . . . 53 (August)
TOTAL = 605
Whitehorse does not receive any revenue from the online course.[The cost of a SAFE ATV/SNOWMOBILE CARD for those who pass the online course is $34.95.]
The agreement made with Fresh Air Educators was that there was no initial or ongoing cost to the City of Whitehorse. Fresh Air Educators covers all hosting, customer support, maintenance and fulfillment costs.”
Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing how many ATVs and snowmobiles are in Whitehorse, so it is difficult to determine the success of the program. One could argue that even if these numbers are low when compared to the number of machine operators in Whitehorse, it is still a worthwhile program and should be continued.
As a point of interest, apparently “two months into [its] 2019/2020 membership season [the Klondike Snowmobile Association (KSA) [had] well over 800 . . . members.” (See Klondike Snowmobile Association Update of November 5, 2019 at
https://ksa.yk.ca/news/ksaupdate19/.)
One would think that the association’s membership would have grown since that time, especially when sales of snowmobiles have increased significantly probably due to COVID. (See https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/as-snowmobile-sales-skyrocket-dealers-having-a-tough-time-keeping-new-machines-in-stock-1.5214320.) Of course, not all Whitehorse snowmobile operators are KSA members, and not all KSA members have snowmobiles.
9. Fish Lake Area: An interesting Narwhal article by Rhiannon Russell entitled, “It’s more than a party zone’: Kwanlin Dün accelerates land use planning as Yukoners flock to Fish Lake,” is worth a read as it deals with the problems associated with the negative impacts that may occur due to the popularity of recreation areas and trails. (See https://thenarwhal.ca/yukon-kwanlin-dun-fish-lake/.)
10. Active Transportation Fund: “The Active Transportation Fund will provide $400 million over five years to support the expansion and enhancement of active transportation infrastructure and a modal shift away from cars and toward active transportation. The Fund will also support the goals of Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan.”
Apparently, this fund was announced on February 10, 2021. Have a look!
(See https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/alt-format/pdf/atf-fta/applicant-guide-demandeur-en.pdf.)
11. Yukon Conservation Society: Don’t forget the Annual Summer BBQ is coming up on August 27th, please RSVP to [email protected].
12. Wild Discoveries: There are all kinds of informative walks listed here. (See https://yukon.ca/wilddiscoveries.) Scroll down to Events! There is still time to complete the Trails Challenge for the Whitehorse area that is mentioned.
ATWA Updates: July 28, 2021
1. Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan: In our June 22nd delegate presentation before City Council concerning this subject, we alluded to the fact that the so-called survey on the subject had a rather short life of 17 days.
We also mentioned that the 2020 Trail Plan suggested that the charrette style engagement process be used for the remaining two neighbourhood trail plans, but that administration was not going to use that process for Whitehorse South.
In addition, we mentioned there was no indication in the survey that any non-motorized multiple use trail that was up for designation as such, would be open to motorized (snowmobile) use in winter. This despite the fact, that according to the 2020 Trail Plan, such trails are “to be used by a variety of non-motorized users.” As this was not made clear in the survey information, responses to five of the seven survey questions would be compromised.
After our delegate presentation, Councillor Cabott asked administration “if the closure of the survey could be postponed and more detailed information be provided to potential respondents.” (City of Whitehorse Agenda Minutes of June 28, 2021)
The survey’s life was extended until July 11, 2021. However, that extension was apparently not conveyed in a formal manner, so many Whitehorse South residents may have been unaware of the extension.
Apparently, “a charrette is [now] being planned before the trail plan [is] brought forward for adoption by the new [after fall election] Council.” (City of Whitehorse Agenda Minutes of June 28, 2021)
We have been given the impression that public engagement opportunities will commence before the end of the summer.
Unfortunately, it does not appear that administration has issued any clarification to the citizens of Whitehorse South concerning the fact that so-called non-motorized multiple use trails will be open to motorized (snowmobile) use in winter.
Nor has administration done anything to explain why the trails that are up for council designation have been recommended for such action. Some do not appear to reflect the recommendations made as a result of previous consultations.
2. Designed Motorized Multiple Use Trails: Recently ATWA learned from administration that there is no “formal document for required design criteria for MMU trails.”
According to an email from City administration, “the design and designation of MMU trails is based on a variety of factors such as safety for all users, the environment, how they fit in to the network, current use, support of the “out and away” concept of use, accommodating a variety of users. We consider safety on all of our trails, in design and designation, and this includes education for trail etiquette, bylaw education, signage, speed limits where necessary, and maintenance for safety such as improving sightlines, and removing hazards (ie. fallen trees).”
It is surprising to learn that the City does not have a formal document that outlines how our various types of designated trails should be designed to ensure (as best as possible) the safety of its users. This is particularly concerning when we have trails that combine both motorized and non-motorized users.
How can citizens be assured that all possible steps have been taken to provide safety for trail users, if there is no formal document to which both citizens and administration can refer in order to ensure those steps have been taken?
City councillors, when considering the approval of new MMU trails, need to be assured that those trails meet specific design requirements, particularly those requirements that deal with safety. How can they do so if there is no formal document that outlines the design criteria for MMU trails?
Non-motorized multiple use trails not listed under the PERMITTED OR EXCLUDED AREAS (Section 15) of the Snowmobile Bylaw are open to motorized snowmobile use in winter, yet these trails (unlike MMU trails) do not need to be designated or designed to accommodate such use, so there is even less assurance that safety issues for both motorized and non motorized winter users have been addressed.
On several occasions, including recent input on the 2020 Trail Plan, ATWA recommended that the City make use of the Alberta Recreation Corridor and Trails Classification System, which among other things, outlines the requirements of trail design for various types of usage.
You can see what it says about MMU trails, or what Alberta more correctly calls Mixed-Use trails, by referring to page 28 of the document. See http://www.albertatrailnet.com/downloads/Rec Corridors Trail Classification Manual.pdf.
Section 18.5.1 (p. 74) of the Official Community Plan (OCP) says that, “Where feasible, consideration shall be made to separate multi-use trails (which accommodate motorized and non-motorized recreation) from non-motorized trails. Obviously, safety was one of the factors that promoted the inclusion of such a statement.
Yet the City continues to allow non-motorized multiple use trails not listed under Section 15 of the Snowmobile Bylaw to be open to snowmobile use for half the year. And, now we learn that there is no formal document that outlines the design requirements for MMU trails, let alone for non-motorized multiple use trails open to snowmobile use in winter.
3. Geology of the Canyon: The Yukon Conservation Society says that this informative event will take place on Friday, July 30th from 2-4 pm. Participants are to meet at the bridge over Miles Canyon.
4. Wild Discoveries: Check out the following site: https://yukon.ca/wilddiscoveries. You may find some activities that you or your children might enjoy. Click on Events, Nature Nerds, or Kids programming!
5. Trail Gate Vandalism: Unfortunately, the latest damage done to a barrier on the paved trail that is found between McIntyre Creek and Takhini has yet to be addressed.
As mentioned previously, the City recently repaired the barrier, but two weeks after doing so both posts were damaged again. The barrier is now totally ineffective.
Hopefully, the City will come up with a better way of making such barriers more effective, and perhaps avoid such costly repairs.
7. Como Lake Trail: Two of us had the pleasure of hiking the relatively new biking trail that is found at Como Lake just outside of Atlin, BC. Although definitely built as a mountain bike trail, hikers are permitted.
It is a 7 km loop trail, which takes around two and a half hours to complete. It is a little rough in some places, as trail work is still being done. However, it is considered to be an intermediate mountain bike trail, and makes for a very pleasant walk in contrast to the Monarch Mountain grunt hike.
You can drive down the marked gravel road that leads from the highway to the recreational area. Park there. It is a short walk from the end of the parking area to the start of the trail, which is signed.
We were advised to start the loop by taking the left hand trail. Although it is not yet indicated, it seems likely that all users of the trail will be asked to go in the same direction. However, it would be wise to assume mountain bikers could be approaching from either direction, so stay alert. We encountered no bikers, but were there during the week.
The last couple of kilometres have some steep sections with deep “ruts” around corners, which bikers will be using, so hikers would be wise to stick to the outside and higher areas of the trail.
There are a couple of places with views that make for excellent lunch spots.
As there are lots of blind corners be sure to make noise and carry an air horn and bear spray.
We ran into a black bear and her little one on such a corner, despite making noise as we hiked along the trail. Fortunately, both the bears and humans took appropriate measures, which did not involve the use of either our air horn or our bear sprays, and all turned out well. However, we decided to forget stopping for lunch for obvious reasons.
We both thought that this would be a wonderful trail to do in the fall in order to view the changing colours.
8. Safe Snowmobile and Safe ATV Cards: We have tried on several occasions to determine the number of valid Safe ATV and Snowmobile Cards that have been issued by the City since the program was initiated. Unfortunately, we have not been able to obtain these statistics. Yet another request has gone to Bylaw Services requesting this information.
Requirements for operating an ATV within the city limits are the following:
Requirements for operating a snowmobile within the city limits are found at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/2802/635736090644570000.
This summer we have had several associates raise their concerns about unlicenced ATVS operating on the trails and streets of the city. If you see this occurring let Bylaw Services know, even if you are unable to provide any identifying information. The department can be reached by calling 668-8317.
Take the time to record the time and date of your call and the nature of your complaint. And, it would be most helpful if you could pass this information on to ATWA.
9. Yukon Conservation Society’s End-of-Summer BBQ: For those of you who are members, this event will take place on Friday, August 27th. A recent email from YCS reads as follows: "Please join us for an afternoon of celebrating our members, volunteers, staff, and partners. The event will take place at Parnell House, 302 Hawkins Street from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Please RSVP to [email protected] or by calling 867-334-8131 by August 23rd. All those attending the event must check in with the registration desk and provide contact details for COVID-19 tracking."
ATWA Updates: June 22, 2021
1. Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan: Late today we received a reply from Heidi Redman of LEES + Associates to the questions and comments ATWA submitted concerning the Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan. We will include that reply below. Please realize that we have not had time to study the response in detail.
Update: On June 27 ATWA sent a formal response to Heidi Redman's reply. It can be found under Issues (Whitehorse South Trail Plan) on our website. See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-south-trail-plan.html.
As mentioned in our June 18 email to associates, another City department informed us that, “snowmobile use will be allowed in the winter [in the communities that make up Whitehorse South] as none of these areas are designated as environmentally sensitive.”
So, it looks like all trails in Whitehorse South (except those in Environmentally Sensitive Areas if any) will be motorized if City Council approves the current trail plan.
You will find the questions and comments we sent the City concerning the Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan under Issues on our website. Scroll down to Whitehorse South Trail Plan. (See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-south-trail-plan.html.)
These are the responses we received from Heidi Redman to our 14 questions:
1) As Per the City Snowmobile Bylaw: A person may drive a snowmobile on a motorized multiple use trail and any other area of the City that is not specifically excluded pursuant to section 15 of this bylaw. (Bylaw 2018-25 passed 2018-07-09) City Council at present has no intention to change the snowmobile bylaw, even after being presented with the idea by ATWA in the past.
2) Proposed new construction is in Whitehorse Copper and west of Canyon Crescent.
3) The intended purpose of the future single-track development area is walking, hiking, and biking. As this Area falls outside of Porter Creek, residents there have not been contacted.
4) If residents are opposed to suggested designations, they are welcome to comment in the survey.
5) People are welcome to suggest their ideas through this process, such as trails along the highway
6) Signage in Pineridge would have been incorrectly installed as no trails are designated in Whitehorse South.
[ATWA Note: The Pineridge proposed non motorized trail is a long standing non-motorized trail (summer and winter). It has signage and barriers indicating that it is off-limits to snowmobiles and other ORVs.This designation came as a result of public consultation. However, for some reason the trail was never added to the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. Now, it appears that the City wants to open it to snowmobile use.]
There is one trail located at the end of Dawson Road in Wolf Creek that has been formally designated motorized
[ATWA Note: There are two designated MMU trails in Wolf Creek, Dawson North and Harbottle. Dawson North is half way down Dawson Road. The issue with the proposed Dawson South MMU trail is that the city said the Wolf Creek Community Association wanted it designated as a MMU trail when they actually did not.This trail traverses an ESA and receives the greatest non-motorized trail use within the Wolf Creek subdivision.]
7) A bridge is not proposed. When building [a bridge] the City follows YESAB regulations
[ATWA Note: The map shows a continuous trail along the railway right of way over Wolf Creek, which suggests a bridge over Wolf Creek. Past administration members advised us that even a snowmobile trail crossing at a creek would require a bridge. This seems to have been forgotten in the current draft.]
8) This information was provided in the Backgrounder.
[ATWA Note: There was nothing in the PDF that we could see which explained why the trails were selected for designation, although there was reference to the work done by the trail task force group in developing recommendations on trail locations, designations, types of use and trail etiquette.]
9) The City has a regional Parks plan, which was adopted June 2014 by Council.
10) Yes, we are consulting Kwanlin Dün.
11) Yes, the City has an agreement. Residents are welcome to suggest other rails to trails ideas through this process
12) The City is currently working on updating the MMU map, which includes those trails considered “out and away” trails
13) A charrette was considered, but allowing all residents to comment and participate is inclusive of everyone. In previous models for Whitehorse South not all residents felt comfortable voicing their opinions. This doesn’t mean the trail plan was ignored as it was considered, and is not ruled out for future planning processes.
14) We consider safety in planning and designation.
We appreciate the time Heidi took to respond to our questions.
We suggest you view both documents (ATWA questions and Heidi's response) prior to responding to the survey questions, which are available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WhitehorseSouthTrailPlan.
We also suggest sending your written comments to Heidi Redman, Landscape Architect, LEES+Associates at [email protected], or Landon Kulych, Manager of Parks and Community Development, City of Whitehorse at [email protected] or Meagan Wilson, Projects and Trails Coordinator, City of Whitehorse at [email protected].
Just make sure any written comments are sent by June 27 (a Sunday).
ATWA also made a Tuesday, June 22nd phone presentation before City Council on the subject of the Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan. The content of that submission can also be found under Issues. Scroll down to Whitehorse South Trail Plan. (See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-south-trail-plan.html.)
You can also view that presentation usually within 48 hours at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/meetings-on-video.
Administration suggested at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that the Draft Trail Plan for Whitehorse South would come before council in the fall and after the civic elections.
2. Signage Issue: In our May Updates (#13) we brought this issue to the attention of our readers. As mentioned, “an associate noticed that a "No motorized vehicles" sign located at the Heartbreak Hill trailhead off the Chadburn Lake Road had been removed.
The City was contacted and the sign replaced, but by a sign saying that only All-Terrain Vehicles [were] Prohibited. Somehow snowmobiles were dropped from the equation. When questioned as to why, the City responded by saying that “As Heart break hill is not on the list of excluded trails (in the Snowmobile Bylaw), snowmobiles are allowed on it.”
Both the associate and ATWA sent emails to the City’s Projects and Trails Coordinator “asking this to be corrected and that a sign be installed indicating that all motorized vehicles are prohibited as per the original sign. Both those emails can be found under Issues(Letters) on our website.
On June 8 we received the following reply: “This trail is not listed as [being located in] an ESA and it is not an excluded trail as per the snowmobile bylaw. So at present we will leave the current signage up, indicating that this is a non-motorized route, but snowmobiles aren't specifically prohibited.”
Needless to say we were disappointed with the reply as it did nothing to address the numerous concerns both the associate and ATWA brought forward in their respective emails to the City.
The associate sent a follow-up email to the Projects and Trails Coordinator and awaits a reply.
3. Airport Trail: For those who are not aware a section of the Airport Trail is close due to a slide. For more information go to the following site:
https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/News/News/4766/31?backlist=%2f.
4. Trans Canada Trail: The Trans Canada Trail was renamed The Great Trail in 2016. However, the name change did not sit well with the public and, as a result, the old name has returned. As well, there is a new logo for the trail.
One wonders what the organization has spent, or is going to spend on changing signage from Trans Canada Trail to Great Trail and now back to Trans Canada Trail. In Porter Creek the Great Trail signs are still up, but the Klondike Snowmobile Association (the official Trans Canada Trail Agent for the Yukon Territory) is doing its best to install new signage.
You might find the following article on the TCT of some interest. See https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/how-the-dream-of-the-trans-canada-trail-soars-and-falls-short/.
5.Trail Gate Vandalism: Several years ago one of our associates contacted a former Projects and Trails Coordinator about the damage done to a barrier on a paved trail that is found between McIntyre Creek and Takhini. These are the barriers that consist of two posts and two bars that extend out over the paved trail. (A photo of one is found on our website under Photos. See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
One supposes that they are an indication that the trail is off-limits to motorized vehicles, ATVs and snowmobiles. However, they really only prevent cars, trucks, and the odd ORV from accessing the trail.
The vandalism resulted in the barrier being completely ineffective for its intended use. Despite requests nothing was done.
In May the associate noticed that the other post had been broken and contacted Meagan Wilson who is the City’s current Projects and Trails Coordinator. Within a week the City’s trail crew had repaired the damage to both posts.
Unfortunately, two weeks later one of the newly repaired posts was broken again.
The City has been informed and in doing so the associate made the following suggestions.
“Along with the necessary repair to the post,rocks of the same size as the ones already in place on both sides of the barrier should be placed directly on the paved trail, two inside each post and one in front (or behind) of these to form the shape of a triangle.
The distance between the rocks would have to wide enough to allow the passage of a baby pram/stroller and perhaps a wheelchair, although I have never seen a wheelchair used on any trail (paved or otherwise) in all the years I have spent running and walking on Porter Creek/Takhini trails.
The triangle shape makes it very difficult if not impossible for ATVs and other ORVs to maneuver around or through [the barrier] particularly if the space between each of the rocks is not wide enough to allow such vehicles to enter.
In addition, if the paved trail was signed appropriately at this point to indicate its proper use as a gas tax active transportation/recreation trail and not open to ATVs or snowmobiles, it might help to discourage such destruction.”
It will be interesting to see how the City addresses the issue this time.
6. Tennis Yukon: We received the following email from Stacy Lewis of Tennis Yukon.
“Thank you again for supporting the outhouse at the Mt Mac Rec Area parking lot. Our [City recreation grant application was [approved], so $1100 [went] towards the outhouse!
[The Contagious Mountain Bike Club, Boreale Explorers, and the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club all pitched in $100. Active Trails Whitehorse Association contributed $150.] Pickleball [Yukon] says it will pay $200.
That leaves Tennis Yukon with the balance which should be about $500-$600.
There is a thank you sign in the outhouse. The one on the outside looks like it blew away or something, so we'll replace that.
[Active Trails Whitehorse Association] suggests presenting to Council to get something permanent arranged so we don't have to go through this process each year. We would be interested in that.”
7. Whitehorse North: We have received additional concerns from an associate who lives in Whitehorse North. Concerns were raised with regard to the 2020 Trail Plan. In our associate’s view the plan does not address “how [the City is] going to manage the trails, limit access of motorized vehicles to residential neighbourhoods, or enforce the bylaws.”
The associate is concerned about the damage made by various ORVs to local trails. Apparently, there is now “a clear pathway for these vehicles from the neighbourhoods of Crestview, Porter Creek and Whistle Bend to the North end of the City [that clearly demonstrates] the increase in activity of ATV’s and dirt bikes over the last year.
We continue to experience unlawful use of these vehicles. Yes, we do report the incidents to Bylaw and then after several attempts to reach them for feedback we are told that the offenders have been spoken to. Many of the offenders are teenagers who reside [in the area] and to our knowledge have never received a fine – which I guess is why they continue to do it.
Now, this summer, we notice residents are coming from Hidden Valley to joyride on MacPherson [Road] and have been seen [them] riding their ATVs between the homes. I was able to capture a photo during this incident and have attached photos. You don’t see any of these types of photos on the trail plan literature.
We are good neighbours and residents of Whitehorse and don’t seem to have any recourse. I am hoping by sharing my concerns to you, your organization may have some influence in the future of the trail plan with these thoughts in mind.”
We have included one of the images sent on our website’s Photos page. See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.
8. Whitehorse Recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community: We received the following information from the City of Whitehorse.
Whitehorse – The Share the Road Cycling Coalition (STR) has recognized Whitehorse for its active support of the cycling community.
The City is a recipient of a Silver designation, joining ranks with Anchorage, AK as the only Silver Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC’s) north of 60.
“Whitehorse’s strengths include paved and separated bicycle paths to key destinations, an extensive recreational trail network, and has embraced its subarctic climate with a winter Bike to Work Day and maintenance of select bicycle routes year-round,” according to STR’s news release.
9. Notice: We may not produce a July Update as those involved in its production may be off hiking in the backcountry. However, we will do our best to alert you to any major item of importance concerning our City trails that arises. Please keep your eye out for any announcements with regard to the Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan.
ATWA Updates: May 27, 2021
1. E-Bike Regulation Bylaw: The bylaw is now included under Bylaws on the City’s website. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/legislative-and-administrative-services/bylaws.
2. Cargo e-bikes: An interesting 5/13/2021 CBC article by Giacomo Panico with regard to proposed Ontario legislation on e-bikes is worth a read. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/cargo-e-bike-bill-ontario-ban-1.6023444.
3. Tennis Yukon: An outhouse has now been installed next to the tennis courts at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre.
A donation was made by an ATWA associate to Tennis Yukon in the name of Active Trails Whitehorse Association to help Tennis Yukon pay for the rental of the outhouse. Acknowledgment of this support is found at the site.
4. Whistle Bend Community Association: Apparently, there is no longer an active community association in Whistle Bend. This is unfortunate as it is a growing community and the benefits of having an active and involved community association are substantial.
5. Snowmobile and ATV accidents: Recently several CBC articles have been written on snowmobile and ATV accidents: See the following sites:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/atv-deaths-atlantic-2021-1.6006478
https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/fatal-fun
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/atv-horatio-mcleod-1.6006598
6. Pandemic and all terrain vehicles: A recent CBC article which discusses the surge in demand for such vehicles. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/atv-pandemic-sales-up-1.6007807.
7. Park Management Planning: This information was received from Parks Canada. “Parks Canada anticipates the management planning processes for S.S. Klondike National Historic Site, Vuntut National Park, and Kluane National Park and Reserve to resume this year. We will provide more details when they are available on how to have your say on the draft management plans for these treasured places!”
You can read the entire Parks Canada Newsletter at the following site: https://app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-view-online?ct=v_6beEMft6TEGDZaWvIvbrRN48ONUtWWiqyeCOZKvrjz_RR5cvE_NG0KAxSLW4sd1fkWUPoyrJQlso_67hj2kA~~.
8. Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) Guided Hikes at Miles Canyon: For more information on these hikes see http://yukonconservation.org/programs/get-outside/miles-canyon-hikes-summer-programs/.
As well, you may be interested in McIntyre Creek: Self-Guided Hikes and Citizen Science. See http://yukonconservation.org/programs/get-outside/mcintyre-creek-self-guided-hikes-and-citizen-science/. Porter Creek has many fine trails to explore.
9. Yukon Conservation Walk Softly Summer Newsletter: The edition is available at the following site: http://yukonconservation.org/docs/summer21web.pdf.
10. Cliffside Park: The City of Whitehorse informs us that, “Cliffside Park, situated at Sixth Avenue and Taylor Street, is closed until further notice due to the instability of the slope above the park. The City is actively monitoring the slope and placing fencing and signage at the site shortly. More information will be available once the park can safely re-open.”
11. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: The letter that was to be sent to residents informing them as to how they can participate in the restart of the trail planning process for this area has not yet appeared.
12. Bear Safety: Changing Gear (Whitehorse Sports Swap) is putting on a Free Bear Spray and Bear Safety Clinic on Monday May 31 at 6:30 pm. Hunter Education Coordinator Jim Welsh will be leading the clinic. For more information contact [email protected].
13. Signage Issue: Recently an associate noticed that a "No motorized vehicles" sign located at the Heartbreak Hill trailhead off the Chadburn Lake Road had been removed. The City was contacted and the sign replaced, but by a sign saying that only All-Terrain Vehicles [were] Prohibited. Somehow snowmobiles were dropped from the equation.
When questioned as to why, the City responded by saying that “As Heart break hill is not on the list of excluded trails (in the Snowmobile Bylaw), snowmobiles are allowed on it.”
The individual has since sent an email to Meagan Wilson (Projects and Trails Coordinator, City of Whitehorse) asking this to be corrected and that a sign be installed indicating that all motorized vehicles are prohibited as per the original sign.
The associate has given us permission to print that email. You will find it under Issues on our website. Go to the section entitled, Letters.
ATWA sent a supporting email concerning this sign issue to Meagan Wilson that you also find under Issues on our website. Go to the section entitled, Letters.
Photographs of some of the signs mentioned in both emails will be found under Photos on our website.
14. Yukon Bird Club: The club has a number of field trips and events in the coming months. For information contact the club. Its email is [email protected].
15. WildWise Yukon: The organization’s AGM takes place on Wednesday, June 16 at the Canada Games Centre Meeting Room from 12-1 pm. You can also join by video. For more information contact the organization. Its email is [email protected].
16. City of Whitehorse Bike to Work/School Week: The dates are May 31 to June 6. You can register at the following site: https://yukonbiketowork.ca.
17. Hike - Bear Awareness: Yukon Conservation Society and WildWise Yukon are hosting this event, which takes place on Thursday, June 17th at 10 am (Miles Canyon bridge). The event is free.
ATWA Updates: April 29, 2021
1. E-Bike Regulation Bylaw: On Monday, April 26 City Council passed the E-Bike Regulation Bylaw. We now have a bylaw that clarifies where e-bikes and other electric mobility devices can be legally and appropriately used within the City of Whitehorse, which is what ATWA asked for in our January 20/2020, delegate presentation before City Council.
Previous to the passage of this bylaw e-bikes were only permitted on City of Whitehorse roads and motorized trails, although it was quite apparent that the public was not aware of these restrictions.
All City bylaws are reviewed from time to time as will this one. However, it will take some time to determine how effective it is in meeting the concerns of all trail users.
Associated with this bylaw was the passage of another bylaw, which was needed to amend various bylaws in order to align with the E-Bike Regulation Bylaw.
The E-Bike Regulation Bylaw will eventually appear on the City’s website. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/bylaw-services/bylaws.
Until that time it can be found at the following site: See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14927/637547839798930000. You will have to scroll down (a long way) to Bylaw 2021-22.
It is suggested that you take a few minutes to read the entire bylaw. However, below you will find three sections of the bylaw that may be of immediate concern to trail users.
E-Bike Classifications:
Class 1 e-bike means a bicycle equipped with an electric motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedalling (pedal assist) and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches 32 kilometres per hour and has a maximum continuous wattage output of 500 watts. For the purposes of this bylaw, a Class 1 e-bike is not considered a Motor vehicle.
Class 2 e-bike means a bicycle equipped with an electric motor that can be used exclusively to propel the bicycle (throttle equipped) and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches 32 kilometres per hour. For the purposes of this bylaw, a Class 2 e-bike is not considered a Motor vehicle.
Class 3 e-bike means a bicycle equipped with a Pedal or Throttle assist electric motor with a Nominal power output rating of 750 Watts or less and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches 45 kilometres per hour. For the purposes of this bylaw, a Class 3 e-bike is not considered a Motor vehicle.
Permitted Areas of Use:
Class 1 e-bikes and aMTBs are permitted on all Trails and Bicycle lanes.
Class 2 e-bikes, e-scooters and e-mobility devices are permitted only on Type 1 Trails, motorized multiple-use trails, and Bicycle lanes.
Type 1 Trails are double-track trails paved with asphalt or chip seal. Typical use includes pedestrian and cycling with limited motorized use.
1. Are within the city core and connecting neighbourhoods;
2. Provide a two to three metre tread width;
3. Have trailhead signage and enroute signage installed where appropriate;
4. Have difficulty and distance markers installed where appropriate;
5. Have interpretive signage installed at established points of interest where appropriate;
6. Have benches and viewing platforms installed where appropriate; and
7. Provide lighting for night-time use if appropriate.
Class 3 e-bikes are permitted only on Roadways, Bicycle lanes, motorized multiple use trails and the Two Mile Hill multiple use trail.
A person operating an e-bike, e-scooter, e-mobility device or aMTB on a Trail or on a Sidewalk is required to do the following:
1. yield the right of way to pedestrians;
2. exercise due care and attention to avoid colliding with any other Trail or Sidewalk user;
3. exercise reasonable consideration for any other Trail or Sidewalk user; and
4. slow down and pass other Trail and Sidewalk users in a safe manner.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this bylaw, unless a person operating an e-bike, e-scooter, e-mobility device or aMTB can provide more than one metre of separation when overtaking another Trail user, the person operating an e-bike shall give an audible signal by voice, bell or other signalling device before overtaking another Trail user.
Note: If you are planning to purchase an e-bike and intend to take it with you for use when visiting other provinces/territories and their respective communities, you will need to be cognizant of their regulations on e-bike use. As well, national, provincial, and territorial parks may have their own set of regulations concerning e-bike use (if permitted at all) of which you need to be aware.
2. E-Bike News Articles: You might find these two articles concerning e-bikes to be of interest: (See https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2020/11/09/cycling-mecca-netherlands-is-embracing-electric-bikes.html.) (See https://ebike-mtb.com/en/e-bike-availability-2021/.)
3. Friends of McIntyre Creek AGM: The organization is holding its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, May 27 at 7:00 pm. The meeting will take place at Hellaby Hall (Anglican Church) corner of 4th Avenue and Elliot Street.
4. Law Day Fun Run/Walk: “The Law Day Fun Run and Walk is a charity event. Each year, a different charity is chosen to receive funds raised from sponsorships and donations to the run.
The recipient this year is the Yukon Conservation Society.
Registration is $25 and those interested can sign up at lawday.eventbrite.ca. The link can also be found on the Canadian Bar Association - Yukon Branch Facebook page.” (See https://www.whitehorsestar.com/Sports/law-day-fun-run-and-walk-takes-a-virtual-route.)
Of course, there is no reason why you cannot do more than five kilometres!
5. Request – A – Rack Program: As the City’s website says, “If your favourite stopping place is in need of a bike rack, we encourage you to apply!” For more information see https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-and-sustainability-services/request-a-rack.
6. Caribou Mountain: Please respect the fact that there are sensitive lambing areas on the mountain that hikers are asked to avoid until June 15. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/caribou-mountain-hikers-sheep-1.4612173.)
7. Run for Mum: This Millennium Trail event will take place on Sunday May 9 at 11 am at Rotary Park. There are a number of COVID precautions that are being taken. (For more information see http://www.runformom.com.)
8. Yukon Energy Viewpoint Trail: This is a switchback trail that heads up from the fish ladder. Unfortunately, as one of our associates has reported, there is a subsequent trail that leads off from the right hand side of the Life on the Sunny Side sign, and which re-joins the switchback trail lower down. It is being used as a shortcut, something that often happens with switchback trails.
Shortcutting leads to increased erosion and destruction of the vegetation that holds the steep slope together.
People are asked to stay on the main switchback trail.
There is also what can only be described as a GIANT step (deep erosion) near the top of the trail, which needs to receive attention.
Please note that this switchback is not open to bicycles. There is a tiny sign on the post at the bottom of the switchback, which is probably missed by most people. Another (and more visible sign) needs to be placed at the top of the trail.
Considering that this is a very popular trail, and one which is located on a fragile slope, the city needs to upgrade the trail to aid in the prevention of erosion. This could involve installing a simple barrier or barriers to prevent shortcutting, better signage, and physical work on the trail itself.
The City’s Projects and Trails Coordinator has been notified of the situation. Hopefully, action will be taken to address the situation.
9. Be Bear Aware: Do not forget to take your bear spray with you when out on the trails. Be sure it is up-to-date, that you know how to use it, and that it is not buried in a daypack! WildWise Yukon has some good information on the subject. (See https://wildwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/respect-bears2.pdf.)
You might also consider taking a small air horn with you. These are inexpensive and usually available at Canadian Tire and Coast Mountain Sports and could act as a first line of defence. However, there are a number of caveats concerning their use of which you should be aware.
The following article has some information about the use of noisemakers such as air horns: (See http://www.bearsmart.com/managing-bears/non-lethal/tools/.)
10. Help Clean our Trails: When you are going out to walk our trails consider taking a garbage bag and gardening gloves in order to pick up any garbage that you find along your route.
Do not pick up anything that might be considered hazardous, simply note its location and inform the City’s Projects and Trails Coordinator (Meagan Wilson) at 334-1152. If you find garbage that is too heavy or too large to remove, again call 334-1152 and provide a location. Meagan’s email address is [email protected].
11. Muddy Trails: Please take care when using our trails at this time of the year. Some may still be quite muddy and prone to damage.
12. Porter Creek Community Association AGM: The association will be holding its Annual General Meeting by Zoom on May 10, 2021.
The association has a new website which is definitely worth a viewing regardless of your community of residence. (See https://www.portercreekcommunity.com.)
If you live in Porter Creek consider joining the association as it is always looking for new members.
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @PorterCreekCommunity
13. Copper Haul Road Notice: The City of Whitehorse would like to advise all residents “that a section of the Copper Haul Road near Fish Lake Road is closed until further notice, due to the poor condition of a culvert. A closure is required until the culvert can be repaired.”
14. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: Apparently, trail planning for this area is once again underway. It has been a long wait. A consultant has been hired and residents will soon be receiving a letter informing them as to how they can participate in the trail planning process.
Bulletin: April 24, 2021
ATWA's delegate presentation before City Council of April 13, the background notes provided to members of council and administration on that presentation, and the response of administration to our delegate presentation have now been posted to our website. Go to Issues and scroll down to E-bike Bylaw Information.
ATWA Updates: March 28, 2021
1. Draft E-Bike Bylaw: We recently asked our associates to relay any concerns or suggestions about the draft bylaw to us, so they could be included in ATWA’s response to the Draft E-Bike Bylaw. On March 17, we forwarded our response to Meagan Wilson (Projects and Trails Coordinator City of Whitehorse). We were told that our feedback would be considered in the preparation of the “final version of the bylaw.”
You can view our response on our website under Issues: Go to E-bike Bylaw Information. The document is entitled, e-bike bylaw comments. There are two other documents available, the Draft E-Bike Bylaw itself, and an e-bike bylaw information document that ATWA submitted to the City prior to its development of the draft.
When the final version of the draft bylaw comes before City Council, members of the public will have one last chance to make their views on the bylaw known to members of council. However, this will mean preparing a five-minute presentation and registering as a delegate.
We will do our best to let you know when the new bylaw is to come before City Council. Delegate presentation information is available on the City’s website under Council Meetings. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/legislative-and-administrative-services/council-meetings/-toggle-allupcoming.)
2. Mud Bogging Vehicles: This reference to a March 17, CBC article by Winston Szeto was sent to us by an associate. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/brilliant-flats-province-access-restriction-1.5953801.)
3. April 1 and ATVs: April 1 marks the day that ATVs can return to our trail system as per the ATV Bylaw. “A person may operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail during the time period April 1 to October 31 in each year and shall not operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail from November 1 to March 31 in each year.”
ATWA argued against the inclusion of a set time in the ATV Bylaw, but to no avail. We felt that it should be up to Bylaw Services and/or Parks and Community Development to determine when ATVs should be allowed back on our motorized multiple use trails (MMUs) in the spring.
As snow conditions change from year to year, a floating date would be more appropriate. Trails need to dry out before being exposed to ATV use, or for that matter any other type of recreational use. (This year it may take a lot longer for trails to dry out, as melting has yet to begin in earnest and the snow depth is significantly greater than in previous years.)
Last Thursday we sent an email to the City asking if it would be possible to make a public announcement suggesting ATV operators refrain from using our MMU trail system until Bylaw Services and/or Parks and Community Development deems it appropriate. We also asked that the announcement include all other trail users, reminding them of the damage that can be done to trails in the spring when they are used before they have dried out from snow melt.
4. Tennis Yukon: A donation has been made by an ATWA associate to Tennis Yukon in the name of Active Trails Whitehorse Association. The donation will help Tennis Yukon pay for the rental of an outhouse for the Mt. Mac parking lot. The City continues to refuse placing an outhouse at the location. It costs Tennis Yukon $2,215 to rent and maintain an outhouse for the summer months.
For several years a number of organizations have contributed funds to help Tennis Yukon with the cost. All recognize that the recreational facilities in the area are used by many of their respective supporters who appreciate the availability of an outhouse.
In early March ATWA sent a letter of support for the club’s recent grant application to the City’s Recreation Grant Task Force Committee. You can read that letter and find additional information about the outhouse situation on our website under Issues: Go to Letters.
5. Yukon Conservation Society: The YCS will be holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 30th, from 6-8 pm, online via Zoom. Pre-registration is required so please contact [email protected] if you wish to attend.
6. YCS Trail Guide Coordinator and Trail Guides: The YCS is looking for a Trail Guide Coordinator and three Trail Guides for the coming summer season. Job descriptions and application instructions are available on the YCS website. (Seehttp://yukonconservation.org/who-we-are/our-team/join-our-team/.) Applications for the Trail Guide Coordinator are required by April 18, 2021, and for Trail Guides by May 2, 2021.
7. Porter Creek Community Association AGM: The association will be holding its Annual General Meeting by Zoom on May 10, 2021. For more information contact the PCCA at [email protected]. If you live in Porter Creek consider joining the association as it is always looking for new members.
8. Electric Snowmobiles and Off-Road Vehicles: Looks like Polaris is now entering the “e” game. (See https://www.axios.com/polaris-electric-snowmobile-off-road-vehicles-57a576e8-bb12-4345-8e8a-594794fb335b.html.)
There is a Canadian company that has been making e-machines for some time. (Seehttps://taigamotors.ca.)
The Government of Yukon offers rebates on the purchase of new zero-emissions snowmobiles and electric motorcycles. (See https://yukon.ca/en/good-energy-rebates.) Whether or not this will result in fewer gas- powered machines out there is hard to tell. Perhaps a buy-back campaign on gas-powered machines might accelerate the process of conversion.
9. Whitehorse Community Choir: The Whitehorse Community Choir will be having its first concert since December 2019! There will be two performances: Friday April 30th and Saturday May 1st at 8:00 pm.
Titled “Look on the Bright Side”, this one-hour concert will feature live and recorded performances of cheerful and uplifting melodies guaranteed to get you singing along.
Tickets for in-person and online viewing are now available at yukontickets.com. Seating is limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, so you are encouraged to tell your family and friends as soon as you can. There will be no walk-up ticket purchases at the box office, so online is the only way to purchase tickets.
If you know people either in Whitehorse or elsewhere in Canada or in other countries who might be interested in seeing the concert online, make sure you tell them that they can purchase tickets to stream the concert. The concert can be viewed until May 13th - this means that online tickets will be available for purchase until then.
This concert will do much to get you all inspired to enjoy the wonders of our amazing trail system over the course of the coming summer.
ATWA Updates: February 24, 2021
1. Official Community Plan: There appears to be some movement on the long-awaited 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP). A Council and Administration Roundtable meeting was held on Thursday, February 18. The subject was the 2040 Official Community Plan Schedule. You can view the presentation at the following site: Go to https://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/council-and-senior-management-casm-meetings. Apparently, the Draft 2040 OCP will not come before City Council until after the 2021 municipal election.
ATWA’s Dec. 14, 2018 written submission to the City outlining the specific issues that we would like to see addressed in the new plan is available on our website under Issues (Official Community Plan). See https://www.activetwa.org/official-community-plan.html. This would be a good time to review that submission.
2. E-Bike Bylaw: ATWA went before City Council on January 20/2020, “to ensure Council [was] made aware of the need to clarify where e-bikes and other electric mobility devices [could] be legally and appropriately used within the City of Whitehorse (COW). See https://www.activetwa.org/e-bikes.html.
We are happy to see that the City is now preparing an E-bike Bylaw, as it was one of the Action items listed in the 2020 Trail Plan.
A (what looks like) pre-draft bylaw was presented by administration before a Jan. 28 2021 Council and Administration Roundtable meeting. You can view that document at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument?id=14701.
Unfortunately, although one can view the document presented by administration to City Council, one cannot hear the discussion on the document that must have taken place.
We have been told that administration plans on sharing the final draft version of the e-bike bylaw with the associations listed in the presentation document prior to it being brought forward for City Council adoption. This is the meaning of Targeted Public Consultation.
It does not appear that the bylaw will be brought forward to the general public for its review and input. One wonders why, given that there were only two questions in the 2020 Trail Plan about e-bikes.
We have placed an E-bike Information document on our website under Issues: E-bike Bylaw Information. The intent is to provide information about e-bikes and about some of the issues surrounding their use. Please realize that ATWA’s main objective has been realized in that an e-bike bylaw will be produced. That bylaw should let the public know where e-bikes and other electric mobility devices can be legally and appropriately used within the City of Whitehorse. However, if we can all help in some way to make the coming bylaw more effective, then we should do so.
Since ATWA is to be consulted in the coming weeks about an E-bike Bylaw, we would appreciate hearing from our associates about any concerns you may have about their use and/or how those concerns might be addressed. As well, if you have any suggestions as to what should be in the bylaw, please let us know. We will endeavour to pass your thoughts on to administration.
The following are some articles that you might find of interest with regard to e-bikes and other electric mobility devices:
https://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/insurance/2010/10/25/ebike_riders_need_liability_coverage_brokers_warn.html
https://ebikebc.com/a-victoria-student-fined-for-riding-without-ebike-insurance/
https://easyebiking.com/what-are-the-disadvantages-of-electric-bikes/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ebikes-bc-sea-to-sky-trails-1.5328868
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/e-scooters-expanded-in-2021-1.5898894
3. Whitehorse South and Whitehorse North Trail Plans: Action #22 of the 2020 Trail Plan confirms that it is the intention of the City to “complete [the] remaining neighbourhood level trail plans.” We expect it will be some time before the proposed “charrette style public workshops” can be held.
4. Public Communications and Awareness Survey: The City is “updating [its] Communications Policy and wants to know how [it’s] doing at keeping [the public] informed. Your input will help [the City] determine how to best communicate with the community. Complete the survey by Friday, February 26, 2021.”
The survey is available at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/communications/public-communications-and-awareness-survey. It does not take long to complete.
5. Delegates to City Council Meetings: Should you be interested in addressing City Council as a Delegate please note the following:
"Delegates may provide their comments in writing ahead of the meeting and have their written submissions read into the record by a staff person. In the event that a written submission would take longer than five minutes to be read into the record, staff may summarize the submission to fit the five-minute time frame. Written submissions must be received by 12:00 noon on the day of the meeting in order to be included.” See https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/ShowDocument?id=14767. (p. 2)
In addition, Delegates can participate by calling into a meeting. “If you wish to present to council or committee, please notify the assistant city clerk by 12 p.m. on the day of the council or committee meeting at 668-8622 or [email protected].
Meetings can be watched on Northwestel Community TV channel 209 or online at whitehorse.ca/meetingsonvideo. Meetings start at 5:30 pm."
See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/legislative-and-administrative-services/council-meetings/-toggle-allupcoming” for more information.
Please note that these two methods of addressing City Council are temporary in nature. However, there may be a possibility of continuing these methods even after the public health emergency comes to an end, and the Council Procedures Bylaw undergoes a full review.
6. Fire Department Implements Location Technology: ATWA has sent out information to all its associates on this new technology. You can find out more about this technology and how it might be of some benefit to all users of our trail system, by going to the following site: See https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/News/News/4680/31?backlist=%2fhome.
7. Notify Me: If you want to get City information sent to you via email take a look at the following site: See https://www.whitehorse.ca/about-whitehorse/notify-me. You can select the topics of which you are most interested.
8. Athletics Yukon: Snowshoe Running:
The following was received from Athletics Yukon:
“Ever wanted to try winter snowshoe running? Or already know how and just want some extra motivation to get out on the trails? Come on out and join Athletics Yukon at Mt. Mac for 4 weeks of Wednesday evening snowshoeing. We’ll spend the first 3 weeks introducing you to the Mt.Mac single track snowshoe trails via guided group snowshoe runs and then in week 4 we’ll do a fun run/race that is timed and on the same route as one of our other runs. No experience required! No snowshoes required!
When and Where? Wednesdays from March 3-24 - Mt. Mac parking lot @ 6:00 p.m. Runs will be between 3 - 7 kms in length.
Cost? Free for AY members - sign up now for your 2021 membership and have access to all of AY’s 2021 events including the snowshoe series.
https://athleticsyukon.ca/become-a-member-2/
You must be a member to participate in this series.
To sign up for the series itself, please visit: https://www.trackie.com/.../ay-march-snowshoe.../468786/...
What about snowshoes?AY has Dion Running Snowshoes available for each participant or you can bring your own.
What you need?Wear clothing appropriate for winter trail running or skiing. Footwear should be winter running shoes (no metal cleats though!)and the snowshoes will strap right on.
COVID-19 protocols? We will follow the safe 6+1 at all times, maintain appropriate social distancing, and masks are required at the pre-run briefings and inside the facilities. Participants will also be required to sign a COVID-19 attestation before each session. If you are sick, stay home!
For more information contact Ben Yu Schott at 335.0441
Maximum # of participants: 15
9. Yukon Conservation Society AGM: The meeting will take place on March 30th. The event will be held on line to conform to COVID-19 guidelines.
ATWA Updates: January 21, 2021
1. 2020 Trail Plan: As you are aware the new Trail Plan was approved by City Council on December 7. ATWA was very much involved in the process that produced the 2020 Trail Plan.
ATWA made an initial submission to consultants on April 28, 2020. In this document we mentioned the issues of concern that we felt needed to be addressed. We also submitted a critique of the Draft Trail Plan on September 30. Copies of both submissions were sent to Mayor and Council.
As well, Pat Milligan and Keith Lay had two distanced interviews with the consulting team. In addition, six letters were sent to the Whitehorse Star in which we discussed issues that we wanted to see addressed in the new Trail Plan. On December 7, we also made a presentation before City Council during which we raised our concerns about two of the thirty Action items in the 2020 Final Plan.
Hopefully, we covered most of the concerns that have been raised by ATWA associates in the past. You can read the submitted documents and the letters on our website. See https://www.activetwa.org/2007-trail-plan-rewrite.html. Our analysis of the 2020 Trail Plan can also be found on our website under Issues.
We were disappointed that the media did not appear to cover City Council’s passage of the Trail Plan. We have not seen any local news articles about City Council’s approval of the 2020 Trail Plan.
The only media article that we have seen on the 2020 Trail Plan was in the Yukon News, which mentioned that the plan was brought before City Council on November 30. See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/2020-trail-plan-comes-forward/.
Similarly, we are not aware of any coverage by our local radio stations. Please let us know if you have heard or read anything about the Trail Plan’s approval. Contact us at [email protected].
Unfortunately, we could find no reference to the approved Trail Plan on the City’s Facebook page, or on our two trail steward’s websites or Facebook pages. Hopefully, this will be rectified in order that as many people as possible are made aware of the plan's passage, and take the time to read it.
On January 15, ATWA asked Parks and Trails to place the approved plan on the City’s website.This has now been done.
As the City says, “The [Final] Trail Plan identifies priorities to direct the City in future trails-related initiatives, policies and actions over the next 10 years.”
All those who use our trails should read the 2020 Trail Plan. If we truly value our trails and environmentally sensitive areas, then we need to know how the City intends to both improve and sustain this major resource for the benefit of all its citizens.
Please do your best to get the word out that we have a new trail plan. It is a well-written document. Its 45 pages and accompanying Appendices can be read in a relatively short period of time. Both the plan and its Appendices can be found on the City’s website under trails. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails. Make sure you look at Appendix E: Cost Estimates.
2. Trail Use Concerns: Recently we have received correspondence from a citizen who felt that some cyclists are unaware of who should yield to whom when encountering other trail users, particularly walkers. The individual was also concerned about off-leash dogs on trails and the apparent lack of understanding by some owners about how they should be controlled.
The person was wondering what could be done to get the message out with regard to City bylaws and trail etiquette that pertain to both bike and dog owners.
On January 5, ATWA sent an email to Parks and Trails, Parks and Community Development, Bylaw Services, and the Contagious Mountain Bike Club. We also called Bylaw Services concerning the Animal Control Bylaw.
We felt that these were the bodies that could initiate the changes and actions requested in the email, and/or help to inform snow/fat bikers and dog owners of proper trail etiquette. The City’s Director of Community and Recreation Services also received the email and confirmed that we had correctly identified the appropriate bodies to contact.
The email we sent is found on our website under Issues. It will be found in the section entitled, Letters. See https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.
ATWA received a prompt reply from Parks and Trails on January 6, which said the department could not “speak to the bylaw aspect of your concerns but as for Parks and Trails we will consider your suggestions as we work towards implementing the Trail Plan.”
We were not overly impressed with the reply, particularly as the new Trail Plan Actions will be implemented over the next ten years. I am sure our correspondent was hoping for a more immediate response to the concerns expressed.
To date we have not received any response from Bylaw Services, Parks and Community Development, or the Contagious Bike Club, but hopefully replies will come.
As far as the Animal Control Bylaw is concerned we are left with the impression that it has been changed at some point, but had not been updated on the City’s website.This may account for the disparity between the Off-Leash Pamphlet and the bylaw. However, until we hear from Bylaw Services we cannot confirm that this is the case.
If there are any dog owners out there who are informed as to the actual regulations concerning off-leash dogs, perhaps you could enlighten us. Just send us an email.
3. E-Bike Regulation Bylaw: It appears that administration is proposing a new e-bike bylaw. The proposed bylaw will be discussed at the January 28 Council and Administration Roundtable Meeting. This meeting takes place at noon in the Heritage Boardroom located upstairs at City Hall.
Members of the public can attend these meetings as observers. Please note that there are restrictions on capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you want to attend get there early. Make sure you wear a mask.
It will be interesting to see what administration is about to propose. In ATWA’s January 20, 2020 presentation before City Council we included the following statement by Claudio Wasko:
“E-bikes “have the potential to expand bike riding to new audiences and keep people riding bikes throughout their lives. But some confusion around how and where they can be ridden is dampening their growth potential and, as an emerging technology, they require clear regulations to govern their use and create stability in the marketplace.” (Why More States Need to Adopt the Three-Class e-Bike System by Claudia Wasko. See https://www.bosch-ebike.com/us/everything-about-the-ebike/stories/three-class-ebike-system/.)
In our presentation we made the following comment:
“As national and international media reports suggest that there is some controversy concerning the use of e-bikes on mountain bike trails, hiking trails, and even on paved urban trails, the City of Whitehorse needs to consult with trail users and develop a policy or bylaw which clearly regulates use.This needs to be done before e-bikes become a controversial subject in our own community.”
The following list contains articles concerning e-bikes that you might find of interest:
a) Regulation for electric bikes may forever change B.C. mountain trails: See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/regulation-for-electric-bikes-may-forever-change-b-c-mountain-trails-1.4595145.
b) BC Parks implementing electric bike policy: See https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2019ENV0093-001651.
c) Electric bikes ICBC: See https://www.icbc.com/vehicle-registration/specialty-vehicles/Low-powered-vehicles/Pages/Electric-bikes.aspx.
d) Are Electric Mountain Bikes Ruining Trail Systems? See https://www.gearpatrol.com/outdoors/a470260/are-electric-mountain-bikes-legal/. Article by Steve Graepel. (May 23, 2020)
4. City of Whitehorse Website Redesign Survey: We mentioned this survey in our last Update. The survey is now closed and the results are being processed.
On November 30, 2020 an ATWA associate met via Zoom with consultant Grant Hendricks of BlackBean Creative and gave our comments as to how the website might be improved.
During the 2020 Trail Plan consulting process ATWA had much to say about the City’s website, although our comments concentrated on aspects related to the policies, bylaws, maps, and plans, associated with trails.
5. Porter Creek Community Association Meeting:The meeting will take place on Monday, January 25 at 5 pm via Zoom. The association would love to have more members, so if you live in the area please consider joining. For more information contact the [email protected].
6. Safe Snowmobile Card and Safe ATV Cards: On December 02, 2020 we again appealed to Bylaw Services to provide ATWA with the total number of operators that possess Safe Snowmobile Cards, and the total number of operators that possess Safe ATV Cards. We did not get any response, so we tried again on January 06. To date there has been no reply to our request.
If you would like to know more about these required documents you can go to the following sites on the City’s website: https://www.atvcourse.com/canada/whitehorse/. AND https://www.snowmobilecourse.com/canada/whitehorse/.
7. Tracked Vehicles: At the same time we contacted Bylaw Services about the Safe Cards, we asked three other questions:
Are ATVs permitted on motorized multiple use trails in winter if equipped “with tracks for winter use?” If so, what bylaw permits this?
Are so-called “side type” vehicles considered ATVs under the ATV Bylaw?
We asked these questions as tracked vehicles are being used within City limits this winter. As well, “side type” or UTVs are also seen in the summer months within City limits.
To date we have not received a reply.
8. Puckett's Gulch Stairs Closure: The following information is found on the City’s website under Construction Notices. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/engineering-services/construction-notices.
“The Puckett’s Gulch stairway at the end of Black Street will remain closed until further notice to complete rehabilitation of the existing stairs. The majority of the stairs have been re-installed, but some work still remains such as fastening the stairs in place and installing lights before they are safe to open to the public.
For more information, please contact Wildstone Construction at 334-5092 or the City of Whitehorse Engineering Department at 668-8305.”
9. Yukon Conservation Society: The YCS is holding its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, March 30 from 6-8 pm. The venue has yet to be determined.
Bulletin: (Dec. 1, 2020) Just thought we would let all of you know what is happening re: the 2020 Trail Plan. It went before council on Monday night (Nov. 30). It will come again before City Council on Monday night December 7, and will be approved by council resolution. Apparently, (so we have been told) it is very unlikely that the plan would be sent back to administration for revision. However, one can still make a delegate submission on Monday night concerning any aspect of the plan. Any presentation has to be read by a member of administration as COVID restrictions prevent delegates from attending in person. It must be admitted that this is a far less stressful method of making a presentation, although probably not as effective as appearing in person.
You can find out how to submit a delegate presentation by going to the following site. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/legislative-and-administrative-services/council-meetings/-toggle-allupcoming.
We have not as yet had the time to go through the final plan to see what changes were made to the Draft Plan. We will go through it in detail to see which of the issues raised by ATWA were addressed and which ones were not. We hope to have this completed for ATWA’s January Update.
We encourage all of you to read the final plan as it will be in effect for at least the next ten years. At present, you can read the document at the following site: See https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/ShowDocument?id=14555. You will need to scroll down to the Community Services Committee under which you will find the Trail Plan document.
You will be able to view a video of Monday’s council meeting at the following site. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/meetings-on-video. It is not up as yet, but may appear before the end of the week. The video is divided into sections, so you do not have to view the entire meeting in order to see the discussion on the Trail Plan. (It was a very long meeting.)
Many thanks to all of you who took the time to get involved in the engagement process surrounding the development of this new Trail Plan.
Bulletin: Nov. 29, 2020
At last Monday's council meeting (Nov. 23) there was a delegate presentation to Council concerning the Capital Budget 2021-2024. One of the questions asked, concerned the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Plan. Administration’s response is found in the minutes of this coming Monday’s council meeting. It reads as follows:
Park Management Plans
One submission was received encouraging the City to include a capital project for the implementation of the first five initiatives identified in the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan. The submission also encouraged the City to establish a capital project for the development of the next regional park management plan, a project that had been provisionally identified in previous Capital Expenditure Programs.
Response:
The Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan experienced delays in implementation due to departmental capacity in 2020. [However,] administration anticipates bringing this project forward into 2021 through the re-budget process.
Due to staff capacity, Administration is not recommending the development of next regional park management plan at this time, and will re-examine the project for future budget cycles.
This suggests that there will be little chance of the City moving forward on a Regional Park Management Plan for McIntyre Creek or any other regional park in the foreseeable future. It also suggests that even if we do get (in the distant future) a regional park management plan for any of the four remaining regional parks, there is no guarantee that any of the initiatives in the plan would be realized within the timelines stated. (The City has yet to find the money or staff to ensure there is a sign placed at the start of the Chadburn Lake Road to indicate that it is a Regional Park! Hopefully, through the "re-budget process" this will be rectified in 2021, over four years after the establishment of the management plan for the park in June of 2017.)
This is why it is so important to review City budgets when they are presented in order to address issues of concern. If no one complains councillors are not likely to do anything about the expenditures listed, or the lack of expenditure in the above case. You can read a summary of all submissions on the Capital Budget at the following site: See https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/ShowDocument?id=1455.
ATWA Updates: November/December 2020
1. 2020 Draft Trail Plan: Guess what just turned up on City Council’s agenda for Monday, November 30? It appears under the Community Services Committee and is entitled, Trail Plan Update 2020. You will have to scroll down the document a long way to first find the Community Services Committee, and then locate the actual plan. It is a long document, but we encourage all of you to read it in its entirety. You are going to have to live with it for many years to come. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/ShowDocument?id=14555. It is expected that there will be an opportunity for public input. When we find out more we will let you know. It is our understanding that on Monday the final plan will just be introduced by administration.
2. City of Whitehorse Website Redesign Survey: The following information comes from our city’s website: “We want to make it easier to find what you're looking for on the City of Whitehorse website. Take our short survey to help us understand what you need from our site, and where we can do better. We appreciate your answers and feedback!” The survey can be reached at the following site: See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/communications/contact-us/website-survey. No end date is given for the survey, so we suggest filling it out as soon as possible.
You may recall that the City of Whitehorse conducted a previous website survey that was completed on March 31, 2019. As far as we know the feedback obtained was never released to the public. However, we are told that the information obtained in that survey will be considered along with that acquired in the new survey.
The City of Whitehorse has budgeted some $115,000 for the redesign. It is hoped that along with the redesign an effort will be made to update and improve some of the information available. In particular, the maps related to City approved trail plans and regional parks need much improvement for them to be of significant value to trail users.
On November 30, ATWA will be meeting (via Zoom) with consultant Grant Hendricks of BlackBean Creative, an agency based in Kelowna, BC about how we currently use the City's website and give our comments as to how it may be improved.
3. BBC Scotland News Article: The title of the article is Covid in Scotland: Social distancing ‘could wreck mountain footpaths’ by Kevin Keane. It is certainly worth a read. See https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-54907233.
4. Range Road Corridor-Conceptual Design: Some of you may be interested in this project. There is a survey that is open until December 2nd. You can obtain all the information available on the City’s website. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/engineering-services/local-improvement-projects/range-road-corridor-conceptual-design.
5. Cycling Association of Yukon: The association has a public survey available, the feedback from which will be used to create a 10-year plan. You can find the survey at the following site. See https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020-yukon-cycling.
6. CBC NL article of November 21: This article entitled, Unhappy Trails: Why the St. John’s bike plan is all downhill, is a story about the conflict that has arisen over turning walking trails into shared-use trails that include cyclists.
7. Yukon Conservation Society Walk Softly Winter 2020 edition: This edition includes an ATWA article entitled, Whitehorse snowmobile bylaw needs amending. See http://yukonconservation.org/docs/2020winter_web.pdf, p 4 and 5.
8. Need for consistency between all policies, plans, and bylaws associated with trails: The 2020 Trail Draft Plan talks about the need for all policies, plans, and bylaws associated with trails to be consistent, something ATWA has been advocating for years, and something that we made very clear in our initial written submission to those preparing the 2020 Trail Draft Plan.
This lack of consistency was demonstrated once again when the City failed to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw (2012) to reflect the (November 2016) Trail Maintenance Policy (TMP), a policy that said single-track trails were off-limits to motorized vehicles. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument?id=436 p 2-3). If this had been done, at least some additional protection would have been given to non-motorized trails in Whitehorse.
In ATWA’s January 20 presentation before City Council on the subject of e-bikes, we mentioned the above concern. (We also mentioned it in our initial written submission to those who were preparing the 2020 Draft Trail Plan.)
You can imagine our surprise when Action #23 of that plan said that the City should “remove reference to the exclusion of motorized use on ‘single-track trails’ found in the TMPin order to be consistent with other policies and bylaws.”
The TMP was developed with the input of citizens, administration, and special interest groups. Council approved the document, and all contributors to the development of the TMP and members of council must have known what the policy said about single-track trails and motorized use. It is the much older Snowmobile Bylaw that should be changed to reflect the TMP.
Adding non-motorized trails, greenbelts, and open spaces to the Snowmobile Bylaw’s list of prohibited areas, would make the bylaw consistent with the ATV Bylaw, which does prohibit ATVs from using non-motorized trails, greenbelts, and open spaces. Adopting this amendment would automatically exclude snowmobiles (like ATVs) from using single-track trails.
9. Chilkoot Trail National Historic Park: As you know the park was closed in summer due to COVID. As to whether or not it will be open to snowmobiles, and cross-country and backcountry skiing this winter is still to be determined by staff members. You can get more information at 667-3915.
10. City Trail Signs: For years ATWA has been trying to get the City to a) correct the coordinate section on posted trail signs, and b) to stop putting up signs that have coordinates placed incorrectly. In the past we have been told on numerous occasions that the situation would be corrected.
Recently, we sent an email to City Parks and Trails mentioning the above, and asking if there was any logical reason why the City of Whitehorse puts Longitude before Latitude on its signs. We received the following response: “There are no plans for the immediate correction of this issue.” This response confirms that the signs are in error, that future signs will be going up with the same error, and that old signs will not be corrected.
11. Property Values and Non-Motorized Active Trails: An article entitled, Measuring Trails Benefits: Property Value, makes for a short, but informative read. See http://headwaterseconomics.org/wp-content/uploads/trails-library-property-value-overview.pdf.
12: Next ATWA Update:The next ATWA Update will be sent in January 2021. Please have the best holiday season possible. We have so much for which to be thankful.
ATWA Updates: October 25, 2020
1. 2020 Draft Trail Plan: On Thursday, October 8 Pat Milligan and Keith Lay had an almost hour long Zoom meeting with Heidi Redman of LEES + Associates, who is part of the consulting team that is working with others to develop a new updated 2020 Trail Plan for the City of Whitehorse.
During the meeting we made an effort to emphasize some of the main components of ATWA’s detailed written response to the 2020 Draft Plan, including those associated with Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs), and the Snowmobile Bylaw. Only time will tell if our efforts prove to be productive. Our written response to the 2020 Draft Trail Plan can be found under Issues on our website. (See 2007 Trail Plan Rewrite.)
It is expected that the final Draft Trail Plan will be ready for public and City Council review by the end of November.
It is unfortunate that due to the current coronavirus situation it will be very unlikely that members of the public will be able to appear directly before City Council to give their input on the final Draft Trail Plan. Input will probably take the form of written submissions of five minutes duration that will be presented before Council by a member of City Administration. This will be a far less effective process than that which occurs when presenters face City Council in person.
Due to the importance of the Draft Trail Plan, perhaps the powers at be will come up with an alternative to ensure a more effective method of public input. Maybe a Zoom public hearing could be arranged.
In any case, please read the final Draft Plan when it does appear, and take the time to send written comments to City Council members. As well, consider making a presentation before City Council in whatever shape or form that may take.
2. Official Community Plan: It now appears that it will be well into 2021 before we see a Draft Official Community Plan appear for public review. The review process started in November of 2018. ATWA made a written submission in December of 2018. This submission can be found under Issues on our website. (See Official Community Plan.)
There are a number of references in the current plan that directly relate to our trail system. Unfortunately, some of the recommendations or ideas included in those references have never been adopted. This, despite the City’s declaration, that “An OCP is a community-led plan that reflects the ideas, aspirations, priorities, and expertise of Whitehorse residents [and that citizen] involvement is key to setting the direction on how [citizens] live, work, and play in [their] city.”
One should expect that there would be nothing in the final Draft Trail Plan that contravenes with what the current OCP says about our trails and green spaces, including ESAs. Indeed, one should expect that the final Draft Trail Plan would recommend that aspects of the OCP concerning trails and green spaces that have not as yet been adopted, be finally implemented.
For more information see:
https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-sustainability-services/official-community-plan-ocp/whitehorse-2040.
3. Presentation before City Council: On October 5, 2020 ATWA made a presentation before City Council as to why the Snowmobile Bylaw should be amended to reflect the ATV Bylaw, and prohibit snowmobile operators from using non-motorized trails, greenbelts, and open spaces. Due to the coronavirus situation, a member of City staff read it. You can view a video of the presentation on the City's website.(See http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2020-10-05.mp4.html). An abbreviated version of the document was read before City Council.
The entire document, which was made available to members of City Council, administration, and the press, is found directly below this edition of Updates.
An October 8 article by Stephanie Waddell concerning the above presentation, entitled Input sought on proposed trail plan appeared in the Yukon News. It can be viewed at the following site: https://www.yukon-news.com/news/input-sought-on-proposed-trail-plan/.
4. New Trail in Whistle Bend: The City of Whitehorse with help from the Contagious Mountain Bike Club is building a new trail in Whistle Bend. The trail is in the area marked Future Single Track Trail Development on the neighbourhood Trail Plan map. Such development was approved as part of the Porter Creek, Whistle Bend, Takhini, Range Point, Trail Plan passed by City Council in 2016. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/maps). It is expected there will be an announcement when the trail is completed and open for use.
5. Puckett's Gulch Stairs Closure: The Puckett’s Gulch stairway (Black Street Stairs) at the end of Black Street will be closed to October 31st for reconstruction of the existing stairs.
An abbreviated version of the following documented was presented before City Council on October 5, 2020. Due to the coronavirus situation it was read by a member of City staff. You can view a video of the presentation on the City's website. (See http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2020-10-05.mp4.html.)
Standing Committee Meeting
October 5, 2020
Address to the Community Services Committee
Good evening! My name is Keith Lay and I live in Porter Creek. I am here on behalf of Active Trails Whitehorse Association.
The City is currently accepting feedback on the 2020 Draft Trail Plan. As such, this is the perfect time to ask City Council to amend the now eight-year old Snowmobile Bylaw to reflect the ATV Bylaw, and prohibit snowmobile operators from using non-motorized trails, greenbelts, and open spaces.
Why? Doing so would end the confusion surrounding the true meaning of the term non-motorized trail.
At present, only non-motorized trails that are listed in the Snowmobile Bylaw under Schedule “C” and “E” are actually non-motorized in both summer and winter.
As a result, many trail users are under the mistaken belief that all non-motorized trails are free from motorized use in winter. This creates confusion and may lead to user conflict.
Currently, in order to establish a trail as truly non-motorized (summer and winter), City Council and administration has to go through two distinct processes. First, it has to designate the trail as non-motorized.
Then, the Snowmobile Bylaw has to be amended in order to add that trail to either Schedule “C” or “E” of the bylaw, a time-consuming and costly process, and one that could be easily eliminated.
The lack of understanding of this requirement by City Council, the press, and the general public led to much confusion surrounding the Whistle Bend Perimeter trail, and resulted in additional costs to the City, needless public conflict, and much waste of everyone’s valuable time.
Amending the Snowmobile Bylaw as suggested would eliminate the need to go through such a time-consuming and costly process in order to designate a trail as truly non-motorized (summer and winter). In fact, designating trails as non-motorized (summer and winter) would become unnecessary. The only trails that would need to be designated would be those that accommodate both motorized and non-motorized users.
Amending the bylaw as suggested would bring clarity for all trail users. Any trail found on the City’s Motorized Trail Map would be open to motorized use: snowmobiles in winter, ATVs and dirt bikes in summer. Any trail not foundon the map would be considered to be a non-motorized multiple use trail all year round.
It would also mean that whenever reference was made to a non-motorized trail, everyone would know (including members of Council) that the term referred to a trail free from motorized use over the course of the entire year.
Changing the Snowmobile Bylaw as suggested would not stop motorized users including snowmobilers from asking the City to change the status of a non-motorized trail to that of a designated motorized trail.
The KSA (and strangely enough, the Contagious Mountain Bike Club) made an unsuccessful attempt to do this with the truly non-motorized Rotary Centennial Bridge and adjacent Millennium Trail.
The Trail Draft Plan talks about the need for all policies and bylaws associated with trails to be consistent.
Currently snowmobile operators unlike ATV operators are not restricted from using our greenbelts, open spaces, or non-motorized trails, as they “may drive their machines on a motorized multiple use trail and [in] any other area of the City that is not specifically excluded pursuant to section 15 of [the] bylaw.
The suggested amendment would bring consistency to the two bylaws. *
Amending the bylaw as suggested would also help protect greenbelts, open spaces, and non-motorized trails (particularly single-track trails) from snow machine use. **
Such use can result in the widening of trails that leads to more Off Road Vehicle use, damage to vegetation, and disturbance to wildlife, non-motorized users, and City residents who have a right to the quiet enjoyment of their property. It would also lend credence to the City’s motion concerning the declaration of a climate change emergency. ***
Amending the Snowmobile Bylaw will not be detrimental to the responsible snowmobiling community. Both the City and the Klondike Snowmobile Association (KSA) ask responsible operators to stay on designated motorized routes. [1]
The KSA also says that its members only use City trails once or twice a season, and that its members prefer to involve themselves in snowmobile activities that occur outside City limits. [2]
This suggests that we have more than enough snowmobile trails in Whitehorse. Denying access to trails that have not beendesigned or designated for responsible motorized use should not pose a problem.
When the current 2015 City Motorized Trail Map is updated, more motorized trails will be added to reflect the completion of the Porter Creek, Takhini, Whistle Bend, Range Point Trail Plan. Even more will be added when the Whitehorse North and Whitehorse South Trail Plan are completed.
As well, one must add all the non-motorized trails that are not found in Schedule “C” and “E” of the Snowmobile Bylaw, in order to get an idea of the potential extent of trails that are open to motorized use in winter, and this does not include the open spaces and greenbelts that are also open to snowmobile use.
Amending the bylaw would create a more equitable and balanced trail network.
For all the reasons stated it is time for Council to take the initiative and address these concerns by changing the bylaw as suggested. It just makes common sense to do so.
Thank you.
The following comments give additional information related to points mentioned in the presentation.
*The inconsistency between the two bylaws developed partly because some believe that due to snow cover, snowmobiles have less impact on the landscape than ATVs. Research indicates significant snowmobile impacts. Snow depth varies each year, and changes throughout the winter. Factors such as degree of slope, aspect, height of land, temperature variation, and vegetation cover all affect snow depth. Therefore, snow depth is never the same in all areas of the city. Vegetation located above the snow snaps easily in the cold.
If snowmobilers were required to stay on designated motorized trails and out of open spaces and greenbelts (as are ATVs), then damage would be reduced, particularly to narrow single-track trails. It would also reduce user conflict, improve safety, and make for a more equitable trail network.
**Action #23 of the Draft Plan says that the City should “remove reference to the exclusion of motorized use on “single-track trails” found in the Trail Maintenance Policy, in order to be consistent with other policies and bylaws. The definition of "single-track trails" found in the policy says, “no motorized use is permitted on single-track trails.”
However, it is interesting to note that ATWA has already gone before City Council to ask it to ensure the Snowmobile Bylaw was updated to reflect the definition of single-track trails given in the newly minted (November 2016) Trail Maintenance Policy. Instead, the Draft Plan suggests doing just the opposite.
***Although the Snowmobile Bylaw says that operators are not to “damage any vegetation or ground,” it is hardly enforceable, and any damage may not be apparent until the snow melts. The bylaw admits the fact that the activity does indeed damage vegetation.
[1]KSA Newsletter Early Spring 2012)
[2](See KSA Spring 2012 Newsletter p. 2 and KSA Fall 2018 Newsletterp.1)
ATWA Updates: September 30, 2020
1. 2007 Draft Trail Plan: On Thursday, October 8 Pat Milligan and Keith Lay will be involved in a Zoom interview with those responsible in the preparation of the 2020 Draft Trail Plan. As you know we have submitted a detailed written response.
2. Porter Creek Community Association: “Interested in a new connector route between Porter Creek and Whistle Bend? Fill out this 10-minute survey. See
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S7P7LMD.” You may not live in these two communities, but do take the time to take a look at this proposal and fill out the survey.
3. Whitehorse Star Article: This Letter to the Editor entitled, Corridor is being damaged, by Tim Green may be of interest. See https://www.whitehorsestar.com/Letters/corridor-is-being-damaged.
4. Outside Magazine Article: The Draft Trail Plan mentions that there is some concern in Whitehorse with dogs on trails.This 2018 article by Mark Remy discusses this topic. See https://www.outsideonline.com/2346221/put-dog-on-leash.
5. E-Scooters: The Draft Trail Plan implies that the City is going to have to consult with the public concerning the use of e-bikes and other electric mobility devices within our City.The following September 05, 2020 CBC article entitled, E-scooters proving popular - but they're not without their critics, is an interesting read. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/popular-e-scooters-also-causing-problems-1.5713182.
6. E-bikes: The following is another recent CTV article on e-bikes entitled, Are e-bikes safe? Personal injury lawyers weigh in by Pat Foran that you might find interesting. See https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/are-e-bikes-safe-personal-injury-lawyers-weigh-in-1.5104529.
7. E-bike rebates: Apply for a rebate when you buy a new electric bicycle. However, before you invest see if you can find out what the current regulations are concerning the rules of operation in Whitehorse. See https://yukon.ca/en/driving-and transportation/apply-rebate-when-you-buy-new-electric-bicycle.
Bulletin #2: 2020 Trail Plan Draft
A) If you viewed the Draft Trail Plan prior to September 24, you may have seen the following statement:
“Current municipal regulation does not classify snowmobiles as a motorized mode of transportation, which allows snowmobile use on some trails in winter.” The statement was incorrect and we made that fact known to those involved in the review process. As a result, the statement has been removed from the Draft Plan. The following material is the information we provided that caused them to remove the statement.
The current Snowmobile Bylaw defines a snowmobile as follows:
“SNOWMOBILE” means a motor vehicle, designed primarily for travel on snow or ice, having one or more steering skis, and self-propelled by means of an endless belt or belts driven in contact with the ground and includes a snowmobile Conversion Vehicle.
The reason why snowmobiles are permitted on non-motorized default trails is because Section 14 of the Snowmobile Bylaw says that "A person may drive a snowmobile on a motorized multiple use trail and [on/in] any other area of the City that is not specifically excluded pursuant to section 15 of this bylaw. (Bylaw 2018-25 passed 2018-07-09)”
Under the Territorial Motor Vehicles Act a snowmobile is considered to be an “excluded motor vehicle”. However, municipal regulations can be stricter. The previous Snowmobile Bylaw did not classify a snowmobile as a motor vehicle, but the current bylaw does.
B) In the Glossary of the Draft Plan you will find a definition of the term Motorized Multiple Use Trail. It reads as follows: Trails designed and designated by the City to be used by both non-motorized uses [sic] and motorized vehicles including snowmobiles.
This is not the definition found in the 2007 Trail Plan, which reads as follows: Includes only those trails formally designed and designated by the City of Whitehorse to allow the use of motorized vehicles, including 4-wheel drive vehicles, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and snowmobiles.
There is no indication that these types of trails can be used by non-motorized users.
The 2010 Official Community Plan (OCP) uses the term multi-use to describe a trail that accommodates both motorized and non-motorized recreation. (See 18.5.1 p. 74) Other jurisdictions use the term mixed-use to describe a trail that accommodates both motorized and non-motorized recreation.
City administration has been using the Draft Glossary definition for years despite our protests, but as far as we can determine it has never gone before City Council to formally change the 2007 Trail Plan definition. However, it is interesting to note that the City uses the OCP term (multi-use) on signage placed on the Hamilton Blvd paved trail and the Pine St. Extension paved trail, both of which allow motorized and non-motorized use.
C) Unfortunately, although we have repeatedly requested that a change be made to the Snowmobile Bylaw that would further protect non-motorized trails, green spaces, and open spaces, and at the same time save the City time and money, reduce trail conflict, and create a more equitable trail network for all users, there does not appear to be any indication that the Draft Plan will make a recommendation that such a change be considered by City Council.
To learn more about this issue you can read our initial submission to the Draft Plan available on our website. You can also go to our website under News and scroll down to our March 2016 Letter to Newspapers, in which we give reasons why the Snowmobile Bylaw should be amended. As you know we will be making a second submission in response to the Draft Plan in which we will make additional comments concerning this issue.
We would ask you to consider making the following comment (in bold) when you fill out the Online Comment Form. Please pass this on to others who might find this to be of interest. A number of you are involved with walking groups and it would be helpful if you would pass this information on to other members.
Amend the Snowmobile Bylaw to reflect the ATV Bylaw and prohibit snowmobile operators from using non-motorized trails, greenbelts, and open spaces.
D) Action #23 of the Draft Plan says that the City should “remove reference to the exclusion of motorized use on “single-track trails” found in the Trail Maintenance Policy, in order to be consistent with other policies and bylaws. The definition of "single-track trails" found in the policy says, “no motorized use is permitted on single-track trails.”
Certainly everyone wants to have consistency between our various policies and bylaws. However, it is interesting to note that ATWA has already gone before City Council to ask it to ensure the Snowmobile Bylaw was updated to reflect the definition of single-track trails given in the newly minted (November 2016) Trail Maintenance Policy. Default single-track trails should have been added to the Excluded Section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. Doing so would have a least given additional protection to default non-motorized single-track trails from winter snowmobile use. Note: Default Non-Motorized Multiple Use Trails have not been formally designated by the City as truly Non-Motorized Multiple Use trails (summer and winter).
The Draft Plan suggests removing the reference to the exclusion of motorized use on single-track trails, the exact opposite of what we argued before City Council.
If the City amended the Snowmobile Bylaw to reflect the ATV Bylaw, and prohibited snowmobile operators from using non-motorized trails, green spaces, and open spaces, there would be no problem changing the definition as the Draft Plan suggests.
E) We plan to have our second submission ready by September 30, and it will make up much of our September Updates. You may get more ideas for comments after reading that document.
F) The 2020 Draft Trail Plan Online Comment Form consists of three questions and there is indeed room for comment. (See https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/COWtrailplandraft.) This has to be completed by Friday, October 9, 2020.
We appreciate you taking the time to get involved in assuring that we have a new trail plan that will serve us well for the next ten years.
Bulletin #1: 2020 Trail Plan DRAFT
To all our associates:
The City of Whitehorse Trail Plan 2020 DRAFT has now been released. The information provided below is taken from the City’s website. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails.
As indicated below the Online Comment Form must be completed by October 9, 2020 (a Friday).
We encourage you to review all the documents provided by the City including the Trail Plan Background Report, Trail Plan fact sheet, What We Heard summary report (August 2020), Trail Plan 2020 Summary, Trail Plan 2020 DRAFT, Trail Plan 2020 (Appendices), plus ATWA’s written submission to the consulting team, prior to completing the Online Comment Form. See ATWA’s submission located on our website (www.activetwa.org) under Issues (2007 Trail Plan Rewrite) at 2007-trail-plan-rewrite.html.
The comment form may not address all your concerns, answer all your questions, or allow you to provide additional information. If so, then do not hesitate to contact the consulting team (Heidi Redman) at [email protected] and (Landon Kulych) at [email protected].
Please take the time to look at the material provided, fill out the Online Comment Form, and make your concerns known to the consulting team and to members of City Council. As the city’s website says, “The DRAFT Trail Plan identifies priorities to direct the City in future trails-related initiatives, policies and actions over the next 10 years.” Do not miss this opportunity to make your views known.
We are in the process of reviewing the Draft Plan and will provide the results of that review in our September Updates near the end of the month .
Cheers for now,
Keith Lay
"City of Whitehorse Trail Plan 2020
The City of Whitehorse DRAFT Trail Plan 2020 is now available for public review. The DRAFT Trail Plan identifies priorities to direct the City in future trails-related initiatives, policies and actions over the next 10 years.
Provide your input through our Online Comment Form by Friday October 9, 2020. See https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/COWtrailplandraft.
The first four tasks of the Whitehorse Trail Plan process are now complete. This work focused on under What We Heard summary report (August 2020) Learn more about this project by viewing the Trail Plan fact sheet.”
ATWA Updates: August 24, 2020
1. Official Community Plan: It is our understanding that the first draft of the new Official Community Plan (OCP) is to be released during the month of October. It is expected that aspects of the new plan will relate to trails, open spaces, environmentally sensitive areas (ESA’s), and regional parks.
ATWA’s December 14, 2018 OCP stakeholder meetings submission focused on environmental and recreational considerations. You can read that submission by going to the Issues section of our website and then to the section entitled Official Community Plan. If you have any comments, or suggestions for improvements with regard to that submission please let us know. There will be an opportunity for a second submission when the draft is released and we would welcome your input.
The city’s website says, “An OCP is a community-led plan that reflects the ideas, aspirations, priorities, and expertise of Whitehorse residents. Your involvement is key to setting the direction on how you live, work, and play in your city.”
You can find more information on the review process and a reference to the current plan at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-sustainability-services/official-community-plan-ocp/whitehorse-2040.
Please get involved in the rewriting of this most important document.
2. 2007 Trail Plan Rewrite: To date ATWA has sent six letters to the Whitehorse Star concerning subjects related to the rewrite of the 2007 Trail Plan. The last was published on August 7, under the title "City's approach to trails: unfair, illogical."
You will find these letters on our website under Issues/2007 Trail Plan Rewrite. Look for Letters to the media concerning the 2007 Trail Plan Rewrite. They are currently found at the end of the 2007 Trail Plan Rewrite section.
The draft plan is scheduled to come before the public in the fall or winter of 2020. More information on the plan can be found at the following site:
https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=13608.
3. Whitehorse North: As mentioned in our June and July Updates we have received complaints concerning Off-Road Vehicle activities on and around the MacPherson Road trail area of Whitehorse North. One of the complainants had the following letter published in the Whitehorse Star on August 14. Permission has been given to include the letter in our August Updates. It reads as follows:
Be proactive in reducing trail conflicts!
This is an open letter to the City of Whitehorse (Community Services Committee).
It’s a condensed version of a letter originally submitted to council on April 25, 2020 – and to which I have received no response.
I have been a resident and user of the trail network in the north end of the city for over six years.
During this time, there have been many conflicts between user groups, and outright abuse of community trails by certain users.
The conflict is often between those who use motorized means of recreation such as snowmobiles, ATVs, dirt bikes and trucks, and self-propelled users such as walkers, bikers, and skiers.
There is also concern about horse use in the area. Conflicts have reached a tipping point this winter and need to be addressed.
In the winter of 2016, the City’s Parks and Community Development Department advertised a consultation session in our community. I attended, as one of two community members at a table, along with three or four other attendees representing special interest groups within our broader community.These consultations were a part of a group called the Whitehorse North Trail Task Force.
This committee is no longer active in achieving its mission, which was to consult stakeholders and diverse users of these networks, develop trail route options and designations that worked for all, and mitigate conflicts that inevitably arise among users.
At these meetings (three in total), I scoured maps – both established and planned – and from my experience of living and actively engaging in these spaces, participated in pointing out errors in mapping, and indicating the various trail user conflicts in the area.
There have been years of inaction following this process, and increased trail user conflict. Now, I am writing to request that the Whitehorse North Trail Task Force be re-established with support from the City of Whitehorse.
I am hoping that city council will be pro-active and swift in addressing the issues that currently exist on established trails on both Crown and settlement lands in the area.
These issues involve the following:
• conflict among users;
• disregard for settlement lands by users;
• infringement of current city bylaws regarding protected areas and those outlined in the Kwanlin Dün and Ta’an Kwach’an Final Agreements;
• an increase in dumping;
• the destruction of forest areas from off-trail motorized travel;
• disruption to wildlife and seasonal migrating species;
• widening of single-track trails by motorized vehicles;
• the use of firearms involving target practice within city limits;
• illegal camping; and
• illegal fires on trails currently accessible by truck and off-road vehicles.
A main concern, and one fuelling conflict on these networks, is the uncertainly or lack of clarity as to the designated use of these trails. As well, there are questions of trail jurisdiction.
There is a need for extensive public education on trail designation, legislation and etiquette.
User density of the Whitehorse North trail network is drastically increasing, and with no clear authority or guidelines for this area, conflict is inevitable.
Please help us engage with all user groups in order to build and maintain a healthy and safe trail network for our community.
Re-establish the Whitehorse North Trail Task Force.
By being proactive in addressing issues currently plaguing our trails, you can help make this a reality.
Again, the time to (re)consult, activate community dialogue and engagement, and plan and address issues is now.
Carrie Boles
Whitehorse
4. Talking Together Project/Operational Review of By-law Enforcement Services/Bylaw Complaints: In July an email was sent to Councillor Hartland asking him for help in obtaining information concerning the above subjects.
The Talking Together project was launched on January 10, 2018 and closed on Feb. 26, 2018. It involved both the City of Whitehorse and the Government of Yukon. ATWA had input into the process, part of which was an hour-long meeting with a consultant. The Yukon Government and the City of Whitehorse issued a joint document on the project. See https://yukon.ca/sites/yukon.ca/files/engage/yg_-_eco_-_talking_together_what_we_heard_final.pdf.
According to a Development Services Division Newsletter #55 issued in April of 2018, the next step for the city was to “ share the feedback received with staff from all departments and develop strategies for consistent delivery of public outreach techniques.”
As mentioned in the email to Councillor Hartland, “It would be good to know if strategies were developed “for consistent delivery of public outreach techniques,” and if so, what those strategies involved. As well, the public should be made aware of the city’s “public outreach techniques” so that it can know how best to communicate with the city.
In the email reference was also made to the City of Whitehorse Operational Review of By-law Enforcement Services dated July 2018. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=10104.
“Although unfortunately there was not much in the document related to trails, there was mention of a pilot project concerning possible drone use to monitor trails. (See page 35 of the document.) This project was to be undertaken in 2019.”
The email asked if “the project was actually undertaken, and if so, what were the results?”
In addition, the Operational Review says, “Less than 20 bicycle, ATV, or snowmobile violations are processed annually.” The email asked if Bylaw Services “only records complaints that result in charges being laid or fines being assessed.”
As a result of Councillor Hartland’s efforts a reply was received from the Mayor in which the following information was provided.
As far as the Talking Together project is concerned, the “project was a Government of Yukon initiative and work is ongoing.”
With regard to the use of drones for monitoring trails, the “project did not move past conception.”
And, concerning the recording of complaints the letter stated, “Bylaw Services continues to educate the public on the City bylaws and how to report a violation. Complaints received are investigated, and if the operator or an originating address can be identified and there is sufficient evidence, tickets are issued. In recent months, Bylaw Services has received complaints that have resulted in charges and the seizure of the ATV.”
ATWA thanks Councillor Hartland for his help in obtaining the above information.
5. City of Whitehorse Strategic Priorities for 2020: These priorities can be found at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=13616. One of the priorities listed is Environmental Stewardship. Mention is made of City Council’s declaration of “a Climate Change Emergency in the city of Whitehorse on September 23, 2019.” One wonders whether or not this declaration will have any meaningful impact on the designation of motorized trails, and on the protection of so-called non-motorized trails from motorized use.
The Snowmobile Bylaw needs to be revised to restrict all snowmobiles to designated Motorized Multiple Use trails by adding "non-motorized trails, greenbelts, [and] open spaces" to the list of "Excluded Areas" found in the Snowmobile Bylaw. This would be consistent with the ATV Bylaw. It would also clear up the on-going confusion about trail use by snowmobiles and ATVs.
It should be noted that there is an extensive network of designated motorized trails in Whitehorse for snowmobile use. Click the link below to see the City's map of designated motorized trails:
http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=4210.
6. Dogs on Lease:Outside Magazine has an interesting story on this subject, a subject that may well come up for discussion when the draft Trail Plan goes out for public review. See https://www.outsideonline.com/2346221/put-dog-on-leash.
7. Friends of McIntyre Creek AGM: The AGM will be held on September 15, 2020 at Hellaby Hall (4th& Elliot Street). For more information email [email protected]. The organization says that in order “To proactively deal with the public health impact of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, all health and safety guidelines will be followed.”
8. E-bike article:Those of you who own or are contemplating buying an e-bike might find the following CBC article to be of interest. See http
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1. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: Finally, we have some good news to report. In a recent email exchange with Parks and Community Development, we asked if Parks had any idea as to the format of the “further engagement” promised as a result of the concerns raised by the people of Whitehorse North in a survey that followed the approval of the neighbourhood trail plan in 2022.
We received the following response from Landon Kulych who has returned to his position as Manager of Parks and Community Development:
“Staff have engaged a consultant to begin moving the project forward. Currently the anticipated time frame for engagement with Whitehorse North residents is set to begin in April. The format of this engagement will be consistent with neighborhood trail plan engagements post adoption of the 2020 trail plan. As you are aware, the task force model ceased in lieu of something more targeted at residents of the neighbourhood at hand. A targeted survey and charrette open to residents of Whitehorse North is the anticipated approach.”
This gives one the impression that the whole process is about to begin from scratch, in part because the format for the neighbourhood trail planning process outlined in the 2020 Trail Plan was not followed. It seems like the City has learned the error of its ways.
However, we need to keep an eye on whether or not the City follows through on its new commitment. You may be interested to know that this is the third attempt the City has made in trying to come up with a trail plan for the area. One wonders how much time, money, and energy has been spent to date in an effort to get a trail plan for Whitehorse North.
If you are interested in learning more about what happened, or more accurately what did not happen the last time around, please see our 2023 email to those doing the review of the then newly completed trail plan. (See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.html and read down to the following line: So, is ATWA satisfied with the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan process. The answer is NO!)
2. Off-Road Vehicles and Children: An article from The Canadian Press of February 24, 2025 by Nicole Ireland and entitled, Off-road vehicles not safe for kids, Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) warns, is an article that is very applicable to our part of the world. Of course, the CPS has been saying this for years, but governments continue to ignore the information. (See https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/off-road-vehicles-not-safe-for-kids-canadian-paediatric-society-warns/.)
3. Warming climate, wacky weather create skating trail trials and tribulations: Climate change is impacting recreation. This CBC News article of December 31, 2024 by Bartley Kives, looks at how Canadian outdoor skating trails and rinks are being affected by warming temperatures. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/skating-ice-canada-rivers-ponds-1.7420551.)
4. Bike Sharing: This kind of public transportation is growing fast is the title of a CBC News article by Emily Chung and posted on July 11, 2024. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/what-on-earth-bike-sharing-1.7260301.)
5. 2020 Trail Plan: For your information this is the new link to the video of the December 07, 2020 City Council meeting at which the 2020 Trail Plan was approved by City Council. (See https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2020-12-07.mp4.html.)
Please note that the City now only provides video of the last four years (2021-2024) of council meetings.
We thank Legislative Services (Michael Prowse and Noah Brown) for making the effort to find this video in existing archives.
Please go to Topic #15 “New Trail Plan” and scroll to 108.25 where Councillor Boyd told citizens that, “administration confirmed that a top priority [would be] to identify the policies and bylaws that need to be updated” to reflect the intentions of the 2020 Trail Plan.
Unfortunately, the Trail Plan has not as yet been updated “to reflect the intentions of the 2020 Trail Plan,” a plan that is now into the half way mark of its ten-year life. Perhaps City Council needs to add a “Follow-Up” committee to ensure such promises are kept.
6. Bad News for Mountain Bikers: A CBC article by Rafferty Baker dated January, 19/2025 and entitled, Rocky Mountain Bikes under creditor protection as global bicycle industry reels from effects of pandemic is a sad, but interesting story. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rocky-mountain-bike-creditor-protection-1.7434928.
7. Safe Snowmobiler and Safe ATV Cards: It took three months, but we finally got a response from Bylaw Services. Unfortunately, the response did not include the figures for which we asked.
We sent a repeat request for both figures, and for a meeting that would allow a better understanding of the response we received.
Just so you know Elizabeth Beecroft, is the new Manager of Bylaw Services. Contact: 867-668-8317.
8. Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment: On February 18 the following email was sent to a member of City Council:
“It is my understanding that councillors were taking part in a strategic planning session in late January.
I am not sure if you are permitted to provide the information I am asking, but thought if there was any chance, I should at least try.
I would like to know if ATWA’s request for amendment to the Snowmobile Bylaw made it on the list. If it did, would you have any idea as to when the subject might come before City Council?
If it did not make the list, were any reasons given as to why not?
If it did not make the list, do you think despite this, that any councillor might introduce a motion before City Council to amend the bylaw?
If there is no hope of the issue coming before City Council via the strategic planning route, or the councillor motion route, I would like to know.”
We have not as yet received a response.
9. Active Transportation Fund Funding Application: (Whistle Bend Connector Paved Trail)
Background:
“A budget amendment was presented to add the Whistle Bend Active Transportation Connector project to the 2026 Provisional Capital Budget. A detailed funding strategy will be presented as part of the next capital budget cycle, but as of now, the project is expected to cost a total of $12,500,00, with 75% ($9,375,000) being funded through the new Active Transportation Fund from the Government of Canada.” (City Administration Package for council meeting of February 24.)
Apparently, this paved so-called Active Transportation Trail is to connect Whistle Bend to the Downtown Area. The Government of Canada defines active transportation as “the movement of people or goods powered by human activity and includes walking, cycling and the use of human-powered or hybrid mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters, e-bikes, rollerblades, snowshoes, cross-country skis, and more.” This definition mirrors that of the City of Whitehorse.
It is thought that this paved trail will be some 4 to 6 kilometres long. Its route has not been decided. Apparently, there will be public engagement on this project.
At a recent council meeting it was said that maintenance costs would run around $10,000 per year per kilometre, so if it is 6 kilometres long that would amount to $60,000 a year. There was no confirmation as to whether or not this would include both snow clearing and pavement maintenance costs.
Editorial Comment: Not sure how the City can apply for this funding as due to the Snowmobile Bylaw any so-called active transportation trail built outside the Downtown Area, as defined by both the Snowmobile and ATV Bylaw, would be open to snowmobile use in winter. As such, it could not be considered as an active transportation trail.
In order to become such a trail, an amendment would have to be made to the Snowmobile Bylaw to add the trail to the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. And, there is no guarantee that such an amendment would be approved by City Council. And, the amendment process could not start until after the paved trail was built.
This would suggest that the City cannot guarantee that if it received funding from the Active Transportation Fund, that when built, the trail would not be open to snowmobile use in winter. As such, an application should not be made. However, this is only your editor’s opinion.
Emails have been sent to Mayor and Council raising this concern, but no reply has been received. It will be interesting to see how the City will address the issue. Of course, it is always possible that the City does not see it as an issue.
Apparently, the former application date of February 26 has been extended, and that currently the City intends on submitting an application at the end of next week.
If you would like to learn more about the Active Transportation Fund, go to https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/trans/index-eng.html.
ATWA Updates: January 15, 2025
1. City Launches New Snowshoe Program: This City of Whitehorse (COW) initiative is something that many of you would probably enjoy. The COW provided the following information on the program:
“Join the City and get to know Whitehorse’s neighbourhood trails.
Every second Thursday from January 16 to March 27, the City will host a family-friendly snowshoe walk along a neighbourhood trail. A knowledgeable guide will be on-hand for each walk, sharing facts about local plants and wildlife.
The walks will take place from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on a different neighbourhood trail each time. No need to register; simply show up at 4 p.m. at the walk’s location.
The first walk will take place in partnership with the Yukon Conservation Society on January 16 at Birch Loop in Crestview off Rainbow Road.
All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Snowshoes will be provided by the City for free. Each walk can accommodate up to 15 participants on a first come, first served basis.
Those taking part are reminded to dress in layers and bring water bottles for this scenic adventure.
Walks will be cancelled if the temperature is -25C or lower including wind chill.
For more information, contact [email protected].”
2. CALL TO ACTION EMAIL: We could really use your help on this. All associates were sent this CALL TO ACTION email on the 8th of January. Without your support it will be difficult to convince City Council to at least consider amending the Snowmobile Bylaw as ATWA has proposed. Please copy ATWA if you do send an email to Mayor and Council.
Please go to our website at https://www.activetwa.org/change-snowmobile-bylaw.html.
Scroll down to “How You Can Help.” There are three simple steps that you can follow to aid us in getting our amendment proposal before City Council. Open the Download File at the top left of this page for the reasons why we believe the amendment proposal should be considered by City Council.
3. Cycling Improvements Coming to Black Street: The following information has also been provided by the COW.
“New bicycle pushbuttons will be installed on Black Street at the intersections of 2nd Avenue and 4th Avenue next week.
The pushbuttons will allow cyclists to activate the pedestrian signal without entering the sidewalk, enhancing the commute for those on foot and cycling.
This is a step towards cycling improvements for downtown east-west corridors with connections to the Millennium Trail implemented as part of the Active Transportation Spot Improvement Capital Project. The City is committed to continually improving the active transportation network. Stay tuned for more upgrades!
For more information, contact Engineering Services at [email protected].”
4. Capital Budget: On January 13 ATWA provided input at City Council’s public input session on the 2025-2028 Capital Expenditure Program. Our presentation centred on two items found under the Parks & Community Development budget for 2025. One item concerned the $100,000 to be spent on the 2020 Trail Plan implementation, and the other, a $222,000 item, for the removal of the Chadburn Lake (Rotary) cabins.
Apparently, these are the former Rotary cabins. The COW is removing them as they “are a liability to the public, and are beyond repair.”
Apparently, the high cost of removal is due to the cabins “remote location and the hazard assessment done on the buildings, [and that] it will require adequate funding to safely and properly remove the cabins without disturbing the natural surroundings or being disruptive to bats,” as the cabin and its immediate surroundings are prime brown bat habitat*.
According to the COW, staff “worked with YG bat specialists last fall to install a new bat house beside the cabin. A second bat house will be installed this year as well. We are also planning ahead to ensure de-construction of the cabins does not occur during migration times for the bats.”
One of the initiatives of the 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan was to "Conduct a building inspection of the Rotary Cabins at Chadburn Lake and develop a strategy for managing them, while being careful to protect bat habitat.” So, this initiative has been satisfied, but unfortunately the structures proved to be unsalvageable. (See 2.2., page 25 of Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, June 2017)
5. Wild Discoveries: A “caribou hike” up Fish Lake ridge is scheduled for Saturday, January 18. This starts at 12 noon and ends at 5 p.m. Registration is required. Go to https://yukon.ca/en/wild-discoveries for more information on this hike and on others scheduled later in the year.
6. ATV and Snowmobile Safe Cards: These cards are a bylaw requirement for all ATV and snowmobile operators. We have been trying for almost two months to find out how many of these cards have been issued since the program began.
We contacted Bylaw Services on November 19, and were told that the information would be sent to us. Apparently, it appears that getting the required information is not as easy as one might think. In August of 2021, there were 605 snowmobile operators who had obtained a Safe Snowmobile Card.
At the time (2021) we did not ask for the number of ATV operators who had obtained a Safe ATV Card, but have now asked for that information as well.
The requested information would give us some idea as to the success of the Safe Card program, and to the actual number of responsible ATV and snowmobile operators in Whitehorse. Hopefully, we will have this information for our February Updates.
7. Globe and Mail E-Bike Article: Andrew Clark wrote this Nov. 15, 2024 Globe and Mail article entitled, “We could make e-bikes safer for everyone or continue the Canadian
tradition of doing nothing.” (See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/culture/article-we-could-make-e-bikes-safer-for-everyone-or-continue-the-canadian/.)
8. Yukon Conservation Meeting: If you are a member of the Yukon Conservation Society, you will have undoubtedly received its recent email to the organization’s membership.
“The Board of Directors would like to invite you to a Membership Brainstorming Session on Thursday, February 6th from 6pm to 8pm at Parnell House and virtually to discuss the path forward.” The email explained why this meeting is necessary.
If you are a member, we encourage you to attend. If you are not a member, please consider joining, and then attend the meeting. (See https://www.yukonconservation.ca.)
ATWA Updates: December 11th, 2024
1. McIntyre Creek (Chasàn Chùa) Regional Park Survey: This survey is now closed. According to information provided on the survey site, “The Steering Committee will make a recommendation to the governments about a boundary and the way to protect the area.”
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a timeline provided as to when the recommendation will be made, other than sometime in the “near future.”
With five governments involved, it will be interesting to see how this process actually develops. Let’s hope there is something left to protect when the time comes around to approving a management plan for the park.
ATWA was not permitted to attend the so-called “stakeholder” meetings, even though we asked, as we are not a registered society. This is a new restriction on public input that was not publicized on the survey site. However, we did submit a short submission to the Steering Committee on the subject.
Unfortunately, as we did not know what park issues were to be discussed at the stakeholder’s meetings, we were somewhat restricted in providing pertinent information that may have been helpful for the committee.
You can view our submission under Issues. Scroll down to McIntyre Creek, or simply go to https://www.activetwa.org/mcintyre-creek-park.html and open the file located at the top left corner of the page.
Some of you may be wondering what has happened with regard to the Chadburn Park Management Plan. Well, so are we. Seven years have passed since the management plan was approved, and the City of Whitehorse (COW) has yet to issue any update on what has been accomplished. You can view the plan at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChadburnLakePMPlanJune2017.pdf.
2. Alaska Highway Multi-Use Trail Survey: You are probably aware of this new territorial government survey. Information about the proposed project and access to a survey on the subject can be found at https://yukon.ca/en/alaska-highway-multi-use-trail-plan-whitehorse. Please note the survey closes on January 05, 2025.
According to the information provided, “This project will create a well-connected trail network in Whitehorse. The improved trails will support active transportation like walking, biking, and skiing.”
Things that you might want to consider before completing the survey:
a) According to the City of Whitehorse, in order for a trail to be considered an active transportation trail it would have to be free of motorized use.
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
“Any form of human-powered travel, such as walking, cycling, skateboarding, cross-country skiing and more. Walking and cycling are among the most popular and can be combined with other modes, such as public transit.” (2020 Trail Plan p. 44)
However, there are exceptions for certain types of e-bikes as follows:
“Class 1 e-bikes and aMTBs are permitted on all Trails and Bicycle lanes.
Class 2 e-bikes, e-scooters and e-mobility devices are permitted only on Type 1 Trails described in Schedule “A” of this bylaw, motorized multiple-use trails, and Bicycle lanes.”
Class 3 e-bikes are permitted only on Roadways, Bicycle lanes, motorized multiple use trails and the Two-Mile-Hill multiple use trail.”
Note: An Adaptive Mountain Bike (aMTB) is not considered a Motor vehicle for the purposes of this bylaw.
If you are curious about the definitions of each of the various classes of e-bikes you can consult the COW E-Bike Bylaw.
The COW seems to imply that an “accessible” trail would also have to be free of motorized use.
Accessibility – Providing safe, accessible options for all to walk, cycle or wheel on the trails will be increasingly important to support older adults, families with young children and those with mobility constraints. Ensuring accessible options is not only important for residents but also for visitors. (2020 Trail Plan, p. 2)
b) Information given at the site also says that, “As part of this project, we’ll explore options for including space for off-highway recreational vehicles like snowmobiles and ATVs.”
It goes on to say that the project will accommodate “off-highway recreation vehicles.”
The information does not indicate how this “accommodation” will occur. One doubts that there is enough money floating around to support two trails on the same side of the highway even if only one is paved.
According to the COW motorized trail map, there is a Motorized Multiple Use trail on the west side of the Alaska Hwy that extends from the junction of Hwy #2 at Forestview, south to Chronkite Road.
As that trail already serves the motorized user, one would think this would free up the other side of the highway for a paved active transportation trail. Some road crossing infrastructure might have to be provided for motorized users. Please note the condition of this MMU trail, and see if you think it measures up to the MMU definition of a “designed” trail. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/LatestMMUtrailmapupdatedMa.pdf.)
c) In 2018, according to the Bicycle Network Plan, a kilometre of 3-metre-wide paved trail would cost some $600,000 to build. Inflation alone since that time would bring the cost up to $696,000. One must consider the fact that one way or another it will be the public that will have to pay for the cost of this project.
d) Who will be responsible for grooming the trail in the winter? (Some might want the trail cleared down to pavement.) Who will be responsible for putting down and maintaining tracks for XC skiing, if the trail is not cleared down to pavement? Who will be responsible for the cost of maintaining the trail?
e) On whose shoulders will fall the necessity of policing any motorized sections to ensure these vehicles are following the city’s ATV and Snowmobile Bylaws. Our Bylaw Services is stretched to the limit as it is.
f) Will this project attract more motorized recreational vehicles to neighbourhoods along the Alaska Highway? Or, will it serve as an Out and Away route for such vehicles? Was not the idea of Out and Away routes to get these vehicles out of town and away from residential areas?
Please do take the time to fill out the survey, but consider the above comments prior to doing so.
3. ATWA Delegate Presentation of December 2nd: It was felt necessary to address some of the comments made during the Community Services Committee section of the November 18th City Council meeting. (You can view that discussion by viewing #22 Community Services Committee at https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-11-18.mp4.html.)
To view the December 2nd Delegate Presentation, go to https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-12-02.mp4.html. Click on #5. At the same site go to #16 Community Services Committee to hear discussion on at least one aspect of the presentation.
There was a December 3rd, CBC radio interview with the delegate that was featured on its afternoon program. CKRW also had a brief note on its website on the subject. (See https://www.ckrw.com/2024/12/04/active-trails-whitehorse-association-wants-citys-snowmobile-by-law-updated/.)
4. What do people think of e-scooters in Welsh cities: Although one does not see many of these devices in Whitehorse, we should be aware that their use could grow. This BBC November 26 article by Georgia Ferda, discusses some of the pros and cons of their use. (See https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgl4w9x7ddko.)
5. Yukon Conservation Society presentation: The YCS will be holding a board meeting on the evening of December 16. The board has agreed to allow ATWA to make a ten-minute ZOOM presentation with regard to getting YCS support in our effort to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw.
At present, we are asking the City of Whitehorse to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw, and prohibit snowmobile operators from using non-motorized multiple use trails (as defined in the 2020 Trail Plan), greenbelts, and open spaces, and to restrict snowmobile operation to motorized multiple use (MMU) trails that are designed and designated for their use.
We certainly appreciate the opportunity to appear before the YCS board.
Enjoy the holidays!
ATWA Updates: November 28, 2024
1. Injured cyclists can't sue province: This is (in part) the title of a CBC News article by Adam Carter posted Nov 21, 2024. For those of you who spend time cycling in city centres, including Whitehorse, you might be interested in giving this article a good read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-bike-lane-bill-amendments-1.7390145.)
2. Valleyview South Master Plan (VSMP): Apparently, 4.9 kilometres of paved Non-Motorized Multiple Use trail will eventually be built in this area.In the Master Plan under the title, Recreational Motor Vehicles, is a most interesting paragraph. We have broken this paragraph into sections in order to facilitate comment.
The paragraph begins by saying that “The Transportation Concept does not direct further expansion of the City’s motorized trail network.”
In light of the last sentence of the paragraph one must wonder how such a comment could be made.
“The area is already well served by the Hamilton Boulevard motorized [Multi Use Paved trail] and the new neighbourhood’s Multi Use Paved (MUP) trail can offer an alternative experience for non-motorized users.”
Again, we are given the impression that the new MUP trail will be free of motorized users.
“All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are allowed to use City streets for the purposes of connecting to the nearest motorized multi-use trail and/or permitted open space, subject to other requirements of the ATV Bylaw.”
This is interesting in two ways. One, there is no mention of the fact that snowmobilers outside the Downtown Area (as defined by the Snowmobile Bylaw), are also free to “use City streets for the purposes of connecting to the nearest motorized multi-use trail . . .”
The point being that all motorized users have alternatives that make it unnecessary for them to use the so-called non-motorized multiple use paved trail when it is built.
And, according to the VSMP, ATVs are permitted in open spaces. This is completely contrary to the ATV Bylaw, which clearly states that ATVs are not permitted in any open space as defined in the Definition section of the Bylaw. (See #8 under Prohibited Area p. 5)
Finally, the plan says that, “Snowmobiles are generally allowed on trails, subject to the Snowmobile Bylaw.”
So, for half the year the paved trail will be open to snowmobilers unless the trail is added to the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
If this is not done, the 4.9 km trail will simply become yet another MMU trail, and will result in the increase and “further expansion of the City’s motorized trail network.” Go to Engage Whitehorse, and scroll down to Valleyview South Master Plan at https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/ (p.38)
3. Snow Dog Trail: It looks like this trail has been given a new name by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club. Apparently, it is now called Ollie’s Trail.
4. Fraser B.C. Webcam: You can access the webcam at this site: https://www.windy.com/-Webcams-Fraser/webcams/1635962357?60.283,-122.168,4,m:fijacry. This may give you a better idea as to the conditions in the area if you are thinking of heading out to do various winter activities. Of course, you should also consult other sources to ensure you will not be disappointed when you arrive.
5. Hamilton Blvd. Paved Trail: This motorized multi-use paved trail was in the news recently. A November 9, 2024 Yukon News article entitled, Whitehorse cyclist group pushes city to clear Hamilton Blvd. trail, by Talar Stockton, discusses the Urban Cycling Coalition’s attempt to have City Council “take over snow and ice removal on the trail.”
There is lots of interesting information in this article. (See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/whitehorse-cyclist-group-pushes-city-to-clear-hamilton-blvd-trail-7635747).
For example, Krista Mroz, the director of community services, said the city has a $10,000 memorandum of understanding with trail stewards to maintain multiple trails throughout the city. She emphasized the agreement was not a service contract but rather a stewardship agreement.” (One wonders what the difference is between a service contract and a stewardship agreement.)
It is also interesting to learn that the Klondike Snowmobile Association (KSA) “maintains six hundred kilometres of trails.” It is not made clear in the article as to whether or not these trails are all within the City of Whitehorse. One would think though, that all are maintained primarily for snowmobiling, which is only logical as the KSA is a snowmobile organization.
Another interesting piece of information found in the article tells us that the KSA “meets with the city’s parks and recreation department once a month, and they are in regular contact via email.”
As for the Hamilton Blvd paved trail, Mark Daniels President of the Klondike Snowmobile Association, tells us that “The original [Hamilton Trail] was pioneered by the KSA [and] intended to be an out-and-away route. It was never intended to be an active transport route and [he] understand[s] it does not meet the engineering standards of one.”
He also said that “The trail was widened and paved when the population in the area grew.” (Email to ATWA of 11/05/2024)
Mark is not aware of who did the actual paving work, or from where the funding came to build the paved trail.
According to Parks & Community Services, the “trail was paved when the Hamilton Boulevard improvement project was completed by [the] Yukon Government.”
As to whether or not funds for the building of the paved trail came from federal Gas Tax funds, we are still in the dark.
For your information the current trail is 4.68 kilometres long.
6. McIntyre Creek Regional Park: Do not forget that “You can share your thoughts on protecting Chasàn Chùa (McIntyre Creek) with [the Steering Committee] until December 6.
To share your thoughts with the committee, you can fill out an online survey at https://www.chasanchua.ca/have-your-say. One assumes that besides completing the survey, you could also send in a more detailed written document.
The above site has lots of additional information which you are encouraged to read prior to filling out the survey or making a formal submission.
7. Active Transportation Paved Trails: On November 18, ATWA made a presentation before City Council on so-called active transportation paved trails located outside the Downtown Area, as defined by the Snowmobile Bylaw.
You can view that presentation at https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-11-18.mp4.html. Go to #5 Delegations. ATWA was the second presenter.
At that same meeting, members of City Council did discuss aspects of our request to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw. You can view that discussion by viewing #22 Community Services Committee.
It was an interesting discussion in which comments were made that may have to be challenged at subsequent council meetings. Of course, that means going before City Council as a delegate yet again.
8. Re-submission. Associates may recall that on March 4/2022, ATWA sent a document to City Council’s Community Services Committee requesting an amendment to the Snowmobile Bylaw. In the document we outlined the various reasons why we felt the bylaw should be amended. We provided references that supported our reasons.
Twenty-one associates added their names to that request.
Unfortunately, we did not receive a response to our submission.
Now that we have new members of City Council, and in light of our November 18 delegate presentation, it was thought that we should re-submit an updated version of the 2022 document.
At the very least, it should give members of council a better idea of why ATWA continues to ask for an amendment to the Snowmobile Bylaw.
On November 26 we provided members of City Council with a hard copy of that fifteen-page document. As well, we sent a digital copy of the document to Mayor and Council.
9. Barrage of carnage: For those of you who mountain bike you may want to read this Vancouver Sun Nov. 25, 2024 article by Lori Culbert. (See https://vancouversun.com/feature/bc-spinal-surgeon-warns-of-rise-in-mountain-biking-injuries.)
10. November not good for cyclists: A Nov. 25, 2024 CBC article by Adam Carter entitled, Ontario passes bill that allows major Toronto bike lanes to be ripped out, is one that all urban cyclists should read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bill-212-bike-lanes-highway-413-passes-1.7392821.)
ATWA Updates: October 31, 2024
1. ATV Season Coming to an End: As per the ATV Bylaw, “A person may operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail during the time period April 1 to October 31 in each year and shall not operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail from November 1 to March 31 in each year.”
So, after October 31, you should not be seeing any of these machines operating on any trails within the boundaries of the City of Whitehorse. Unlike snowmobiles, ATVs can only operate on MMU trails, and only between April 1 and October 31.
2. Bike Lanes and Traffic Congestion: A CBC article of October 22, 2024 by Nicole Mortillaro entitled, “Do bike lanes really cause more traffic congestion? Here's what the research says” is an interesting read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/bike-lanes-impacts-1.7358319).
3. New City Council: The following is from the City of Whitehorse:
“Whitehorse residents have elected a new City Council. Kirk Cameron is Mayor-elect of Whitehorse.
Dan Boyd, Lenore Morris, Paolo Gallina, Anne Middler, Jenny Hamilton and Eileen Melnychuk are Councillors-elect of Whitehorse City Council. The new City Council will be sworn-in to office on [Friday] November 1 and serve a four-yearterm. [The ceremony will take place at City Hall at noon.]
The 2024 Whitehorse Municipal Election took place on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
The results of the election are now official, confirming the preliminary results announced on October 17.
A total of 6,115 eligible electors participated in the 2024 Whitehorse Municipal Election, representing a voter turnout of approximately 27%. In 2021, a total of 6,042 eligible electors participated, representing a voter turnout of approximately 31%.
Find additional info, including the full list of official results, online at whitehorse.ca/election.”
What is sad about the election is that only 27% of eligible voters actually voted. This lack of participation is something that the new City Council might want to address before the next municipal election occurs in four years’ time.
4. Snow Dog Trail: It appears that this trail is now completed and open to fat biking, skiing, and snowshoeing. According to the original application, “the Contagious Mountain Bike Club is committed to grooming this trail in winter for all users as well as any summer clearing for down trees or excessive vegetation growth.”
At present, the groomed trail is about 63.5 centimetres or 25 inches wide, so please take care as there is no room for skiers, or those on snowshoes to safely get around fat bikers or vice versa without going off the groomed trail.
You can access one end of the new trail from the Magnusson Parking lot. Just look across the road and you will see a power pole to your right. The new trail goes off to the left of the pole, and the old trail goes straight up the little hill by the power pole. The new trail is groomed when possible, so it should be readily apparent. Eventually, the new trail cuts back to the Grey Mountain Road opposite the sign for the Rest in Peace trail (RIP).
5. Active Transportation Paved Trails: There are a number of issues that we would like to bring before the new City Council. One of these involves the Myth and the Reality of so-called paved Active Transportation Trails.
We have put together a document on the subject, which we will be sending to Mayor & Council after the swearing-in ceremony on November 1. A response will be requested.
You can view that document under Issues on our website. See Active Transportation Trails at https://www.activetwa.org/active-transportation-trails.html.
If you have any comments on the document, please send us an email at [email protected].
6. The Right to Backpack: An Outside Magazine article of October 8, 2024 by Adam Roy will be interesting to those who have spent time on the trails of England, and/or those who backpack anywhere. (See https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/the-right-to-backpack-is-on-trial-in-england/.)
7. McIntyre Creek Regional Park: Today (October 31) we sent out an email to all our associates entitled, McIntyre Creek Protection Process begins.
Apparently, “You can share your thoughts on protecting Chasàn Chùa (McIntyre Creek) with us [Steering Committee] until December 6. To share your thoughts with us, you can:
- fill out an online survey at chasanchua.ca/have-your-say.
- attend a public open house at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre on November 6 from 11 am to 2 pm or 4 pm to 8 pm.
The Steering Committee will also be reaching out to stakeholders (not us apparently) in the community to gather their feedback on protecting Chasàn Chùa (McIntyre Creek).”
When you go to chasanchua.ca/have-your-say make sure you click on all the titles at the top of the page as there is much information there to review before filling out any survey. (See Background, The Process, Have Your Say, Contact, and News.)
If possible, the following report should be read before filling out the survey, or going to the open house next week (Wednesday, Nov. 6). (See McIntyre Creek Protected Area Report by Michael Walton Consulting (March, 2021) at https://yukon.ca/sites/yukon.ca/files/emr/emr-mcintyre-creek-protected-area-report.pdf.) This report will provide you with much information concerning the area and will allow you to make more informative comments when filling out the survey and/or making individual written submissions (if permitted).
Apparently, Current Opportunities [for input] include “Stakeholder Meetings and Sessions [which]
will take place in November by invitation.
Unfortunately, despite the fact that ATWA tried to register today for these meetings and sessions we have now been told that, “The government partners have requested that session participation be limited to registered societies in good standing.” This information was not provided under Current Opportunities.
So, as we are not a registered society, we are not permitted to take part in these stakeholder meetings. This despite the fact that we were accepted as a stakeholder when it came to the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChadburnLakePMPlanJune2017.pdf Acknowledgements.) This is a concern that we will definitely raise at the coming Open House.
ATWA Updates: September 28, 2024
1. Municipal Election: It is a good idea to ensure that you are registered to vote. You can do this by visiting the City of Whitehorse Home Page. Scroll down to Official Election Candidates.
The following information was received from the City of Whitehorse on September 26.
The nomination period for the 2024 Whitehorse Municipal Election closed at noon on September 26. Election Day is Thursday, October 17, 2024.
Official Candidates
The official list of candidates for the 2024 Whitehorse Municipal Election has now been confirmed. To determine the order in which candidates will appear on the ballot, names of confirmed candidates were chosen through a drawing of the lots as follows.
The candidates running for Mayor are:
Kirk Cameron
Dino Rudniski
Dan Bushnell
Stephen Kwok
Jack Bogaard
The candidates running for Councillor are:
Ken Schick
Tony Lundgaard
Gary Smith
Daniel Schneider
Andrew Robulack
Sarah Newton
Anne Middler
Jenny Hamilton
Nesty Paron
Norma Felker
Jay Wilneff
Michelle Stimson
Marta Rogers
Paolo Gallina
Eileen Melnychuk
Jean-Sébastien Blais
Dan Boyd
Lenore Morris
2. Ontario Bike Lanes: A September 19, 2024 CBC article by Travis Dhanraj entitled, Ontario eyes barring new bike lanes where car lanes would be cut, is certainly one that is worth a read. Having recently flown over Toronto I can certainly attest to its problems with congestion. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-government-bike-lanes-1.7328878.)
3. Whitehorse Nordic: For those of you who spend much of the winter on Whitehorse ski trails, please be aware that Whitehorse Nordic will be hosting the Canadian Masters Championships from February 19th to 23rd, 2025. Volunteers will be needed. Of course, if you meet the requirements for participation, then you might want to start your training.
4. McDonald Creek Trail: This trail, located in the Carcross Area (Montana Mountain), will be closed as of October 1st, 2024. This is a seasonal trail closure. (See destinationcarcross.ca for more information.) If you have not as yet visited this site, make sure you do. It has a wealth of information about the Carcross area (that if accessed) will make your visit even more enjoyable.
5. Potential Change to Bicycle Laws: A September 7, 2024 CBC article by Chad Pawson entitled, Stop or yield? New research supports law change for cyclists, discusses the results of a recent study that may help to initiate new laws with regard to cyclists and stop signs. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rolling-bicycle-stops-oregon-state-university-study-british-columbia-reaction-1.7315683.)
6. Whitehorse Trail Closures: The following information is from the City of Whitehorse Facebook Page.
“Attention Whitehorse trail users. Between September 28 and October 10 some trails in the north and south growth areas may be closed due to geotechnical work. Consult the attached maps or follow the links to see when and where these closures are taking place: bit.ly/3N07iSo or bit.ly/4dp1g8u.
This work is part of ongoing feasibility studies in the north and south growth areas. You can learn more about this project here: bit.ly/4ehg9eq.”
7. A 150-Million Dollar Two-Kilometre Trail: An August 18, 2024 CBC news article entitled, Councillors question $150M cost of 2-km trail extension, makes for an interesting read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/councillors-react-railpath-extension-1.7295724.)
8. Snow Dog Trail: As of September 26, the new Snow Dog Trail located in Chadburn Lake Regional Park was still undergoing work by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club.
ATWA Updates: August 28, 2024
1. Damage to McIntyre Creek Regional Park Wetlands: The following email, written by Becky Striegler, was sent to various local governments and enforcement officials on August 5. On August 9, it was published in The Yukon Star. She has given us permission to include her letter in this month’s ATWA Updates. It reads as follows:
Dear governments and enforcement officials, August 5, 2024
You’ve promised to protect McIntyre Creek and make the area a park. But what have you done to truly protect it?
Some ATV riders continue to ignore city bylaws and ride through the wetlands of McIntyre Creek, including the pond at Takhini. I’ve attached photos from recent activity, including fresh tracks from this week.
This damaging action is contrary to the city ATV bylaw and yet it continues, and has for years, with no effective communication or enforcement.
You’ve acknowledged that McIntyre Creek is a sensitive area worthy of protection. Yet there is nothing communicating that when you go to the creek itself. There are large, prominent signs (photos attached) in both Granger and Whistlebend that ban motorized activity in protected areas — yet nothing, nada, zero like this around McIntyre Creek in Takhini.
I’m sure you’ll have all sorts of process responses, but at the very least, the city could act on its duty to enforce its ATV bylaw, which bans ATV riding through “open water,” “open spaces,” “environmentally sensitive” areas and on “non-motorized trails,” and prohibits the destruction of vegetation and “making of ruts.” All of this prohibited activity is happening at McIntyre Creek. As you see.
Please, no polite letters and phone calls, telling me this is an area that’s tough to enforce. And putting the onus on me to gather evidence.
We’ve been hearing this literally for decades. You know what the issue is. You can solve it if you have the will.
I’m trying to be polite, and aware of everyone’s needs, but it’s hard to stay polite when I see, year after year, week after week, the deep and damaging tracks of motorized vehicles in the soft mud, grasses and water where fish and birds live, particularly in areas like McIntyre Creek where there’s been widespread acknowledgement by governments - including by you — that it’s a precious ecosystem that needs to be and will be protected. But when will real protection actually happen? When will action replace words?
Perhaps after certain areas are so damaged there will be nothing left to protect?
We thank Becky for bringing the damage to the attention of local governments, Bylaw Services and others (including ATWA) via email, and to the general public via The Yukon Star.
Her email certainly had results. On the City of Whitehorse Facebook Page of August 16, the following information appeared.
“With the recent rain we’ve had, some Motorized Multi-Use (MMU) trails may not be fully dried prior to the long weekend. While enjoying time on your ATV, embrace environmental stewardship – when a trail is soft, choose other options.
Rain or shine, when riding an ATV, stay off non-motorized trails.
ATVs have the potential to cause substantial damage to trails, streambanks and wetlands. Protecting sensitive areas from long-term damage is the prime reason for our regulations, and for this message.
Find maps and additional information about MMU trails in Whitehorse at whitehorse.ca/ATV
If an offence is observed, please contact the Trouble Line at 667-2111 or email [email protected].”
The Facebook posting also included photos of the damage and of the boulders that Parks staff placed at various access points to the wetlands in an effort to curtail entrance by various off-road-vehicles. Mention was also made of increased patrols in the area by Bylaw Services constables.
On August 13, ATWA received additional information from Bylaw Services. Apparently, the department “has been trying to monitor this [wetland area] following previous complaints. Officers have been making patrols on our own UTV in that area. Several persons have been spoken to about their use of off-road vehicles in the area and advised of the areas where such use is not permitted.
Unfortunately, the city’s trail maps are not entirely clear about where multi-use trails exist, and signage is a little inconsistent in the area.
Having said that large rocks and better signage has been added this morning to several points of access to that wetland. Hopefully that, and our continuing patrols, will discourage and prevent future use of this area for unapproved activities.”
As indicated previously, you can find photos of the damage on the City’s Facebook Page. ATWA has placed two photos of the damage in our website’s Photos section, but this does not illustrate all of the harm that was done to the area.
Photos of the rocks and signage that Parks & Community Development has placed at various access points to the wetland area, have also been put in our website’s Photos section. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
The email ATWA received from Bylaw Services contains some excellent points concerning trail maps and signage, concerns which ATWA has raised in the past, but with limited results.
The actions taken will not solve the issue, but may help to make people more aware that using the area in question as a motorized playground is not acceptable.
ATWA has constantly provided the City of Whitehorse with numerous suggestions as to the improvements that could be made to address concerns related not only to motorized users, but also to non-motorized users and to the environment in general, but with little success.
The City often fails to follow the initiatives and actions in the plans and policies that pertain to regional parks, open spaces, and trails. If this was done, some of these concerns would be better addressed. A piecemeal approach to the issue(s) does not work in the long run.
2. Access Gates Pilot Project Update: The “gate” on the paved trail that leads into Takhini after crossing McIntyre Creek has been repaired and is now closed. This gate was part of the Access Gates Pilot Project and was to have been permanently closed last November, as a result of the findings of that project.
Hopefully, the recent attention given to the McIntyre Creek Regional Park area will discourage further acts of vandalism to this structure, as it is located directly across from some of the trails that access the wetland area, trails that have now been blocked with large boulders and signed appropriately.
A photo of the gate in question can be found on our website in the Photos section. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
You will note that such gates located on paved active transportation trails are unlikely to stop motorized vehicles other than cars and trucks from passing through, but they do serve as a deterrent for ATVs.
The City of Whitehorse permits snowmobile use of so-called non-motorized paved active transportation trails located outside the downtown core, unless listed under Excluded trails as detailed in Schedule “E” of [the Snowmobile] Bylaw. At present, there are only three paved trails listed: Birch Loop Trail (Crestview), Millennium Trail, and the Whistle Bend Paved Perimeter Trail (Whistle Bend).
We are also happy to report that the gate structure on the Millennium Trail located near the Skate Park has finally been locked, nine months after the City of Whitehorse promised to do so. All that was required was the placement of two locks! It was opened during the Access Gates Pilot Project, but the findings of that project indicated the necessity of keeping it closed.
Although not part of the Access Gates Pilot Project, after numerous requests the gate on the East side of the Millennium Trail at the entrance to the Rotary Centennial Bridge is now operational (locked and closed).
Hopefully, these actions will both discourage motorized vehicles from entering the paved trail and crossing the bridge, and help to remind cyclists to temper their speed and reduce the potential danger to non-mechanized users.
We thank Parks & Community Development for addressing these gate concerns.
Photos of all the gates in question are found on our website’s Photos section. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
3. Chadburn Lake Regional Park: The Management Plan for this park was adopted (after much public input) in June of 2017. The plan suggested that it would “take at least 10 years to fulfill and realize the major goals of the plan’s vision.” (Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, p. 23.)
Seven years have passed and yet we have heard little about what progress has been made on carrying out the Goals & Initiatives outlined in the plan. During the approval process ATWA argued for a yearly review of the steps taken to achieve these Goals & Initiatives, and this request was reflected in the document where it says that the “implementation plan should be reviewed annually in order to respond to change and take advantage of opportunities.” (Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, p. 23.)
One would think that city administration should come before City Council once a year and give a review of what has been accomplished over the course of the previous year, and what is proposed for completion in the coming year. In other words, the public should be given some idea as to how implementation of the plan is proceeding. To our knowledge this has yet to happen.
Photos taken at the two road entrances to the park are quite revealing. One entrance has no sign indicating that one is entering a Whitehorse regional park, let alone one that has a management plan.
The other has a sign that is in very poor condition and is difficult to even see, due to the fact that it is partially blocked by vegetation. It simply reads Chadburn Lake Recreation Area and lists some of the prohibited activities.
You can find current pictures of the one existing sign located at the start of the Chadburn Lake Road and of the Grey Mountain Road entrance point on our website under Photos. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
One of the initiatives listed under Goal #3 reads as follows:
The City may undertake a place-based branding exercise, which would consider formally recognizing and acknowledging First Nation place names and renaming Chadburn Lake Park with a more culturally appropriate name. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChadburnLakePMPlanJune2017.pdf 3.1 p. 27)
The key word here is may and one suspects that the use of the word gives the City of Whitehorse an out. However, to hold up placing park entrance signage for seven years while waiting for the completion of the above initiative is unreasonable. ATWA has made numerous attempts to get appropriate signage installed, but to no avail.
Proper signage would illustrate to park users that the latter is an important area for all citizens of Whitehorse, and one that deserves respect and adherence to the existing Park Management Plan.
Another initiative listed under Goal #3 reads as follows:
Develop and deliver marketing and communication materials to promote the park and its various tourism products to residents and tourists. Marketing and communication materials could include brochures, maps, and related web products or a package at the Whitehorse Visitor Information Centre with suggested trail loops, cultural attractions, and more. (3.2 p.27)
In a recent visit to the Whitehorse Visitor Information Centre no material directly related to the promotion of Chadburn Lake Regional Park could be found. Staff was not aware of the existence of any such material. What a wasted opportunity to promote the park and all it has to offer.
4. Bikes and Audible Signals: In our ATWA Updates of June 24 (#3) we mentioned that “one of our associates has approached the City of Whitehorse with a suggestion to provide appropriate signage on such well-used trails such as the Millennium Trail, that would remind cyclists of the need for an audible signal when overtaking other trail users within the one metre of required separation.
Our associate also made a personal visit to Bylaw Services. Staff suggested to our associate that lots of education is going on with regard to the issue. Another request was made for more signage that would enhance whatever education is taking place, education that is failing to address the issue. Unfortunately, there is a time where enforcement becomes a necessity. Perhaps that time has come.
5. Transportation Trail: The following is from the City of Whitehorse:
Starting August 20 until September 30, the active transportation trail on the west side of Two Mile Hill Road will be closed between the Chilkoot Way intersection and the Second Avenue intersection.
The City’s contractor, Arctic Backhoe Services, will be replacing a section of the water transmission trunk main on the west side of Two Mile Hill. Fencing will be in place to contain the work area.
Southbound trail users will be directed to the pedestrian crossing at Chilkoot Way, while northbound trail users will use the pedestrian crossing at the Second Avenue intersection during the closure.
The trail on the east side of Two-Mile-Hill Road will remain open for use throughout the construction period.
For more information, please contact the City’s Engineering Services department at 668-8305 or [email protected]. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/partial-trail-closure-on-two-mile-hill/.)
6. Snow Dog Trail: As of August 24, the new Snow Dog Trail was still being worked on by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club.
7. Electric unicycles are everywhere, but aren’t they illegal to ride: This is the title of an August 18, 2024 Globe and Mail article by Jason Tchir. So far this does not seem to be an issue here in Whitehorse, but as Bob Dylan said “the times they are a-changin.” (Seehttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/culture/article-electric-unicycles-are-everywhere-but-arent-they-illegal-to-ride/.)
8. Dezadeash River Trail: Although our Mission Statement confines our work to the City of Whitehorse, we thought you might be interested in this concern.
Most of you have at one time or another enjoyed walking on this 5.5 km interpretive trail, which was opened to the public in 1991. Only a small part of the trail is actually in Kluane National Park. The part which includes 300 metres of boardwalk and the viewing platform is within the boundaries of the Municipality of Haines Junction. The first 300-metre section of the trail was originally designed as being wheelchair accessible.
Unfortunately, the trail is no longer accessible for those in wheelchairs, as the boardwalk is in terrible condition. The viewing platform is surrounded by flagging tap, as it presents a hazard to anyone who might be tempted to use it.
Parks Canada and the Municipality of Haines Junction recognize the problem and are trying to work together to address the issue, but neither has the funding required to complete the necessary repairs.
In 2024, the Municipality of Haines Junction made application to the Community Development Fund (CDF), for financial support that would lead to revitalization of the trail. Unfortunately, the application was denied.
Apparently, the municipality is going to submit another application in January, 2025. I have sent a personal letter of support to the Municipality of Haines Junction in its effort to obtain funding from the CDF that would allow it to revitalize the Dezadeash River Trail.
If you too would like to add your voice in support of the application to the CDF, then please do so by sending an email to the following person: David Fairbank, Chief Administrative Officer, Municipality of Haines Junction, Box 5339 Haines Junction, Yukon Y0B 1L0. ([email protected])
If you would like to review a copy of the letter of support I sent to Mr. Fairbank, please send a request to [email protected], attention Keith Lay. (The letter gives more information of which you may not be aware, so it may be helpful in the preparation of your personal response.) However, please use your own words when preparing your letter/email. It does not have to be very long. Just speak from the heart!
If you believe this to be a worthwhile pursuit then please encourage others to write Mr. Fairbank indicating support for the application.
9. Urban Parks and Biodiversity: A CBC article of August 9, 2024 by Benjamin Shingler, entitled Can urban parks protect biodiversity as they welcome more visitors, makes for an interesting read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/mount-royal-urban-parks-biodiversity-1.7288911.)
ATWA Updates: July 30, 2024
1. Bike Sharing: A July 11, 2024 CBC article by Emily Chung entitled, This kind of public transportation is growing fast, presents another option for affordable transportation in our urban centres.
2. Ticks: Considering the amount of time our associates spend in the outdoors, this July 13, 2024 CBC article by Lauren Pelley entitled, Tick-spread illnesses are on the rise in Canada is certainly worth a read.
3. Snow Dog Trail: The Contagious Mountain Bike Club received approval for the construction of the Snow Dog trail in Chadburn Lake Regional Park. Work has commenced on this build and it may have already been completed.
4. Electric Transportation: A July 24, 2024 Reuters article by Alien Fernandez entitled, Havana’s roads change as Cubans adopt electric bikes and vehicles, discusses the impact that alternate transportation is having on Cuba.
5. Whitehorse Named Yukon’s Most Active Community: One of the reasons for this is our wealth of both paved and unpaved trails. The City of Whitehorse Press Release on this story can be found at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/whitehorse-is-the-yukons-most-active-community/.
6. Wild Discoveries: The following information was obtained from the Wild Discoveries website at https://yukon.ca/en/wild-discoveries. A map of the start location can be found on the site.
Neighbourhood nature: Wolf Creek subdivision Tuesday, July 30.
This week on our neighbourhood nature walk, we’ll start along a lush creek and climb a small ridge offering a picturesque view over a wetland and look for a family of ducks. We’ll continue looking for other birds and interesting plants along the ridge before looping back to the trailhead.
This event involves walking up to 4 km on undulating single-track trails with two short but steep hills.
Time: 7 to 8:30 pm
Cost: free
Location: Meet at the trail entrance on Harbottle Road, roughly halfway between Boss Road and Langholz Road, in the Wolf Creek subdivision (on the opposite side of the highway as the Wolf Creek campground). Look for the Wildlife Viewing sandwich board.
ATWA Updates: June 25, 2024
1. Contagious Mountain Bike Club Trail Development Application: The application for a new Grey Mountain trail was approved by City Council on May 13. Indications are that the trail will be called Snowdog after the machine that is used by the club to groom bike trails.
The approval could be seen as a lost opportunity to improve the area of Chadburn Lake Regional Park in which this trail will be located. It is already an area of intense recreation as indicated in the Park Management Plan. It seems illogical to add to that negative aspect by adding yet another trail to the mix.
On May 7, the following email was sent to all members of City Council. This followed a delegate presentation before City Council on May 6. See https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-05-06.mp4.html. Scroll down to #12.
To members of City Council:
You have an opportunity to do something here that will benefit not only the CMBC, but other user groups, and the forest environment of a regional park.
The use of the existing trail between RIP and the Magnusson parking area will satisfy two of the concerns of the CMBC: safety, and a grooming loop, which was the stated purpose of the its trail development application. (See below.)
Improving the existing trail will allow it to be used by a variety of non-motorized users, whereas the newly stated width of the proposed trail will certainly not allow, especially in winter.
What is now proposed is (for all intents and purposes), a single-track mountain biking trail designed for mountain bikers.
The Trail Maintenance Policy defines a single-track trail as "a trail where users must travel in single file. The tread width of a single-track trail is generally 30 to 70 cm wide but can be as wide as 100 cm.”
Single-track trails are only permitted in intensive recreation areas of the park and may only be considered under certain conditions as outlined on page 19 of the Chadburn Lake Management Plan. (See 3.5 Area-Specific Management Directives #3.)
Upgrading the existing trail to allow its use by bikers, runners, walkers, skiers, and those using snowshoes will allow a more diversified selection of recreational users of trails to enjoy their respective activities in the park.
As well, it will prevent the negative physical impact on the land, and the fragmentation of same, that will result by the creation of a new 800 metre trail within a beautiful forested area.
I urge you to either review the photos sent, or (even better) visit the area yourself. (Just follow the order of the photos.)
Action #23 of the 2020 Trail Plan called for the “update [of] the Trail Development Application process.” Unfortunately, this (along with many other “actions” of the Trail Plan) have yet to be initiated. This application has certainly pointed out that the approval process is sadly lacking in a number of aspects starting with the application form itself, which does not address crucial information which would allow one to better evaluate the worth of the proposal.
The public needs to be given greater opportunity to provide input on all trail development applications. Public meetings should be held involving Parks and Community Development staff, the applicant, interested members of the public, representatives from City Council, as well as other interested governments. At the very least these meetings would make all concerned parties more aware of what should be considered before such applications are presented before City Council for approval.
The following information from the Trail Development Policy states the qualifications one must have in order to either develop a new trail or enhance existing trails.
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
- Legally established groups and organizations are eligible to submit proposals for trail construction or trail enhancements, including:
- (1) Non-profit organizations established under the Society [sic] Act;
- (2) Local economic development organizations;
- (3) Other governments; and
- (4) Appropriate organizations, as determined by the Manager.
- Individuals (or groups of individuals) are eligible to submit proposals only for short-term, ‘one-off’ trail enhancement projects. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Trail-Development-Policy.pdf.)
So, at present, walkers (and at times, other non-mechanized trails users) will have to put up with the development and enhancement of trails that do not necessarily meet their needs.
There should be a process whereby individuals or groups of individuals could at least make proposals for a new trail, or the enhancement of existing trails, or the closure of trails. If approved, the City’s trail crew could be involved in carrying out the work with the help of the applicant.
2. New Yukon Public Lands Legislation: Since most of us do not confine our outdoor recreational activity to the City of Whitehorse, but take advantage of the wilderness around us, you would be well-advised to learn more about this coming legislation. See https://yukon.ca/engagements/new-public-lands-legislation.
At this site you will be asked to read the public lands legislation discussion document before taking the online survey which is available until July 12. The discussion includes questions that would help you when providing additional written feedback.
Additional written feedback on the proposed legislation can be sent to [email protected].
The survey is found at https://surveys.yukon.ca/S2/1/NewLandsLegislation/. The survey will take an hour of your time, but as this legislation will directly impact those of you who spend time in our backcountry, it is well worth the effort. Remember the survey must be completed by July 12, 2024.
3. Bikes and Audible Signals: Concerns have been expressed about bicycles (including e-bikes) passing non-mechanized users on trails without providing an audible signal. Apparently, this is particularly noticeable on the Millennium Trail. Please note the following information taken from the Bicycle and E-Bike Bylaws.
“Notwithstanding any other provisions of this bylaw, unless a person operating a bicycle can provide more than one metre of separation when overtaking another developed trail user, the person operating a bicycle shall give an audible signal by voice, bell or other signalling device before overtaking another developed trail user.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BicycleBylawupdatedApril20.pdf.)
“Notwithstanding any other provisions of this bylaw, unless a person operating an e-bike, e-scooter, e-mobility device or aMTB can provide more than one metre of separation when overtaking another Trail user, the person operating an e-bike shall give an audible signal by voice, bell or other signalling device before overtaking another Trail user.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/202122EBikeRegulationBylaw-2.pdf.)
One of our associates has approached the City with a suggestion to provide appropriate signage on such well-used trails, that would remind cyclists of the need for an audible signal when overtaking other trail users within the one metre of required separation.
4. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Update: As mentioned previously, there will be no additional engagement with the citizens of Whitehorse with regard to this neighbourhood trail plan until 2025. This despite the fact that “most Whitehorse North residents indicated that they were not satisfied with the plan (73%), [and that the] majority of survey responses identified that the final plan does not address their expectations for the Whitehorse North Trail Plan network.” (See What We Heard Report, located on the Engage Whitehorse site under Whitehorse North Trail Plan.
Apparently, any updates with regard to further engagement will appear on the Engage Whitehorse website at https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.”
The above information has apparently not been passed on to the citizens of Whitehorse North as a whole, which one would think would be a priority. It is unfortunate that the results of the survey were not presented before City Council, since it was City Council that approved the neighbourhood trail plan that the people of Whitehorse North have found to be inadequate.
5. Access Gates Project Update: On June 19 the following email was sent to Parks and Community Development:
“Once again, the “gate” (McIntyre Creek near disc golf course), which was part of the Access Gates Project has apparently been vandalized. It is now completely open to all forms of vehicular traffic.
According to the City analysis of the Access Gates pilot project, this was one of the gates where compliance to rules relating to use was very poor.
Safety concerns suggest that this needs to be attended to immediately.
The use of rocks that are similar in size to the ones adjacent to the paved trail at this location would address the issue, if placed properly in order to allow baby carriages through and perhaps wheelchairs (the latter of which I have never seen on any of the paved trails in my area of Porter Creek).
It is becoming obvious that “barriers” such as the one currently in place at this location, do not work well in areas that are not easily seen by the public.
Please note that rock barriers have worked in other areas of the City. They are no more “dangerous” than any other types of barriers. And, one would think, that installation would be less costly especially considering the number of times the City has had to repair existing barriers such as the one in question.
The gates on the Millennium Trail near Second Haven Skate Park were also part of the Access Gates Pilot Project. The gate is still wide open despite the fact that the City said on 11/07/23 that they would be closed. Neither side of the gate in question appears to be broken. All both sides need is the installation of locks.
The gates on the East side of the Millennium Trail at the entrance to the Rotary Centennial Bridge are not functioning as intended and need to be repaired.
I would appreciate hearing what Parks and Community Services will do to address these three concerns.
Thanks for your attention to these matters.
We received the following reply from Parks and Community Development:
“Addressing these gate issues is on our workplan for this summer. We were not aware of the damage to the gate off the McIntyre pumphouse road – thank you for notifying us about that one. We’ll address this one as well.”
6. Yukon Conservation Society: Free Guided Interpretive Hikes in Kwanlin (Miles Canyon) are once again being provided by Y.C.S. These are usually a couple of hours long and are offered from Wednesday to Saturday. They start at 10 a.m. from the Miles Canyon Suspension Bridge, and will be available until August 17. For more information see https://www.yukonconservation.ca/guided-hikes.
7. Wild Discoveries: According to online information Wild Discoveries “is a program that provides opportunities for Yukoners and visitors to learn about and engage with the natural world. We offer interpretive walks and hikes, talks and public presentations that focus on a specific wildlife topic.” These free events require registration. See https://yukon.ca/en/wild-discoveries for more information.
ATWA Updates: April 28, 2024
1. Friends of McIntyre Creek: You are invited to attend the group’s Annual General Meeting. It will be held on May 13, 2024 at Hellaby Hall, 4th & Elliot Street from 7:00-8:30 p.m. There is a scheduled presentation by a representative of the Yukon Government on the current status of McIntyre Creek Regional Park. If you have any questions, or would be interested in joining the FOMC Board please email: [email protected].
2. McIntyre Creek Regional Park: An April 26 p. 10 Whitehorse Star article, entitled MOU solidifies McIntyre Creek protection plans can be seen at the following site: https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/mou-solidifies-mcintyre-creek-protection-plans.
3. Valleyview South Master Plan: An April 26 Whitehorse Star article by Jim Butler, entitled Council implored to save Valleyview greenery can be seen at the following site: https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/council-implored-to-save-valleyview-greenery.
4. ATWA Delegate Presentation: An ATWA delegate presentation was made at the April 22 City Council meeting on the subject of the Valleyview South Master Plan. You can view that delegate presentation at the following site: https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-04-22.mp4.html. Scroll down to #16.
You can also read the presentation on our website by going to Issues and scrolling down to Valleyview South Master Plan. See https://www.activetwa.org/valleyview-south-master-plan.html.
5. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Review: Early in March ATWA questioned City administration as to what form the promised further engagement was going to be done considering the citizens of Whitehorse North had indicated (via survey) that they were not happy with the neighbourhood trail plan approved by City Council.
Parks & Community Development replied that its “focus right now is to do an internal audit of our trail system which will aid future decision making-processes. This may include policy reviews and a change in practice on how we do signage. As you are aware, Whitehorse has a pretty large trail network, so this it is going to take us some time to complete this work. Therefore, no further engagement on the Whitehorse North Plan is scheduled for 2024.”
It concerns us that the City is going to delay finding a resolution to this problem.
As mentioned in our March Updates, Councillor Kirk did send a request to the City Manager for a response to our concerns about the delay, but almost two months have passed and we have heard nothing.
6. New National Park in Yukon: An April 22 press release discussed the possibility of the creation of a new national park in Yukon. (News Release #24-188) It would be located in the Peel Watershed and would be half the size of Prince Edward Island. You can read the press release at the following site: prhttps://yukon.ca/en/news/new-national-park-yukon-being-explored-gwichin-tribal-council-first-nation-nacho-nyak-dun-and-governments-canada-and-yukon.
7. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project: The gates located at Normandy Road South, and at Rhine Way and Range Road are now closed and locked. (April 13) However, we await action on others that were supposed to be closed/repaired at the conclusion of the project.
8. Contagious Mountain Bike Club Trail Development Application: Still no word as to a decision by Parks and Community Development as to whether or not the club’s most recent Trail Development Application will be sent to City Council for approval or rejection. Eight months have now passed since administration received the application.
9. No Update in May: As mentioned in our recent email to associates, there will be no Update issued in May. Hopefully, by the end of June we will have more information on some of the issues we have mentioned in the April Update.
ATWA Updates: March 28, 2024
1. Rigid Bollards and Cycling: Recently, we had an email exchange with Forest Pearson of the Urban Cycling Coalition concerning the user status of the Airport Trail. The exchange also included discussion of the use of gates, particularly those used on City of Whitehorse paved trails. He provided some specific information as to why the use of bollards is not appreciated by urban cyclists. See the following site: https://bikehub.ca/about-us/news/hub-position-rigid-bollards.
The article indicates that although bollards are “a safety issue for people cycling,” they “can be effective at limiting motor vehicle incursion if used correctly.”
Unfortunately, without adequate barriers on some of our trails both users and the environment would suffer even more from motorized activities. Barriers may be an inconvenience and may be potentially dangerous, but unfortunately in some cases they are a necessity, especially when it comes to non-paved trails. Unfortunately, City Council refuses to amend the much-dated Snowmobile Bylaw to restrict snowmobiles to designated and designed motorized multiple-use trails, which (in part) results in a continuing need for barriers.
2. Airport Trail: Forest Pearson agreed with ATWA’s belief that the Airport Trail (both paved and unpaved sections) is a year-round non-motorized trail, despite the fact that it is not included in the Exclusive Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
Even Parks and Community Development does not seem to know under what authority the Airport Trail has become closed to all motorized use. Perhaps its non-motorized (summer and winter) status falls under a grandfather clause. In any case, any attempt to change its current status would meet with much opposition. This is simply another example of the confusion that results when a city does not update its bylaws to effectively deal with such situations.
If any of you walk the trail on a regular basis, please check to ensure that signage indicating that it is off-limits to all motorized vehicles has not been removed. Please let us know if this occurs.
3. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Review: As mentioned in our February Updates, review survey results suggest that further engagement with the citizens of Whitehorse North with regard to its trail plan is required. Yet, despite the results, administration tells us that “no further engagement on the Whitehorse North Plan is scheduled for 2024.”
ATWA approached Councillor Cameron about this matter. He in turn approached administration and indicated that when the City Manager (Jeff O’Farrell) returns from Spring Break he will respond to our concerns. So, we wait, and hope that we will hear from the City Manager in the immediate future.
4. ATVs Return: The ATV Bylaw says that “A person may operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail during the time period April 1 to October 31 in each year and shall not operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail from November 1 to March 31 in each year.”
So do not be surprised to see such vehicles being used on MMU trails starting on April 1. Please remember that unlike snowmobiles, ATVs are not permitted on non-motorized trails in the City of Whitehorse.
In order to operate an ATV within the City of Whitehorse the following requirements must be met:
“A Safe ATV Card shall be issued by the City or a City-approved agency to a person who has paid a fee and has successfully completed and passed:
(1) an ATV safety course with a mark of 80% or higher; or
(2) an ATV safety and trail use examination with a mark of 80% or higher.
A person who operates an ATV is guilty of an offence if, on demand of a Designated Officer, he or she fails to produce any of the following:
(1) a valid operator’s license as required by this bylaw;
(2) a valid certificate of registration in respect of the ATV;
(3) a valid registration plate attached to the ATV;
(4) a valid insurance card in respect of the ATV; and
(5) a valid Safe ATV Card as required by this bylaw.”
5. Contagious Mountain Bike Club Trail Development Application: Still no word as to a decision by Parks and Community Development as to whether or not the club’s most recent Trail Development Application will be sent to City Council for approval or rejection. Seven months have now passed since administration received the application.
6. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project: Another tour was made of some of the access gates that were supposed to have been closed at the end of the pilot project in November. As of March 25, the findings are as follows:
a) Both sides of the Normandy Road (North) gate remain open.
b) Both sides of the Normandy Road (South) gate are now open, whereas on January 24, 2024 only one side was open.
c) Both sides of the gate at Rhine Way and Range Road are open.
d) The gate at Sunset Drive North and Park Lane remains open. (This is the gate which we previously mistakenly referred to as being located at Hillcrest Drive North and Park Lane, and
also mistakenly indicated that it was not a part of the Access Gates Pilot Project. It was included in the project.)
e) Both sides of the gate on the Millennium Trail near the Skate Board Park remain open.
f) Although not part of the Access Gates Pilot Project, the gate at the East entrance to the Rotary Centennial Bridge is wide open. One side needs repair, and the other needs a functioning lock placed in the correct position, to allow closure.
It would seem that almost all of the above gates could be returned to the closed position simply with the addition of appropriate locks.
As the final report on the Access Gates Pilot Project stated that with the exception of the Airport Trail, leaving gates open on the other trails included in the pilot project presented “a significant safety concern,” it would seem that immediate attention to the aforementioned gates is warranted.
Councillor Cameron was told “that the work is planned for this spring.” Spring has now sprung!
This past week we sent an email to Parks and Community Development asking that action be taken to close these gates. Along with the email, photos taken on March 25 of all the gates in question were sent.
7. Copper Ridge Development Area Master Plan: You can find information on this plan at the Engage Whitehorse site. See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/copper-ridge-development. Apparently, City Council has sent the plan back to administration for more work, and it will be at least a month before it comes before City Council again.
The plan fails to include definitions for the terms: passive recreation, active recreation, active transportation, non-motorized universally accessible trail, and non-motorized multiple use trail. Without clear definitions and explanations as to the actual meaning of these terms, and the relationship between those definitions and potential trail use, citizens of the area may not have a clear understanding of who may use the various trails located in the development area.
In ATWA’s submission to the Copper Ridge Development Area Master Plan, we recommended the inclusion of all non-motorized multi-use trails and all non-motorized universally accessible paths mentioned in the Master Plan, into the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw, or (more logically) change the Snowmobile Bylaw to restrict snowmobile use to designed and designated motorized multiple-use trails.
You can view ATWA’s submission on our website under Issues/Copper Ridge Area Plan. See https://www.activetwa.org/copper-ridge-area-plan.html.
ATWA also made a March 18, associate presentation before City Council on the issue. You can view that delegate presentation at the following site: https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-03-18.mp4.html. Scroll down to #5.
8. City of Whitehorse Statement on Spring Trail Use: You have probably seen the following statement, but just in case you have not, it is repeated below.
“As snow melts from the City's trail network, please exercise caution while the surface conditions change frequently.
Variable conditions may be present on paved trails, and can be difficult to prevent during the freeze-thaw cycle we're experiencing. Paved surfaces can become slippery and hazardous for users during this time. Pooling water may result in icy patches, and leftover grit applied through the winter may also result in reduced traction on dry, paved surfaces prior to sweeping operations.
On natural surface trails, ice and mud-covered sections may still exist on trails that are otherwise dry. When a trail is soft, please consider other options. Wet and muddy trails are more vulnerable to damage than dry ones, and may result in poor trail conditions, safety issues, and increased maintenance requirements.
If you notice trail related issues, notify Parks staff by sending your concerns to [email protected].”
ATWA Updates: February 29, 2024
1. Contagious Mountain Bike Trail Development Application: It is now six months (August 29, 2023) since ATWA was informed by Parks and Community Development that a trail development application had been received from the Contagious Mountain Bike Club (CMBC).
On February 5th we received the following information from Parks and Community Development:
“We’ve made no decision on this file. As mentioned previously, applications become public once they are on a Council agenda, which has not happened yet.”
The CMBC was contacted about the delay and this is what the club told us on February 21st:
“CMBC is no longer involved after we submit to the city and we are not sure what the delay is here.”
The club suggested that we contact Parks and Community Development, which we had already done on a number of occasions to no avail. It is surprising that the CMBC has not followed up on its own application.
So, it looks like the only way we are going to find out if this application is going to come before City Council, is to carefully scan every forthcoming City Council Agenda to see if the development application is on said Agenda.
2. Bylaw Review: Councillor Cameron has informed us that “there is no overall bylaw review underway or contemplated.” Apparently, the City of Whitehorse is looking at updating the Procedures Bylaw, and we know that the Zoning Bylaw is being looked at, but there is no movement on updating the 2012 Snowmobile Bylaw.
So, it looks like our only hope on changing the bylaw lies with the next elected City Council. Councillor Cameron is the only sitting City Council member that has given us any help with our goal of getting the Snowmobile Bylaw amended.
3. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project: As mentioned in our January Updates, “as of January 22/2024, both sides of the Normandy Road (North) gate were broken and open. Previously, (prior to the commencement of the project) only one side was broken.
As of January 24, 2024 the left side of the gate located on the Millennium Trail near the skate park was open and broken.
As of January, 22/2024 the left side of the Normandy Road (South) gate was open and broken.
Although not part of the Access Gates Opening Pilot Project, the gate located at Hillcrest Drive North and Park Lane is wide open, despite the fact that the trail is supposedly off-limits to motorized vehicles and is located in a supposedly Protected Area.”
We brought up the issue with Parks and Community Development and was told that “Administration has been investigating this. Some of the gates are broken as you note and will need repairs. We don’t have a schedule yet as to when the repairs will happen and I am not sure at this point if this can happen in the Winter.”
We then contacted Councillor Cameron to see if he could find out anything more. He did, and the response he got was “that the work is planned for this spring.”
Recently, we had a conversation with another City of Whitehorse department member and was told that if it is only the actual locks that are broken on the gates, that there may be some hope of getting those replaced before spring.
So, on March 19 spring begins, and as the saying goes, hope springs eternal that all repairs and closures will also begin!
4. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Review: The long-awaited review of this plan is now complete. Go to https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca and scroll down to Whitehorse North Trail Plan and then scroll down to Documents on the right side of the page. There you will find the What we Heard document entitled, 2023 Whitehorse North Trail Plan Satisfaction Survey. It is a document that is quite revealing, so give it a look.
The Satisfaction Survey indicated that “Out of the 92 responses, 71% of participants indicated they were not satisfied with the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan. In Whitehorse North, 73% of participants indicated they were not satisfied with the Plan.”
In the Conclusion section of the document the following is written:
“The online survey received a high level of participation from the general public and residents of Whitehorse North. The majority of responses were submitted by residents of Whitehorse North (72%), and most Whitehorse North residents indicated that they were not satisfied with the plan (73%). The majority of survey responses identified that the final plan does not address their expectations for the Whitehorse North Trail Plan network. The most frequent comments were location specific, which addressed motorized and non-motorized trail designations that resulted from the plan, as well [as] existing trails left off the map.”
Apparently, as the document indicates, “The results of this survey aim to help determine next steps, and whether further engagement is necessary.”
It seems obvious that the survey results suggest that further engagement with the citizens of Whitehorse North is required.
Of course, one wonders who is going to make that determination, and when that determination will take place.
5. Chilkoot Trail: You have probably already read the Whitehorse Star article of February 21, entitled U.S. National Park Service unveils Chilkoot Trail Plans. Apparently, the U.S. side of the trail will only be open to mile 4, at which point you will have to turn around. This means that for yet another year there will be no possibility of hiking the entire trail.
6. Finnish cyclists say biking makes sense year-round — even in Northern cities: This CBC Feb 21, 2024 article by Caitrin Pilkington, makes for an interesting read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/finnish-cyclists-oulu-whitehorse-biking-infrastructure-1.7120655.)
7. Why the e-bike boom is raising fire fears: This BBC Feb 8 article by Christine Ro should be of interest to those of you who own e-bikes. (See https://www.bbc.com/news/business-68055288.)
8. Radelet Peak - A Three Day Trek in The Yukon's Remote Backcountry: Radelet Peak has been in the news of late. (See CBC Feb 07, 2024 article entitled, Yukon musician gets $125K to fly grand piano deep into Kluane park for video shoot at https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-125-prize-winners-matthew-lien-kluane-1.7107194 and scroll down to A first ascent.)
Thought you might enjoy this YouTube video which features a hike to the peak. (See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8sCFx1g5i4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8sCFx1g5i4.)
9. Yukon Conservation Society: The YCS will hold its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, March 20 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. at 302 Hawkins St. and online via Zoom. For more information contact the YCS at 668-5678 or at [email protected].
10. Watermelon Snow: For those of you heading out for spring mountain skiing, the following article may peak your interest. The CBC January 08, 2024 article by Wallis Snowdon is entitled, New study investigates threat of 'watermelon snow' to mountain glaciers. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/algae-watermelon-snow-mountain-glacier-research-1.7074420.)
11. Parachute Article: Parachute was formed in 2012 and according to its website its role is to “educate and advocate for preventing serious injury in our homes, in sports and recreation and on our roads.” See the following site for an article on snowmobiling: https://parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/winter-sports-and-recreation/snowmobiling/.
12. War In The Woods: This BC Magazine December 21, 2022 article by Ryan Stuart discusses the issue of over use and overtourism and its impacts on outdoor activities. (See https://www.bcmag.ca/war-in-the-woods/.)
13. 35 Incredible Facts About the Yukon: Cannot remember if this article has been provided to you before, but it is a great article to place on one of your devices when you go on holidays in foreign lands, and to use to encourage people to visit Yukon. Of course, it is up to you to ensure the accuracy of the incredible facts!
The October 29, 2020 article (updated on May 05, 2023) is by Christina Pfeiffer and was found on the travel2next site. (See https://travel2next.com/yukon-facts/.)
14. Bylaw Services: Just a reminder from Bylaw that if you see any ORV (snowmachines, ATVs, or dirt bikes) owners breaking the rules of use as outlined in the Snowmobile and ATV Bylaws, to call them.
Yes, you may not be able to identify the operators or read the number of a non-existent license plate, and the operators may be long gone before Bylaw gets there, but Bylaw does record where the infraction took place. If Bylaw gets a number of calls concerning the same area, they will then get officers to patrol the location with their own ORVs.
Bylaw Services: 867-668-8317 or [email protected] Trouble Line: 867-667-2111
Give as much information as you can when you call: location, time, date, license plate number (if at all possible), approximate age of operator (adult or child), and the perceived offence.
15. What is an accessible/active transportation trail? There seems to be some confusion as to what is meant by the terms accessible trail and active transportation trail.
The 2020 Trail Plan says an accessible trail is one that provides “safe . . . options for all to walk, cycle or wheel on the trails” [and that such trails] “will be increasingly important to support older adults, families with young children and those with mobility constraints.” (See page 2 of 2020 Trail Plan.)
There is no mention of these accessible trails being open to motorized users, although the 2021 E-Bike Bylaw does permit the use of such trails by operators of certain classes of E-Bikes.
The City of Whitehorse defines active transportation as “Any form of human-powered travel, such as walking, cycling, skateboarding, cross-country skiing and more.” (2020 Trail Plan/Glossary)
Again, such trails would have to be non-motorized both in summer and winter in order to meet the definition of an active transportation trail.
The bottom line: According to the City’s own definitions, an accessible/active transportation trail would be one that is free from motorized use over the course of the entire year. Usually, such trails are about three metres wide and to be truly accessible would be paved.
Whistle Bend’s paved Perimeter trail is a 2.3 kilometre paved accessible/active transportation/recreation trail. It meets the City’s definitions of what constitutes both an accessible and active transportation trail, as it is not open to motorized traffic year-round. And, it is listed in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
Porter Creek has a number of gas tax funded paved (so-called) non-motorized trails that were intended to be active transportation/recreation trails. However, as none of them are included in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw, they are open to snowmobile traffic in the winter and, as such, cannot be considered as being accessible/active transportation/recreation trails.
All paved trails in the downtown area are off-limits to snowmobiles and ATVs, as per the respective bylaws, and qualify as accessible/active transportation trails.
The Millennium Trail, although outside of the downtown core, is protected via the ATV and Snowmobile Bylaws, and qualifies as an accessible/active transportation trail.
The Airport Trail is signed as being non-motorized in both winter and summer and has been for a very long time, but it is not included in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
The trail (which is partly paved) is not found on the City’s Motorized Multi-Use Trails map, so it does not qualify as a designed or designated MMU trail. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/LatestMMUtrailmapupdatedMa.pdf.
We have asked administration for clarification and this is the response we received:
“With respect to historical “no snowmobile” signs, I cannot speak to those, however, we are undertaking an inventory of those to confirm whether they are in good standing relative to City bylaws.”
This does little to provide any assurance that the Airport Trail will remain closed to motorized use over the entire year. Nor does it give any assurance that other trails in our community that for whatever reason are signed non-motorized, and clearly indicate that that restriction includes snowmobiles, are at risk from losing their historical status as being truly non-motorized trails.
Conclusion: Outside of the downtown area it would appear that there are only three paved trails that would qualify as accessible/active transportation trails in the City of Whitehorse, and the status of one of those (the Airport Trail) seems to be in limbo. (For the purposes of accessibility only the paved portion of the Airport Trail would qualify as being an accessible and active transportation trail.)
Of course, it would seem logical to consult those with accessibility concerns to determine what they consider to be an accessible trail. It may mean looking at far more than just the trail itself. After all one must be able to access the trail in the first place.
16. Whitehorse Star Article: Take a look at this Whitehorse Star Feb. 28 article by T.S. Giilck entitled, Councillor treads a path to trail improvements. The article concerns a motion that was presented at the Feb. 27 City Council meeting. Apparently, the motion was eventually divided into two. If you want to see a video of the debate on the motion(s) go to https://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2024-02-26.mp4.html and scroll down to #35. (The council meeting went on for over six hours!)
The Whitehorse Star article can be found at the following site: https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/councillor-treads-a-path-to-trail-improvements.
ATWA Updates: January 29, 2024
1. Trail Development Application: It is now four months (August 29, 2023) since ATWA was informed by Parks and Community Development that a trail development application had been received from the Contagious Mountain Bike Club (CMBC).
Section 40 of the Trail Development Policy (TDP) requires the Manager of Parks to “notify relevant stakeholders, community groups and other organizations of proposed trail developments and [to] receive comments for a period of three weeks after notification when:
(1) a proposed trail exceeds 500 meters in length [which this one does];
(2) a proposed trail exceeds 1.5 meters in width; and/or
(3) a self-propelled power driven machine for moving earth or clearing land of vegetation is proposed for construction (this excludes the use of ATVs, automobiles and snowmobiles for transportation of tools and materials).”
It is difficult understand why it would take over four months to make a decision as to whether or not the application should be forwarded to City Council for approval or denial. Such a delay is certainly not beneficial to the applicant, nor is it appropriate for those who take the time to comment on whether or not the project should go before City Council for approval or denial.
Having visited the site on several occasions, it became readily apparent that the limited information received from Parks and Community Development concerning the application was not sufficient to make a knowledgeable evaluation of the trail development request. This suggests that the application form itself needs to be improved to ensure relevant information is made available to those who are asked to comment on the proposal.
As well, those asked to make comments should have been reminded by Parks and Community Development that there is both a 2017 Chadburn Lake Management Plan and an East of the Yukon River Trail Plan that have to be considered, as the proposed trail is located in an area subject to those documents.
The 2020 Trail Plan’s Action #23 actually called for an update to the application process, although it is now obvious that even more attention needs to be given to the improvement of the application form.
The following is what the 2020 Trail Plan says about the subject:
Action #23: Update the Trail Development Application process
“Update the Trail Development Application process by establishing intake deadlines for new trail development applications to streamline the review and approval process:
• Establish clear application intake deadlines, such as: August 15th, November 15th, February 15th and May 15th
Amend the Trail Proposal Form to include:
• A section for the applicant to demonstrate previous trail building experience, such as participation in trail building workshops, or volunteering.” (p. 24)
It should be noted that although the Trail Development Policy itself provides a reference to the actual trail development application form, that reference leads to an Error 404. In other words, the application form is no longer available via the policy document. ATWA has informed Parks of this problem.
ATWA associates were asked to consider making comments with regard to the CMBC trail development application. Hopefully, those who did, took the time to visit the site of the proposed development, and also review the documents previously mentioned that govern trail expansion in the area.
You can view one such submission on our website under Issues. See Trail Development Applications; https://www.activetwa.org/trail-development-applications.html.
Photos of the site in question can be found on our website under Photos at https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html. The red line in the first two images from Parks show the proposed CMBC trail. (There are fourteen images to view.)
And, if you have a chance of obtaining the fall edition of Explore Magazine, you should look at an article by Ryan Stuart entitled, Loved to Death. The article starts with the following comment: “Recreation activities are the third-greatest threat to species at risk in Canada.” It is an article one should read before building recreational trails for any user purpose.
2. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project: The Access Gates Opening Pilot Project came to an end on 11/07/2023 with the publication of a Summary Report on the subject. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot/news_feed/winter-2023-update.)
At that time, the public was told that a "decision [had] been made to close the majority of the gates, with the exception of the airport trail." A list of the gates that were to have been closed was provided as follows:
Elijah Smith Elementary School
McIntyre Creek near disc golf course
Millennium Trail near the skate park
Normandy Road [There are actually two gate systems here one on the North and one on the South side of the road]
Ortona Avenue
Sunset Drive North & Park Lane
Rhine Way
Unfortunately, some of these gates have not as yet been closed, even though two and a half months have passed since the Summary Report was made available to the public. You can view photos of the gates mentioned below on our website under Photos. See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html. Scroll down to the Normandy Road North photo to view these pictures.
As of January 22/2024, both sides of the Normandy Road (North) gate were broken and open. Previously, as the photos indicate, only one side was broken.
As of January 24, 2024 the left side of the gate located on the Millennium Trail near the skate park was open and broken.
As of January, 22/2024 the left side of the Normandy Road (South) gate was open and broken.
Although not part of the Access Gates Opening Pilot Project, the gate located at Hillcrest Drive North and Park Lane is wide open, despite the fact that the trail is supposedly off-limits to motorized vehicles and is located in a supposedly Protected Area. (See signage on photos.)
This gate needs to be closed.
As well, the gates on the East side of the Rotary Centennial Bridge are open and may need repair as well. The gates are there to help discourage motorized use of the bridge and to slow down bike traffic. These gates need to be closed and (if necessary repaired).
ATWA has asked the applicable City of Whitehorse departments as to when action is going to be taken to rectify the above concerns. Despite the fact that it is winter, there should be no problem initiating the repair and closure of the gates mentioned.
3. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: After an additional request, ATWA has been informed by Parks and Community Development that the What We Heard Report promised in December will be issued this week.
The information should be available on the Engage Whitehorse site. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca and scroll down.)
If by chance you have forgotten what this plan review was all about, the following information is provided on the Engage Whitehorse site:
“In 2022, the City completed a neighbourhood level trail plan for Whitehorse North, which encompasses the MacPherson, Hidden Valley, Forestview, and Mayo Road area. Due to concerns expressed by some residents in the area about the results, we've decided to conduct a public survey to review and help determine whether residents are generally satisfied with the plan or not.”
4. Trail Maintenance Solution Proposal: An article in the Yukon News by Jim Elliot and entitled, Trail maintenance solution for sleds and bikes pitched to Whitehorse is of interest, particularly to those who use the Hamilton Blvd trail. See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/trail-maintenance-solution-for-sleds-and-bikes-pitched-to-whitehorse-7301445.
If any of you have comments about this proposal, please let us know.
5. Copper Haul Road Possible Closure: Another article in the Yukon News by Jim Elliot and entitled, Culvert work may close Whitehorse’s Copper Haul Road this year will be of interest for any who use the road for recreation. See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/culvert-work-may-close-whitehorses-copper-haul-road-this-year-7300899.)
6. Concrete Tunnels and Permafrost: How Sweden is Future-Proofing Skiing: This BBC article of January 19, 2024 by Matilda Welin is certainly food for thought. Even if we are not so worried here about lack of snow, the idea would be great for those who do not like to cross-country ski when the temperature drops below -20 C. See https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240118-concrete-tunnels-and-permafrost-how-sweden-is-future-proofing-skiing.
7. Zoning Bylaw Rewrite: On January 3/2024, ATWA submitted a response to the Zoning Bylaw Rewrite that addressed issues specific to Environmental Protection zones and to Greenbelt zones, but which also related to trails, regional parks, greenbelts, and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs). That document included a number of questions, to which we asked for a response in order to clarify our understanding of the issues that we continue to face.
On January 11/2024 we received a response from Darcy McCord who is a Senior Planner with Planning and Sustainability Services, City of Whitehorse. He provided a very detailed and informative response. It was most appreciated and gives us a much clearer understanding of the concerns we raised. He also referred questions that related to the Snowmobile and ATV Bylaws and their relationship to the current Zoning Bylaw on to the Manager of Parks.
Although we are still reviewing the response, we have already highlighted some material that might be of immediate interest to our associates.
Mr. McCord writes that “No City bylaw takes precedence over another. Generally, bylaws provide regulations for a discrete purpose, and should be coordinated and complement each other where they are performing a related function. Where different bylaws provide regulations on the same matter, the more restrictive regulation typically applies.”
He goes on to say, “Part of the process for the Zoning Bylaw Rewrite involves reviewing other City bylaws and policies to ensure alignment between these documents. Where appropriate, the new Zoning Bylaw will be updated to align with other bylaws and policies. In some instances, it may be more appropriate for the other bylaw/policy to be amended instead. Where this is the case, the department responsible for the document will be notified and they can incorporate it into their work plan as priorities and resources permit.”
This information could be of significance in our continuing effort to provide more protection for our city’s Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Environmental Protection Areas, open spaces, greenbelts, and so-called non-motorized trails.
8. City launching Climate Action Plan Engagement: You might be interested in taking part in this City of Whitehorse Initiative. The following information is provided by the City of Whitehorse:
“The City of Whitehorse is launching its Climate Action Plan (CAP) engagement.
The CAP will help inform city-decision making when it comes to climate change. The final plan will include a strategy on how to improve climate change mitigation and adaptation across the city, and set clear benchmarks for greenhouse gas emission reduction.
Starting January 30 until February 16, residents can share their perspectives on climate change in the community and the steps they are taking to reduce those impacts through a survey. The feedback from this survey will inform the draft plan, which will be shared with the public for comment later this spring.
A webinar to meet the team and learn about the process is also scheduled for Tuesday, January 30 at 7 pm. The recording will be made available to all residents for the duration of the engagement.
To learn more about this project, join the webinar and take the survey, visit engagewhitehorse.ca/climate-action-plan.”
ATWA Updates: December 20, 2023
1. Zoning Bylaw Rewrite: Hopefully, as many of you as possible will take the opportunity to complete the Zoning Bylaw Survey. Yes, it may take a little time to complete, as there is ample room for written responses to the questions asked. The survey is to be completed by January 5, 2024.
The current Zoning Bylaw can be found at the following site: (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2012-20-Zoning-Bylaw-2012-20.pdf.)
There is little in the survey that specifically addresses issues that ATWA has brought up in the past. However, we encourage you to complete it, as in one way or another zoning issues concern us all.
You can find the survey and additional information with regard to the Zoning Bylaw and to the process under which it is going to be reviewed at the following site:
https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/zoning-bylaw-rewrite.
You can also make written or oral comments directly to Darcy McCord (Senior Planner/City of Whitehorse) at [email protected] or 689-0342, or to Chelsea Fleming (Planner 2/City of Whitehorse) at [email protected].
ATWA is preparing a response to the Zoning Bylaw Rewrite, that will address issues specific to Environmental Protection zones and to Greenbelt zones, but which also relate to trails, regional parks, greenbelts, and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs). That document will include a number of questions, which we hope will solicit a response and clarify our understanding of some of the issues that we continue to face.
Please let us know if you have any issues concerning the above and we will include them in our submission(s) to City planners.
2. Mining Exploration in and near Whitehorse: Considering we are undergoing a review of the Zoning Bylaw, you might be interested in a November 22, 2023 Yukon News article by Jim Elliot entitled, Whitehorse council hears from residents concerned with mining exploration in and near city. (See https://www.yukon-news.com/local-news/whitehorse-council-hears-from-residents-concerned-with-mining-exploration-in-and-near-city-7113932.)
3. No battery E-Bikes: An associate has referred a December 5, 2023 euronews article by Oceane Duboust to us. Perhaps one day this new device will become an alternate to battery operated e-bikes.
(See https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/12/05/this-french-company-has-designed-the-first-e-bike-that-doesnt-need-a-battery.)
4. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Review: According to the City’s website, administration will be “reporting and sharing information with the public” this month (December, 2023). As of
December 20, no new information has been provided. However, there is still time remaining in December, so keep your eye on the following site for information updates. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.)
5. Contagious Mountain Bike Club Trail Development Proposal: There is still no word as to the present status of this application. It is now four months since we were informed by Parks and Community Development that the application had been received. This certainly suggests that the trail development process is not working as it should. No one benefits from such a delay.
Action #23 of the 2020 Trail Plan calls for the City of Whitehorse to “update the Trail Development Application Process.” That has not happened. The Trail Plan’s list of Action items is turning into a list of inactions. However, considering the amount of work that Parks & Community Development is being asked to handle, it is not surprising that things do not get done as we would like.
6. Capital Budget 2024-2027: There were several questions presented by those who were involved in the Capital Budget public input process, that concerned issues of which ATWA is interested.
These were included in Appendix A, which is found in the December 4, 2023 Standing Committee Meeting Agenda. You can judge for yourself as to whether or not the answers given address the questions raised. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/SC-Agenda-2023-December-4.pdf.)
APPENDIX A
Public Input for the 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program General Questions and Comments:
McIntyre Creek Management Plan
Q: What is the source of the McIntyre Creek Management Plan's external funding, and when is it expected to be forthcoming?
A: This is a multi-year project with an anticipated start in 2024. The funding source is to be determined.
2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan
Q: Does the 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program include allocating funds to implement the 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan? If not, why?
A: The 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program includes the Long Lake Trail and Parking Lot Accessibility project that addresses an action item in the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan.
Q: Will the City address the initiative found in Section 2.5 of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan in 2024? Will any funds be applied to placing new signs at all road entrances to the park?
A: The 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program includes the Long Lake Trail and Parking Lot Accessibility project to address the 2040 Official Community Plan, Idea for Action #25, to develop a strategy or program to advance Chadburn Park planning initiatives. In addition, the Trail Plan Implementation project will aim to complete trail developments and initiatives listed in the 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan.
Trail Plan Implementation
Q: How were the funds approved in 2023 for the trail plan implementation project used? How much was spent on what specific projects? How does the City plan to spend the allotted $100,000 in 2024?
A: A majority of the funds approved in 2023 supported the trail crew and maintenance of City trails. Some of the 2023 funds were used for feasibility studies and assessments. The 2024 budget will be used to undertake improvements to the trail network as outlined in the 2020 Trail Plan and Neighbourhood Trail Plans and initiatives. In addition, the funds will be used to create an interactive online trail map for the City of Whitehorse website.
Q: What progress has been made in implementing the 30 Actions listed in the 2020 Trail Plan? Does the 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program capture any capital projects related to the 30 Actions?
A: Various actions have been completed, including neighbourhood level trail plans, the development of the City's first E-Bike Bylaw as well as general improvements to the trail network. Administration is working through other action items such as policy and bylaw review.
[Note: The Whitehorse North Trail Plan is still under review.]
Wayfinding Plan
Q: What does the Wayfinding plan entail?
A: This initiative, recommended by The Downtown Plan (2018) and the Downtown Retail and Entertainment Strategy (2016), will identify points of interest, signage and map design, locations, and logistics for installation in Whitehorse. The plan aims to elevate exposure for attractions, including the Visitor’s Center, museums, heritage sites, and commercial areas. By incorporating First Nation themes, language, and culture, the plan seeks to unify signage and communication, promoting a cohesive downtown identity while upholding higher urban design standards.
Other submissions specifically requested that the City of Whitehorse:
Implement snow clearing along Hamilton Boulevard for active transport users.
Develop of a Downtown Trail plan for the Downtown and adjacent areas.
Construct a paved multi-use trail along Lewes Boulevard and lower escarpments trail pathway to complete the Downtown loop.
Ensure the protection and integrity of the airport perimeter trail.
Consider the concept of the Yukon River pedestrian bridge.
In response to those submissions administration indicated that, “The proposed 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program includes several projects with active transportation components.”
Airport Fence Trail Improvements - will protect and maintain the integrity of the Airport - Puckett's Gulch paved trail, a crucial active transportation route, by addressing the issue of extreme snow blowing and drifting during the winter season.
The installation of slats along the airport's perimeter fence has been tested over a 30-meter section and proven effective in reducing snow blowing and drifting onto the trail, ensuring safer passage for trail users and reducing maintenance efforts.
Selkirk Street Active Transportation - an asphalt path from Nisutlin to Selkirk Elementary School and improvements to the pedestrian crossing at Selkirk and Nisutlin will enhance accessibility for pedestrians. It will strengthen the active transportation network in the area, providing a designated path that promotes walking and cycling, fostering a safer and more accessible route for pedestrians and cyclists.
In response to the construction of a paved trail along Lewes Boulevard, the City recently painted a buffer for the dedicated bike lane along Lewes Boulevard from Nisutlin to Grey Mountain School. Additionally, the City is allocating funds in 2024 to assess neighborhood roadway speed reductions. The combination of these two initiatives will greatly increase the safety for cyclists/pedestrians on Lewes Boulevard in the near term. Larger cycling infrastructure improvements on Lewes Boulevard will be coordinated with future surface or underground rehabilitation work in the area.
The City values asphalt paths in park spaces and has recently extended the Lower Escarpment Trail north of Black Street with the Cook Street reconstruction project. At the south end of the existing Lower Escarpment Trail, the next extension will pass adjacent to a future development at 5th & Rogers. This development will likely require a landslide mitigation berm, which the future trail will be placed upon. The installation of a future trail in this area will be subject to development on that parcel and integrated into the design.
The idea of the Yukon River pedestrian bridge is being explored further within an existing 2023 capital project for the assessment of 2nd River Crossing, and the horizon for potential implementation will be established as part of the long-range transportation planning completed with the Transportation Master Plan. At this time, there is not sufficient information, and the idea has not progressed enough to support a capital project in the 2024-2027 Capital Expenditure Program. [To read the entire report go to the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/SC-Agenda-2023-December-4.pdf.]
ATWA Updates: November 30, 2023
1. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project Summary Report: We first mentioned this pilot project in July of 2022, and have never been impressed with how it was conducted.
The project only involved “barriers” located on a specific number of paved trails. The entire Summary Report, which is certainly worth reading in its entirety, can be viewed at the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot. Go to Documents on the right side of the page and click on AccessGatesOpeningPilot in order to download and view the report.
Included immediately below are sections from the Summary Report entitled, Analysis, Recommendations, and Conclusions. The Recommendations have been paraphrased.
Analysis
“Limited positive feedback was recorded from the community regarding the opening of the aforementioned gates. There are several recorded complaints regarding vehicles on the trails and an increase in trail user’s speed at high conflict intersections. The City implemented a system for reporting vehicles on the trail and its findings proved poor compliance to the rules at particular at Elijah Smith and McIntyre Creek. Additionally other observations were made and recorded of non-permitted vehicles using the trails once the gates were opened. Vehicles on the paved trail caused property damage and a significant safety concern. The risks outweigh the benefits to leave the gates open for the majority of locations. Airport trail is the exception with no reported issues and a low perceived risk of miss-use the gate can remain open maintaining ease of access for trail users.”
Recommendations
The Airport Trail is to be permanently opened."
Note: This should not result in a change to its status as a non-motorized trail. It is currently signed as being off-limits to all types of motorized use including snowmobiles. This has been the case for years.
Of course, this highlights the confusion over trail usage in Whitehorse, as both the paved trail section and the non-paved section are located outside the downtown core, and although signed as truly non-motorized summer and winter, it is not included in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
Even Parks and Community Development does not seem to know under what authority the Airport Trail has become closed to all motorized use. Perhaps its non-motorized (summer and winter) status falls under a grandfather clause. In any case, any attempt to change its current status would meet with much opposition. This is simply another example of the confusion that results when a city does not update its bylaws to effectively deal with such situations.
The gates that are to be closed are found at the Elijah Smith Elementary School, McIntyre Creek near the disc golf course, the Millennium Trail near Second Haven Skate Park, Normandy Road, Ortona Avenue, Sunset Drive North & Park Lane, and Rhine Way. These gates were supposed to be closed prior to the commencement of the pilot project, but some were already broken and, as a result, already open.
Conclusion and Next Steps
“Airport trail is currently open and will remain open as a result of the analysis completed for this project. All other locations are to be closed and are not planned to be re-opened. A redesign of gates or an alternative installation that improves access around them for intended users should be explored.”
If you would like more background information on this topic, please refer to Issues/Access Gate Opening Pilot Project on our website. See https://www.activetwa.org/access-gate-opening-pilot-project.html.
A November 10, CBC article by Katie Todd entitled, Whitehorse's open-gate experiment ends with locked gates, frustrated cyclists, indicates that the pilot project was “prompted by a request from the Whitehorse Urban Cycling Coalition (WUCC).” This information was not made available at the commencement of the project, despite our request that it be revealed. A representative of the WUCC is quoted as saying that “A lot of the gates have these spike-like contraptions.” See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/whitehorse-open-gate-pathways-pilot-project-1.7025350.
ATWA is not sure as to what the representative is referring, but having twice visited all the project locations (in summer and winter), only one presented any physical barrier to non-motorized users. Obviously, winter presents its own challenges to paved trail users, particularly those with disabilities.
On November 9, T. S. Giilck wrote an article in The Whitehorse Star entitled, City shelves its ungated trails project. However, you can only access this article if you have an online subscription to the paper, or purchase a hard copy. You can view a slideshow featuring the gates and barriers in question in our website under Photos. Scroll down to the second-to-last photo. Click on the arrow at top right to view each slide individually. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
ATWA will do a revisit of the gates in question at some point in December in order to ensure that all the gates scheduled to be closed are in fact, in good working order, and closed. However, if you live near one of these gates take a look. If not closed or broken, contact Colby Knowler at Parks & Community Development at 689-0859, or by email at [email protected].
2. No Snowmobile Sign Removed: One can only shake one’s head and laugh!
The “No Snowmobile” sign has now been removed from the paved trail near Takhini, and gates have been reinstalled. These “gates” only prevent trucks and cars from passing through. They do not prevent ATVs or snowmobiles from passing through.
Gates located at this site have been vandalized and repaired previously, only to be repeatedly vandalized. One suspects that this will continue.
So, what have we achieved here?
First the City of Whitehorse took down the damaged gates as part of the now discontinued Access Gates Project.
Then, two new signs were added: a shared pathway sign (bikers and walkers), and a no ATV sign.
Then, a No Snowmobile sign was finally added to the mix a year after said sign was promised by Engineering Services.
Then, that sign (after being up for just a few weeks) was removed. And now, the gates have been reinstalled. One wonders what all this activity cost the City of Whitehorse and its taxpayers.
Instead of the City of Whitehorse honouring the intent of gas tax paved trails as per use (non-motorized summer and winter), it continues to use the Snowmobile Bylaw to justify their use by snowmobiles. However, it also continues to refer to these paved trails as active transportation routes.
And, just so you know, in case you have concerns with any motorized multiple use trail in your area the Manager of Parks and Community Development has the authority under the Snowmobile Bylaw to "temporarily or permanently close a motorized multiple use trail or trail, or a portion thereof.” (See Section 29 of Snowmobile Bylaw.) So do not hesitate in contacting [email protected] if you do have concerns.
3. Canada invests in study of safe active transportation options under the Alaska Highway: This June 9, 2023 news release from Infrastructure Canada announces a $50,000 investment to “support community-led efforts to study active transportation in two neighbourhoods along the Alaska Highway in Whitehorse.”
The press release goes on to say that “This investment will support an active transportation feasibility study undertaken by the Cycling Association of Yukon and supported by Takhini residents, the Hillcrest Community Association, and the Whitehorse Urban Cycling Coalition.”You can read the entire press release by going to the following site:
https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2023/06/canada-invests-in-study-of-safe-active-transportation-options-under-the-alaska-highway.html.
4. Capital Budget 2024-2027: The Public Input session on the budget was held at Monday night’s (Nov. 27) regular City Council meeting. Unfortunately, only four people appeared before council. Hopefully, more have sent written comments to administration. The City of Whitehorse has provided the following information on the next steps in the process of Capital Budget approval:
“December 4, 2023
Report on Public Input – Public input collected from the time of First Reading until the Public Input Night is summarized and presented in a report to Council to consider prior to finalizing the Capital budget.
December 11, 2023
Second and Third Reading of Capital Expenditure Program 2024-2027.”
You can view the 2024-2027 Capital Budget at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/budget/.
Some items in the Capital Budget relate to areas that may be of interest to our associates.
Under Planning and Sustainability Services there is a 2024, $315,000 item (Subject to External Funding) entitled, McIntyre Creek Park Management Plan.
It seems as though the money is to be spent on the development of a McIntyre Creek Park Management Plan, something which many in our community would welcome. Of course, as indicated, the item is subject to external funding.
A delegate at Monday’s council meeting asked for confirmation that the intent is to develop a park management plan for McIntyre Creek Regional Park in 2024, if external funding is forthcoming. The question was also raised as to where this external funding is to come.
One would think that an evaluation of the now six-year-old Chadburn Lake Management Plan should be undertaken prior to the development of a McIntyre Creek Management Plan. It would be helpful to know if any difficulties have occurred in trying to implement the various goals of the Chadburn Lake Management Plan. Such information might help to make for a better McIntyre Creek Management Plan.
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any capital expenditures specifically related to the implementation of the 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan.
There is a reference in the Capital Budget under Parks, to a Long Lake Trail and Parking Lot Accessibility item in the 2025 Capital Budget, that is subject to external funding amounting to some $510,000.
A question was asked if this item is intended to address the initiative found in section 2.5 of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan. (See 2.5 p. 26 of the plan.)
In 2024, $100,000 is to be spent on implementation of the 2020 Trail Plan. Last year (2023), $100,000 was also allocated to this implementation.
A delegate wanted to know if all of the $100,000 was actually used in 2023, and if all or part of it was used, on what specific capital projects it was spent.
The delegate also wanted to know on what capital projects the 2024 allotment of funds is intended to be spent. (Appendix D of the 2020 Trail Plan lists a number of possible capital projects.)
Under Planning and Sustainability Services there is also a 2024, $37,500 item for a Wayfinding Plan, which is subject to external funding being approved. A question was raised as to what this plan entailed. It may be related to Goal #2 (2.1) of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChadburnLakePMPlanJune2017.pdf p. 25.
5. Entrance Signs for Chadburn Lake Park: ATWA has mentioned the need for park entrance signs on several occasions before City Council, yet six years into this ten-year plan and there is still no indication at entrances that the area is a City Regional Park. Current signage still refers to the park as a Recreational Area!
Signs should not only indicate the name of this regional park along with a reference to its existing management plan, but also according to that same plan, be “culturally appropriate.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChadburnLakePMPlanJune2017.pdf 3.1 p. 27.)
New signage would help people better appreciate how important the park is to all our citizens, and help to increase the respect that one should give to such an area.
Last Friday (11/24) information was received that leads us to believe that work is currently in progress to design these signs. Hopefully, money for their design, construction, and installation will be forthcoming.
6. Time for Updates: On November 27th a request was made before City Council
to provide updates for both the 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan and the 2020 Trail Plan. In other words, it is important that the public be informed as to what progress has been made over the last six years to realize the Goals and Initiatives of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, and over the last three years to address the thirty Actions of the 2020 Trail Plan.
7. When Google Maps gets it wrong, who's to blame? And how do you get it fixed? A November 20, 2023 CBC article by Karin Larsen is worth a read. It is a reminder that, as mapping software expert Will Cadell says in the article, “Google Maps and similar apps have their limitations.” (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/google-maps-error-whos-to-blame-1.7032369.)
8. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Review: Although we have tried to get a better idea as to when the results of this review will be released to the public, we have not as yet received any update from Parks and Community Development.
9. Contagious Mountain Bike Club Trail Development Proposal: There is still no word as to the present status of this application. It is now three months since we were informed by Parks and Community Development that the application had been received.
10. Trails across Canada for city dwellers to walk this winter: Although this CBC article by Jen O’Brien is three years old, as it was first posted on Dec 07, 2020, it is still relevant. It is always nice when good things are said about trails in the Whitehorse area. The trails surrounding Chadburn Lake are mentioned in this article. (See https://www.cbc.ca/life/travel/trails-across-canada-for-city-dwellers-to-walk-this-winter-1.5827166.)
11. Canada’s Most Livable Cities: This Globe and Mail article by Mahima Singh and Chen Wang with illustration by Kathleen Fu, was published on November 25, 2023. Whitehorse ranks 53 out of 100.
There is lots of informative material about our community found in this article, which you should find interesting. Have a look! (See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/article-most-livable-cities-canada-2023/ and click on the More Information box.)
ATWA Updates: October 28, 2023
1. Parks and Community Development Meeting: On October 19, Pat Milligan and Keith Lay met with three staff members from the Parks and Community Development department.
A variety of topics related to neighbourhood trail plans, regional parks, environmentally sensitive areas, paved pathways (outside of the downtown core), trail signage issues, Pee Wee Hill trail concerns, the Snowmobile and ATV Bylaws, communication issues, the lack of progress on ensuring that policies and bylaws reflect the intentions of the 2020 Trail Plan, and Alaska Highway trail concerns, were discussed.
Only time will tell if any of the issues we raised will see some resolution. However, we appreciated the opportunity to meet with Parks and Community Development members in order to air the concerns in person.
2. ATV Bylaw: Please note that according to section 15 of the ATV Bylaw, “A person may operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail during the time period April 1 to October 31 in each year and shall not operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail from November 1 to March 31 in each year. Please note that ATVs are not permitted on non-motorized multiple use trails, open spaces, or greenbelt areas at any time of the year. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/AllTerrainVehicleBylawupda.pdf.)
So, you should not be seeing any recreational use of ATVs in Whitehorse after October 31.
3. New Signage now in Question: One has to laugh! After a year and a half of discussion with Engineering Services surrounding the placing of a “no snowmobile” sign at the access gate area on the paved trail leading to Takhini, it was finally installed in August.
Within a month of its installation, Parks and Community Development asked Engineering Services to take it down because its placement does not conform to the dictates of the Snowmobile Bylaw, which it argues, allows for the use of such paved trails located outside of the downtown core by snowmobiles. This, despite the fact that the money to build the trail came from the federal government’s Gas Tax Fund, and such trails were to be used for active forms of transportation. In other words, they were to be non-motorized.
It is our understanding (subject to confirmation by the appropriate authorities) that Gas Tax funded paved trails could be motorized if a municipality so wished it, as long as non-motorized uses were allowed. However, one would think that the only way this could happen is through a public process. In other words, the municipality would have to consult and obtain approval of its citizens before a Gas Tax funded paved trail could be motorized.
To the best of our knowledge all public information released by various governments concerning the building of Gas Tax funded trails in Whitehorse indicated that they would be used for active forms of transportation and recreation.
Infrastructure Canada says “Eligible [Gas Tax] projects include investments in infrastructure for construction, renewal or material enhancement in each of the following categories:
- Local roads and bridges – roads, bridges and active transportation infrastructure (active transportation refers to investments that support active methods of travel. This can include: cycling lanes and paths, sidewalks, hiking and walking trails).” (See https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-b2019-nat-eng.html#.)
It should be noted that Section 28 and 29 of the Snowmobile Bylaw says that the “The Manager of Parks and Community Development may temporarily or permanently close a motorized multiple use trail or trail, or a portion thereof, and upon so doing, shall erect signage, which shall for the purpose of this bylaw be considered a traffic control device, in a conspicuous location at each end of the trail or portion of trail which indicates such closure, [and that] Notwithstanding any other provision of this bylaw, at no time shall a person operate a snowmobile on a motorized multiple use trail or trail that has been temporarily or permanently closed.”
There are a number of trails around Whitehorse that are closed to snowmobile use, yet are not listed in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. Perhaps Section 28 and 29 of the Snowmobile Bylaw is the reason why.
If the City of Whitehorse amended the Snowmobile Bylaw to confine snowmobile use to City designated and designed motorized multiple use trails, there would be no paved trail issue and no signage issue.
The following is a quick review of some of the funding sources for trails in general.
We have the Gas Tax Fund, which now is referred to as the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF). We also have the new Active Transportation Fund Government of Canada (ATFGOC) which seems particularly concerned with the building of active transportation pathways of various types.
It is our understanding that this fund is separate and distinct from the federal gas tax fund (now the CCBF). “The Fund will . . . help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges, as well as support Active Transportation planning and stakeholder engagement activities.”
This funding is available not only for municipal projects in the territories including projects in Indigenous communities, but also for non-profit organizations.
As to what the rules are re: permitted use of paved or unpaved trails built using these ATFGOC
funds, is something the City should explore and once determined, should pass its findings on to citizens.
Hopefully, such active transportation/recreation trails will maintain the non-motorized aspect and eliminate the ability of a municipality to turn them into motorized trails.
4. Separated Bike Lanes: Given the recent controversy surrounding Chilkoot Way, this CBC article of Oct. 21, 2023 by Jason Peters might be of interest. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bike-lanes-penticton-1.7003386.)
5. Gibsons BC Trail Signage: Looks like this community of less than 5,000 residents knows that Latitude should be placed before Longitude when used on trail signs. Perhaps it is because it is a coastal community, and ocean travel is vital to its existence. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
If any of you do find trail signs in Whitehorse that correctly put Latitude before Longitude, take a photo and send it to us. Please identify its location.
6. Proposed Trail Development by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club: No word as yet as to whether or not this proposal will go before City Council for approval or rejection.
7. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Public Review: Apparently, Parks and Community Development is still in the process of reviewing the results of the recent review. As mentioned in our September Updates, ATWA made a submission to administration on the subject. Copies were also sent to each member of City Council.
The submission can be found on our website under Issues/Whitehorse North Trail Plan. See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.html.
8. Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail: ATWA is still waiting for a reply from the Director of Community Services to our September 23 email concerning the situation with regard to the Pee Wee Hill alternate trail.
9. Hot Springs Resort Trails: If you are out visiting the hot springs and/or Bean North take the time to explore these trails. We have placed a photo of the sign that is located at the start of the trail system on our website. It has all kinds of information on it, which should be read before using the trails.
These trails are funded and maintained by the Hot Springs Resort Trails Society. They are not open to any form of motorized use in either summer or winter. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html, and scroll down to the second photo.)
10. E-Bike Story: A Scotland News story by Auryn Cos raises concerns about the responsible use of e-bikes. (See https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-67242398.)https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-67242398.)
ATWA Updates: September 24, 2023
1. Proposed Trail Development by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club: As mentioned in our August Updates, the Contagious Mountain Bike Club (CMBC) has submitted a trail development proposal to the City of Whitehorse.
An outline of the proposal was sent to Active Trails Whitehorse Association (ATWA) by Colby Knowler (Projects & Trails Coordinator/Parks) on August 29, 2023. That information was sent to all ATWA associates.
ATWA made clear in the information that associates should make personal submissions on the subject if they have some comments they would like to make.
ATWA’s immediate concern about such applications is that proper process is followed, and there is adherence to the Trail Development Policy.
To date, ATWA is satisfied that proper process has been followed.
Submissions on the proposal closed on September 15. However, should administration find the proposal to have merit, it will have to come before City Council for approval. At that point any member of the public will have a chance to make a delegate presentation either in support or in opposition to the proposal.
ATWA has been told that it will be notified if that should happen, in order that we can inform our associates as to the date that the proposal would go before City Council.
However, it is always wise to have a glance at the agenda for each Monday evening meeting of council, just in case there is something on the agenda that may be of particular interest to you. (You can see the Agenda for each City Council agenda at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/our-government/city-council/meetings/agendas-minutes-and-reports/.)
A personal submission on the trail development proposal was made by Keith Lay on September 14. This submission can be found on the ATWA website under Issues at https://www.activetwa.org/trail-development-policy--application-process.html.
If any of you have made a submission and are willing to have it posted on our website for review, please send it along.
2. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Public Review: The survey and review process came to an end on September 15. According to the City this review was deemed necessary, "Due to concerns expressed by some residents in the area about the results [of the original Whitehorse North Trail Plan.]"
ATWA made a submission to administration on the subject. Copies were also sent to each member of City Council.
The submission can be found on our website under Issues/Whitehorse North Trail Plan. See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.html.
We will have to wait and see what happens as a result of the review. One would think that at some point the results will have to come before City Council. It would be wise to keep a close eye on future council agendas to ensure one does not miss any discussion on said results.
3. October Meeting: As mentioned in our August Updates, ATWA had been promised a meeting with Mélodie Simard, the Manager of the City’s Parks and Community Development department, in order to discuss some of ATWA’s concerns with regard to the 2020 Trail Plan, 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, and the Whitehorse North Trail Plan, as well as recent issues surrounding Environmentally Sensitive Areas and the Snowmobile Bylaw.
This meeting is now scheduled for October 19. If any associate has an issue that you would like us to raise concerning trails, regional parks, open spaces, bylaws, city policies, or concerns related to proper process, please contact us via email.
If all goes as planned Pat Milligan and Keith Lay will be attending the meeting.
4. Town of Inuvik and ATVs: Seems like Inuvik has some safety issues concerning the use of ATVs in their community. This September 15, 2023 CBC News article by Dez Loreen explains the issue. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/inuvik-atv-safety-warning-1.6967492.)
5. Pee Wee Hill and Alternate Trail: Recently an email was sent to
Krista Mroz, who is the Director of Community Services. She was the person with whom ATWA met in September of 2022 concerning Pee Wee Hill and the alternate switchback trail.
Photographs were included in the email that showed the current signage, the existing side trails that have infiltrated the switchback trail, and the state of the trail over the course of two winters. These can be viewed in the photo section of our website. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
The email read as follows:
Just wondering if you could give us an update with regard to Pee Wee Hill and adjacent alternate switchback trail, as you met with ATWA in September of 2022 to discuss (in part) this issue.
Shortly after the meeting, “Administration communicated that an assessment of the Peewee Hill “alternate hill” was conducted on September 27 (2022), with Parks trail staff, Parks Manager, and A/Director, Community Services.
Potential recommendations for improvements to the trail and nearby area were identified, including the need for additional signage. It was noted that signage installation was likely to occur this fall (2022), with additional improvements identified for the spring (2023) work plan.
Administration [was also to do] an assessment of the snow impacts over the winter (2022/2023). Potential recommendations may be added to the spring) work plan.”
Two tiny signs have been placed on a tree part way along the trail. Neither can be seen at the start of the trail (bottom of hill). One has to question the value of these two signs. No signs indicate what uses are allowed on the trail and/or what uses are not permitted.
Are any more signs anticipated? If so, what will they indicate?
What “additional improvements” were identified for the spring 2023 work plan? Were any of these “improvements” carried out?
What "recommendations” were added to the spring work plan to address the snow impacts that were obvious over the winter of 2022/2023? Were any of the suggestions implemented?
For the last two winters (2021/22 and 2022/2023) it has been impossible to use the trail for its intended purpose, which was to allow “a wide range of users to access the trail networks [within the Grey Mountain trail network] in all seasons.” (Action #15 of the 2020 Trail Plan)
Two of the photos below, taken over a year apart (January 2022 and February 2023) of the same section of the alternate trail, show how inaccessible the trail has been over the course of two winters.
It also appears that no effort has been made to block the several “side” trails that now cut into the switchback and present potential safety concerns to those using the switchback route. (Three of those side trails are seen in one of the photos below. There is at least one other.)
Will any effort be made to close these side trails?
We would appreciate a response to our questions.
Thanks for your help,
Keith Lay (Active Trails Whitehorse Association)
www.activetwa.org
Unfortunately, the Director will not be available until October 19, so it will be some time before a response is forthcoming.
6. New Signage in Place: As mentioned in our August Updates a “no snowmobile” sign has been placed at the access gate area on the paved trail leading to Takhini and located near the disc golf course in Porter Creek. A photo of the new sign can be viewed in the photo section of our website. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html and scroll down.)
ATWA Updates: August 30, 2023
1. Access Gates Opening Pilot: With regard to the status of this project, we have received the following information from Tracy Allen, who is the Director of Infrastructure & Operations for the City of Whitehorse: “As for revisiting the project in the future, at this time I do not believe it is in the current or future capital projects plan.”
It appears that the project will not be completed as intended.
As mentioned in our July Updates, part of the project involved the placement of a sign at the access gate area on the paved trail leading to Takhini and located near the disc golf course in Porter Creek. (The access gate was removed as part of the project.) The sign was to indicate that snowmobiles would not be permitted on the paved trail.
ATWA was recently in contact with Taylor Eshpeter, who is the Manager of Engineering Services for the City of Whitehorse, concerning the sign and was assured that it would be installed.
The sign has now been placed at the site in question. ATWA would like to thank Mr. Eshpeter for his attention to this matter.
Hopefully, the sign will encourage snowmobilers to keep to the MMU trails in the area and will enhance safety for all concerned.
2. Proposed Trail Development by the Contagious Mountain Bike Club: On August 29, ATWA received an email from Colby Knowler, Projects & Trails Coordinator/Parks, City of Whitehorse.
We forwarded his email to all our associates on the same day.
The email indicated that the purpose of the proposed trail is “To complete a single track link from RIP back to Magnusson parking lot that would provide a climbing route off away from motorized traffic on Grey Mountain road, creating a viable continuous climb trail to Magnusson parking lot as it continues from RIPURT. This will also create a valuable grooming loop in winter as there is currently no connection back to Magnusson area for the Snow Dog trail groomer. The trail will be built with mountain biking in mind and encourage people to ride up grey mountain rather than drive. This will also improve safety on grey mountain road.”
Please note that the proposal involves the construction of an 800-metre-trail. Walk twice around the 400-metre- long running track at F.H. Collins and you will get a better idea as to how long the proposed trail will be, if built.
You are asked to send any comments, questions, and/or concerns [with regard to this proposal] to [email protected], or alternatively to [email protected]. Comments must be received by 18/09/2023.
ATWA would also appreciate hearing from you if you have any comments, questions and/or concerns about this proposal.
The proposed trail development raised a number of questions with regard to the approval process. As a result, the following email was sent to Coby Knowler. He replied immediately to the questions and his comments will appear in blue. We very much appreciate the quick response!
"I have some questions about this trail development application and the Trail Development Policy.
You said that the application involves the building of a "single track link [800 metres long] from RIP back to Magnusson parking lot . . .”
Therefore, this would not be a trail enhancement, but rather a new trail.
Correct, this is an application for a new trail.
According to the Trail Development Policy, “trail enhancement” means trail works that change the characteristics of a particular trail to improve user experience such as minor reroutes (under 100 meters), large contiguous resurfacing projects (over 10 meters) and construction of structures, such as boardwalks, bridges, TTFs or other structures, of a long-term or permanent nature.”
The definition clearly indicates that the building of an 800-metre-long trail cannot be considered as a trail enhancement, but simply new trail construction, even if it is considered to be a link or a connector trail.
Section 12 of the policy says that “City Council shall (1) authorize new trail construction; (2) designate new trails; and (3) adopt new trails into the Trail Maintenance Policy.
Section 13 of the policy also says that the Manager of Parks must "recommend and present trail development authorizations to Council."
According to the section 16 of the Trail Development Policy the "Construction of trails on municipal and/or Crown lands within the City of Whitehorse boundary is not permitted unless authorized by Council.”
Section 40 of the policy goes on to say that the “Manager [of Parks] will present complete applications to Council for approval. Council approval consists of authorizing trail construction, designating proposed trails and adopting proposed trails into the Trail Maintenance Policy.”
It appears that this particular application must be approved by City Council at a Regular Council Meeting and introduced at a Standing Committee Meeting. Members of the public would be able to appear as Delegates at the Regular Council Meeting where a decision would be made by City Council as to whether or not the trail application is approved.
Question: Is this correct? If not, why not?
Yes, this is the process we must follow for a single-track, hand-built trail between 500-1000m in length with a corridor width of 1.5m or less. Following a notice for comment period, we would take this trail development application to Council for approval.
Comment: If this application does have to go before City Council for approval, then the mentioned “light clearing” could not take place until the approval was granted. Given the difficulty of getting items on council agendas, it could be well into winter before approval may be granted.
No work will be permitted to take place on this proposed trail unless approved by Council, and not before then. It may not be possible for this trail development to commence before winter if it does not make it onto a Council agenda in the next month.
Question: If the application does have to go before City Council for approval, then will Parks immediately inform relevant stakeholders, community groups and other organizations” of this requirement, and (when known) the date of the Council meeting where those interested could appear as Delegates in support or in opposition to the application?"
When I know a Council date for the decision on this trail development application, I can inform those who have been contacted with this notice for comment as to when it will be happening.
For those of you who would like to review the Trail Development Policy you can go to the following site:
https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/TrailDevelopmentPolicyJune.pdf.
3. Whitehorse North Trail Plan New Survey: Information with regard to this survey and public comment period can be found once again on the Engage Whitehorse site at https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.
According to the information provided “You can provide your input via [the] online survey, or send an email with the subject line “2023 Whitehorse North” to [email protected](External link). Of course, you could do both! You have until September 15 to provide input.
More information on the Whitehorse North Trail Plan can be found under Issues on our website.
4. Bike Racks: For those of you who have such devices attached to your vehicle, the following August 13, 2023 Globe and Mail article by Jason Tchir should be of interest. See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-can-i-really-get-a-ticket-for-having-a-bike-rack-on-the-back-of-my/.
5. Motorcycle for children? This August 7, 2023 New York Times News Service article by Matt Richtel was picked up by the Globe and Mail. See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/article-motorcycle-for-children-e-bike-maker-super73-blurs-lines/.
6. September Meeting: ATWA has been promised a late September meeting with Mélodie Simard, who is the Manager of the City’s Parks and Community Development department, in order to discuss some of ATWA’s concerns with regard to the 2020 Trail Plan, 2017 Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, and the Whitehorse North Trail Plan, as well as recent issues surrounding Environmentally Sensitive Areas and the Snowmobile Bylaw.
Apparently, the Manager is away until September 18th, so the meeting will not take place until after that date.
ATWA Updates: July 31, 2023
1. Access Gates Opening Pilot: The project no longer appears on the Engage Whitehorse site. It just disappeared with no apparent explanation. Notification of this change was not sent to ATWA, despite the fact that two submissions were sent by an ATWA associate to the City’s Engineering Services department.
As a result, we sent the following email to the department:
A) “The Access Gates Opening Pilot no longer appears on the Engage Whitehorse site as a Featured Project. However, it can be found under the section entitled, Current & Past Projects. As the project is no longer current, then it must be a Past Project.
One would think that if it is considered to be a Past Project, then it would have been completed. However, that is obviously not the case.
As the Timelines were not met and the individual who was the project manager has left the City’s employ, it would seem that the project is now dead in the water.
ATWA spent a considerable length of time preparing two submissions for this project. (See https://www.activetwa.org/access-gate-opening-pilot-project.html.) Yet, we received no notification when the project was removed from the current Engage Whitehorse site without any explanation.
We would like to know if we are correct in making the assumption that the pilot project has been shelved. We would also like to know if the City intends to revisit this pilot project at some time in the future.
B) As part of the project a sign was to be placed at the access gate area on the paved trail leading to Takhini and located near the disc golf course in Porter Creek. This sign would have indicated that snowmobiles are not permitted on the paved trail.
We were told by [the project manager] in January (2023) that the sign had been ordered and once received would be installed. Of course, the ground was frozen at that time, so we expected to see it installed in the spring of 2023.
Unfortunately, the sign has not appeared.
Despite the apparent failure of the City to complete this project, the sign was promised and as such we would appreciate it being installed as soon as possible and certainly prior to the ground freezing as winter approaches.
I include a copy of the email ATWA sent to the project manager (including photos of the area in question) on January 17/2023, along with his response.
Please let us know when the sign will be installed as promised.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Hopefully we will receive a response.
2. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: As you are aware if you have kept up-to-date on all the material ATWA prepared and submitted on this plan, the manner in which it was conducted left much to be desired. Similar concerns were raised with the Whitehorse South Trail Plan, although despite presentations before City Council and numerous appeals to administration they were ignored.
Now the City is “looking for [the public’s] feedback about the results of the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan.”
Apparently, “due to concerns expressed by some residents in the area about the results, [the City has] decided to conduct a public survey to review and help determine whether residents are generally satisfied with the plan or not.”
And so, another survey has been prepared which the City asks the public to complete by September 15, 2023. The survey consists of five questions, three of which have nothing to do with trails. One of the latter actually asks for the participant’s year of birth and another asks for the participant’s gender identity!
The map of the Whitehorse North Trail Plan that is provided is not labelled as to trail designation, so how is one to make any determination as to one’s satisfaction with the plan.
One must go to the following site to get a labelled map: https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Whitehorse-North-Trail-Map.pdf. It is unlikely that many will access this site as few will know where to look.
Please be aware that at a City Council meeting of December 12, 2022, administration made a proposal that would see the lower section of the one approved so-called non-motorized multiple use trail in Whitehorse North be blocked off in the winter to snowmobile use. (It is currently closed to ATV use in the summer as per the ATV Bylaw.) This section would then become the only truly non-motorized multiple use trail in Whitehorse North, as it would be closed to both ATV and snowmobile use.
As this proposal came after City Council had approved the Whitehorse North Trail Plan, ATWA questioned the appropriateness of the suggestion. We still do not know whether or not this administration proposal will be enacted, but there is no indication on the council approved Whitehorse North Trail Plan map that it will be.
In the documentation provided along with the survey, the City includes a Glossary which defines the term Motorized Multi Use (MMU) Trails and the term Non-Motorized Trail, neither of which conform to the definitions given in the 2020 Trail Plan. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/DraftTrailPlanFullReport.pdf. P. 45.)
As well, the failure to clearly explain the relationship between the 2020 Trail Plan, the Snowmobile Bylaw and the Trail Maintenance Policy simply adds to the confusion surrounding trail designation. The City needs to explain that the outdated Snowmobile Bylaw trumps both the 2020 Trail Plan and the Trail Maintenance Policy, despite promises that bylaw(s) would be amended to reflect both these documents.
It also needs to tell the public that the most expensive trail to build, maintain, and enforce is a motorized multiple use trail that permits non-motorized users.
You are encouraged to fill out the survey which is apparently opened to all Yukoners as one of the survey question suggests, although one would think that citizens of Whitehorse who actually use the trails of Whitehorse North should be the ones consulted. Of course, the citizens/residents of Whitehorse North should have the most say as to how the trails in their area are used. See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/whitehorse-north-trail-plan?tool=survey_tool#tool_tab.
Strangely enough, although the opportunity for comment and for completion of the so-called survey is September 15, the information no longer appears on the main Engage Whitehorse site under Featured Projects.
It has now been transferred to the Current and Past Projects site. See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.
It is questionable as to whether or not people will view that site when the main Engage Whitehorse site is where the latest City featured engagement projects are listed.
However, as of today (July 31) one can still use either of the above listed sites to get to the information and the survey.
August 1st Update on the Whitehorse North Trail Survey:
Today (August 1st) one of our associates was able to contact Colby Knowler (Projects & Trails Coordinator at Parks) who had been out of his office since the middle of last week. Apparently, he was unaware that the Whitehorse North Trail Survey was taken off the home page by the Communications department. That has now been corrected and it is available again on the front page of engagewhitehorse.ca under "Featured Projects”.
Colby also said that "If you click the image on the Engage Whitehorse page [https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/whitehorse-north-trail-plan], it will take you to the full map which includes a legend [https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Whitehorse-North-Trail-Map.pdf].This can also be accessed on the sidebar of the webpage under the "Important Links" section by clicking the link that says "2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan Map”.
We thank our associate for contacting Colby. We also thank Colby for correcting the “home page” issue and providing more information about the trail map image.
3. Chilkoot Greenway: According to the Engage Whitehorse site, “The City of Whitehorse is improving active transportation opportunities along Chilkoot Way, connecting the Riverfront Trail with Two Mile Hill pathway.”
More information on this project can be found at the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/chilkoot-greenway.
There is also a Quick poll that the City would like you to take.
4. CBC Article: This July 28 article by Geoff Nixon explores how some Canadian cities are trying to make it easier for both cyclists and pedestrians “to get around this summer.”
See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/open-streets-efforts-canada-cities-2023-1.6914490.
5. Inclusivity Advisory Committee: Administration provided an update on the Inclusivity Advisory Committee. Apparently, the committee has met four times, and despite awaiting new member recruitment, work plans are in process and will be brought forward soon. This update was found in the City Council Administration Package of July 10, 2023.
The committee is mandated to “Identify opportunities to increase inclusivity through City bylaws, policies and programs . . . .”
One wonders if the committee would entertain a presentation concerning a trail designation system which appears to give preference to motorized trail users over non-motorized users. It would be interesting to explore this possibility.
6. For Reference: Although this has been mentioned before, it is worth repeating. “Engineering controls the classification and design of paved pathways in the City whereas Parks is responsible for non-paved trails throughout the City.”
ATWA Updates: June 26, 2023
1. Yukon Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) Rewrite: Recently, we received the following information from Aldous Sperl, Director Highways and Public Works.
“We are writing to update you on the Yukon Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) rewrite. During our public engagement in 2019, we reached out to your organization to participate. We are now entering the final stage of engagement which will follow-up on feedback we heard in 2019 and provide you an opportunity to give final thoughts for the new Motor Vehicles Act.
Attached is a hand-out that explains where we are in the process and where we are going. Also included is a summary of the “What We Heard” report from the 2019 engagement. You can find the full report online on https://yukon.ca/en/motor-vehicles-act-public-engagement.”
The section of the “What We Heard” report that deals with ATWA concerns is found on pages 8 and 9, and is entitled “Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) and Snowmobiles.”
Please be aware that municipal bylaws can be stronger than territorial legislation with regard to ORVs and snowmobiles. Currently, the City of Whitehorse has much stronger regulations with regard to such vehicles. Those regulations can be reviewed by looking at the Snowmobile and ATV Bylaws. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SnowmobileBylawUpdatedJuly.pdf and https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/AllTerrainVehicleBylawupda.pdf.)
Hopefully, the territorial government will ensure that the much needed and much delayed improvements to regulations with regard to the operation of ORVs and snowmobiles in the territory are placed in the draft MVA.
ATWA has been invited to a presentation with regard to the review, although a specific date has not as yet been confirmed. If we are not able to attend on the date provided a written response will be sent.
If after reading the section of the report concerning ORVs and snowmobiles, you have comments you would like to make, you are encouraged to send those comments to Patti Balsillie (Engagement Strategist) at [email protected].
As well, you might consider sending a copy of your comments to Minister Nils Clarke (Minister of Highways and Public Works): [email protected]/867-333-1007.
Once the new act is approved you will undoubtedly have to live with it for many years to come, so please tell the government what you think should be included in the regulations dealing with ATVs (ORVs) and snowmobiles.
2. Globe & Mail Article of June 18, 2023: This article entitled, Two girls suffer life-threatening injuries in off-highway vehicle collision in Alberta demonstrates why stronger regulations concerning ORV use are needed. (See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-two-girls-suffer-life-threatening-injuries-in-off-highway-vehicle/.)
3. CBC Article of June 20, 2023: This article by Pratyush Dayal and entitled, Calls for ATV safety grow after 3 people, including 13-year-old, killed in recent crashes, raises issues associated with ATV regulations. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/atv-groups-ask-for-more-safety-regulations-following-two-deaths-1.6879748.)
4. Access Gates Opening Pilot: A recent effort by ATWA to get an update on the project proved fruitless. Unfortunately, the contact person for this pilot project will no longer be with the City of Whitehorse as of July 03. After that date we have been advised to contact [email protected], if we have any questions.
As part of the project a sign was to be placed at the access gate area on the paved trail leading to Takhini and located near the disc golf course in Porter Creek. This sign would have indicated that snowmobiles are not permitted on the paved trail.
We were told in January that the sign had been ordered and once received would be installed. Of course, the ground was frozen at that time, so we expected to see it installed in the spring.
Unfortunately, the sign has not appeared. As mentioned previously, when we asked for an update on the project and in particular about the snowmobile sign, no information was forthcoming.
One suspects that it will be back to square one in our effort to get this sign installed. As to the Access Gates Opening Project time will tell if it proceeds. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot for any updates.)
5. Łu Zil Män (Fish Lake) Local Area Plan process: (See https://yukon.ca/en/fish-lake-local-area-planning.) ATWA encouraged our associates to fill out the survey that was provided and/or make comments on the original draft, so some of you may be interested in viewing the latest information on this process.
6. Map-Reading: A June 11, 2023 CBC article by Natalie Stechyson, entitled Is map-reading a lost art? is definitely worth a read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/maps-cartography-skill-1.6871726.)
7. Lyme Disease: Apparently, due to climate change, tick populations are growing at various locations across Canada. A June 03, 2023 CBC article by Adam Miller, entitled Climate change is fuelling a spike in Lyme disease cases across Canada, gives some valuable information on this problem. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/climate-change-lyme-disease-canada-ticks-1.6862244#:~:text=Canadians%20need%20to%20be%20more%20vigilant%20about%20the%20rapid%20growth,places%20you%20may%20not%20expect..)
8. Transportation Master Plan: The City is launching the second phase of public engagement with regard to this project. The City of Whitehorse asks you to “share your views on the potential improvements and draft plan through our online survey from June 7 to 30.”
You can take the survey and find out more about the Master Plan at the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/tmp.
9. YCS’ Free Guided Interpretive Hikes: The Yukon Conservation provided the following information:
"Our 2023 Interpretive Guides are ready for you at Miles Canyon Suspension Bridge at 10 AM and 2 PM from Tuesday to Saturday every week! Come along!”
ATWA Updates: May 28, 2023
1. Active Commute Week: The May 26, City News Highlights provides the following information: “Log your commute June 5 to 9! Active Commute Week is a City initiative dedicated to promoting alternative modes of transportation, such as walking, cycling, rolling, and transit, instead of driving solo. Learn more at: activecommutewhitehorse.ca.”
2. Robert Service Way Escarpment Update #12: The Engage Whitehorse site provides the following information:
“Following the slope movements that were first observed late yesterday afternoon, the City and its geotechnical team have increased the level of monitoring and inspections for the escarpment on Robert Service Way.
This extra monitoring will support the City’s plan to extend opening hours for Robert Service Way from 7 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week. When the escarpment stabilizes, we’ll return to planning for a 24/7 opening.
The Millennium Trail will also be open to users during the hours of 7 am to 10 pm.
Road users are asked to monitor Engage Whitehorse and the City's social media accounts for the latest information. We appreciate the public’s patience throughout this response.”
For up-to-date information on this topic please refer to the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/escarpment-2023.
3. Graffiti: As you are probably aware we are encountering increased instances of graffiti being applied not only to buildings in our community, but also to signage that is used on our City’s trails.
ATWA has passed photographs of some of these damaged signs on to City staff and members of City Council.
Recently, the City of Whitehorse has decided to “[take] aim at graffiti and you can help. Your actions can help reduce the spread of graffiti in Whitehorse and keep our community safe and clean.”
For information on how you can help, please refer to the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/graffiti. We encourage all of you to participate in this effort.
4. Copper Ridge New Development Area: You can view the What We Heard document by going to the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca. Click on Copper Ridge New Development Area and scroll down to the What We Heard document. There are a number of references to trails and green spaces in the document.
Another public engagement activity will be held as indicated below.
Tuesday, May 30 – Canada Games Centre Green Room, 4 pm to 8 pm
Wednesday, May 31 – Canada Games Centre Green Room, 4 pm to 8 pm
5. Access Gates Opening Pilot: We have reported on this initiative on a number of occasions. The site has not been updated as to the pilot project’s current status and the timelines have proven to be unrealistic. You can find this site at https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot.
A second document was submitted to the City of Whitehorse with regard to this pilot project on January 23, 2023, which you can find at https://www.activetwa.org/issues.html. Just scroll down to Access Gate Opening Pilot Project.
6. Carcross/Tagish land guardians step up efforts to protect nesting birds, spring lambs: This CBC News article by Ross Bragg and dated May 27, 2023 is one which all users of Yukon trails should find informative. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/ctfn-land-guardians-wildlife-1.6391258.
7. B.C. government offering e-bike rebate of up to $1,400: This May 25, 2023 CBC News article has some interesting information with regard not only to B.C.’s rebate program, but also on entry-level e-bikes. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/e-bike-rebates-bc-1.6855065.
8. Bear Awareness and Bear Spray Virtual Course: This is a great time of the year to view this video. See https://www.youtube.com/watchapp=desktop&fbclid=IwAR2IZzJ8_dMKka7SALRypoYD838BiKvUSzFidG8G_sYlIHAvBRXJs1GHUgk&v=Zv5Mqc6yJhI&feature=youtu.
9. Illegal Bike Jump Proves Costly: An April 28, 2023 CBC News article by Paula Duhatschek is worth a read. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/illegal-bike-jump-yoho-park-1.6824986.
10. Dutch Reach: If you have yet to hear about how this action may help protect cyclists, then this CBC News article by Verity Stevenson will be informative. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/saaq-recommends-dutch-reach-1.6814523.
ATWA Updates: April 17, 2023
1. McIntyre Creek Regional Park: An April 13 CBC article by Meribeth Deen entitled, Whitehorse commits to protecting McIntyre Creek as parkland is worth a read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/whitehorse-mcintyre-creek-protected-park-1.6808807.)
2. Parisians overwhelmingly vote to banish for-hire e-scooters: This April 2nd Associated Press article by Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters, and published in the Globe and Mail, indicates that not all are happy with the use of such devices in urban areas.
Although it appears that there are relatively few of these units presently being used in Whitehorse, that situation may change in the coming years. (See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-parisians-vote-to-ban-e-scooters-from-french-capital-2/.)
3. Robert Service Way Escarpment Update #1 April 13, 2023: According to the latest news from the City of Whitehorse, “Robert Service Way will remain closed along with portions of the Millennium Trail, the Upper Escarpment trail, and trails along the lower escarpment until further notice.” (For more information see https://www.whitehorse.ca/robert-service-way-escarpment-update-1/.)
4. With some help from studded tires and snow-clearing, Montreal's bike-share service is going year-round: This April 12 CBC News article by Antoni Nerestant concerns an all-year long bike-sharing service in Montreal. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bixi-cycling-all-year-season-1.6807858.)
5. Official Community Plan: City Council recently adopted the new Official Community Plan (OCP). Unfortunately, a recent visit to City Hall in order to obtain a hard copy met with failure, as none were available.
Hopefully, in the near future copies will be placed at City Hall's front desk. It is suggested you call the City of Whitehorse to ensure copies are available before going to pick one up.
You can access a digital copy at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Whitehorse-2040-Official-Community-Plan-1.pdf.
A Whitehorse Star article on the passage of the OCP can be found at the following site: https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/plan-charts-city-s-future-through-to-2040.
6. Walking advocate wants Whitehorse's Schwatka Lake project to include trail expansion: This April 6th CBC news article by Meribeth Deen, features an interview with Peter Long, and concerns the improvement and extension of a trail located on the west side of Schwatka Lake. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/schwatka-lake-project-1.6804688.)
The Schwatka Lake Area Plan can be viewed at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SchwatkaLakeAreaPlan_Final.pdf. A viewing of the plan will give you a better understanding of what is being proposed.
ATWA Updates: March 28, 2023
1. Delegate Presentation: On March 20, one of our associates who lives in Whitehorse North made a delegate presentation before City Council.
Although her presentation focused on motorized trail designation that resulted from the completion of the Whitehorse North Trail Plan, she also referred to the “flawed” public consultation process that resulted in the development of that plan. (See the March 24, Whitehorse Star article by Chuck Tobin, entitled “Make North trail non-motorized, resident urges,” and located on page 4 of that edition.)
Please note that although the article suggested that “She received no response from council members,” Councillor Cameron did have a question. The question and the response of the delegate to same can be viewed on the video of the meeting.
You can view the presentation in video by going to the City of Whitehorse website. See http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2023-03-20.mp4.html. (See #5.)
As well, a copy of Chuck Tobin’s article can be found on our website at https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.html.
2. Trail Sign Graffiti: Unfortunately, a number of trail signs in various locations throughout the city have been vandalized. If you see any sign that has been impacted, please send an email and, if possible, a photo of the sign(s) to the City’s Parks Trails Coordinator, Colby Knowler. He can be reached at [email protected]. Please state the location of the sign(s).
Hopefully, the City of Whitehorse can get these signs cleaned up before the tourist season begins. However, if people do not inform Parks when and where they see such damage, action may not be taken.
3. “Wildlife is tired of running: The following is from the Carcross Tagish Renewable Resource Council, and appears to be directed to those using snowmobiles.
"Wildlife is tired of running. It's been a long winter and the snowpack is getting soft with the warmer weather. Stay on designated trails and give wildlife a wide berth to help them get through this last stretch." (See https://www.facebook.com/CarcrossTagishRenewableResourceCouncil). March 20, 2023.
4. New Manager of Parks and Community Development: Melodie Simard, MCIP RPP is the new Manager of Parks and Community Development and is on a transfer assignment. Apparently, she would like to meet with a couple of our associates, after she has had time to settle into her new role. She has asked us to “collect [our] concerns and [give] feedback on our trail system, including our policies.”
Of course, we have been doing this for years and passing on our concerns to both administration and City Council with little success, so it almost seems like we are being asked to start from scratch. However, perhaps the change in the Park Manager position indicates a new direction for the department, so a future meeting may be a positive step in addressing some of our concerns.
Just so you know (I did not), “MCIP stands for ‘member of the Canadian Institute of Planners’. The Canadian Institute of Planners is the professional institute that represents over 7,000 professional planners across Canada. RPP stands for Registered Professional Planner.” (Internet source)
5. ATVs are back as of April 1st: The ATV Bylaw says, “A person may operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail during the time period April 1 to October 31 in each year and shall not operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail from November 1 to March 31 in each year.
Hopefully, common sense will prevail and ATV operators will avoid trails that are not yet ready to receive such use. Of course, all of us whether mechanized or not, should be cognizant of the damage we can do to trails at this time of the year.
6. Sea Breeze Sailing Society: On March 13 the organization’s conditional use application was approved by City Council by a 6-1 vote. Councillor Cameron was the only one who voted against.
You can view the discussion that took place prior to the vote at the following site: http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2023-03-13.mp4.html. (See #23.)
Yours truly gave a delegate presentation at the council meeting, but as an individual, not as an associate of ATWA. You can view that presentation under #5.
Instead of the three shipping containers that the society originally wanted to add to the two already in place, two will now be added for a total of four (if my math is correct). And, there will be more fencing.
As to what colour or type of fencing that is to be installed, well you will have to view the video of the meeting to find out. After around three hours of meeting time, I lost interest in the “fence” discussion, which seemed to take an inordinate amount of time, when (in my view) there were more serious concerns to address.
Please be aware that the location is within the boundaries of Chadburn Lake Regional Park, which is the only regional park within the City of Whitehorse that has a management plan.
7. Town Hall Meeting: The March Town Hall that was held at the Guild Hall in Porter Creek appeared to be well attended. There were lots of interesting questions and discussions. Hopefully, more of these meetings will be held in the future, as it is a good way of interacting with both City administrators and members of City Council.
8. Horses on Whitehorse City Trails: We have had some discussion recently about the use of horses on City of Whitehorse Trails. If any of you use horses on City trails and have any concerns, please let us know. Similarly, if you have any issues with regard to the use of horses on City trails, please let us know.
Appendix D: of the 2020 Trail Plan provides a number of Etiquette Guides for trail users, and has a section on horses. It is found at the end of the plan. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/DraftTrailPlanAppendices-1.pdf.
ATWA Updates: February 27, 2023
1. Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail: At the end of October 2022, ATWA was sent the following information from city administration. This was in response to a meeting we had In September, 2022 with Krista Mroz A/Director Community Services and Landon Kulych Manager/Parks concerning the two Pee Wee Hill trails.
“Administration communicated that an assessment of the Peewee Hill “alternate hill” was conducted on September 27, with Parks trail staff, Parks Manager, and A/Director, Community Services.
Potential recommendations for improvements to the trail and nearby area were identified, including the need for additional signage. It was noted that signage installation was likely to occur this fall (2022), with additional improvements identified for the spring (2023) work plan.
Administration will conduct an assessment of the snow impacts over the winter (2022/2023). Potential recommendations may be added to the spring 92023) work plan.
UPDATE: design for signage was recently completed, and staff anticipate installation by mid-November (2022).”
Comment: One tiny sign has been placed at the bottom of the trail. Unfortunately, on a recent visit to the trail, it was found impossible to access its top to check for other signage.
Indeed, for the last two winters (2021/22 and 2022/2023) it has been impossible to use the trail for its intended purpose, which was to allow “a wide range of users to access the trail networks [within the Grey Mountain trail network] in all seasons.” (Action #15 of the 2020 Trail Plan)
To be specific, Action #15 of the 2020 Trail Plan calls for the creation of “more accessible connections to access Grey Mountain trails within Chadburn Lake Park.” It goes on to say the following:
“Well used connections to access the Grey Mountain trail network within Chadburn Lake Park have difficult, often slippery conditions as a result of steep grades. Trail improvements should be implemented to allow a wide range of users to access the trail networks in these areas in all seasons.
Unfortunately, it appears that all the city has done is to create another trail that has many of the same problems as the old Pee Wee Hill trail. In other words, the alternate trail has done little if anything to improve the ability of users to provide better access to the trail system above Pee Wee Hill.
It will be interesting to see if the winter assessment of “snow impacts over [this] winter” will bring recommendations that will result in the trail being of some use in the winter of 2023/24.
This summer, associates who use the Chadburn Lake trails should keep an eye out for any city “improvement” activities on Crocus Ridge and Heartbreak Hill, as Action #15 of the Trail Plan also indicated that work will be done on these trails in order to allow for better access to the trail system in Chadburn Lake Regional Park.
Hopefully, the city will do an improved job of notifying the public of its intentions with regard to these two trails in order to receive public feedback, and to ensure that a similar situation as to what has occurred with the alternate Pee Wee Hill trail is not repeated.
You will find a short slide show on Pee Wee Hill on our website under Photos. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html. Scroll down to the last photo and then view the short slide show. The photos will clearly indicate that the trail cannot be used to access trails above Pee Wee Hill in winter.)
2. Policies, Plans, and Bylaws: In an October 2021 summary provided by administration with regard to its September, 2022 meeting with ATWA, the following comments were made:
“It was . . . noted that there is some confusion in how the policies, plans, and bylaws are applied. More specifically, where does the authority lie when applying the various documents?
[ATWA] recommended a policy flowchart be developed and shared to provide greater clarity in the application of policies, plans, and bylaws.
UPDATE: this recommendation has been forwarded to our Legislative Services department for consideration.
As yet, we have not had any indication that this recommendation has been implemented. However, we do intend to contact Legislative Services to see whether or not it has decided to pursue our suggestion.
3. Yukon Conservation Society: The YCS will hold its Annual General Meeting on March 22. Apparently, it will be in the form of a ZOOM meeting. In order to attend you must RSVP to the ZOOM. For more information contact the YCS at [email protected] or by calling 668-5678.
4. Town Hall Meeting: The next Town Hall Meeting will be held in Porter Creek on Thursday March 9, again starting at 5:30 and closing at 7:30 p.m. It will be held at the Guild Hall (27-14th Ave.). If you are able to attend, please take the time to do so.
5. Conditional Use Application–km 1.5 Chadburn Lake Road-Yukon Breeze Sailing Society: The Public Input Session for the Conditional Use Application – Yukon Breeze Sailing Society is now closed.
A report of the input received will be presented at [City Council’s] Standing Committee meeting on March 6, 2023. Council will make a decision March 13, 2023 as to whether or not the application, that involves the addition of two sea cans and increased fencing to the existing infrastructure, will be approved. You can read the public input that has been received on this issue by going to the following site: (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/business-in-whitehorse/zoning/current-amendments/#1651593002424-fdb7d5c6-5a3a.)
6. Meeting with City Councillor: Recently, Pat Milligan and Keith Lay met with Councillor Cameron to discuss (among other things) the Snowmobile Bylaw. As you are all aware our various attempts to get the bylaw amended, or at the very least, have additional trails placed it the bylaw’s Excluded Trails section, have met with failure.
We brought up the following points:
Administration has established contemporary trail definitions in the 2020 Trail Plan. However, Council has allowed the Snowmobile Bylaw to hijack the true meaning of a non-motorized trail as defined in that trail plan.
In our view, council is clearly favouring one trail user group. One wonders why this is the case considering that non-motorized users make up the largest trail user group.
City administration continues to either avoid identifying non-motorized trails in the first place, or when forced to do so, avoids asking City Council to place such trails in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw, effectively making them motorized trails for half the year.
We are supposed to have a trail system that provides neighbourhood trails for both motorized users and non-motorized users. Instead, we have trails that are open for motorized use over the entire year, and neighbourhood so-called non-motorized trails that are actually open to motorized use for half the year. How fair is this?
There should be more oversight and direction of administration staff by City Council.
People who have taken part in City of Whitehorse neighbourhood trail surveys, have not been told what it actually takes to make a so-called non-motorized trail truly non-motorized.
Administration often ignores trail survey results and applicable plans and policies when presenting trail information to council.
Strangely enough, administration has refused to release the results of the recent Whitehorse North Trail Survey despite the request of residents.
Accountability is lacking!
Although with the completion of the Whitehorse North Trail Plan, it would appear that neighbourhood trail planning has been completed, that is not quite the case. The Valleyview South Master Plan is under development, and there will be trail concerns that need to be addressed in that area. As well, the Copper Ridge Development Area will also involve trail considerations.
Obviously, there are many other trails in Whitehorse that may come up in the future for designation as either motorized or non-motorized trails.
Unfortunately, there will be little hope for the latter’s status as truly non-motorized if the city continues to ignore its own 2020 Trail Plan.
Truly non-motorized trails should be identified and protected (“i.e.” placed in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw) and proper signage and necessary barriers (where needed) installed.
If the Snowmobile Bylaw was harmonized with the ATV Bylaw and snowmobiles were not permitted on non-motorized trails, in greenbelts, and in open spaces, a more balance trail system would be created, and there would be no need to amend a Snowmobile Bylaw to ensure the truly non-motorized status of such trails.
There should be trail designations and trail linkages established along the Alaska Highway.
Other northern cities (Beaver Creek and Talkeetna Alaska) have established MMU trails along highways, which are clearly marked and enforced. These actions are favourable for tourism and demonstrate contemporary trail planning.
Council has a fiduciary responsibility to both homeowners and the environment to develop contemporary trail planning that involves proper process and ensures public involvement.
Non-compliance of city bylaws by motorized users continues to be a problem.
Bylaw Services does not appear able to effectively address the issue, possibly because it has not been given the necessary resources. Responsibility for that situation rests with Mayor and Council.
7. Delegate Presentations: For those of you who may be interested in appearing as delegates before City Council on any particular issue you will find the following information to be of value.
At our recent meeting, Councillor Cameron mentioned the importance of providing delegate presentations (in digital or written form) to councillors prior to the actual presentation. This gives councillors a chance to review the material prior to the council meeting. ATWA tries to do this whenever presentations are made before City Council.
However, it should be realized that at Regular City Council meetings, delegates can only speak on items that are on the agenda. Unfortunately, as one only finds out what is on the agenda late on the Friday prior to the Monday council meeting, it is often difficult to prepare a five-minute written presentation in the time allotted.
Delegates to City Council Standing Committee meetings can speak on any topic or issue that they would like to bring before council. (There is at least one exception of which we are aware, and that concerns Public Input Sessions. Once they are closed, no additional comment can be made on the subject by members of the public.)
Needless to say, it is far easier to make presentations before Standing Committee meetings, as one could have up to two weeks to prepare both a written and oral presentation.
In addition, Councillor Cameron suggested that a presentation could consist of a request by the delegate that councillors ask administration to respond in writing to questions that the delegate brings up in the presentation. Of course, you should ensure that administration also receives a digital copy of your presentation to facilitate matters.
8. Engage Whitehorse: Once again you are encouraged to review this City of Whitehorse site on a regular basis in order to learn about the Featured Projects in which the city is currently engaged.
ATWA Updates: January 24, 2023
1. City Council Delegate Presentation: An ATWA presentation was made on December 5, 2022 on the topic of amending the Snowmobile Bylaw. Go to Issues/Letters on our website and scroll down to Dec. 5, 2022 Download File. (See https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.)
2. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Motion: On December 12, 2022 Councillor Cameron presented his motion with regard to the Whitehorse North Trail Plan. It read as follows:
WHEREAS October 17, 2022 Council approved the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan which includes one existing trail designated as Non-Motorized Multi-use Trail and one area yet to be developed as "Future Non-Motorized Trail loop in this area. Precise route to be determined.
WHEREAS this identified trail and area do not prohibit the use of snow machines. WHEREAS to prohibit use of this trail and area requires reference to them in the City's Snowmobile Bylaw in Schedule E Excluded Trails.
WHEREAS there are now three trails identified in Schedule E of the Snowmobile Bylaw, namely: 1. Birch Loop Trail (Crestview) 2. Millennium Trail 3. Whistle Bend Paved Perimeter Trail (Whistle Bend).
WHEREAS the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan has a substantial number of trails that accommodate many uses and none are designated for no motorized use (including
no snow machines).
AND WHEREAS there are many individuals in Whitehorse who choose to exercise active living with no motorized machines on our extensive system of trails.
Therefore Be It Resolved: that Council direct Administration to bring forward an amendment to Schedule E of the Snowmobile Bylaw to include the one existing trail designated as Non-Motorized Multi-use Trail and one area yet to be developed as "Future Non-Motorized Trail loop in this area. Precise route to be determined." as referenced on the Map for the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan.
You can view the debate on the motion at the following site: http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2022-12-12.mp4.html. Scroll down to #17.
The motion was defeated (6-1). However, ATWA certainly appreciated Councillor Cameron's efforts in bringing forth the motion, as its preparation involved much work .
Within minutes of the commencement of the debate, administration made a proposal that would see the lower of the two (actually one) approved non-motorized multiple use red trails in Whitehorse North be blocked off in the winter to snowmobile use. (It is currently closed to ATV use in the summer as per the ATV Bylaw.)
This was the first ATWA had heard of this proposal, and it was quite obvious that it was the first time that councillors had heard of it as well. ATWA’s representative at the so-called charrette held at the end of the input process for the plan also does not recall any discussion of such a proposal.
One has to wonder why administration did not inform Councillor Cameron (prior to the December 12 council meeting) of its proposal concerning the Lower Red Trail, as if he had been made aware of the proposal it is obvious that he would have changed his motion accordingly.This suggests that there is a lack of communication between council members and administration.
One would have thought that administration’s proposal would have been discussed during council’s approval process of the Whitehorse North Trail Plan, as administration would have been required to explain how any kind of control measure was going to work. It asks councillors (and the public) to have faith that effective barriers can be put in place without providing any evidence to support that claim.
There will have to be a least two sets of potentially costly blockades placed at either “end” of the Lower Red Trail. Having visited both ends of the Lower Red Trail it is quite obvious that should they wish, snowmobile operators will be able to get around any barriers via the surrounding flat greenbelt that they are allowed to access under the Snowmobile Bylaw, so the potential effectiveness of barriers is questionable.
It is also strange that administration would make such a proposal (one that involves barriers) in light of the fact that it has an on-going project (Access Gates Opening Pilot) that is currently looking at concerns related to "the accessibility, effectiveness, necessity, and safety of access gates to non-motorized multi-use pathways.”(See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot.)
Although it is believed that this project is focused only on paved City of Whitehorse pathways, the information obtained could eventually be applied to non-paved non-motorized multiple use trails in the city.
In our view a better approach would have been to place the Lower Red Trail into the Schedule “E” Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
This combined with the installation of signs at the start and end of the Lower Red Trail indicating that All Motorized Vehicles [are] Prohibited, along with city public awareness and education activities concerning permitted use of the Lower Red trail, should have sufficed for starters.
If costly barriers were needed and the Access Gates Opening Pilot project reveals that they should be considered, then look at the possibility of physically blocking the trail. (However, it should be noted that barriers have been ineffective in the past when installed on trails in Whitehorse North.)
City Council approved the Whitehorse North Trail Plan (WNTP) without any discussion of this proposal of administration. In doing so, it approved the non-motorized multiple use status of both the Upper and Lower Red Trail, and assured that both would be open to snowmobile use in the winter as long as operators do not damage vegetation or ground. (Of course, this is the same status that both trails had, prior to the passage of the WNTP.)
Bottom Line: If administration does block the Lower Red Trail as proposed, it will be closed to both ATV and snowmobile use, effectively making it a truly non-motorized multiple use trail, but one which is not included in the Exclusive Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
Administration does have some operational ability under various trail related bylaws and policies to block trails if circumstances indicate that necessity, but this does not mean that proper process should be circumvented to do so.
In this case, it would seem that proper process would have had the proposal presented to City Council during the trail plan approval discussion in order to determine whether or not the proposal was the best route to follow. However, the more one becomes involved in council/administration procedures, the less one understands how city affairs are conducted.
Summary: There will be one short trail in Whitehorse North (Lower Red Trail) that will be closed to all motorized use through the use of some form of barricade(s), which we understand will be constructed this summer.
Unfortunately, there is no indication on the city posted approved Whitehorse North Trail map that this is the case. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Whitehorse-North-Trail-Map.pdf.)
The Upper Red Trail will be a non-motorized multiple use trail open to snowmobile use in winter as long as snowmobile operators do not damage vegetation or ground. This is the same status that it had before the passage of the Whitehorse North Trail Plan.
There are several trails in Whitehorse North that have now been designated (but not as yet designed) as motorized multiple use trails. Strangely enough, the “proposed” and now designated motorized multiple use trail (MMU) that runs through both Hidden Valley and MacPherson, was already on the city’s Motorized Multi-Use Trails map prior to the commencement of the trail plan process for Whitehorse North. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Whitehorse-North-Trail-Map.pdf.)
The circled area on the trail plan map is a proposed Future (so-called) Non-Motorized Trail Loop. In the past, such circled areas usually meant single-track mountain bike trail development, so it will be interesting to see what use is actually made of this area.
One should also note that despite the fact that the Trail Maintenance Policy (TMP) says that no motorized use is permitted on single-track trails, due to the Snowmobile Bylaw, that statement is not worth the paper it is written on. The Snowmobile Bylaw trumps the TMP. In addition, the recent actions of City Council with regard to trails in Whitehorse North make it unlikely that any trail in the circled area will be included in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw when it is developed.
All other trails in Whitehorse North will remain non-motorized multiple use trails open to snowmobile use in winter as long as snowmobile operators do not damage vegetation or ground. Unfortunately, such trails are not designed to accommodate motorized use, putting snowmobilers and non-motorized users at needless risk. It may also lead to the widening of trails, which could expose them to other types of (illegal) motorized use in the summer.
Conclusion: It seems readily apparent that the city is only interested in designating motorized multiple use trails, in that it has failed to place even one trail in Whitehorse North into the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. Whatever happened to the idea (confirmed by the 2020 Trail Plan) that we are supposed to have two major types of trails in the City of Whitehorse: Motorized Multiple Use trails and Non-Motorized Multiple Use trails?
3. Second City Council Delegate Presentation: Another ATWA delegate presentation was made on January 9, 2023 concerning the Snowmobile Bylaw. Go to Issues/Letters on our website and scroll down to Download File Keith Lay. (See https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.)
4. Clarification: Stefan Baer (Engineering Services, City of Whitehorse) provided the following information in correspondence concerning the Access Gates Opening Project:
“For your reference, Engineering controls the classification and design of paved pathways in the City, whereas Parks is responsible for non-paved trails throughout the City, so Parks might have different standards and rationale.”
So, if you have questions concerning our city’s paved pathways it would be best to contact Engineering, not Parks. The department can be reached by calling 668-8305, or by email at [email protected].
5. Projects & Trails Coordinator (Parks): This position is now filled by Colby Knowler. He can be reached at 689-0859. His email address is [email protected]. If you have any concerns with non-paved trails in the city this is the person you should first contact.
6. E-Bike/Scooter Fires: Those of you who own E-bikes or scooters should take a look at this CBC article by Kimberley Molina entitled, E-bike, scooter fires in Ottawa prompt warning about safety. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ebike-fire-increasing-battery-safety-advice-tips-1.6703146.
7. Climate Change and Wildlife: A CBC article entitled, Climate change is forcing wildlife to move north and they’re bringing diseases with them by Darius Mahdavi, is certainly worth a read.
8. Town Hall Meeting: The first of a series of Town Hall meetings was held on January 18, 2023 at the Yukon Transportation Museum. There were at least forty citizens at the event. Anything that improves communication between citizens, members of City Council, and City of Whitehorse administration is welcomed.
The next Town Hall will be held on Wednesday, February 15 at the MacBride Museum of Yukon History (1124 Front St. in downtown Whitehorse), starting at 5:30 and closing at 7:30. There will also be one in Porter Creek on Wednesday, March 8, again starting at 5:30 and closing at 7:30. It will be held at the Guild Hall (27-14th Ave.).
One immediate benefit of the January 18 meeting was that Councillor Laking has agreed to meet with a resident of Whitehorse North (who attended the Town Hall) to an on-site review of trail concerns in the area.
9. Millennium Trail: As you are probably already aware, “A section of the Millennium Trail near the Robert Service Campground is closed due to a significant accumulation of ice. A detour around the site is in effect, and barricades and signage will be in place.” (This from the City of Whitehorse.)
10. Yukon Breeze Sailing Society: A Conditional Use Application for km 1.5 Chadburn Lake Road and within Chadburn Lake Regional Park, has been made by the Yukon Breeze Sailing Society. You can view the Administrative Report on this application at the following site: (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PB-05-2022-Admin-Report-Conditional-Use-km-1.5-Chadburn-Lake-Road.pdf.)
There will be a public input session on this application. It is currently scheduled for the regular council meeting of February 13, 2023. If you wish to appear in person, or call into the meeting, you are asked to notify Legislative Services by 12 p.m. of the day of the meeting at [email protected].
Written submissions are due on the day of the Public Hearing. Send written submissions to [email protected]. Obviously, you do not have to wait until the 13th of February to make a written submission.
Please make yourself aware of this issue, especially if you use the area in question. If you have concerns with the application then make an individual submission.
See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/city-news-briefly-69/ for a Yukon News article on the subject.
11. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project: We have been keeping a close eye on this project as there are a number of concerns that have become apparent.
A slideshow has been put together for your viewing that will give you a better idea of the “gates” that are supposed to be part of the initial project. Commentary is attached to each photo.
See also the city’s information on this project at https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot.
You can view the slideshow on our website under Photos. Scroll down to the last photo. Click on the arrow at top right to view each slide individually. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
For more information on this subject, you can go to Issues/Access Gate Opening Pilot Project on our website. (See https://www.activetwa.org/access-gate-opening-pilot-project.html.) Scroll down to the Second submission: January 23, 2023. This submission was sent to [email protected], who is with the city’s Engineering Department and is the go-to person for this project.
If you have any input with regard to this project, Stefan would be happy to hear from you.
12. Did You Know: “The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada, Sixth Edition (MUTCDC) guides the use of road signs, traffic signals, pavement markings and other devices that inform travellers about road regulations, hazards and temporary conditions. It helps Canada’s federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments to apply traffic control devices in a consistent and harmonized manner, which is an important factor in road safety.” (See https://www.tac-atc.ca/en/publications-and-resources/mutcdc.)
13. Climate Change Impacts Backcountry Travel: A CBC article by Yvette Brend entitled, Ice climbers and mountain adventurers fear climate change creates new unpredictable risks, is an interesting read.
14. Meeting with Councillor: Councillor Cameron has agreed to meet with two of our associates in early February to discuss several issues, one of which will be how to proceed with our efforts at amending the Snowmobile Bylaw. We look forward to the opportunity.
ATWA Updates: November 28, 2022
1. Whitehorse North Trail Plan Motion: Councillor Cameron “presented a Notice of Motion to bring forward at the next Regular Council meeting on December 12, 2022 proposing an amendment to Schedule E of the Snowmobile Bylaw as it relates to the 2022 Whitehorse North Trail Plan.” (Minutes of Community Services Committee/November 21)
Councillor Cameron’s motion concerns placing the one proposed so-called non-motorized trail in Whitehorse North, and the future non-motorized trail loop in the area, into the Excluded trails/Schedule “E” section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. Doing so would make these trails truly non-motorized all year round. As indicated previously, the motion will be debated by councillors at the December 12 Regular Council meeting.
You can view Councillor Cameron’s motion at the following site: http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2022-11-21.mp4.html. (See #7.)
Councillor Cameron’s efforts are certainly appreciated and we hope that his motion will be carried.
Perhaps his motion will make other councillors realize that if they really wanted to bring clarity and equity to our trail system, end the confusion associated with so-called non-motorized trails, improve safety and trail protection, and reduce costs, then they would amend the Snowmobile Bylaw to reflect the ATV Bylaw, and prohibit snowmobile operators from using non-motorized multiple use trails, greenbelts, and open spaces, and restrict snowmobile operation to motorized multiple use trails that are designed and designated for their use, and which are featured on the City’s new motorized multi-use trails map.
2. Trail Blazing: Those of you who have hiked the Berg Lake Trail at Mount Robson Provincial Park in British Columbia might find this article by Rhianna Schmunk, and video by Gian-Paolo Mendoza to be of interest. You may have heard that the trail was severely damaged by flooding in 2021, due to the negative impact of climate change. (See https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/features/2022/trailblazing/.)
3. Are We Doing Enough? Two pages of the 2016 Edition of the Canadian Paediatric Society on Canadian public policy and child and youth health relate to one of ATWA's concerns. Page 20 and 21 discuss All-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. Note the mention of Whitehorse on page 21. (See https://cps.ca/uploads/advocacy/SR16_ENG.pdf.)
4. Putting a price on nature can help municipalities adapt to climate change: This CBC article by Molly Segal is one that both the public and local politicians should read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whatonearth/pricing-nature-climate-change-1.6646588.)
5. Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail: Unfortunately, a recent visit to both Pee Wee Hill trails determined that the additional signage that administration indicated “was likely to occur this fall” has not appeared.
It was also noted that the alternate trail was extremely slippery and quite dangerous. If you are considering using it take poles and wear some kind of “spiked” footwear (ice grippers). The bottom of the old Pee Wee Hill trail was also treacherous and the same suggestions apply as to the use of poles and “spiked” footwear.
If you recall, Action #15 of the 2020 Trail Plan was supposed to ensure “more accessible connections to access Grey Mountain trails within Chadburn Lake Park [in all seasons].” The Trail Plan indicated that the Pee Wee Hill area was in need of improvements that would allow such a connection. Unfortunately, it appears that the situation has been made worse.
Administration has indicated that it will assess snow impacts on the respective trails over the winter and any “potential recommendations may be added to the spring work plan.”
If any of you use the area, we would welcome your input as to the winter condition of both trails. Send your comments to [email protected] and (if possible) include a few photos as well.
6. Valleyview South Master Plan: This is a subject in which you may find interest. Trails, parks, and open spaces are involved. A short survey was released on November 21, and will run for three weeks until December 12. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/valleyview-south.)
Please note the following information concerning the survey provided by Karmen Whitbread City of Whitehorse.
“Questions 3a to 3f are star rating questions (not a check a box), where the more stars means more agreement with the statement. It is not indicating that a 4-star rating means the respondent “agrees” with [the] statement while also strongly disagreeing . . . .” Just like a 4-star hotel rating doesn’t mean it’s also a 1, 2, or 3 star hotel. The highest star applies and will be recorded as the answer.”
7. Transportation Master Plan: If you have not as yet considered reviewing this plan you might want to take a look, as we all use various forms of transportation within the City of Whitehorse whether motorized or non-motorized. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/tmp.)
8. New Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club Trail: The ski club has provided the following information:
“The WCCSC is proud to present a new addition to our trail system.
We built a NEW TRAIL between Best Chance Corner and Gravel Pit. It’s an intermediate and dog friendly trail. This trail was built by our staff and volunteers and is using old existing roads and cutlines in the area, which needed to be brushed widen and leveled, as well as brand new sections of trail to connect those roads.
For now, we are calling it "New Trail" but we are planning to come up with a new name with our partners and the community.”
It is suggested you check at the ski club as to the New Trail’s condition before heading out.
9. Access Gates Opening Pilot Project: You can now report a motorized vehicle on a non-motorized multi-use pathway that is under study during this pilot project. The locations (and complete instructions) are found at the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot/maps/report-a-motorized-vehicle-on-a-non-motorized-multi-use-pathway.
There is no need to phone bylaw as long as you are reporting motorized vehicles on the paths under study.
10. Yukon Conservation Society & CPAWS Yukon: Holiday Open Houses and Pop-Up Art Shop will be held at 301 and 302 Hawkins St. on Saturday, December 3 from 11 am to 3 pm.
11. Regional Parks Plan (2014): In light of the concerns related to McIntyre Creek Park it might be a good time to review the Regional Parks Plan. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Regional-Parks-Plan.pdf.)
Please remember we have five regional parks located within the City of Whitehorse. Only one of those parks has a management plan, that being Chadburn Lake Park. Its management plan was adopted by the city on June 26, 2017. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChadburnLakePMPlanJune2017.pdf.)
ATWA Updates: October 28, 2022
1. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: The plan was given approval by City Council on Monday, October 24. You can review the discussion that took place prior to approval at the following site: http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2022-10-24.mp4.html. Scroll down to #24.
ATWA made a delegate presentation on the 17th and another on the 24th, but to no apparent avail, as of yet. You can see those presentations under Issues/Whitehorse North Trail Plan on our website. (See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-north-trail-plan.html.)
Councillor Kirk Cameron is in the process of preparing a motion for a City Council Standing Committee Meeting in November, that relates to ATWA’s concern that due the Snowmobile Bylaw, even the one proposed non-motorized trail in Whitehorse North will be open to snowmobile use in the winter.
The motion would then come up for formal debate and a vote at a later Regular City Council meeting.
Keep an eye on upcoming November council meeting Agendas in order to see when the motion will come forward. See Upcoming Events at https://www.whitehorse.ca/. Scroll across to council meetings (Standing Committee Meeting or Regular Council Meeting) and click on same.
Please note that council agendas are not usually posted to the City’s website until late on the Friday before the meeting.
Whitehorse North is the last neighbourhood trail plan that will be developed for the City of Whitehorse, as all areas have now been covered.
2. Whistle Bend to Downtown Trail: Apparently, there is hope for such a connector, but it could be a long wait. It is included in the 2023-26 City of Whitehorse capital budget. Design of the planned trail is tentatively scheduled for 2026 as part of the Range Road North Reconstruction Project.
3. New Proposed Updates to Official Community Plan: According to the City’s website, “These changes trigger a second public hearing which is scheduled for November 14, 2022.” You can see all the proposed changes by going to the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/ocp.
Of particular concern to our associates would be the following: One of the proposed changes involves the possible “removal of the transportation corridor study through the proposed McIntyre Creek Regional Park.
Another, concerns the possible removal of “Stevens quarry as the City’s priority area for gravel extraction, [and instead] including [it in] a natural resource area reserve.”
“This proposed Community Plan is the most current document, and is now out for public input. To provide your feedback on the proposed changes, email [email protected] by November 14. If you wish to provide your comments in person, you can attend the public hearing on November 14 at City Hall.
Following the public hearing, staff will provide a summary of the feedback to Whitehorse City Council on December 5, 2022.”
4. Haeckel Hill: Eagle Hill Energy LP has sent out another update concerning construction status. It reads as follows:
“The access road will remain closed to the public until late fall while active construction is underway. We are encouraging recreational users and the general public to avoid the top of Haeckel Hill over the winter season. There will be several dangerous construction hazards that may become concealed by snow.”
If you would like to learn more about what is going on at the top of Haeckel Hill, have a view of the following site: https://www.chuniikwan.ca/eagle-hill-energy.
5. ATV Winter Rules: As per the ATV Bylaw, ATVs are not permitted on City of Whitehorse trails from November 1, to and including March 31. You can view the bylaw at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/AllTerrainVehicleBylawupda.pdf.
To report any infractions of this requirement contact Bylaw Services: 668-8317 or [email protected]. Trouble Line: 867-667-2111.
6. Trans Canada Trail/Haines Junction: If you visited Haines Junction this summer you may have noticed that work was being done on paving the TCT between the Pine Lake Territorial campground and Haines Junction.
The work has now been completed. (See the following articles:
https://yukon.ca/en/news/government-yukon-invests-trans-canada-trail-upgrades and
https://www.ckrw.com/news/local-news/haines-junction-celebrates-a-new-link-in-the-trans-canada-trail/.)
7. City of Whitehorse Updated Website: You can now find many of the resource documents (policies, plans, bylaws, and maps) that may in some way apply to trails, regional parks, greenbelts, and open spaces within our city, at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/our-government/bylaws-policies. There are two lists: Bylaws and Policy.
We have updated the section of our website entitled, Applicable City Documents/Resources to reflect this change. However, there are still some documents that are not on the City’s website, so their site location is included on our website’s Resources section. (See https://www.activetwa.org/applicable-city-documents.html.)
8. Conditional Use Application: Yukon Breeze Sailing Society’s application for a zoning change concerning its location on Schwatka Lake, will apparently come before City Council in the first week of January, although it has yet to appear on the City’s Current Amendments page. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/business-in-whitehorse/zoning/current-amendments/#1651593002424-fdb7d5c6-5a3a.)
As mentioned in our September Updates, you may want to make an individual response to the application when it does come before City Council, as at that time there will be an opportunity for public input.
You can view City Council Agendas under Upcoming Events at this site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/. Scroll across to council meetings (Standing Committee Meeting or Regular Council Meeting) and click on same.
9. Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail: In September a meeting was held with Krista Mroz A/Director Community Services and Landon Kulych Manager/Parks concerning the two Pee Wee Hill trails. The former provided “a summary of [that] conversation, and [the] next steps [that will be taken] regarding Pee Wee Hill & the Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail.” The summary follows below:
· Administration provided background on the alternate trail project, and clarified the process.
· Administration communicated that an assessment of the Peewee Hill “alternate hill” was conducted on September 27, with Parks trail staff, Parks Manager, and A/Director, Community Services.
· Potential recommendations for improvements to the trail and nearby area were identified, including the need for additional signage. It was noted that signage installation was likely to occur this fall, with additional improvements identified for the spring work plan.
· Administration will conduct an assessment of the snow impacts over the winter. Potential recommendations may be added to the spring work plan.
UPDATE: design for signage was recently completed, and staff anticipate
installation by mid-November.
Policies, Plans, and Bylaws
· It was also noted that there is some confusion in how the policies, plans, and bylaws are applied. More specifically, where does the authority lie when applying the various documents?
It was recommended a policy flowchart be developed and shared to provide
greater clarity in the application of policies, plans, and bylaws.
UPDATE: this recommendation has been forwarded to our Legislative Services
department for consideration. The point of contact for this initiative remains
with Parks as the lead.
The meeting was much appreciated and hopefully improvements will be made
that will address some of our concerns. In particular, the policy flowchart
recommendation (if enacted) would be of great help.
10. Kluane National Park and Reserve Draft Management Plan: Just a reminder that you have until November 14th to make your comments on the new plan. (See https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/yt/kluane/gestion-management/consultation.)
The survey is available at the following site: https://parks-parcs.simplesurvey.com/f/s.aspx?s=BB3AF21E-DF7F-4204-B2F0-749F2831F342&ds=dbmOxcXnA9.
ATWA Updates: September 28, 2022
1. Official Community Plan Adopting Bylaw: The Public Hearing Report will be presented on October 3, 2022 at City Council. You can read the Public Input Submissions at https://www.whitehorse.ca/business-in-whitehorse/zoning/current-amendments/#1651593002424-fdb7d5c6-5a3a.
2. City Website: As mentioned in our August Updates the City of Whitehorse has a new website. As a result, many of the City’s website addresses have changed.When using our website you may find that when you click on previous references related to City documents that the Ooops – Error 404 comes up. You will be directed to the City’s Homepage. From there you will have to search for the document referenced.
The new website takes some getting used to, but it is certainly worth a good look. See https://www.whitehorse.ca. It is suggested that you review this website on a regular basis in order to keep in touch with City concerns and issues. As well, you might want to check out the City’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cityofwhitehorse/.
3. Kluane National Park and Reserve Draft Management Plan: Those of you who spend time in the park and care about its future might want to take in one of these events.
Public Open Houses are planned for Burwash Landing on October 4 at Jacquot Hall from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and in Haines Junction on October 6 between 5 and 7 pm at the Da Ku Cultural Centre.
Apparently, “Parks Canada staff and Kluane National Park Management Board members will be available to answer questions and collect your feedback on the draft plan. Refreshments will be provided!” You are asked “to read the plan and supporting documents, and to fill out the survey, [and to] visit [the park’s] website at: parkscanada.gc.ca/kluaneconsultation. Share your thoughts by November 14th, 2022 to help shape the final management plan and the future of the park.”
4. Hidden Lakes Trail Reclamation: The City provided the following information: “Residents are advised that following the completion of recent heritage assessment work, the reclamation of the Hidden Lakes Trail will begin on Monday, September 26.
The work will include reshaping the edges of the trail with small tracked equipment and hand tools. The work is expected to take all week, and following this initial work, further communication will be shared as to the status of the remediation.
Portions of the trail will be closed periodically while machines are operating, and signage will be placed at trailheads to inform of any trail closures.
5. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: The drop-in event for this trail plan was held on September 14. We had a representative at the meeting who presented concerns related to process, and to the failure of the City to clearly explain what has to be done to ensure that a trail becomes truly non-motorized in the City of Whitehorse.
The draft map is now available for public perusal, although you will have to ask to have it sent. Contact Kim Schlosser/Supervisor • Parks
City of Whitehorse • 867.334-3175 and ask for a copy.
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any trails on the draft map that can be considered as non-motorized summer and winter. In fact, there is only one trail that is labelled “proposed non-motorized multi-use trail.”
There is as yet no indication as to when the draft trail plan will come before City Council. However, when it does the public will have an opportunity to comment, if willing to register as a delegate.
6. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: We have not received any response to our email of August 4 asking if any trails in Whitehorse South were to be placed in the Excluded Trails (Schedule “E” of the Snowmobile Bylaw). Doing so would ensure they would be truly non-motorized both in summer and winter.
Although there was also no response to our question, as to when the approved Whitehorse South Trail Plan Map would be placed on the City’s website, it has now been included. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-Whitehorse_South_Trail_Map_Final.pdf.)
Note the disclaimer in small print at the bottom of the map, a disclaimer that is also found on the Whitehorse North draft trail map.
Needless to say it is highly unlikely that any trails in Whitehorse South will be added to the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.
7. Paved Trail Barrier Repairs: As mentioned in our August Updates, a call was made to Bylaw Services concerning three broken barriers that were among the ten gates/barriers featured in the City’s Access Gate Opening Pilot Project. A Bylaw Service officer repaired one himself, and put a work order in to have the other two gates fixed.
In now appears that due to the Access Gate Opening Pilot Project (fixed or not) all three will be opened for the first phase of the project, which has yet to be officially launched and is well behind schedule.
It is suggested that you keep a keen eye on this project. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot.)
8. Conditional Use Application: Another Conditional Use Application was recently received by the City of Whitehorse from the Yukon Breeze Sailing Society. It was originally placed on the Agenda of City Council’s Standing Committee meeting of September 20, but was pulled from the Agenda late on the afternoon of the meeting.
It appears that the item was pulled due to Section 4.16.1 of the Zoning Bylaw, which says “another application on the same site for the same use or a use similar to that which was refused shall not be accepted from the same or any other applicant until at least six months after the date of the refusal.”
As such, the current application should not be brought forward to City Council until December 13, 2022. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ZoningBylawupdatedJanuary2-1-1.pdf. (Page 40)
Of course, the City could find a way around this section, so if you are interested in the Chadburn Lake area you might want to keep an eye on the Current and Recent Amendments section of the City’s website. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/business-in-whitehorse/zoning/current-amendments/#1651593002424-fdb7d5c6-5a3a.
The application no longer appears in this section, so until it does you will not be able to get a clear picture of what is proposed and how it is different from the previous application, which City Council rejected on June 13, 2022.
The City permitted a delegate presentation on the application even though it had been pulled from the Agenda, and despite the fact that there was a question as to when the City could legitimately accept it for consideration.
There were two media articles on the presentation. (See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/city-news-briefly-69/, and https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/sailing-society-makes-another-bid-for-sea-cans.)
One wonders if the City has any regulations concerning safety requirements and sea cans.
Other municipalities require that steps be taken to ensure such containers meet certain safety standards. For example, they must have adequate ventilation. They must have a system that allows people/children to escape should they be locked in. The storage of certain materials may be prohibited due to the possibility of explosions.
If no such safety requirements exist, then one would think this is something that City Council should address.
You may want to make an individual response to the application when it does come before City Council, as at that time there will be an opportunity for public input.
You can view City Council Agendas under Upcoming Events at this site: https://www.whitehorse.ca.
9. Pee Wee Hill Trail Issue: Although we have received no response from the Community Services Committee with regard to our two submissions on the subject, a meeting was held with Krista Mroz, the City’s Acting Director of Community Services and with Landon Kulych, Manager Parks on the Pee Wee Hill Trail issue.
We received assurances that more will be done to ensure that the alternate trail will at least be made more accessible for walkers. However, work to do this will have to wait until the spring.
The trail will be monitored over the course of the winter to see if anything can be done to prevent it from becoming inundated with snow, which at present makes its use questionable during the winter months.
There is a possibility that signage will be installed before winter to indicate the existence of the trail, but at present the City is having problems getting the material required to create the signs.
There may be some work on the old Pee Wee Hill Trail to address the erosion channel that one finds in the middle of the trail.
The meeting with the Acting Director and Manager of Parks was much appreciated.
10. Snowmobile Bylaw: The impression we received (once again) at the meeting referred to above, is that nothing will be done to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw in the manner ATWA has suggested. One suspects that unless people are willing to come before City Council in person and ask for changes, that change is unlikely.
11. City of Whitehorse Trail Coordinator: At present, this position is vacant.
ATWA Updates: August 29, 2022
1. Official Community Plan Adopting Bylaw: The following information is provided by the City of Whitehorse.
A new Official Community Plan (OCP) named “Whitehorse 2040” is proposed to replace the current 2010 OCP. The proposed OCP is intended to guide growth and development in the municipality for approximately the next 20 years.
For more information, visit engagewhitehorse.ca/ocp or contact Planning and Sustainability Services at [email protected].
A Public Hearing will be held on September 12, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers is open to the public. Physical spacing is in place and some COVID-19 protocols apply.
Email comments to [email protected] by September 12, 2022 at noon. Any written submissions will be provided directly to Council for their consideration at the Public Hearing.
Any person wishing to make a submission regarding the proposed OCP may do so in writing, by phone, or in person. If you wish to call in or appear in person, please register with the office of the City Clerk at Legislative Services l[email protected] by Monday, September 12th, 2022 at 12:00 pm (noon), as there is limited space in the gallery.
Written submissions must be submitted to the office of the City Clerk at City Hall or by email to [email protected] no later than Monday, September 12th, 2022 at 12:00 pm (noon). Any written submissions will be provided directly to Council for their consideration.
ATWA’s May 29, 2022 submission to the Draft Official Community Plan can be found at the following site: https://www.activetwa.org/official-community-plan.html.
2. City of Whitehorse Website: A much improved City of Whitehorse website has now appeared. It can be reviewed at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca.
It is suggested that you take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the new website.
3. Fish Lake Local Area Planning Project: Please note that you have until August 31 to reply to the survey. For more information on this project and access to the survey see the following site: https://yukon.ca/en/fish-lake-local-area-planning.
If you are a cross-country skier, hiker, mountain biker, or other recreational user of the area you have an opportunity via the survey to ensure your interests are represented.
4. Access Gate Opening Pilot Project: A personal visit to each of the sites chosen for this project was quite enlightening. You can review a personal submission on our website under Issues/Access Gate Opening Pilot Project. (See https://www.activetwa.org/access-gate-opening-pilot-project.html.)
Since the deadlines mentioned in the information package have not been met, it may be that the project will have to start from scratch next summer. However, the City may have other ideas.
As this project could well expand into other areas of the city, you might want to review the project and make your individual comments.
(See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot for more information, and how you can take part in this issue.)
Please note that the information asks the public to “Use the Report a Motorized Vehicle tool to let us know where you notice illegal motorized vehicle access.” However, that particular tool is not available on the site.
When the City was informed of this omission the following response was received:
“Thanks for flagging this for us. We will launch this tool once the pilot has "officially" launched.”
This was rather a confusing reply as one would think the pilot project has already been “officially launched” as it appears on the Engage Whitehorse site.
5. Paved Trail Barrier Repairs: As a result of visits to each of the ten sites undergoing review as per the Access Gate Opening Pilot Project, it was found that three of the sites were not functioning as intended. In other words, the barriers were broken.
One of these happens to be the one located on the paved trail near Takhini that ATWA tried to get the City to repair this summer, but to no avail.
Last week a call was made to Bylaw Services concerning the three broken barriers. An immediate response was given. In fact, a Bylaw Service officer repaired one himself, and put a work order in to have the other two gates fixed.
So, we now know where to get help when we find damaged barriers/gates on City of Whitehorse trails!
Our thanks go out to Bylaw Services!
6. Pee Wee Hill Issue: Although we have received no response from the Community Services Committee with regard to our two submissions on the subject, we have received an offer of a meeting with Krista Mroz, the City’s Acting Director of Community Services. We are told that an effort will be made to meet sometime in late September.
7. Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment: Nothing to report here, as we still have not heard back from the Community Services Committee with regard to our submission of March 4, 2022. We sent a follow-up request for a response on May 12, to which we have not received a response.
8. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: We have heard nothing (officially) from the City with regard to the development of this trail plan.
9. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: On August 4 we sent an email to Parks and Community Development administration asking the following question:
Could you tell [us] if any truly (summer and winter) non-motorized multiple use trails came out of the Whitehorse South Trail plan process?
We have heard of no changes to the Snowmobile Bylaw to add any of the Whitehorse South trails to the Excluded Trails (Schedule “E”) section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. Will these be forthcoming?
And, do you have any idea as to when the approved Whitehorse South Trail Plan Map will be placed on the City’s website?
Although we sent a follow-up email on August 13, we have had no response.
10. Draft Management Plan Kluane National Park: For those of you who spend time in Kluane National Park here is some information from Karen Murray A/Public Relations and Communications Officer, Yukon Field Unit Parks Canada / Government of Canada.
“Parks Canada is pleased to announce the consultation period for the draft management plan for Kluane National Park and Reserve will be open from September 12- November 14, 2022.
The draft plan was developed in collaboration with the Kluane National Park Management Board after a state of the park assessment, evaluation of the 2010 management plan, public and stakeholder feedback, consulting on First Nations’ perspectives, and assessing strategic priorities.
We want to hear from you!
Starting Monday, September 12, 2022 the draft plan will be available online for review, and there will be an online comment card available to provide feedback.
Stay tuned for announcements on dates and times of our upcoming information booths and public open houses to learn more about the draft management plan!”
11. I've been able to dream big': 62-year-old Canadian becomes oldest woman to summit K2 in Pakistan: This CBC news article by Sara Jabakhanji should inspire all of us. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/k2-pakistan-oldest-woman-mountain-climber-liliya-ianovskaia-1.6562819.)
12. Information Session – Puckett’s Gulch Zoning Amendments: Those of you who use the Airport Trail and/or are interested in the protection of environmentally sensitive areas may want to attend this information session held by the Government of Yukon. The event will be held on Wednesday, August 31 from 4 pm to 7pm at the Yukon Transportation Museum.
ATWA Updates: July 24, 2022
1. E-Bike Purchases: Some of you may be considering purchasing an e-bike. This Globe and Mail article of July 1, 2022 by Matt Bubbers looks at what you need to know before making that purchase. (See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/article-as-e-bike-demand-surges-heres-what-you-need-to-know-before-buying-one/.)
As well, you may want to review the City of Whitehorse E-Bike Bylaw to learn where you can legally operate various types of e-bikes within the city. (See https://whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14941/637553694277970000.)
2. Pee Wee Hill Submission: As ATWA had received no response to the two documents sent to the Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) in February concerning the Pee Wee Hill trail issue, ATWA made a delegate presentation before City Council on June 6.
Despite this, a response from City Council or administration as to what (if anything) is to be done to address the issue was not forthcoming.
As a result, an email was sent to Councillor Cameron to see if he could find out if any action was going to be taken. He forwarded our inquiry to the Acting City Manager in an effort to get a response from administration.
Councillor Cameron received the following response from the Acting City Manager, which he passed on to us:
“The Pee Wee Hill trail bypass was built in accordance with the City’s Trail Development Policy. The installation of some signage for this short section of trail is planned for this summer, as is some trail maintenance work.
Administration is not currently aware of any conflicts between the Chadburn Lake Management Plan and the 2020 Trail Plan but will research that suggestion. Parks will close the loop with Mr. Lay and if a problem with our plans exists we will let Council know.
Administration isn’t currently planning any proposed amendments to the City’s policy framework governing wilderness trails as that subject matter isn’t within Council strategic priorities.”
The information from the City’s Acting Manager required a response, which reads as follows:
“Yes, we know that the trail bypass was built in accordance with the City’s Trail Development Policy. However, building the alternate trail was not what administration said it was going to do in 2017 in a WTGC meeting.
We provided councillors and administration with the minutes of that meeting. To reverse that decision without public consultation was unacceptable, despite what the Trail Development Policy says about new trail construction.
In addition, why is administration “not currently aware of any conflicts between the Chadburn Lake Management Plan and the 2020 Trail Plan, when those conflicts have been made apparent to both councillors and administration in written documents, including in our last delegate presentation before City Council on June 6 of this year, written copies of which were provided both councillors and administration?
The information was also made available to the Community Services Committee on February 14, 2022! (This included reference to our website where a number of photographs of the alternate and old trail were provided that demonstrated some of our concerns.)
It was because we had received no feedback with regard to that submission, despite sending a follow-up email to the committee on May 12 asking for a response, ATWA was forced to go before City Council on June 6.
This was something we were trying to avoid as we thought that this was an issue that councillors and administration could resolve internally.
According to Mr. O’Farrell’s email, “Administration isn’t currently planning any proposed amendments to the City’s policy framework governing wilderness trails as that subject matter isn’t within Council strategic priorities.”
Yet, the 2020 Trail Plan claims that it will “build upon and integrate existing policies, bylaws, management plans, memoranda of understanding[s], and safety documents associated with City trails.” (2020 Trail Plan, p. 3)
In fact, the Minutes of Meeting #2020-25 of the Community Services Committee of November 30, 2020, (Page 2) state, “In response to questions raised, administration confirmed that a top priority [in Trail Plan implementation] will be to identify the bylaws and policies that need to be updated. This is what the public and members of City Council were told in November of 2020. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14571/637426880962330000.)
So, despite not being a current City Council strategic priority, it is a declared administration top priority, and City Council should ensure that administration keeps its word and commences work on this integration without further delay.”
Last week ATWA received an email from the City’s Park Manager concerning (in part) the Pee Wee Hill issue, which after additional review and a very probable reply, we will discuss in our August Updates.
You can view the delegate presentation made before City Council on June 6 on our website at the following site. (See https://www.activetwa.org/pee-wee-hill-trail.html.)
An article on the issue also appeared in the Whitehorse Star of June 10. (See https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/public-not-consulted-about-trail-association.) Please note that a copy of the delegate presentation was sent to the Whitehorse Star.
Unfortunately, there were two errors in the article. These were made known to the Whitehorse Star. The latter was asked to write a correction, but it is not known if this was done.
The two errors are as follows:
a. "[The delegate] said park management will argue the Trail Development Policy allows it to build new trails without notification if they are 1,500 metres or fewer in length.”
What was actually said was that the Trail Development Policy allows management to build new trails without notification if they are “500” metres or fewer in length.
b. "Apparently, since there were no set timelines for the construction of the new trail, it was not communicated to the public, [the delegate] said.”
Unfortunately, the above was not what was actually said, and it leaves an incorrect impression.
The 2020 Trail Plan (Action #12) says that the City’s Strategic Communications department is to provide communication updates to inform the public of trail related initiatives.
This was not done because (according to administration) there were no set timelines for the completion of the Action #12 initiative. So, Strategic Communications was not prepared (for some reason) to inform the public of the trail construction.
The timelines had nothing to do with the construction process, only with the establishment of a system that would allow Strategic Communications to communicate trail related initiatives to the public.
The following is what was actually said in the presentation:
Action #12 of the 2020 Trail Plan, says that the City, “In collaboration with Strategic Communications [is to] provide communication updates to highlight trail initiatives throughout the community, such as City Trail Crew projects, approved trail development projects, and other trail related initiatives.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14132/637463002087130000 p. 27)
3. Draft Community Plan: The draft is available at Engage Whitehorse at the following site: https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/.
4. Access Gate Opening Pilot (Project): It is suggested that you take a very good look at this proposal. The impression one gets from a first reading is that the City has already made its decision with regard to opening up access gates.
It is interesting that for years ATWA has been trying to get the City to a) better enforce the rules concerning motorized vehicles; b) install appropriate signage on so-called non-motorized routes; c) repair damage to existing barriers; and d) amend the Snowmobile Bylaw to ensure that snowmobiles are prohibited from so-called non-motorized trails.
It would be interesting to learn which trail user groups and organizations are opposed to the use of access gates. However, the City does not provide that information.
It looks like this project will require close scrutiny. (See https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/access-gates-opening-pilot for more information, and how you can take part in this issue.)
5. Talking Together Initiative: As mentioned in our May Updates, after a City Councillor was not able to find out the status of this initiative, ATWA sent an email to Jeff O’Farrell (Interim City Manager) to see if he could provide us with an update on the initiative.
This was his response: “I have made some inquiries on this. Other than learning a bit more about the history, I haven’t discovered much with respect to the status of initiative.”
So, it looks like after all the time, money, and effort spent on this initiative nothing has been achieved. Maybe the City should consider establishing a new committee: a Follow-Up committee!
6. Yukon Energy Viewpoint Trail: It is becoming increasingly apparent that there are too many potential roadblocks with regard to our attempt to get maintenance work done on this short trail. (See previous Updates.)
The 2020 Trail Plan’s Action #30 calls for the expansion of “the trail stewardship concept by implementing programs such as Adopt- a-Trail.”
As far as we know nothing has been done as yet to implement this program. (See page 37 of the 2020 Trail Plan at https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14132/637463002087130000.)
However, it would seem to be a worthwhile endeavour.
7. Conditional Use Application: The Conditional Use Application received by the City of Whitehorse from the Yukon Breeze Sailing Society has been rejected by City Council, so there will be no additional shipping containers installed at the society’s Chadburn Lake site.
8. Fish Lake Local Area Planning Project: You may be interested in learning more about this project and, after reading the summary and background reports, consider replying to the survey that is available until August 31.
You can also visit the Fireweed Farmer’s Market in Whitehorse, on the afternoon of July 28, where there will be a booth where you can find out more about the planning project. (See https://yukon.ca/en/fish-lake-local-area-planning.)
9. Yukon Conservation Society: Do not forget that the YCS offers free-guided hikes at Kwanlin/Miles Canyon. (See https://www.yukonconservation.ca/news-items/guided-hikes for more information.)
10. Whitehorse North Trail Plan: The process of creating a neighbourhood trail plan for Whitehorse North has resumed.
Recently a survey consisting of six questions was sent to the residents of Whitehorse North. Residents were given a month to respond to the survey which had to be completed by July 20.
This survey is only open to residents of Whitehorse North.
Apparently, a community charrette will be held in September to gather feedback from other trail users, interest groups and the general public. However, Phase 2 of the trail planning process indicates that there is supposed to be a Resident, Stakeholder, & Indigenous Engagement component held in June/July. We have yet to receive any information with regard to Phase 2, and July is quickly coming to an end.
Conducting such a process during the summer months when people are often otherwise engaged is questionable.
It should be noted that he charrette held for the Whitehorse South Trail had few characteristics of what one considers an actual charrette. It was basically a drop-in event.
Action #22 of the Trail Plan said, “Instead of task forces, the City should consider a more inclusive public consultation process, that includes charrette style public workshops as part of the planning process.”
One expects that a drop-in event will be held for Whitehorse North, which will be called a charrette to technically satisfy Action #22 of the Trail Plan.
Unfortunately, the term non-motorized trail is once again being misrepresented in this neighbourhood trail planning process. We went through the same problem concerning the Whitehorse South Trail Plan, and although our concerns were expressed to administration and to City Council, history repeats itself.
Due to the existing Snowmobile Bylaw the definition of a non-motorized multiple use trail should actually read, “Trails designated to be used by a variety of non-motorized users (but also by snowmobilers), unless said trails are included in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw.”
Of course, such a definition is ridiculous (although correct) and one expects this may be one reason why the City does not seem to want the public to become cognizant of the situation.
The old 2012 Snowmobile Bylaw trumps the relatively new 2020 Trail Plan’s definition of a Non-Motorized Multiple Use Trail.
People are again given the incorrect impression that if a trail is considered non-motorized that it will be free from snowmobile use in winter.
Residents of Whitehorse North should be told what has to be done to ensure that is the case. (The Snowmobile Bylaw would have to be amended and the trail(s) added to the Excluded Trail section of the bylaw.)
You may recall that the approved Trail Plan claims that it will “build upon and integrate existing policies, bylaws, management plans, memoranda of understanding[s], and safety documents associated with City trails.” (2020 Trail Plan, p. 3)
Yet, the Snowmobile Bylaw, and Trail Development Policy (among others) have not been amended to reflect this claim.
We had hoped that administration would ensure that residents were made aware of the above situation during the process that will establish a trail plan for the area.
However, when this misrepresentation was again brought to the attention of administration we were told that “All trail designations are being properly represented and in accordance with City Bylaws. Like with Whitehorse South, Administration will include the additional clarity to where snowmobiles can go during the scheduled charrette.”
So, it appears that all those who participate in the survey will not be given the clarity that is needed in order to answer the survey questions properly. They may then attend the promised so-called charrette only to find out that they filled out the survey under the incorrect belief that a non-motorized multiple use trail is non-motorized year round.
11. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: Although it has been some time since City Council approved the Whitehorse South Trail Plan, the neighbourhood trail map has yet to appear on the City’s website.
It will be interesting to see if any of the so-called non-motorized trails in the area are placed in the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw to ensure they are truly non-motorized.
12. Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment Request: Unfortunately, there is nothing to report on our request. We have heard nothing.
As you know we sent our Snowmobile Bylaw amendment request to the Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) and all other members of councillors on March 4, 2022. Considering the number of people who supported this request, one would think that a response would be forthcoming.
13. Haeckel Hill Access Road: This road will be closed from June 28 to October 30, 2022. For more information see the following site: http://www.chuniikwan.ca/eagle-hill-energy.
ATWA Updates: May 29, 2022
1. Pee Wee Hill Submission and Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment Request: The constant placing of these two issues in our Updates is getting repetitive!
It is now well over three months since ATWA sent two documents to the Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) concerning the Pee Wee Hill trail issue. You can review those two documents on our website at https://www.activetwa.org/pee-wee-hill-trail.html.
We asked that the committee take the lead in addressing the concerns raised in both documents, and to bring those concerns to the attention of all city councillors. On February 17, we received an email from the committee indicating that the documents have been passed on for discussion. However, since that time we have heard nothing.
In April we sent letters to both the Yukon News and the Whitehorse Star about the Pee Wee Hill trail issue. You can view the original on our website under Issues/Letters at https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html
We sent our Snowmobile Bylaw amendment request to the Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) and all other members of councillors on March 4, 2022. We have yet to receive a response.
As a result, we sent the following email to Councillors Murray and Friesen on May 24, 2022 concerning the lack of a reply:
I have been asked to contact you about these issues before proceeding with any additional steps in our effort to get some resolution to both concerns.
As you may remember ATWA sent your committee a number of documents related to a) the alternate Pee Wee Hill trail, and b) the Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment request.
We have yet to hear anything with regard to these documents.
Unfortunately, administration (Parks) does not seem willing (or able) to deal effectively with these issues, so it is up to members of council to initiate changes that will result in ensuring a more inclusive trail network, and to ensure proper process is followed with regard to the many policies, plans, and initiatives associated with our trail system and its maintenance and development.
As you know, a number of people added their names to the Snowmobile Bylaw amendment request and they deserve a response.
Could you please tell me if anything is going to be done by City Council on either of these issues?
Thank you for your attention to these matters.
Keith Lay (Active Trails Whitehorse Association)
Unfortunately, as of the time of writing this Update, we have not received a reply.
This is extremely disheartening considering the amount of time and effort spent on the preparation of the various documents. As well, for those of you who allowed the addition of their names in support of the Snowmobile Bylaw amendment request, we can only offer our apology. We can only suggest you send an email to the councillors asking for a response.
(Contact [email protected] and [email protected].) Perhaps you will have more success if you contact them personally.)
It will now be necessary to appear before City Council as a delegate on one or both of these issues. Of course, we now have a third issue, and that is the failure of City Council to even give us the courtesy of a meaningful reply to our concerns.
2. Draft Official Community Plan (OCP): ATWA has now completed its submission with regard to the Draft OCP. We hope that it correctly mirrors the views of our associates. The submission will be posted to our website and will be found under Issues/Official Community Plan.
For the purpose of the Draft Official Community Plan (OCP) review, Active Trails Whitehorse Association (ATWA) focused our attention to concerns related to trails, regional parks, and greenbelts.
As mentioned in our email to all associates concerning the draft plan, the City will also be hosting an online meeting for all stakeholders, which ATWA will be attending.
That meeting takes place on Monday evening from 6 – 7 pm, so once again, if you have any environmental and/or recreational concerns with regard to our regional parks, environmentally sensitive areas, greenbelts, or trails that you would like us to bring up, please let us know ASAP.
The public has another avenue of engagement available to it, as there is an online “Info Session” from 7 – 8 pm on Tuesday May 31. This is the link: https://tinyurl.com/WhitehorseOCP.
You can provide your feedback on the draft OCP though an online survey by Sunday, June 5. However, it is recommended that you read the draft plan, and ATWA’s submission, before completing the survey. The survey closes on Friday, June 3.
You can also make written submissions as well, but the opportunity for input will end the same week as the survey closes. Submissions can be made to Mélodie Simard (Manager of Planning and Sustainability Services), City of Whitehorse at [email protected].
We wish that the City had provided more time to comment on the plan, as the latter is some 89 pages long, but we certainly appreciate the opportunities for input.
3. Talking Together Initiative: In light of recent trail damage in Chadburn Lake Regional Park (see associate email of May 27), and of what happened with regard to the Pee Wee Hill Trail, and with the lack of response to our submissions to the City with regard to both the Snowmobile Bylaw amendment request, this initiative takes on a new level of importance.
We have already indicated that ATWA would try to determine whether or not the Public Engagement Capacity Development Project, which came about as a result of the Talking Together Initiative is actually being instituted and, if so, its current state of progress.
Unfortunately, the councillor we approached on March 29 about the project has not as yet been able to provide any information.
We have sent an email to Jeff O’Farrell (Interim City Manager) to see if he can provide us with an update on the initiative.
4. Chadburn Lake Regional Park Trail Damage: Our email of 5/27 provided our associates with visual evidence of the damage. One suspects that a lack of communication may have been at the heart of this matter. One wonders as to how many people know there is a City approved Chadburn Lake Management Plan for this regional park. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000.)
Perhaps the City will now consider placing (the long requested) appropriate signage at park entrances to let everyone know that it is a City approved regional park.
If you missed the Whitehorse Star article on this story you can view it at this site:
(See https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/what-the-hell-woman-writes-of-damage.) Some of the comments that follow the article are unsettling.
It will be interesting to see what the promised remediation will look like. Hopefully, the City will contact and consult with the public before embarking on any remediation effort.
5. Yukon Energy Viewpoint Trail: On May 16, we sent an email to our associates, which (in part) read as follows: We would like to hear from any of our associates who might be willing to help (under supervision) with trail maintenance. This would not involve a major commitment. You would be looking at a few hours of work over a couple of nights, and would involve one specific short trail, which is easily reached.
The “specific short trail” is the Yukon Energy Viewpoint Trail, which starts opposite the Fish Ladder. We have tried for the last two years to get the City to do maintenance on this trail, which is closed to both ATV and bicycle use.
The request was the result of a concern expressed by one of our associates as to the poor condition of the trail. (The trail is part of the Yukon River Trail Marathon route, which this year takes place on August 7.)
Unfortunately, Parks has not put this trail on this summer’s list for work. Parks has suggested we “partner with Contagious Mountain Bike Club (CMBC), [which] does trail maintenance.” The latter have an MOU with the City, which allows the club to do such maintenance.
Prior to contacting the CMBC, ATWA first contacted Ken Sylvestre of the Boreal Adventure Running Association, the group that organizes the Yukon Trail Marathon. He was very supportive of our desire to improve the condition of the trail.
Recently, Ken walked the short trail and, for the most part, agreed that our assessment of the trail was “pretty accurate.”
ATWA then contacted the CMBC to see if it would partner with both the Boreal Adventure Running Association and ATWA to do the required work.
Hudson Lucier replied that, “As the trail is not a trail bikes are allowed on we can't provide a ton of support. But we can post on social media promoting [a trail work night.] I will also walk the trail with you to provide suggestions on what should be done and what can be done without a trail application.”
Last Wednesday Hudson walked the trail with one of our associates and provided his expertise with regard to what could reasonably be done to address the trail’s maintenance concerns. It was a most informative exercise and his comments were much appreciated.
There are a number of steps that have yet to be taken before getting permission to do any work on the trail, especially considering the fact that the CMBC is not able to provide direct support.
However, it looks as though we would only need four or five people to help with the work. We think that it would take a couple of sessions that would involve a few hours of work with pick and shovel. We have three volunteers so far. It would not involve the placing of any signage, as that would be something the City trail crew would have to do, if indeed new signage was approved.
Please consider adding your name to the list. Send us an email if you would like to be involved. (The City may also require help for the remediation of the recently damaged trails in Chadburn as well, and it would he nice to have a few people who would be willing to help out if requested/allowed.)
We will let any of our volunteers know if we are able to get permission to do any work on the trail. It would be nice to get the work done prior to the Yukon River Trail Marathon in August.
One thing that the City will be doing is changing the dated signage at the start of the trail. Currently the sign indicates that the trail is a part of the Great Trail. As you may recall, that name has been changed back to what it was originally called, namely the Trans Canada Trail.
6. Latitude and Longitude: We have been informed by Parks that the City will no longer be placing coordinates on trail posts. For years the City placed Longitude before Latitude on trail markers, which did little to enhance our reputation with tourists. One suspects that those signs will not be corrected. However, it is good to know that there will be no chance of making that same mistake again.
7. McIntyre Creek Concerns: At the May 16, 2022 meeting of the Public Health and Safety Committee the following concerns were brought up under New Business.
“Councillor Cameron noted that there are significant problems with damage being done to trails in McIntyre Creek and around the end of Pine Street, and requested an update on how the City is working to control the excessive activities on trails around McIntyre Creek. Administration confirmed that Bylaw is conducting foot patrols and officers are working modified shifts on ATVs. Administration also noted that they have not reached out to the RCMP, but a new motorized trail map is being released to provide public education on requirements for valid driver’s licenses, license plates, insurance, and “safe ATV” cards; signage will also be specifically posted at the top of Pine Street.”
Finally, we may see some action to address the many problems that are occurring in the area related to ORV use. (See https://www.yukon-news.com/local-business/whitehorse-council-plotting-trail-map-for-off-roaders/ to view a related Yukon News article.
8. Whitehorse Motorized Multi-Use Trails Map: We now have a new Motorized Multi-Use Trail map! (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/4210/637890647075659862.) It should be remembered that for safety reasons these trails are supposed to be designed to accommodate both motorized and non-motorized users.
It should also be remembered that non-motorized trails not listed in Schedule “C” or “E” of the Snowmobile Bylaw are open to snowmobile use in the winter.
The following are the only trails not open to Snowmobile Use in winter: Chadburn Lake Ski Trails, Mount McIntyre Ski Trails, Magnusson Ski Trails, Biathlon Ski Trails, the Birch Loop Trail in Crestview, the Millennium Trail, and the Whistle Bend Paved Perimeter Trail (Whistle Bend).
The new MMU map does not give a complete picture of the true extent of motorized trail use in Whitehorse. However, it is much better than the previous offering.
9. City Trail Use Maps: The City has done much work on the trail maps available to the public. We encourage you to take a look at each of the Popular Trails map at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/maps.
We thank the City for a much improved map site.
10. Lime Disease: A CBC article entitled, N.W.T. and Yukon partner with tick monitoring app is an article that all should read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/tick-tracking-app-nwt-yukon-1.6465898?fbclid=IwAR0A_6_KBvGCDEu9NIUyvoGVBBsejAD2ukylJXJf5mkVdeS26bGjPrtkdaA.)
Another CBC article entitled, High-risk areas for ticks in B.C. highlighted in new online map, is also worth a read.
(See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bccdc-lyme-disease-map-1.6468200.)
11. E-Bikes: A CBC article entitled, E-bike buyers deserve cash rebates too, advocates say, illustrates yet another advantage of living in Yukon. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ebike-buyers-deserve-cash-rebates-too-advocates-say-1.6457682.)
12. Lambing Season: Just a reminder to stay off Caribou, Nares, Needle, and Montana mountain until after June 15, as it is lambing season.
13. Yukon Bird Club: The club will be holding a “family-friendly bird walk with Jim Hawkings.” Meet at Boston Pizza parking lot at 5:30 pm on Monday, May 30. There is an optional social event afterwards. It looks to be about an hour and a half event.
14. Conditional Use Application: As mentioned in our May 16 email to associates, a Conditional Use Application has been received by the City of Whitehorse from the Yukon Breeze Sailing Society. This in an “Application to expand an existing Outdoor Participant Recreation Services Use.” You can read the Administrative Report at this site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/16805/637882880134851967.
You can look at the Reference Package at https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/16781/637882881366508521.
We informed our associates, as the application concerns the Chadburn Lake Regional Park. For the information of those who took part in the public input hearing on May 24, there will be a report coming forward on June 20, and a final council decision on June 27.
15. Escarpment Slide Updates: For the latest information see the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/News/News/5076/31?backlist=%2f.
16. Commute by Bike Event: This event starts May 30th. For more information see the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/224971/22?backlist=%2fhome.
ATWA Updates: April 28, 2022
1. Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment Request: Although we sent this request to the Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) and all other members of councillors on March 4, 2022, we have yet to receive a response.
All our associates received a copy of the eleven page document in the email that announced the availability of our March Updates on our website. For privacy reasons the names of submission supporters were not included in the copy provided to our associates.
Once again we would like to thank those associates who allowed the addition of their name to the submission. We hope that we will not have to wait much longer before receiving a response from the Community Services Committee.
2. Pee Wee Hill Submission: Over two months have passed since ATWA sent two documents to the Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) concerning the Pee Wee Hill trail issue. You can review those two documents on our website at https://www.activetwa.org/pee-wee-hill-trail.html.
We asked that the committee take the lead in addressing the concerns raised in both documents, and to bring those concerns to the attention of all city councillors. On February 17, we received an email from the committee indicating that the documents have been passed on for discussion. However, since that time we have heard nothing.
Last week ATWA sent letters to both the Whitehorse Star and the Yukon News concerning the Pee Wee Hill issue. The Star published a slightly edited version of that letter on Friday, April 22. Apparently, the Yukon News published the letter on Wednesday, April 28. You can view the original on our website under Issues/Letters at https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.
3. Talking Together Initiative: In our March Updates the Talking Together Initiative was mentioned. (See #2 under March Updates.)
We indicated that ATWA would try to determine whether or not the Public Engagement Capacity Development Project, which came about as a result of the Talking Together Initiative is actually being instituted and, if so, its current state of progress.
On March 29, we sent an email to a member of City Council asking the councillor to make an effort to access the required information. We were given an assurance that this would be done.
We hope that we will have the information in time for our May Updates.
In light of the lack of response to our submissions with regard to the Pee Wee Hill trail issue and the Snowmobile Amendment request, it seems apparent that the five guiding principles that were a result of the Talking Together Initiative have yet to be instituted. However, it will be interesting to see what the councillor finds out.
4. Engage Whitehorse: Just as we were preparing these Updates, the City of Whitehorse announced what it calls a “new public engagement platform.”
(We have confirmed with the acting Manager of Strategic Communications that the Engage Whitehorse project has nothing to do with the Talking Together Initiative mentioned in #3.)
Jordan Lutz, the city’s acting Manager of Strategic Communications, made the announcement, which (in part) reads as follows:
“We’re excited to announce the launch of our new public engagement platform, Engage Whitehorse.
The City frequently seeks input from the public regarding priorities for policies, programs, projects, and initiatives. Through this easy-to-use platform, residents can share their ideas, provide feedback, and ask questions for many of the City’s projects during our trial of Engage Whitehorse, with more to come throughout the year.
Engaged residents help create strong neighbourhoods, and make our city more welcoming and inclusive. Visit engagewhitehorse.ca to view our current projects, and register today to join the discussion!”
Unfortunately, it appears that citizens are restricted as to the policies, programs, projects, and initiatives on which they are allowed to comment. In other words, the city provides topics on which people can comment. At present, there are six.
There does not seem to be any way that someone can make comments about other areas of concern. However, anything that improves communication between the City of Whitehorse and its citizens will be appreciated, so please consider registering.
Note: Our associates should be aware that Strategic Communications was mentioned in Action #12 of the 2020 Trail Plan. Apparently, Parks and Strategic Communications is supposed to “provide communication updates to highlight trail initiatives throughout the community, such as City Trail Crew projects, approved trail development projects, and other trail related initiatives.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14132/637463002087130000 p. 27)
The new Pee Wee Hill “switchback trail” initiative certainly qualified as one that should have been communicated to the public, but this was not done.
ATWA was told by Parks administration that there are no “set [timelines] for this initiative and the [Strategic] Communications Department has their own timelines to work with and times for when they share information.” (Parks Oct. 27/2021 email to ATWA)
Needless to say the inability of the two city departments to initiate Action #12 of the now two-year old Trail Plan is concerning. ATWA has contacted Mr. Lutz about this situation. He indicated that he would contact Parks administration to see what can be done.
Please note that the Strategic Communications department usually consists of two people. However, it is now down to one as Mr. Lutz is the acting manager.
5. Range Road South Asphalt Path Extension: Information on this project can be viewed on the Engage Whitehorse site at https://www.engagewhitehorse.ca/rangeroadsouth-asphaltpathextension.
6. Millennium Trail: On April 22, the city made the following announcement with regard to the Millennium Trail:
“The section of the Millennium Trail between the Rotary Centennial Bridge and the fish ladder will be closed during construction for the safety of Trail users, residents and workers on site. Temporary signage and fencing will be put in place to let users know of the restricted access.”
7. WildWise Yukon: Recently we received a request for a letter of support with regard to an application that WildWise Yukon was making to the Environmental Awareness Fund for its Whitehorse Waste Audit & Signage Project.
According to Elise Brown-Dussault (Program Coordinator), the funding will be used to “to conduct a waste audit (3 surveys) of bear-proof bins around the [City of Whitehorse at road stops, day use areas, and trailheads], so we can report on which areas really need increased capacity and attention in terms of littering and illegal dumping. We also hope to put up signs discouraging illegal dumping and littering at ten of the hardest-hit spots.”
It was felt that this was a worthy project and one which all of our associates would support, so the requested letter of support was provided. We hope that the funding will be realized.
In the meantime, if any of you have any thoughts about what day use areas, road stops, and (in particular) trailheads need more attention please contact Elise at 335-5212 and/or at
[email protected]. Photographs of the site illustrating the problem would be beneficial.
As well, if you see trail areas that need attention due to illegal dumping and or littering be sure to contact Meagan Wilson (Projects and Trails Coordinator for the City of Whitehorse) at [email protected].
If you would like to know more about what WildWise Yukon does, you can go to its website at https://wildwise.ca.
8. Robert Service Campground: A Yukon News April 21 article by Stephanie Waddell, entitled Whitehorse city council contemplates cash for campground building, will get you up-to-date on this continuing saga. (See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/whitehorse-city-council-contemplates-cash-for-campground-building/).
9. McIntyre Creek Regional Park: A Whitehorse Star April 19 article by Tim Giilck entitled, MLA questions potential McIntyre Creek Park complications, provides further information on this never-ending issue.You can view that article at the following site:
https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/mla-questions-potential-mcintyre-creek-park-complications
There is (as yet) no management plan for this park. Only one of the city’s five regional parks (Chadburn Lake Park/June 2017) has a management plan, although it is debatable that the plan has made much difference in how the park is administered. (See ATWA’s, January 22, Updates #6, at https://www.activetwa.org/news.html).
10. Trail Popularity Problems: This BBC article entitled, Snowdonia authority tells hikers to visit toilet before climbing, points out a number of problems that trail or route popularity can bring. (See https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-61138653).
Whitehorse is not immune to the problems mentioned in the article. COVID has certainly resulted in more people becoming involved in outdoor recreational pursuits, and this combined with a significant population increase has put more pressure on our trail system.
11. Solar Powered ATVs: This Canadian Press article by Bill Graveland entitled, Project gives Indigenous communities in the North an option to switch to greener technology, has a Yukon connection.
12. Copper Haul Road Closure: The City of Whitehorse has provided the following information.
“Residents are advised that a section of the Copper Haul Road near Fish Lake Road is closed until further notice, due to the poor condition of a culvert.
A closure is required until the culvert can be repaired.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/News/News/4726/31 for more information.)
13. 20-Minute Makeover Event Approaching: This Neighbourhood Edition will take place on May 25th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information visit the city’s website at https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/News/News/5022/31?backlist=%2fhome.
14. Lambing Season: The Carcross Tagish Renewable Council makes the following request:
“It's lambing season again. Please STAY OFF trails in sheep and goat habitats until after June 15th. Needle Mountain, Caribou Mountain, Nares Mountain, and Montana Mountain are all home to populations of sheep or goats. Please be respectful and give them space until after this sensitive time.”
15. Canadian Wildlife Federation City Nature Challenge Event: This event, which takes place between April 29 and May 8, may be of interest to some of our associates. (See https://cwf-fcf.org/en/explore/inaturalist/cnc/?src=carousel for more information.
16. Yukon Bird Club: The club will be holding a Birdathon from May 27 (5 pm) to May 28 (5 pm). More information on this event will be found in the coming days at the club’s website. (See https://yukonbirds.ca/birdathon/).
17. City of Whitehorse Capital Expenditure Rebudgets to 2022: In reviewing the minutes of a recent City Council meeting we came across rebudget items concerning ATWA areas of interest. As a result, on April 14 we sent the following questions to Valerie Braga (Director Corporate Services).
[We] have some questions concerning APPENDIX A-(Page 5) ‐ CAPITAL EXPENDITURE REBUDGETS TO 2022 BYLAW 2022 ‐ 08 TRAIL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/15753/637850297924430000.)
Under 740c00409 Trail Plan Implementation, the following comment is made:
This project (740C00409) was not completed in 2021 due to staff shortages. These re‐budgeted funds will be used for trail crew operations, staff wages, materials, equipment rentals, and contractor services if needed. This project will be completed by the end of the 2022 season.
Unfortunately, there is no indication as to the specific “project” that was not completed in 2021 due to staff shortages.
Question: Is one to assume that as the “rebudget” eligible amount of $68,506, and the 2021 actual amount spent by Parks on capital projects related to the Trail Plan implementation was $6,494, and that the two together total $75,000 (the amount granted to Parks for Trail Plan Implementation under the 2021 Capital Budget), that the “project” simply refers to any capital monies spent on Trail Plan implementation? In other words, the “project” does not refer to any specific capital project initiative mentioned in the actual trail plan.
Question: The 2022 Capital Budget (740C00409) called for 100,000 for Trail Plan Implementation from 2022 to 2025. Therefore, [are we] correct in [our] conclusion that in 2022 Parks now has a total of $168,506 to spend on the 2020 Trail Plan Implementation?
Question: Why is the public not given a list of the specific capital projects that Parks plans to carry out with monies allotted to the 2020 Trail Plan Implementation?
There were 30 Action Plan items outlined in the 2020 Trail Plan, a number of which would require capital expenditure. However, the public has (as far as we know) no idea as to which one(s) are going to be addressed in 2022 with the funding the budget provided.
[We] also wonder why, when the capital budget is released for public comment, that the capital Trail Plan projects that Parks intends on implementing in the specific budget year are not listed. It may well be that the public may have a different opinion as to which capital projects listed for “action” in the 2020 Trail Plan should be given priority.
Question: Could you tell [us] what specific capital expenditure projects related to Trail Plan Implementation are proposed to be completed in 2022?
Question: Was any part of the $6,494, spent by Parks in 2021 used to construct the new Pee Wee Hill trail? If so, how much?
Question: Under Long Lake Improvements (740c00320) the following statement appears:
The conceptual design was completed in 2020. This re‐budget amount will be spent on the implementation of amenities such as docking infrastructure and potentially a lifejacket loaner station and change stations to support water‐based recreation and aquatics programming. This is the second phase of long lake improvements and the project will be completed in 2022.
Are these improvements a result of the Management Directives that came as a result of the completion of the Chadburn Lake Management Plan adopted in June of 2017?
Thanks for any help you can give [us] with regard to the above questions.
Hopefully, we will get a response prior to our May Updates being sent out.
18. Friends of McIntyre Creek: The organization’s Annual General Meeting will take place on May 10, 2022 at Hellaby Hall (4th and Elliot) from 7 to 9 pm. For more information contact [email protected]. Please let the organization know prior to the meeting if you are interested in becoming a member of its Board of Directors.
ATWA Updates: March 29, 2022
1. Snowmobile Amendment Request: On March 4, 2022 we sent a document to City Council’s Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) calling for changes to the Snowmobile Bylaw. All our associates have now received a copy of that document via email. The reasons for the request were contained within the paper along with supporting documentation.
We included an introduction to the Snowmobile Amendment document in the email sent to the committee. You can read that introduction on our website under Issues/Change Snowmobile Bylaw. (See https://www.activetwa.org/change-snowmobile-bylaw.html.)
We would like to thank those who allowed the addition of their name to the submission. It was much appreciated.
The Community Services Committee confirmed receipt of the document on March 14. We await a response to ATWA’s request.
2. Pee Wee Hill Submission: On February 14, 2022 we sent two documents to City Council’s Community Services Committee (Councillors Murray and Friesen) concerning the construction of a new Pee Wee Hill trail in September of 2021. We asked that the committee take the lead in addressing the concerns raised in both documents, and to bring those concerns to the attention of all city councillors.
On February 17 we received an email from the committee indicating that the documents were received and that they “have passed them on for discussion.” As of yet, we have received no formal response to the concerns raised in the submissions.
3. Talking Together Initiative: In light of our recent submissions concerning the Snowmobile Bylaw and the Pee Wee Hill issue, it is a good time to refer to this initiative.
“On January 10, 2018, the Government of Yukon and City of Whitehorse launched Talking Together: A stronger dialogue between you and your government. The project was a joint effort to learn what Yukoners see as meaningful engagement . . . ”
According to a December 3, 2018 City of Whitehorse Administrative Report the result of this initiative was the establishment of a city project entitled, Public Engagement Capacity Development. “This project entails training and skills development for City staff in proper engagement strategies and techniques . . .” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/10497/636791797639770000 p. 3)
Apparently, there were five guiding principles that came out of this initiative:
1. We will be inclusive - we will be accessible to a broad range of voices and when we don’t hear a voice, we will seek it out.
2. We will be transparent and clear - we will create easily accessible processes for engagement and we will tell people our intentions when we engage the public.
3. We will recognize and value the unique contribution of participants - we will demonstrate care and respect for participants, recognizing that they have valuable, relevant knowledge and experience to contribute.
4. We will be accountable and act with integrity - we will be clear about the goal of the public engagement and how public input will be considered in our decision- making. We will demonstrate what emerged from the conversations and connect input to action and activities.
5. We will build skills - we will help Yukoners to have conversations about complex topics in a productive way, and we will help government staff build their public engagement skills. We will build processes that provide an opportunity for listening, learning and working together. (See https://yukon.ca/sites/yukon.ca/files/engage/yg_-_eco_-_talking_together_what_we_heard_final.pdf p. 10)
In a City of Whitehorse, Development Services Division Newsletter of April 2018 the following information was given about the Talking Together initiative:
Talking Together is a shared initiative between the City and the Government of Yukon focused on improving the way our governments work, talk, and make decisions with the public. Hundreds of people have participated in consultation activities for this project, which have included an online survey, a crowdsourcing tool, and numerous public meetings across Yukon, including an Ideas Fair at The Old Fire Hall held in January. The next step for the City is to share the feedback received with staff from all departments and develop strategies for consistent delivery of public outreach techniques.
The five guiding principles read well, but in light of issues such as the Snowmobile Bylaw and Pee Wee Hill, one must wonder if any of the guiding principles have been adopted by the city.
December 3, 2018 was the last time we heard anything about this Public Engagement Capacity Development project.
ATWA will try to obtain an update from the City of Whitehorse on the current state of this project.
4. Norma Felker: As you are probably aware, Norma Felker has retired after some 38 years of service with the City of Whitehorse. She had been the assistant city clerk since 2006.
It was always a pleasure engaging with Norma by phone, email, or in person. She had a wealth of knowledge with regard to city affairs, and was ready and willing to pass that knowledge on to others. ATWA will miss her presence at City Hall. She certainly deserves a wonderful retirement. Thank you Norma! (See https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/retiring-stalwart-served-seven-mayors-13-councils).
5. Letter to Mayor Cabott: On March 14 ATWA sent a letter to Mayor Cabott with regard to the Pine Street Extension paved trail. The paved trail came up in a discussion that the Mayor had with one of our associates.
The letter was sent to ensure the Mayor was made better aware of the background to the issues associated with this gas tax paved trail. We asked for a meeting with Mayor Cabott to discuss these issues and others mentioned in the document.
We await a response.
You can view this letter on our website under Issues/Letters at https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html. The name of the associate in the first sentence has been deleted for privacy purposes.
6. Trail Etiquette: If you ski at the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club you will have seen the new (this year) trail etiquette signs. The rules apply to all those using the club’s trails. Most (if not all) are applicable when using ski trails in other areas. However, one should always note the specific etiquette rules that apply in other locations.
You can view the City of Whitehorse Trail Etiquette rules, along with other etiquette information on our website under Resources/Trail Etiquette. (See https://www.activetwa.org/trail-etiquette.html.)
We have included a photo of the ski club’s Trail Etiquette signs on our website under (you guessed it) Photos. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html and scroll down to the bottom.)
7. Snow Machines and Wetlands: A Letters to the Editor article appeared in the Yukon News on March 13, 2022. It was entitled Ibex Valley wetland treated like a gravel pit, and was written by Rene Rivard. The article can also be found in the March 14 edition of the Whitehorse Star. See page seven.
(See https://www.yukon-news.com/opinion/this-weeks-mailbox-energy-bills-pushing-cost-of-living-too-high-concerns-over-snow-machines-in-ibex-valley-wetland/ and scroll down.)
8. E-Bike Trails in Banff: A Dec 9, 2021 article by Cathy Ellis entitled, Expansion of e-bike trails in Banff National Park draws controversy is worth a read as it mirrors some of the concerns ATWA has expressed regarding a lack of transparency in decision making with regard to our own trail system. (See https://www.rmotoday.com/banff/expansion-of-e-bike-trails-in-banff-national-park-draws-controversy-4841239.)
9. Chilkoot Trail: The March 24, Yukon Conservation Society’s Email Newsletter tells us that the trail will be open to reservations starting April 25.
Starting “June 1 the Chilkoot Trail will be open for hiking and camping from Bennett to the Chilkoot Pass and back, or Dyea to the Chilkoot Pass and back! Cross-border hiking will continue to be prohibited.” More information can be found at the following site: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/yt/chilkoot.
10. Summer Interpretive Program Coordinator: The YCS Email Newsletter also tells us that the society “is seeking an enthusiastic youth (18-30) with an interest in learning about YCS and supervising the Trail Guide Program, as well as coordinating public events. The full job description can be found on [its] website.”
Applications need to be submitted by April 17, 2022.
If you know of anyone who would be interested in applying for the position, more information is available at the following site. (See http://yukonconservation.org/who-we-are/our-team/join-our-team/.)
ATWA Updates: February 25, 2022
1. City Trail Clearing: City Council has apparently approved both the winter clearing of the Granger and Hillcrest connector trail, and a section of the lower escarpment paved path. The following February 6 Yukon News article by Stephanie Waddell provides additional information. (See “Winter clearing for two trails” approved at https://www.yukon-news.com/news/city-news-briefly-49/.)
2. Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment: We have now completed the final edit of the document and it will be made available to our associates via our March Updates. However, for privacy purposes the names of those who supported the contents of the document will not be attached.
Our intent is to ask the Community Services Committee to consider bringing the issue to the attention of all members of City Council, and consider initiating the process that would lead to a City Council vote on the proposed amendment to the Snowmobile Bylaw.
3. Recent submissions to the Community Services Committee: On February 14, ATWA sent two documents to the Community Services Committee on the subject of the Pee Wee Hill trails. You will find both of these documents on our website under Issues/Pee Wee Hill trail. (See https://www.activetwa.org/pee-wee-hill-trail.html.)
We received notification from the committee on February 17 that the documents have been passed on “for discussion.” Hopefully, the discussion will prove fruitful, and that action will be taken to address the concerns raised.
Just so you know we have placed two more photos of the new Pee Wee Hill trail on our website. These were taken on February 8. You will find them under Photos on our website. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html and scroll down.)
4. Kicksleds: These are becoming increasingly popular in our community. A January 28 CBC article by Alexandre Silberman is an interesting read on the subject. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/beaubassin-est-snow-kicksleds-1.6329598.)
5. Yukon Wildlife Preserve: You can now rent kicksleds at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. Apparently, there are 14 kicksleds available in various sizes. They are rented on a first come, first serve basis. Seems like a great “new” way to enjoy the trails at the preserve. (See https://yukonwildlife.ca/rentals/ for more information.)
6. Yukon Conservation Society: The YCS has a “Special General Meeting and Annual General Meeting . . . scheduled for March 24 (online).” More information is available at http://yukonconservation.org/news-events/.
7. Tracks and Trails Event: This looks to be a most interesting activity and one that will be held on Saturday, March 12. You can find out more about this and other such activities at https://yukon.ca/en/wild-discoveries.
ATWA Updates: January 22, 2022
1. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: Although the plan was adopted by City Council on December 13, it has yet to appear on the City’s Map page as one of Council’s Approved Trail Networks.
It will be interesting to see if, as one councillor suggested, that the trail plan map informs trail users that so-called non-motorized multiple use trails are open to snowmobile use in winter. When the map is posted you should be able to find it by going to the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/maps.
As you know the trail plan called for potential new trail development in the Whitehorse South section of McIntyre Creek Regional Park. ATWA expressed concern about this possibility, as we have yet to have a management plan for this regional park.
Unfortunately, the City has always done neighbourhood trail plans prior to the completion of regional park management plans. This is like putting the cart before the horse. However, it is too late now to reverse the process, as all neighbourhood trail plans but Whitehorse North have been completed.
In any case, City Council has apparently been assured that it will be informed of any new development that is proposed to take place within the park area. One would assume that this includes new trails.
It would be appreciated that those of you who use the area would let us know if you see any activity in the park of which we should be made aware.
In addition, once again we have been told that the Snowmobile Bylaw will be reviewed at some point. However, no indication was provided as to when this will take place. And, as all bylaws are reviewed at some point, this gives us little hope that the review will take place at any time in the immediate future.
However, as the council approved 2020 Trail Plan claims that it will “build upon and integrate existing policies, bylaws, management plans, memoranda of understanding[s], and safety documents” associated with City trails, one would expect that work has already commenced towards enacting this initiative. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14132/637463002087130000 p. 3 #2.)
One expects that members of council will have to be continually reminded of this Trail Plan initiative in order to ensure it is carried out.
2. New Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail: A recent visit to the new trail proved to be quite enlightening. As feared, it is as slippery in winter conditions as is the old Pee Wee Hill trail.
Unfortunately, a section of the trail has virtually vanished under drifting snow, something that due to this section’s location will continue unless snow fencing is installed. The blockage has resulted in a few people taking “short cuts” to get to a lower section of the trail. It did not appear that any trail bikers had made any effort to get through this section, a smart decision.
At present, the old trail is the best route to use, although as indicated it is very slippery in sections. You can view new (January 19) winter photos of the new trail by going to our Photo page. See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html and scroll down. Six photos, five of which were taken on January 19, have been added to the Pee Wee Hill photo section.
As mentioned in our December Updates we are in the process of preparing a letter that we plan on sending to the Community Services Committee in order to bring the issue to the attention of members of City Council. The issue is a perfect example with which to illustrate the confusion related to proper process when dealing with trail concerns.
We are now in the process of editing that letter and hope to get it off to the appropriate committee by the first week in February. At that time it will be posted to our Issues page under Letters. (See https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.)
3. Winter Biking: This Dec 30, 2021 CBC article by Ele Pawelski, will be of interest to those who are either currently using their bikes for transportation purposes, or contemplating doing so. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/opinion-winter-biking-during-pandemic-1.6295158.)
4. Winter Cycling: The City of Whitehorse has a section on its website dedicated to winter cycling. If you cycle in the winter take a look. (See
https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/environmental-sustainability/movement/cycle/winter-biking-safety.)
5. Yukon Conservation Society: The latest YCS Email Newsletter mentioned three Wildlife Viewing Events in which you may wish to participate. It appears that you will need to register for these events. You can do so at the following site: (See https://yukon.ca/wilddiscoveries.)
Wolf Howl – Whitehorse area
Wed., January 26th (7 to 8:30 p.m.)
Yukon Wildlife Viewing
Join wolf program coordinator Peter Knamiller on a night-walk to learn about the life history of these top carnivores. We'll even try howling to see if they answer. Bring a headlamp/flashlight and please dress warmly as we will be outside and stationary.
Muskrat walk – Whitehorse area
Wed., February 9th (5 to 6:30 p.m.)
Yukon Wildlife Viewing
What are those dome-shaped "push-ups" of dirt and vegetation on the ice? Join the wildlife viewing staff for a walk around a local pond to view these "push-ups" and learn all about muskrats.
Ski-bou – Mt Lorne area
Sat., February 19th (1 to 3 p.m.)
Yukon Wildlife Viewing
Bring your cross-country skis and hit the trails with the wildlife viewing staff to learn about the ecology and habits of Woodland Caribou. You'll see tracks and signs of animals in the area, and if you're very lucky maybe even see a caribou itself.
6. 2022-2025 City Capital Expenditure Program: Some interesting information was revealed concerning the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan as a result of public input questions and comments on this subject.
Q: Will the 2022 Capital Budget allocate funds to aid in the implementation of the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Plan?
A: The 2022-2025 Capital Expenditure Program does not propose new expenditures in this park.
Q: What funds have been allocated (if any) to the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Plan in the years 2019 to and including 2021?
A: Approximately $53,000
Q: Which of the 26 initiatives of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan that were due to be completed in the four and a half years since the plan’s adoption, have been completed?
A: Since the adoption of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, the City has completed improvements in the Long Lake Area, developed the Grey Mountain Summit (Dream) Trail, and continues to monitor and maintain the existing trail network.
Please note the "2022-2025 Capital Expenditure Program does not propose new expenditures in this park,”and that in the years 2019-2021 only $53,000 was allotted to the completion of the 26 initiatives outlined in the management plan, many of which require capital expenditure.
As well, it should be noted that administration lists only three areas where work has been done or is in progress, and one would think that the “[monitoring] and [maintenance of] the existing trail network” was being done prior to the approval of the Chadburn Lake Management Plan.
One wonders how the City of Whitehorse going to complete the plan’s initiatives if it is not willing to spend the money to do so? Why do we go through the effort of creating park management plans if we are not prepared to follow through on the initiatives that those plans propose?
Initiative 3.1 of the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan says, “The City may undertake a place-based branding exercise, which would consider formally recognizing and acknowledging First Nation place names and renaming Chadburn Lake Park with a more culturally appropriate name.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000p. 27)
It is now over four years since the management plan was adopted (June, 2017) and we still do not have culturally appropriate signs at its main entrances.
The response of administration was as follows:
A: With respect to initiative 3.1, this initiative may be completed outside of the capital budgeting process, in collaboration with the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.
It should be noted that the Chadburn Lake Management Plan indicated a two-year timeline for this initiative. In any case, the sign that is currently located at one of the two major entrances to the park is an embarrassment.
One would think that after all the effort made in the development of this plan, that one of the first things that would be done was to place culturally appropriate signage at the main routes of entrance to the park to indicate that entrance is being made to a City of Whitehorse Regional Park.
Apparently, other suggestions concerning trails are to be reviewed by City departments. These include the following:
That the City provides funds for a sign at the entrance on the Chadburn Lake Road.
That the City use part of the Trail Plan Implementation budget to correct or replace trail signs that place longitude before latitude.
7. Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment: Recently ATWA prepared a document entitled, Snowmobile Bylaw Amendment that explains why there is a need to change the Snowmobile Bylaw to reflect the ATV Bylaw, and prohibit snowmobile operators from using non-motorized trails, greenbelts, and open spaces.
You can view this document on our website under Issues/Change Snowmobile Bylaw. (See https://www.activetwa.org/uploads/2/2/7/6/22767404/snowmobile_bylaw_amendment.pdf.)
ATWA Updates: December 19, 2021
1. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: On Monday, December 13 City Council adopted the Whitehorse South Trail Plan. We failed to get any significant changes to the final plan. So called non-motorized multiple use trails in Whitehorse South will still be open to snowmobiles and snowmobile conversion vehicles in the winter.
The option was available for City Council to ask administration to go through the process of adding those trails to SCHEDULE “E” EXCLUDED TRAILS section of the Snowmobile Bylaw, but there was no motion made to take this course of action.
There was no discussion at the council meeting of the fact that the City claims that MMU trails are designed to accommodate both motorized and non-motorized users mainly for safety reasons, but that safety does not seem to play a factor when combining snowmobilers and non-motorized users on so-called non-motorized trails that are not designed to accommodate either user group.
There was also little discussion of the potential impact on trails that are not designed to accommodate snowmobiles. The very fact that the Snowmobile Bylaw says that operators must not “damage vegetation or ground” tells us that the City does recognize such vehicles can cause damage to trails, especially if operated on trails that are not designed to accommodate them.
As to how an operator is to determine that vegetation and/or ground have been damaged prior to spring melt is not explained in the bylaw. Unfortunately, such use widens trails and then they become more susceptible to increased machine use in both summer and winter.
At the council meeting we heard the same old story that due to snow cover snowmobiles cause less damage to trails than ATVs.
Surely City administrators must realize that factors such as degree of slope, aspect, height of land, temperature variation, and vegetation cover all affect snow depth. Therefore, snow depth is never the same in all areas of the city. Vegetation located above the snow snaps easily in the cold.
If snowmobilers were required to stay on designated motorized trails and out of open spaces and greenbelts (as are ATVs), then damage would be reduced, particularly to narrow single-track trails.
Requiring snowmobilers to stay on MMU trails and off non-motorized trails would also reduce user conflict, improve safety for all concerned, and make for a more equitable trail network.
It would also allow non-motorized users to enjoy peace and solitude on trails that are more intimate than MMU trails. As well, it would support the right of community members to the quiet enjoyment of their property, local trails and greenbelts.
Having said this there is renewed hope that this council will look at the Snowmobile Bylaw and consider appropriate changes. The Mayor said that the bylaw needs “work,” and that non-motorized users need to have trails that they can enjoy free from motorized use.
You are encouraged to look at the video of Monday’s (Dec. 13) council meeting. (See http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2021-12-13.mp4.html and scroll down to #10.)
City Council did nothing specifically to alleviate the threat of potential trail development in an area of McIntyre Creek Park that is located within the boundaries of Whitehorse South.
Unfortunately, as per the Trail Development Policy any trail development under 500 metres does not need to undergo any oversight by City Council, relevant stakeholders, community groups, other organizations, or the general public.
Public consultation only occurs if “a proposed trail exceeds 1,000 meters in length.” Unless you are a runner, it is unlikely one really understand how long a 500-metre trail actually is. The policy only allows for public consultation if the trail exceeds 1000 metres.
This means trail development could take place without any notification prior to consultation on a management plan for the McIntyre Creek Regional Park.
As the 2014 Regional Park Plan states, “Regional Parks do not operate in isolation from other lands and neighbourhoods. They have an intricate relationship with surrounding areas. Good decision-making will depend on science, our ability to identify linkages, and understand the broader inter-relationships and impacts.” (P. 15)
The “new” trail beside the old (and still used) Pee Wee Hill trail is approximately 140 metres long and certainly demonstrates how much impact on the environment a trail of such a short distance can have.
This was a trail that should never have been built without some form of consultation, despite being well under 500 metres, and given the fact that after a year and a half of consultation and review the City had already decided to grade and widen the old Pee Wee Hill trail, and not build a “new” trail, as according to City employees the latter would be “unsustainable”. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html. Scroll down.)
Unfortunately, there could well be more of these “under the radar” trails built without any notification unless the Trail Development Policy is amended.
The 2020 Trail Plan Action #23 calls for the policy to be “updated,” but it is obvious now that it also needs to be amended to ensure there is better engagement with the public concerning trail construction of any type or length.
Although as mentioned, nothing was specifically done to address the potential of new development in McIntyre Creek Park, the fact is that a number of councillors expressed concerns surrounding that possibility.
As a result, administration will now have to think very carefully about doing development of any kind in the area without informing members of council.
In his delegate presentation before City Council, Wolf Creek resident and ATWA associate Pat Milligan expressed three major concerns with regard to the Whitehorse South Trail Plan:
a) City administration has ignored the premise of the Wolf Creek MMU trail and survey results,and has instead proposed the Dawson South Trail as a MMU Trail in the draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan.
There are other MMU trail options readily available (and used) that do not involve disrupting an Environmentally Sensitive Area or compromising planning for the City of Whitehorse Wolf Creek Regional Park.
b) The Whitehorse South Trail Plan does not include any designated trails along the Alaska Highway corridor.
c) There is a net loss of non-motorized trails in Whitehorse South that results from the proposed Whitehorse South Trail Plan and current bylaws.
ATWA made two City Council presentations on the Whitehorse South Trail Plan (Dec. 6 and Dec. 13). As mentioned, Pat Milligan also made a delegate presentation on Dec. 13 expressing his views on the trail plan.
You can view ATWA’s presentations, as well as two other documents that we have recently posted entitled, Whitehorse South Notes and Whitehorse South Administration Comments, by going to Issues/Whitehorse South Trail Plan. (See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-south-trail-plan.html.)
Pat Milligan’s presentation will be posted to the website as soon as it is available.
2. E-scooter Safety: As we are now seeing more e-scooters around town a CBC article by Kimberley Molina is very apropos. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/escooter-dangers-persist-accessility-community-says-1.6262662.)
3. Mountain Biking Culture: An Adventure Journal article by BY MIKE CURIAK LACE MINE IS AN INTERESTING READ. (See https://www.adventure-journal.com/2018/05/culture-mountain-biking-gone-astray/.)
4. Walking tips for safer strolls this winter: Now this is an article that is very appropriate for our part of the world, especially considering the fact that we spend so much time on local trails in the winter months.This CBC article by Janet Ho is well worth the read. (See https://www.cbc.ca/life/wellness/walking-tips-for-safer-strolls-this-winter-1.5814443?fbclid=IwAR2M2fr1K8OzhXlWY8YwJZlQwE3lylUqF4OV3cwDdWoXAGe9W8r-jQgAUBA.)
5. Tennis Yukon: Great news!The City of Whitehorse is going to ensure there is an outhouse this summer at the Mt Mac parking lot, something that was discontinued in 2015.
Since that time several groups whose members and associates use the area have donated funds towards the renting and cleaning an outhouse adjacent to the Tennis Yukon courts (Tennis Yukon, Active Trails Whitehorse Association, Contagious Mountain Bike Club, Yukon Pickleball, Boréale, and the Whitehorse Cross-Country Ski Club).”
In the summer of 2020 the cost of this service was $1312.50, but that rose in 2021 to over $2200.
On December 6 a letter was sent in the name of all the contributing groups to City Council’s Community Services Committee: Chair: Mellisa Murray/Vice-Chair: Michelle Friesen concerning the issue.
A reply was received on December 14th indicating the City would restore the service it had previously provided.
ATWA joins with all the other contributors to thank the two councillors and the City of Whitehorse for resuming this service and absorbing the cost.
6. Strategic Communications: This City of Whitehorse department “works collaboratively with City Council and staff from all departments to ensure the City engages in discussions and communications with citizens and government partners in a way that is coordinated, timely, and proactive. The department is responsible for the City’s website, social media, advertising, and marketing.” (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/communications-and-customer-service.)
This is the department that is supposed to “Highlight trail initiatives throughout the community” as per Action #12 of the 2020 Trail Plan.
Unfortunately, no timeline has been set for this initiative, so it is likely that trail builds such as the new Pee Wee Hill alternate trail will not be made known to the general public.
7. Active Transportation: Why this city is Europe's best kept cycling secret is a BBC article by Pedro Garcia, which you might find to be of interest. There is a video attached entitled,Tips from the Netherlands on how to build a nation of cyclists that might be a worthwhile view for those preparing the Whitehorse Transportation Master Plan. (See https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59386433.)
8. Active Transportation Fund Government of Canada: It is our understanding that this fund is separate and distinct from the federal gas tax fund. “The Fund will make available $400 million over five years to help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges, as well as support Active Transportation planning and stakeholder engagement activities.”
This funding is available not only for municipal projects in the territories including projects in Indigenous communities, but also for non-profit organizations. (See https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/trans/active-actif-eng.html.)
9. New Year’s Eve Fireworks: Three of our City of Whitehorse trails are considered to be good places from which to observe this Friday, Dec. 31 event that starts at 8:00 pm. There is much more information available on the City of Whitehorse Facebook page. (See https://www.facebook.com/cityofwhitehorse.)
10. New Pee Wee Hill Alternate Trail: We have sent two letters to the Whitehorse Star with regard to this issue. (See https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.)
We are in the process of preparing a letter that we plan on sending to the Community Services Committee early in the New Year. Although the trail is a fait accompli, there are numerous concerns about proper process that still need to be addressed.
11.Trans Canada Trail: The organization has just released its National Guidelines for Classifying Multi-Use Trails in Canada. Yes, this will take time to read and absorb, but anyone who uses trails in Whitehorse, some of which are part of the TCT route, should have a look. (See https://tctrail.ca/national-guidelines-webinars/.)
Please have the best possible holiday season!
ATWA Updates: November 23, 2021
1. Whitehorse South Draft Trail Plan: Our latest information indicates that the draft plan will go before City Council in December. Although we have asked, we have received no reply as to whether or not a What We Heard Document will be provided. Unfortunately, December is not an ideal time for the draft plan to come before City Council, as many citizens will be preparing for the holiday season.
2. New Trail Adjacent to the Pee Wee Hill Trail: ATWA sent a letter to the Whitehorse Star that was published
on Friday, November 19 under the title City must explain its trail-building rationale. We have placed that letter in the Issues section of our website under Letters. (See https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.) It will provide some interesting background information concerning the subject.
This is what we have learned about both the old and new Pee Wee Hill trails that will be of interest to all non-motorized users. Please note that only Class 1 e-bikes are permitted on these trails. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14941/637553694277970000.)
a) The old Pee Wee Hill trail will continue to be open to all non-motorized users. It continues to be off limits to motorized vehicles in both summer and winter.
b) The old Pee Wee Hill trail is used by Fire Protection Services (FPS) to access areas above the hill in case of wild fires. A specially designed ATV is used for such purposes. The power line trail is utilized by FPS to access the bottom of Pee Wee Hill. As such, it would not be prudent to shut the old trail down and commence remediation.
c) The city considers the old trail to be unsustainable, so its degradation will continue.
d) The new trail is also open to all non-motorized users including trail bikers. It is not open to motorized vehicles in either summer or winter.
e) Users can go down or up both trails. In other words, neither trail will be directional.
f) We are told that construction of the new trail has been completed.
We have posted a number of photos applicable to this issue. Go to https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html and scroll down.
ATWA is in the process of preparing a second letter to the Whitehorse Star for its consideration as a Letter to the Editor.
3. Regional Parks: It is worth repeating that we have five regional parks in the City of Whitehorse. They include the following:Chadburn Lake Park (7,550 hectares); McIntyre Creek Park (3,620 hectares; Wolf Creek Park (1,100 hectares; McLean Lake Park (195 hectares); and Paddy’s Pond/Ice Lake Park (190 hectares).
Note:One hectare equals 2.47 acres.
Only Chadburn Lake Park has a management plan, a plan that was approved by City Council in June of 2017. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/8936/636348741400400000).
4. Update of Website: We are in the process of updating our website. One new addition is found under Resources. It is entitled Applicable City Documents. Here you will find a list of City of Whitehorse documents and maps that may in some way relate to trails, regional parks, greenbelts, and open spaces within our city. There are many, and the list will need to be constantly updated. (See https://www.activetwa.org/applicable-city-documents.html.)
5. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): The Contagious Mountain Bike Club has a MOU with the City of Whitehorse, which is referenced on the Trail Maintenance section of its website. It is this MOU that allows it to be considered a trail steward. It is worth a read and can be found at the following site: (See https://940be483-f05e-4066-bf32-b72948db7296.filesusr.com/ugd/68b44a_98d4846fcfba4517b3f020b5b0cdc92f.pdf).
It is our understanding that the Klondike Snowmobile Association also has a MOU with the City of Whitehorse.
6. Globe and Mail Article by Jason Tchir: The article entitled, As scooters gain popularity, scooter safety comes into question makes for an interesting read, especially considering the fact that we are starting to see more of these devices in Whitehorse. (See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-as-scooters-gain-popularity-scooter-safety-comes-into-question/.)
7. Yukon Bird Club Event: Just a reminder that Jenny Trapnell will be doing a lunch-time walk entitled, What’s on the River this coming Wednesday at 12 pm. You are asked to meet at the Fish Ladder and to dress warmly!
8. The Point Feasibility Study (2017): This report by Jane Of All Trades Consulting was prepared for the City of Whitehorse Planning and Sustainability Services. It contains a wealth of information that you might find to be of interest. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/9012/636372813403670000). Pages 7 and 8 of the document have maps of the area under consideration.
9. ATV Bylaw: This is just a reminder that ATVs “shall only operate on motorized multiple use trails between April 1 and October 31 in any given year.” (ATV Bylaw)
Associates are seeing more tracked vehicles in winter. We sought clarification from Bylaw Services as to whether or not such vehicles are permitted to use motorized multiple use trails from November 1 to March 31. Brian White sent the following information:
When ATVs are fitted with tracks they are no longer consider an ATV, they are considered [as] snowmobiles. The Snowmobile Bylaw has the following interpretation:
“SNOWMOBILE” means a motor vehicle, designed primarily for travel on snow or
ice, having one or more steering skis, and self-propelled by means of an endless
belt or belts driven in contact with the ground and includes a snowmobile
Conversion Vehicle;
“SNOWMOBILE CONVERSION VEHICLE” means a vehicle designed to be
capable of conversion to a snowmobile by the repositioning, removal or addition
of parts, which may or may not include steering skis;
So, despite the size of some of these vehicles they are permitted on motorized multiple use trails, trails that (in Whitehorse) also allow non-motorized users.
10. New Brunswick Trail: Yes, it is out of our area, but just in case you ever get to New Brunswick you may want to do all or part of this trail. The following CBC article entitled, N.B. trail makes National Geographic list of world's best adventure destinations, by Marie Sutherland. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/sentier-nepisiguit-trail-national-geographic-1.6258391.)
ATWA Updates: October 18, 2021
1. Whitehorse South Draft Trail Plan: As of today, no “What We Heard” document summarizing the results obtained from the survey or the public engagement drop-in session held on September 2, has been made available to the public.
2. Whitehorse Municipal Election: As you are aware the election takes place on Thursday, October 21. All the information you may need with regard to the election process is available on the City’s website. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/election-2021. There is information about each of the candidates who are running for office.
We urge all of you to learn as much about each candidate as possible prior to voting. As well, we hope you will all vote. Only 37% of eligible voters took the time to cast a ballot in the 2018 municipal election.
3. Klondike Snowmobile Association Questions to Municipal Election Candidates: Our associates may find the responses by candidates to be of interest. (See https://ksa.yk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021CoWKSASurveywebsite-3-scaled.jpg.) As well, some of the statements made by the KSA make for interesting reading, and should be taken with a grain of salt.
4. New Trail: A new trail has been built adjacent to the Pee Wee Hill Trail in Chadburn Lake Regional Park. We only became aware of this new construction through a posting on the Contagious Mountain Bike Facebook page, which indicated the club was doing work on the new trail.
Subsequently, we contacted the CMBC in order to obtain more information about the trail. We received the following reply: “This was a 100% City led project. CMBC provided people power only at the request of the City for this project.” The club suggested that we contact the City, which we did.
Our email to Parks and Community Development read (in part) as follows:
Action #15 of the 2020 Trail Plan does call for the creation of “more accessible connections to access Grey Mountain trails within Chadburn Lake Park.” It goes on to say that, "Well used connections to access the Grey Mountain trail network within Chadburn Lake Park have difficult, often slippery conditions as a result of steep grades. Trail improvements should be implemented to allow a wide range of users to access the trail networks in these areas in all seasons. Specific locations to consider for improved access include Pee Wee Hill, Crocus Ridge and Heartbreak Hill.” (p. 30, 2020 Trail Plan)
However, Action #15 does not make mention of new trail construction to deal with “slippery conditions” on “well used” connecting trails, but only to improvements to the existing connecting trails. As well, any improvements that are to be considered would have to fall in line with what the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan says about improvements, or in this case new trail construction.
And, the management plan called for an inclusion strategy to be developed that would necessitate informing the public about (among other actions) any new trail construction within the park. Even the 2020 Trail Plan stresses the importance of community engagement with regard to the planning of trails.
The reply from Meagan Wilson (Projects and Trails Coordinator) in part reads as follows:
“The trail alongside PeeWee hill is a walking trail built specifically as you’ve quoted from the trail plan. (p. 30, 2020 Trail Plan) It is absolutely not a flow trail, and was built for pedestrians.
Improvements to trails like PeeWee, which is a steep, unsustainable, slippery slope, often look like what we have built alongside it, a sustainable grade walking path. As you are familiar with the Trail Development policy, this trail is under 500m and was approved by the Parks Manager.
[The new trail] has hand rails for walkers and corners not suited to bikes . . .”
Although the reply suggests that the new trail is for pedestrian (walkers) use and is not suitable for bikes, the CMBC on its Facebook page calls it a “climbing trail up Pee-Wee hill.” At last viewing there was no signage in place to indicate who can use the trail, or for that matter, if it is a directional trail.
It should be noted that as this trail is only 140 metres long there is no requirement for Parks & Community Development to inform anyone prior to its construction.
According to the Trail Development Policy, “The Manager (Parks) will notify relevant stakeholders, community groups and other organizations of proposed trail developments and will receive comments for a period of three weeks after notification when: (a) a proposed trail exceeds 500 meters in length;(b) a proposed trail exceeds 1.5 meters in width; and/or (c) a self-propelled power driven machine is proposed for construction.
The Manager will initiate public consultation when:(a) a proposed trail exceeds 1000 meters in length;(b) a proposed trail exceeds 1.5 meters in width; and/or (c) a self-propelled power driven machine is proposed for construction.”
However, it is somewhat confusing when we have a Trail Development Policy that says the City does not need to inform stakeholders, community groups, or the public about the construction in question, and a Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan that suggests that the public should be informed about “any new trail construction within the park.”
In addition, as noted previously, Action #15 of the new Trail Plan does not specifically mention new trail construction to deal with trails that have steep grades and at times slippery conditions, only trail improvements.
We followed up our initial email by asking the following questions:
“If the Pee Wee Hill trail is considered unsustainable will it now be closed (blocked off) and trail users be directed to the new trail? And, will the new trail be only for the use of pedestrians/walkers or will mountain bikers be allowed on the trail if they walk their bikes up and down. (As mentioned previously CMBC indicates that this trail will be a climbing trail.)
We have not as yet received a response to these questions. It seems pointless to build a new trail and allow the unsustainable existing trail to remain.
One of the perceived problems with our trail system is the presence of a myriad of trails, a number of which are simply unnecessary and should be decommissioned or consolidated (where feasible).
Photos of the new trail (plus comments) have been placed on our website along with a picture of the first hill on the Chadburn Lake Road (as an illustration of a form of mass wasting), and of the Pee Wee Hill trail itself. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
If any of our associates know anything about soil erosion/slope degradation and could tell us whether the new switchback trail is a feasible solution to the existing Pee Wee hill please send us an email. ([email protected])
When we made our final presentation to the City on the Draft Trail Plan we made reference to what became Action #15. It makes for an interesting read in light of this new construction. (See https://www.activetwa.org/2007-trail-plan-rewrite.html. Scroll down to 2020 Draft Trail Plan Response/Date: September 30, 2020, and then down to Action #4: Create more accessible trail connections at the north and south ends of Grey Mountain.
5. United States Forest Service: The Forest Service has a Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook that has some informative information on trail construction. See https://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/htmlpubs/htm07232806/page12.htm.
6. International Mountain Bike Association: If you would like to learn more about this association visit the following site: https://www.imba.com/.
7. Trail Repairs:Unfortunately, the City’s trail crew has ceased operations for the year. As a result, the damage done to a barrier on the paved trail that is found between McIntyre Creek and Takhini, which we reported, will not be repaired.
On April 29, we also asked the City to look at the Yukon Energy Viewpoint Trail as one of our associates was concerned about its condition. We sent the following email to the City along with applicable photos to illustrate our associates concerns. You can view those photos on our website. (See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
“One of our associates is concerned about the state of the Yukon Energy Viewpoint Trail. As you know this is a switchback trail that heads up from the fish ladder. Unfortunately, there is a subsequent trail that leads off from the right hand side of the Life on the Sunny Side sign, and which re-joins the switchback trail lower down. (The first two photos show what this looks like as one is walking up the trail.
The third photo indicates where the shortcut trail starts next to the Life on the Sunny Side sign.) It is being used as a shortcut, something that often happens with switchback trails, and which in this case leads to increased erosion and destruction of the vegetation that holds the steep slope together.
There is also what can only be described as a GIANT step (deep erosion) near the top of the trail, which needs to receive attention. (See photo four.)
There is a tiny sign on the post at the bottom of the switchback, which is probably missed by most people. It asks that cyclists stay off the trail. (Photo #5 shows the post.) Another (and more visible sign) needs to be placed at the top of the trail.
Considering that this is a popular trail, and one located on such a fragile slope, the city needs to upgrade the trail to aid in the prevention of erosion. This could involve installing a simple barrier or barriers to prevent shortcutting, better signage, and physical work on the trail itself.
You may already be aware of this situation, but our associate would like to know if anything can be done or will be done to address the problem.”
Despite bringing the concerns about the trail to the attention of the City nothing has been done.
8. Yukon News Letter to the Editor: On Oct. 13 a rather disturbing letter entitled, Sharing the trails — a plea and a warning appeared in the Yukon News. (See https://www.yukon-news.com/opinion/letter-sharing-the-trails-a-plea-and-a-warning/?fbclid=IwAR3NxCbxRhUVa68vydnJSoJwTwK9m5d2jCbTGfqD5n1qWPi6e-NALn2imZU.)
9. Yukon Bird Club: The club is holding a one hour lunchtime event on Wednesday, November 24 at 12 pm. Jenny Trapnell will lead a walk across the Rotary Centennial Bridge to view birds in the area. You are asked to meet at the Fish Ladder and wear WARM clothes!
10. Chuck Creek Trail (Samuel Glacier): The following notification was found on the Yukon Hiking Facebook page.
“BC Parks is undertaking a trail assessment of the Chuck Creek Trail (Samuel Glacier). Unfortunately due to early season snowfall they were unable to undertake this in person. If you hiked the Chuck Creek Trail (Samuel Glacier), please contact Devin at mailto:[email protected] to share your experiences.”
ATWA Updates: September 16, 2021
1. Whitehorse South Draft Trail Plan: On Thursday, September 2 the City held a public meeting concerning the development of the Whitehorse South Draft Trail Plan.
At the meeting ATWA presented an copy of the September 1st document that we sent to all our associates, to Heidi Redman, Landscape Architect, LEES + Associates. The next day we sent an updated digital copy to Heidi, Landon Kulych, Manager of Parks and Community Development, City of Whitehorse, and to Meagan Wilson, Projects and Trails Coordinator, City of Whitehorse. We also sent a copy to the Mayor and members of City Council. You can view that document on our website under Issues/Whitehorse South Trail Plan. See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-south-trail-plan.html.
We certainly hope that administration will consider some of the concerns we have raised including our request that it asks City Council to add all trails in Whitehorse South that are not designed and designated as MMU trails, to the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. This would make such trails off-limits to motorized use in both summer and winter, and honour the definition of a non-motorized multiple use trail as found in the 2020 Trail Plan.
We were given the impression at the public meeting that a "What We Heard" document may be made available that will summarize the results of the Whitehorse South Draft Trail Plan public survey and other public comments on the subject. If this is forthcoming we will pass on the document to our associates.
The draft plan is not scheduled to come before City Council until after the October 21 civic election. Hopefully, the new council will look more favourably on our effort to bring equity to our trail system, provide greater protection for our so-called non-motorized trails and their users, and end the current confusion surrounding the use of such trails. In addition, we feel that our suggested changes would decrease the time and expense associated with the trail designation process.
2. Whitehorse City Council Election: As mentioned in our ATWA August Updates, our civic election takes place on October 21 and nominations end on September 23. Another two candidates have put their names forward for a seat on City Council. See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/ted-laking-announces-candidacy-for-city-council/. See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/robin-reid-fraser-seeks-whitehorse-council-seat/.
If any of you are contemplating running for City Council you can get all the necessary information on the subject at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/election-2021/information-for-candidates.
3. Skagway overhauls trail system as part of economic stimulus plan: This September 3 article by Mike Swasey gives us something to look forward to when we are once again allowed to visit Skagway. See https://www.ktoo.org/2021/09/03/skagway-overhauls-trail-system-as-part-of-economic-stimulus-plan/?fbclid=IwAR3IXJIA_sSbst7IU5M_kZI96w7wi_qauMJU0VIz_0E2Z6HOZHTmmGzLrO4.
4. Dream Trail Update: You may be interested in a recent Contagious Mountain Bike Club Facebook page posting. Go to their Facebook page and Scroll down to the August 25 posting to see both the photos and accompanying article. If you have any comments about either the photos or the article please send them to [email protected].
5. Bicycles and Millennium Trail: Once again we have been approached with concerns related to bicycle/pedestrian conflicts on the Millennium. The concerns relate to speed of cyclists and to the lack of warning giving by those on bicycles when they are approaching walkers from behind.
We must all learn to make accommodations when encountering other user groups on the trail. However, if you have specific complaints then please contact Bylaw Services at 668-8317 or [email protected].
6. City of Whitehorse Facebook Page: A September 13 posting contained the following information related to ATV use within city limits.
Before heading out on trails within city limits, ATV riders must have:
• Driver's licence
• Public liability insurance
• Registration
• Attached licence plate
• Helmet
• Safe ATV Card (atvcourse.com/canada/whitehorse/)
Don't forget to Gear Down in Town!
Some operating rules to remember:
When travelling on the roadway, it must only be for the purpose of travelling to a permitted area and must be the most direct route;
On the roadway, the maximum speed is 30 km/h;
When operating on motorized multiple use trails, the maximum speed is 50 km/h unless posted otherwise;
When approaching or passing a pedestrian, animal, or cyclist, reduce speed to 15 km/h;
When on designated trails, ATV operators are required to follow the posted speed limit.
Stay on designated motorized trails and away from environmentally sensitive areas. Please ride safe! Learn more and view the Motorized Multi-Use Trail Map at whitehorse.ca/atv.
7. Friends of McIntyre Creek: The association invites you to join it for the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup being held Saturday, September 18, 2021 @ 10am – Noon. Meeting Location- Eagle Bay Park, Whistle Bend (Mountain View Dr. & Range Rd).
Regardless of where you live in Whitehorse we are sure that the FMC would welcome your help if you happen to be in town on Saturday. Make sure you bring good gardening gloves and wear appropriate shoes.
Contact Dorothy Bradley, President, Friends of McIntyre Creek, for more information by email at [email protected], or by phone at 867-332-3771.
8. Porter Creek Community Association Meeting: The meeting will take place on Monday, September 20th at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. If you are a Porter Creek resident please consider attending the meeting regardless of whether or not you are a member. However, you might consider joining as a vibrant community association can do much for its community.
For more information and to obtain the call-in details for the Zoom meeting, contact the PCCA at [email protected]. You can view its website at https://www.portercreekcommunity.com.
9. Yukon Wildlife Viewing: There are three remaining walks to end off the season. See https://yukon.ca/wilddiscoveriesfor information with regard to each of these informative nature walks.
ATWA Updates: August 21, 2021
1. Whitehorse 2040 OCP Review – Emerging Directions:
“Residents are invited to take part in Whitehorse 2040, the ongoing review of the City’s top-level planning document, the Official Community Plan. Provide your feedback on the emerging policy ideas through an online survey by August 31, 2021.” See the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-sustainability-services/official-community-plan-ocp/whitehorse-2040.
Almost two and a half years ago (Dec. 14, 2018), ATWA submitted its submission on the issues it felt should be addressed in the new plan. The submission can be found at the following site: https://www.activetwa.org/official-community-plan.html.
Please realize that since that time, the City of Whitehorse has approved a new Trail Plan, so some parts of the ATWA submission may no longer apply. However, this would be a good time to review that submission.
We encourage all of you to fill out the survey and/or provide written comments.
2. Whitehorse City Council Election: Apparently, there will be at least four new members of council after the October 21 election. See the Yukon News article of August 14 on the subject at https://www.yukon-news.com/news/whitehorse-council-members-set-out-plans-for-fall-election/.
If any of you are contemplating running for City Council you can get all the necessary information on the subject at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/election-2018/information-for-prospective-candidates.
3. Whitehorse South Trail Plan:The City of Whitehorse is holding a drop-in meeting at which there “will be an opportunity to ask staff and consultants questions and provide additional specific feedback on the Whitehorse South draft trail map.”
The drop-in meeting will take place at the Frank Slim Building, 100 Ogilvie St. Shipyards Park on Thursday, September 2nd between 4 and 6 pm.
Although it is advertised as a charrette event it hardly qualifies as such. However, it is what it is and any public meeting that allows citizens to participate in the trail planning process is appreciated.
Regardless of where you live in the City, we encourage you to attend the meeting at some point over the two-hour period. Obviously, those who live in Whitehorse South will want to be there. Those who live in other areas of the City, but on occasion use the trail system in Whitehorse South should also make an effort to attend.
People living in Whitehorse North would also find the meeting to be of interest as that area will be the next (and last) part of the City to undergo the trail plan process. It will give those citizens an idea of what to expect when their time comes.
All of you could help by attending the meeting and raising the point that all of the non-motorized multiple use trails that appear on the draft trail plan map for Whitehorse South will be open to snowmobile use in winter. This despite the fact that the recently approved 2020 Trail Plan defines Non-motorized Multiple Use trails as trails “to be used by a variety of non-motorized users,” and despite the City’s pledge in the 2020 Trail Plan to “build upon and integrate existing policies, bylaws, management plans, memoranda of understanding and safety documents.” (1.1 Purpose and Scope 1.1 #2)
In other words, the Snowmobile Bylaw should be changed to reflect the intent of the newly created Trail Plan as to the meaning of a non-motorized multiple use trail as expressed in the 2020 Trail Plan. (Please note that the Snowmobile Bylaw was approved by City Council in 2012. The Excluded Trails section of the bylaw (which lists a grand total of three trails) was added in 2018, and reads as follows:
“EXCLUDED TRAILS means trails on which the use of snowmobiles is prohibited as identified in Schedule “E” attached hereto and forming part of this bylaw. (Bylaw 2018-25 passed 2018-07-09)”
At the very least administration could recommend to City Council that the non-motorized multiple use trails found on the draft trail plan map be added to the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw, which would make them off-limits to snowmobile use in winter.
It is suggested that before you go to the meeting you refer to the Issues section of our website and scroll down to Whitehorse South Trail Plan. There are three documents listed. The first document lists the questions we asked administration and its consultant about the Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan, and the third was our response to the answers we received. Both documents will provide readers with some valuable background information related to the Draft Trail Plan for Whitehorse South, some of which meeting participants might want to raise with staff and consultants.
4. Designed Motorized Multiple Use Trails: As mentioned in our July Updates, there is no “formal document for required design criteria for MMU trails.” Yet, according to the Trail Plan such trails have to be “designed and designated by the City to be used by both non-motorized and motorized users including snowmobilers.”
On several occasions in the past ATWA has provided administration with a reference to the Alberta Recreation Corridor and Trails Classification System. This document outlines the design requirement for various types of trails. (Please note that Alberta uses the term mixed-use trail instead of the term motorized multiple use (MMU) when defining a trail that includes both motorized and non-motorized uses.)
Here is what it says concerning the design requirements for an MMU trail.
“The user group with the highest requirements (widest trail, largest clear zone, and most gentle gradients) will determine the design characteristics for the trail. Design characteristics for each user group can be found in the Non-motorized (pages 10-17) and Motorized (pages 20-26) sections of this report.
If the operator of a mixed-use trail permits both non-motorized and motorized uses on the same trail, the design of the trail is one way to accommodate and manage multiple users. Some of the additional ways to manage mixed-uses are:
• Setting seasonal restrictions for uses;
• Setting separate hours of operation for different uses;
• Providing educational material to inform users how to share the trail with other types of users;
• Providing a policing element to ensure that only the permitted uses are occurring;
• Erecting signage showing approved uses; and
• Providing maps describing the approved uses.”
The document also indicates that MMU trails should be five metres wide. (Paved trails in Whitehorse are three metres wide.) See http://www.albertatrailnet.com/downloads/Rec%20Corridors%20Trail%20Classification%20Manual.pdf.
Of course, many of the above requirements are deemed necessary in order to provide safety for both motorized and non-motorized users. It is concerning that there is no formal City of Whitehorse document that lists design requirements for our MMU trails. And, it is particularly concerning that the City is willing to allow snowmobilers to access non-motorized trails, trails that are not designed for motorized (snowmobile) use.
5.Trail Gate Vandalism: Unfortunately, the latest damage done to a barrier on the paved trail that is found between McIntyre Creek and Takhini has yet to be repaired. We sent a follow up request to have the situation addressed and were told that the City’s trail crew is very busy at present completing its summer work program and is not sure when it will get to the task.
6. Whitehorse City Council Meeting: The next meeting of City Council will take place on Tuesday, September 7. It will be a Standing Committee meeting.
7. Trail Development Application: On August 18, ATWA sent out to its associates the trail development notification (and map) we received from Meagan Wilson (Projects and Trails Coordinator/Parks). It reads as follows:
"The Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club has recently forward a Trail Development Application for three trail enhancements, which are connectors between existing mining roads at Mt. Mac ski area. The purpose of these connectors is to link the old mining roads to create a new ski trail at Mt. Mac. The intended use is cross-country skiing, with summer use for non-motorized recreation. These proposed enhancements would follow appropriate YESAB and YG processes as well.
In alignment with the City of Whitehorse Trail Development Policy, as these proposed connectors are all under 500m but would be over 1.5m in width, we are notifying relevant stakeholders and community groups, and receiving comments for a 3 week period (Until September 2, 2021). If you would like to submit comments or have any other questions, please contact me.”
Meagan was not able to send the map of the proposed development in a manner that would make it more readable. However, the area in which the development is proposed is located between Hawk Ridge and the Copper Trail, and south of the Best Chance Junction. You should be able to locate the area by using the Whitehorse West Trail app.
As Meagan suggests, if you would like more information on this application you can contact her at 334-1152. You could also call the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club at 668-4477. Comments can be made until September 2.
8. Safe ATV and Snowmobile Card: As mentioned in our July Updates (#8)we have tried on several occasions to determine the number of valid Safe ATV and Snowmobile Cards that have been issued by the City of Whitehorse since the program was initiated. That information has now been received and our thanks go out to Brian White of Bylaw Services for his efforts in obtaining the following data.
“The [Safe Card] program was initiated and enforced as of January 6th, 2014.
AVcourse.com card program has been developed by Fresh Air Educators and the City of Whitehorse has endorsed and trusted ATVcourse.com to deliver the best quality ATV and Snow Mobile education and certification.
Year
2014 . . . 255 ATV Cards
2015 . . . 148
2016 . . . 135
2017 . . . 128
2018 . . . . 93
2019 . . . 116
2020 . . . 124
2021 . . . . 74 (August)
TOTAL = 1073
2014 . . 153 Snowmobile Cards
2015 . . . 97
2016 . . . 58
2017 . . . 46
2018 . . . 49
2019 . . . 52
2020 . . . 97
2021 . . . 53 (August)
TOTAL = 605
Whitehorse does not receive any revenue from the online course.[The cost of a SAFE ATV/SNOWMOBILE CARD for those who pass the online course is $34.95.]
The agreement made with Fresh Air Educators was that there was no initial or ongoing cost to the City of Whitehorse. Fresh Air Educators covers all hosting, customer support, maintenance and fulfillment costs.”
Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing how many ATVs and snowmobiles are in Whitehorse, so it is difficult to determine the success of the program. One could argue that even if these numbers are low when compared to the number of machine operators in Whitehorse, it is still a worthwhile program and should be continued.
As a point of interest, apparently “two months into [its] 2019/2020 membership season [the Klondike Snowmobile Association (KSA) [had] well over 800 . . . members.” (See Klondike Snowmobile Association Update of November 5, 2019 at
https://ksa.yk.ca/news/ksaupdate19/.)
One would think that the association’s membership would have grown since that time, especially when sales of snowmobiles have increased significantly probably due to COVID. (See https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/as-snowmobile-sales-skyrocket-dealers-having-a-tough-time-keeping-new-machines-in-stock-1.5214320.) Of course, not all Whitehorse snowmobile operators are KSA members, and not all KSA members have snowmobiles.
9. Fish Lake Area: An interesting Narwhal article by Rhiannon Russell entitled, “It’s more than a party zone’: Kwanlin Dün accelerates land use planning as Yukoners flock to Fish Lake,” is worth a read as it deals with the problems associated with the negative impacts that may occur due to the popularity of recreation areas and trails. (See https://thenarwhal.ca/yukon-kwanlin-dun-fish-lake/.)
10. Active Transportation Fund: “The Active Transportation Fund will provide $400 million over five years to support the expansion and enhancement of active transportation infrastructure and a modal shift away from cars and toward active transportation. The Fund will also support the goals of Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan.”
Apparently, this fund was announced on February 10, 2021. Have a look!
(See https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/alt-format/pdf/atf-fta/applicant-guide-demandeur-en.pdf.)
11. Yukon Conservation Society: Don’t forget the Annual Summer BBQ is coming up on August 27th, please RSVP to [email protected].
12. Wild Discoveries: There are all kinds of informative walks listed here. (See https://yukon.ca/wilddiscoveries.) Scroll down to Events! There is still time to complete the Trails Challenge for the Whitehorse area that is mentioned.
ATWA Updates: July 28, 2021
1. Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan: In our June 22nd delegate presentation before City Council concerning this subject, we alluded to the fact that the so-called survey on the subject had a rather short life of 17 days.
We also mentioned that the 2020 Trail Plan suggested that the charrette style engagement process be used for the remaining two neighbourhood trail plans, but that administration was not going to use that process for Whitehorse South.
In addition, we mentioned there was no indication in the survey that any non-motorized multiple use trail that was up for designation as such, would be open to motorized (snowmobile) use in winter. This despite the fact, that according to the 2020 Trail Plan, such trails are “to be used by a variety of non-motorized users.” As this was not made clear in the survey information, responses to five of the seven survey questions would be compromised.
After our delegate presentation, Councillor Cabott asked administration “if the closure of the survey could be postponed and more detailed information be provided to potential respondents.” (City of Whitehorse Agenda Minutes of June 28, 2021)
The survey’s life was extended until July 11, 2021. However, that extension was apparently not conveyed in a formal manner, so many Whitehorse South residents may have been unaware of the extension.
Apparently, “a charrette is [now] being planned before the trail plan [is] brought forward for adoption by the new [after fall election] Council.” (City of Whitehorse Agenda Minutes of June 28, 2021)
We have been given the impression that public engagement opportunities will commence before the end of the summer.
Unfortunately, it does not appear that administration has issued any clarification to the citizens of Whitehorse South concerning the fact that so-called non-motorized multiple use trails will be open to motorized (snowmobile) use in winter.
Nor has administration done anything to explain why the trails that are up for council designation have been recommended for such action. Some do not appear to reflect the recommendations made as a result of previous consultations.
2. Designed Motorized Multiple Use Trails: Recently ATWA learned from administration that there is no “formal document for required design criteria for MMU trails.”
According to an email from City administration, “the design and designation of MMU trails is based on a variety of factors such as safety for all users, the environment, how they fit in to the network, current use, support of the “out and away” concept of use, accommodating a variety of users. We consider safety on all of our trails, in design and designation, and this includes education for trail etiquette, bylaw education, signage, speed limits where necessary, and maintenance for safety such as improving sightlines, and removing hazards (ie. fallen trees).”
It is surprising to learn that the City does not have a formal document that outlines how our various types of designated trails should be designed to ensure (as best as possible) the safety of its users. This is particularly concerning when we have trails that combine both motorized and non-motorized users.
How can citizens be assured that all possible steps have been taken to provide safety for trail users, if there is no formal document to which both citizens and administration can refer in order to ensure those steps have been taken?
City councillors, when considering the approval of new MMU trails, need to be assured that those trails meet specific design requirements, particularly those requirements that deal with safety. How can they do so if there is no formal document that outlines the design criteria for MMU trails?
Non-motorized multiple use trails not listed under the PERMITTED OR EXCLUDED AREAS (Section 15) of the Snowmobile Bylaw are open to motorized snowmobile use in winter, yet these trails (unlike MMU trails) do not need to be designated or designed to accommodate such use, so there is even less assurance that safety issues for both motorized and non motorized winter users have been addressed.
On several occasions, including recent input on the 2020 Trail Plan, ATWA recommended that the City make use of the Alberta Recreation Corridor and Trails Classification System, which among other things, outlines the requirements of trail design for various types of usage.
You can see what it says about MMU trails, or what Alberta more correctly calls Mixed-Use trails, by referring to page 28 of the document. See http://www.albertatrailnet.com/downloads/Rec Corridors Trail Classification Manual.pdf.
Section 18.5.1 (p. 74) of the Official Community Plan (OCP) says that, “Where feasible, consideration shall be made to separate multi-use trails (which accommodate motorized and non-motorized recreation) from non-motorized trails. Obviously, safety was one of the factors that promoted the inclusion of such a statement.
Yet the City continues to allow non-motorized multiple use trails not listed under Section 15 of the Snowmobile Bylaw to be open to snowmobile use for half the year. And, now we learn that there is no formal document that outlines the design requirements for MMU trails, let alone for non-motorized multiple use trails open to snowmobile use in winter.
3. Geology of the Canyon: The Yukon Conservation Society says that this informative event will take place on Friday, July 30th from 2-4 pm. Participants are to meet at the bridge over Miles Canyon.
4. Wild Discoveries: Check out the following site: https://yukon.ca/wilddiscoveries. You may find some activities that you or your children might enjoy. Click on Events, Nature Nerds, or Kids programming!
5. Trail Gate Vandalism: Unfortunately, the latest damage done to a barrier on the paved trail that is found between McIntyre Creek and Takhini has yet to be addressed.
As mentioned previously, the City recently repaired the barrier, but two weeks after doing so both posts were damaged again. The barrier is now totally ineffective.
Hopefully, the City will come up with a better way of making such barriers more effective, and perhaps avoid such costly repairs.
7. Como Lake Trail: Two of us had the pleasure of hiking the relatively new biking trail that is found at Como Lake just outside of Atlin, BC. Although definitely built as a mountain bike trail, hikers are permitted.
It is a 7 km loop trail, which takes around two and a half hours to complete. It is a little rough in some places, as trail work is still being done. However, it is considered to be an intermediate mountain bike trail, and makes for a very pleasant walk in contrast to the Monarch Mountain grunt hike.
You can drive down the marked gravel road that leads from the highway to the recreational area. Park there. It is a short walk from the end of the parking area to the start of the trail, which is signed.
We were advised to start the loop by taking the left hand trail. Although it is not yet indicated, it seems likely that all users of the trail will be asked to go in the same direction. However, it would be wise to assume mountain bikers could be approaching from either direction, so stay alert. We encountered no bikers, but were there during the week.
The last couple of kilometres have some steep sections with deep “ruts” around corners, which bikers will be using, so hikers would be wise to stick to the outside and higher areas of the trail.
There are a couple of places with views that make for excellent lunch spots.
As there are lots of blind corners be sure to make noise and carry an air horn and bear spray.
We ran into a black bear and her little one on such a corner, despite making noise as we hiked along the trail. Fortunately, both the bears and humans took appropriate measures, which did not involve the use of either our air horn or our bear sprays, and all turned out well. However, we decided to forget stopping for lunch for obvious reasons.
We both thought that this would be a wonderful trail to do in the fall in order to view the changing colours.
8. Safe Snowmobile and Safe ATV Cards: We have tried on several occasions to determine the number of valid Safe ATV and Snowmobile Cards that have been issued by the City since the program was initiated. Unfortunately, we have not been able to obtain these statistics. Yet another request has gone to Bylaw Services requesting this information.
Requirements for operating an ATV within the city limits are the following:
- Valid driver’s license
- Certificate of registration
- Attached license plate
- Valid public liability insurance
- Valid Safe Card
- Prescribed safety helmet
Requirements for operating a snowmobile within the city limits are found at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/2802/635736090644570000.
This summer we have had several associates raise their concerns about unlicenced ATVS operating on the trails and streets of the city. If you see this occurring let Bylaw Services know, even if you are unable to provide any identifying information. The department can be reached by calling 668-8317.
Take the time to record the time and date of your call and the nature of your complaint. And, it would be most helpful if you could pass this information on to ATWA.
9. Yukon Conservation Society’s End-of-Summer BBQ: For those of you who are members, this event will take place on Friday, August 27th. A recent email from YCS reads as follows: "Please join us for an afternoon of celebrating our members, volunteers, staff, and partners. The event will take place at Parnell House, 302 Hawkins Street from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Please RSVP to [email protected] or by calling 867-334-8131 by August 23rd. All those attending the event must check in with the registration desk and provide contact details for COVID-19 tracking."
ATWA Updates: June 22, 2021
1. Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan: Late today we received a reply from Heidi Redman of LEES + Associates to the questions and comments ATWA submitted concerning the Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan. We will include that reply below. Please realize that we have not had time to study the response in detail.
Update: On June 27 ATWA sent a formal response to Heidi Redman's reply. It can be found under Issues (Whitehorse South Trail Plan) on our website. See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-south-trail-plan.html.
As mentioned in our June 18 email to associates, another City department informed us that, “snowmobile use will be allowed in the winter [in the communities that make up Whitehorse South] as none of these areas are designated as environmentally sensitive.”
So, it looks like all trails in Whitehorse South (except those in Environmentally Sensitive Areas if any) will be motorized if City Council approves the current trail plan.
You will find the questions and comments we sent the City concerning the Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan under Issues on our website. Scroll down to Whitehorse South Trail Plan. (See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-south-trail-plan.html.)
These are the responses we received from Heidi Redman to our 14 questions:
1) As Per the City Snowmobile Bylaw: A person may drive a snowmobile on a motorized multiple use trail and any other area of the City that is not specifically excluded pursuant to section 15 of this bylaw. (Bylaw 2018-25 passed 2018-07-09) City Council at present has no intention to change the snowmobile bylaw, even after being presented with the idea by ATWA in the past.
2) Proposed new construction is in Whitehorse Copper and west of Canyon Crescent.
3) The intended purpose of the future single-track development area is walking, hiking, and biking. As this Area falls outside of Porter Creek, residents there have not been contacted.
4) If residents are opposed to suggested designations, they are welcome to comment in the survey.
5) People are welcome to suggest their ideas through this process, such as trails along the highway
6) Signage in Pineridge would have been incorrectly installed as no trails are designated in Whitehorse South.
[ATWA Note: The Pineridge proposed non motorized trail is a long standing non-motorized trail (summer and winter). It has signage and barriers indicating that it is off-limits to snowmobiles and other ORVs.This designation came as a result of public consultation. However, for some reason the trail was never added to the Excluded Trails section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. Now, it appears that the City wants to open it to snowmobile use.]
There is one trail located at the end of Dawson Road in Wolf Creek that has been formally designated motorized
[ATWA Note: There are two designated MMU trails in Wolf Creek, Dawson North and Harbottle. Dawson North is half way down Dawson Road. The issue with the proposed Dawson South MMU trail is that the city said the Wolf Creek Community Association wanted it designated as a MMU trail when they actually did not.This trail traverses an ESA and receives the greatest non-motorized trail use within the Wolf Creek subdivision.]
7) A bridge is not proposed. When building [a bridge] the City follows YESAB regulations
[ATWA Note: The map shows a continuous trail along the railway right of way over Wolf Creek, which suggests a bridge over Wolf Creek. Past administration members advised us that even a snowmobile trail crossing at a creek would require a bridge. This seems to have been forgotten in the current draft.]
8) This information was provided in the Backgrounder.
[ATWA Note: There was nothing in the PDF that we could see which explained why the trails were selected for designation, although there was reference to the work done by the trail task force group in developing recommendations on trail locations, designations, types of use and trail etiquette.]
9) The City has a regional Parks plan, which was adopted June 2014 by Council.
10) Yes, we are consulting Kwanlin Dün.
11) Yes, the City has an agreement. Residents are welcome to suggest other rails to trails ideas through this process
12) The City is currently working on updating the MMU map, which includes those trails considered “out and away” trails
13) A charrette was considered, but allowing all residents to comment and participate is inclusive of everyone. In previous models for Whitehorse South not all residents felt comfortable voicing their opinions. This doesn’t mean the trail plan was ignored as it was considered, and is not ruled out for future planning processes.
14) We consider safety in planning and designation.
We appreciate the time Heidi took to respond to our questions.
We suggest you view both documents (ATWA questions and Heidi's response) prior to responding to the survey questions, which are available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WhitehorseSouthTrailPlan.
We also suggest sending your written comments to Heidi Redman, Landscape Architect, LEES+Associates at [email protected], or Landon Kulych, Manager of Parks and Community Development, City of Whitehorse at [email protected] or Meagan Wilson, Projects and Trails Coordinator, City of Whitehorse at [email protected].
Just make sure any written comments are sent by June 27 (a Sunday).
ATWA also made a Tuesday, June 22nd phone presentation before City Council on the subject of the Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan. The content of that submission can also be found under Issues. Scroll down to Whitehorse South Trail Plan. (See https://www.activetwa.org/whitehorse-south-trail-plan.html.)
You can also view that presentation usually within 48 hours at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/meetings-on-video.
Administration suggested at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that the Draft Trail Plan for Whitehorse South would come before council in the fall and after the civic elections.
2. Signage Issue: In our May Updates (#13) we brought this issue to the attention of our readers. As mentioned, “an associate noticed that a "No motorized vehicles" sign located at the Heartbreak Hill trailhead off the Chadburn Lake Road had been removed.
The City was contacted and the sign replaced, but by a sign saying that only All-Terrain Vehicles [were] Prohibited. Somehow snowmobiles were dropped from the equation. When questioned as to why, the City responded by saying that “As Heart break hill is not on the list of excluded trails (in the Snowmobile Bylaw), snowmobiles are allowed on it.”
Both the associate and ATWA sent emails to the City’s Projects and Trails Coordinator “asking this to be corrected and that a sign be installed indicating that all motorized vehicles are prohibited as per the original sign. Both those emails can be found under Issues(Letters) on our website.
On June 8 we received the following reply: “This trail is not listed as [being located in] an ESA and it is not an excluded trail as per the snowmobile bylaw. So at present we will leave the current signage up, indicating that this is a non-motorized route, but snowmobiles aren't specifically prohibited.”
Needless to say we were disappointed with the reply as it did nothing to address the numerous concerns both the associate and ATWA brought forward in their respective emails to the City.
The associate sent a follow-up email to the Projects and Trails Coordinator and awaits a reply.
3. Airport Trail: For those who are not aware a section of the Airport Trail is close due to a slide. For more information go to the following site:
https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/News/News/4766/31?backlist=%2f.
4. Trans Canada Trail: The Trans Canada Trail was renamed The Great Trail in 2016. However, the name change did not sit well with the public and, as a result, the old name has returned. As well, there is a new logo for the trail.
One wonders what the organization has spent, or is going to spend on changing signage from Trans Canada Trail to Great Trail and now back to Trans Canada Trail. In Porter Creek the Great Trail signs are still up, but the Klondike Snowmobile Association (the official Trans Canada Trail Agent for the Yukon Territory) is doing its best to install new signage.
You might find the following article on the TCT of some interest. See https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/how-the-dream-of-the-trans-canada-trail-soars-and-falls-short/.
5.Trail Gate Vandalism: Several years ago one of our associates contacted a former Projects and Trails Coordinator about the damage done to a barrier on a paved trail that is found between McIntyre Creek and Takhini. These are the barriers that consist of two posts and two bars that extend out over the paved trail. (A photo of one is found on our website under Photos. See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.)
One supposes that they are an indication that the trail is off-limits to motorized vehicles, ATVs and snowmobiles. However, they really only prevent cars, trucks, and the odd ORV from accessing the trail.
The vandalism resulted in the barrier being completely ineffective for its intended use. Despite requests nothing was done.
In May the associate noticed that the other post had been broken and contacted Meagan Wilson who is the City’s current Projects and Trails Coordinator. Within a week the City’s trail crew had repaired the damage to both posts.
Unfortunately, two weeks later one of the newly repaired posts was broken again.
The City has been informed and in doing so the associate made the following suggestions.
“Along with the necessary repair to the post,rocks of the same size as the ones already in place on both sides of the barrier should be placed directly on the paved trail, two inside each post and one in front (or behind) of these to form the shape of a triangle.
The distance between the rocks would have to wide enough to allow the passage of a baby pram/stroller and perhaps a wheelchair, although I have never seen a wheelchair used on any trail (paved or otherwise) in all the years I have spent running and walking on Porter Creek/Takhini trails.
The triangle shape makes it very difficult if not impossible for ATVs and other ORVs to maneuver around or through [the barrier] particularly if the space between each of the rocks is not wide enough to allow such vehicles to enter.
In addition, if the paved trail was signed appropriately at this point to indicate its proper use as a gas tax active transportation/recreation trail and not open to ATVs or snowmobiles, it might help to discourage such destruction.”
It will be interesting to see how the City addresses the issue this time.
6. Tennis Yukon: We received the following email from Stacy Lewis of Tennis Yukon.
“Thank you again for supporting the outhouse at the Mt Mac Rec Area parking lot. Our [City recreation grant application was [approved], so $1100 [went] towards the outhouse!
[The Contagious Mountain Bike Club, Boreale Explorers, and the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club all pitched in $100. Active Trails Whitehorse Association contributed $150.] Pickleball [Yukon] says it will pay $200.
That leaves Tennis Yukon with the balance which should be about $500-$600.
There is a thank you sign in the outhouse. The one on the outside looks like it blew away or something, so we'll replace that.
[Active Trails Whitehorse Association] suggests presenting to Council to get something permanent arranged so we don't have to go through this process each year. We would be interested in that.”
7. Whitehorse North: We have received additional concerns from an associate who lives in Whitehorse North. Concerns were raised with regard to the 2020 Trail Plan. In our associate’s view the plan does not address “how [the City is] going to manage the trails, limit access of motorized vehicles to residential neighbourhoods, or enforce the bylaws.”
The associate is concerned about the damage made by various ORVs to local trails. Apparently, there is now “a clear pathway for these vehicles from the neighbourhoods of Crestview, Porter Creek and Whistle Bend to the North end of the City [that clearly demonstrates] the increase in activity of ATV’s and dirt bikes over the last year.
We continue to experience unlawful use of these vehicles. Yes, we do report the incidents to Bylaw and then after several attempts to reach them for feedback we are told that the offenders have been spoken to. Many of the offenders are teenagers who reside [in the area] and to our knowledge have never received a fine – which I guess is why they continue to do it.
Now, this summer, we notice residents are coming from Hidden Valley to joyride on MacPherson [Road] and have been seen [them] riding their ATVs between the homes. I was able to capture a photo during this incident and have attached photos. You don’t see any of these types of photos on the trail plan literature.
We are good neighbours and residents of Whitehorse and don’t seem to have any recourse. I am hoping by sharing my concerns to you, your organization may have some influence in the future of the trail plan with these thoughts in mind.”
We have included one of the images sent on our website’s Photos page. See https://www.activetwa.org/photos.html.
8. Whitehorse Recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community: We received the following information from the City of Whitehorse.
Whitehorse – The Share the Road Cycling Coalition (STR) has recognized Whitehorse for its active support of the cycling community.
The City is a recipient of a Silver designation, joining ranks with Anchorage, AK as the only Silver Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC’s) north of 60.
“Whitehorse’s strengths include paved and separated bicycle paths to key destinations, an extensive recreational trail network, and has embraced its subarctic climate with a winter Bike to Work Day and maintenance of select bicycle routes year-round,” according to STR’s news release.
9. Notice: We may not produce a July Update as those involved in its production may be off hiking in the backcountry. However, we will do our best to alert you to any major item of importance concerning our City trails that arises. Please keep your eye out for any announcements with regard to the Draft Whitehorse South Trail Plan.
ATWA Updates: May 27, 2021
1. E-Bike Regulation Bylaw: The bylaw is now included under Bylaws on the City’s website. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/legislative-and-administrative-services/bylaws.
2. Cargo e-bikes: An interesting 5/13/2021 CBC article by Giacomo Panico with regard to proposed Ontario legislation on e-bikes is worth a read. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/cargo-e-bike-bill-ontario-ban-1.6023444.
3. Tennis Yukon: An outhouse has now been installed next to the tennis courts at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre.
A donation was made by an ATWA associate to Tennis Yukon in the name of Active Trails Whitehorse Association to help Tennis Yukon pay for the rental of the outhouse. Acknowledgment of this support is found at the site.
4. Whistle Bend Community Association: Apparently, there is no longer an active community association in Whistle Bend. This is unfortunate as it is a growing community and the benefits of having an active and involved community association are substantial.
5. Snowmobile and ATV accidents: Recently several CBC articles have been written on snowmobile and ATV accidents: See the following sites:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/atv-deaths-atlantic-2021-1.6006478
https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/fatal-fun
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/atv-horatio-mcleod-1.6006598
6. Pandemic and all terrain vehicles: A recent CBC article which discusses the surge in demand for such vehicles. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/atv-pandemic-sales-up-1.6007807.
7. Park Management Planning: This information was received from Parks Canada. “Parks Canada anticipates the management planning processes for S.S. Klondike National Historic Site, Vuntut National Park, and Kluane National Park and Reserve to resume this year. We will provide more details when they are available on how to have your say on the draft management plans for these treasured places!”
You can read the entire Parks Canada Newsletter at the following site: https://app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-view-online?ct=v_6beEMft6TEGDZaWvIvbrRN48ONUtWWiqyeCOZKvrjz_RR5cvE_NG0KAxSLW4sd1fkWUPoyrJQlso_67hj2kA~~.
8. Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) Guided Hikes at Miles Canyon: For more information on these hikes see http://yukonconservation.org/programs/get-outside/miles-canyon-hikes-summer-programs/.
As well, you may be interested in McIntyre Creek: Self-Guided Hikes and Citizen Science. See http://yukonconservation.org/programs/get-outside/mcintyre-creek-self-guided-hikes-and-citizen-science/. Porter Creek has many fine trails to explore.
9. Yukon Conservation Walk Softly Summer Newsletter: The edition is available at the following site: http://yukonconservation.org/docs/summer21web.pdf.
10. Cliffside Park: The City of Whitehorse informs us that, “Cliffside Park, situated at Sixth Avenue and Taylor Street, is closed until further notice due to the instability of the slope above the park. The City is actively monitoring the slope and placing fencing and signage at the site shortly. More information will be available once the park can safely re-open.”
11. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: The letter that was to be sent to residents informing them as to how they can participate in the restart of the trail planning process for this area has not yet appeared.
12. Bear Safety: Changing Gear (Whitehorse Sports Swap) is putting on a Free Bear Spray and Bear Safety Clinic on Monday May 31 at 6:30 pm. Hunter Education Coordinator Jim Welsh will be leading the clinic. For more information contact [email protected].
13. Signage Issue: Recently an associate noticed that a "No motorized vehicles" sign located at the Heartbreak Hill trailhead off the Chadburn Lake Road had been removed. The City was contacted and the sign replaced, but by a sign saying that only All-Terrain Vehicles [were] Prohibited. Somehow snowmobiles were dropped from the equation.
When questioned as to why, the City responded by saying that “As Heart break hill is not on the list of excluded trails (in the Snowmobile Bylaw), snowmobiles are allowed on it.”
The individual has since sent an email to Meagan Wilson (Projects and Trails Coordinator, City of Whitehorse) asking this to be corrected and that a sign be installed indicating that all motorized vehicles are prohibited as per the original sign.
The associate has given us permission to print that email. You will find it under Issues on our website. Go to the section entitled, Letters.
ATWA sent a supporting email concerning this sign issue to Meagan Wilson that you also find under Issues on our website. Go to the section entitled, Letters.
Photographs of some of the signs mentioned in both emails will be found under Photos on our website.
14. Yukon Bird Club: The club has a number of field trips and events in the coming months. For information contact the club. Its email is [email protected].
15. WildWise Yukon: The organization’s AGM takes place on Wednesday, June 16 at the Canada Games Centre Meeting Room from 12-1 pm. You can also join by video. For more information contact the organization. Its email is [email protected].
16. City of Whitehorse Bike to Work/School Week: The dates are May 31 to June 6. You can register at the following site: https://yukonbiketowork.ca.
17. Hike - Bear Awareness: Yukon Conservation Society and WildWise Yukon are hosting this event, which takes place on Thursday, June 17th at 10 am (Miles Canyon bridge). The event is free.
ATWA Updates: April 29, 2021
1. E-Bike Regulation Bylaw: On Monday, April 26 City Council passed the E-Bike Regulation Bylaw. We now have a bylaw that clarifies where e-bikes and other electric mobility devices can be legally and appropriately used within the City of Whitehorse, which is what ATWA asked for in our January 20/2020, delegate presentation before City Council.
Previous to the passage of this bylaw e-bikes were only permitted on City of Whitehorse roads and motorized trails, although it was quite apparent that the public was not aware of these restrictions.
All City bylaws are reviewed from time to time as will this one. However, it will take some time to determine how effective it is in meeting the concerns of all trail users.
Associated with this bylaw was the passage of another bylaw, which was needed to amend various bylaws in order to align with the E-Bike Regulation Bylaw.
The E-Bike Regulation Bylaw will eventually appear on the City’s website. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/bylaw-services/bylaws.
Until that time it can be found at the following site: See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument/14927/637547839798930000. You will have to scroll down (a long way) to Bylaw 2021-22.
It is suggested that you take a few minutes to read the entire bylaw. However, below you will find three sections of the bylaw that may be of immediate concern to trail users.
E-Bike Classifications:
Class 1 e-bike means a bicycle equipped with an electric motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedalling (pedal assist) and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches 32 kilometres per hour and has a maximum continuous wattage output of 500 watts. For the purposes of this bylaw, a Class 1 e-bike is not considered a Motor vehicle.
Class 2 e-bike means a bicycle equipped with an electric motor that can be used exclusively to propel the bicycle (throttle equipped) and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches 32 kilometres per hour. For the purposes of this bylaw, a Class 2 e-bike is not considered a Motor vehicle.
Class 3 e-bike means a bicycle equipped with a Pedal or Throttle assist electric motor with a Nominal power output rating of 750 Watts or less and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches 45 kilometres per hour. For the purposes of this bylaw, a Class 3 e-bike is not considered a Motor vehicle.
Permitted Areas of Use:
Class 1 e-bikes and aMTBs are permitted on all Trails and Bicycle lanes.
Class 2 e-bikes, e-scooters and e-mobility devices are permitted only on Type 1 Trails, motorized multiple-use trails, and Bicycle lanes.
Type 1 Trails are double-track trails paved with asphalt or chip seal. Typical use includes pedestrian and cycling with limited motorized use.
1. Are within the city core and connecting neighbourhoods;
2. Provide a two to three metre tread width;
3. Have trailhead signage and enroute signage installed where appropriate;
4. Have difficulty and distance markers installed where appropriate;
5. Have interpretive signage installed at established points of interest where appropriate;
6. Have benches and viewing platforms installed where appropriate; and
7. Provide lighting for night-time use if appropriate.
Class 3 e-bikes are permitted only on Roadways, Bicycle lanes, motorized multiple use trails and the Two Mile Hill multiple use trail.
A person operating an e-bike, e-scooter, e-mobility device or aMTB on a Trail or on a Sidewalk is required to do the following:
1. yield the right of way to pedestrians;
2. exercise due care and attention to avoid colliding with any other Trail or Sidewalk user;
3. exercise reasonable consideration for any other Trail or Sidewalk user; and
4. slow down and pass other Trail and Sidewalk users in a safe manner.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this bylaw, unless a person operating an e-bike, e-scooter, e-mobility device or aMTB can provide more than one metre of separation when overtaking another Trail user, the person operating an e-bike shall give an audible signal by voice, bell or other signalling device before overtaking another Trail user.
Note: If you are planning to purchase an e-bike and intend to take it with you for use when visiting other provinces/territories and their respective communities, you will need to be cognizant of their regulations on e-bike use. As well, national, provincial, and territorial parks may have their own set of regulations concerning e-bike use (if permitted at all) of which you need to be aware.
2. E-Bike News Articles: You might find these two articles concerning e-bikes to be of interest: (See https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2020/11/09/cycling-mecca-netherlands-is-embracing-electric-bikes.html.) (See https://ebike-mtb.com/en/e-bike-availability-2021/.)
3. Friends of McIntyre Creek AGM: The organization is holding its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, May 27 at 7:00 pm. The meeting will take place at Hellaby Hall (Anglican Church) corner of 4th Avenue and Elliot Street.
4. Law Day Fun Run/Walk: “The Law Day Fun Run and Walk is a charity event. Each year, a different charity is chosen to receive funds raised from sponsorships and donations to the run.
The recipient this year is the Yukon Conservation Society.
Registration is $25 and those interested can sign up at lawday.eventbrite.ca. The link can also be found on the Canadian Bar Association - Yukon Branch Facebook page.” (See https://www.whitehorsestar.com/Sports/law-day-fun-run-and-walk-takes-a-virtual-route.)
Of course, there is no reason why you cannot do more than five kilometres!
5. Request – A – Rack Program: As the City’s website says, “If your favourite stopping place is in need of a bike rack, we encourage you to apply!” For more information see https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-and-sustainability-services/request-a-rack.
6. Caribou Mountain: Please respect the fact that there are sensitive lambing areas on the mountain that hikers are asked to avoid until June 15. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/caribou-mountain-hikers-sheep-1.4612173.)
7. Run for Mum: This Millennium Trail event will take place on Sunday May 9 at 11 am at Rotary Park. There are a number of COVID precautions that are being taken. (For more information see http://www.runformom.com.)
8. Yukon Energy Viewpoint Trail: This is a switchback trail that heads up from the fish ladder. Unfortunately, as one of our associates has reported, there is a subsequent trail that leads off from the right hand side of the Life on the Sunny Side sign, and which re-joins the switchback trail lower down. It is being used as a shortcut, something that often happens with switchback trails.
Shortcutting leads to increased erosion and destruction of the vegetation that holds the steep slope together.
People are asked to stay on the main switchback trail.
There is also what can only be described as a GIANT step (deep erosion) near the top of the trail, which needs to receive attention.
Please note that this switchback is not open to bicycles. There is a tiny sign on the post at the bottom of the switchback, which is probably missed by most people. Another (and more visible sign) needs to be placed at the top of the trail.
Considering that this is a very popular trail, and one which is located on a fragile slope, the city needs to upgrade the trail to aid in the prevention of erosion. This could involve installing a simple barrier or barriers to prevent shortcutting, better signage, and physical work on the trail itself.
The City’s Projects and Trails Coordinator has been notified of the situation. Hopefully, action will be taken to address the situation.
9. Be Bear Aware: Do not forget to take your bear spray with you when out on the trails. Be sure it is up-to-date, that you know how to use it, and that it is not buried in a daypack! WildWise Yukon has some good information on the subject. (See https://wildwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/respect-bears2.pdf.)
You might also consider taking a small air horn with you. These are inexpensive and usually available at Canadian Tire and Coast Mountain Sports and could act as a first line of defence. However, there are a number of caveats concerning their use of which you should be aware.
The following article has some information about the use of noisemakers such as air horns: (See http://www.bearsmart.com/managing-bears/non-lethal/tools/.)
10. Help Clean our Trails: When you are going out to walk our trails consider taking a garbage bag and gardening gloves in order to pick up any garbage that you find along your route.
Do not pick up anything that might be considered hazardous, simply note its location and inform the City’s Projects and Trails Coordinator (Meagan Wilson) at 334-1152. If you find garbage that is too heavy or too large to remove, again call 334-1152 and provide a location. Meagan’s email address is [email protected].
11. Muddy Trails: Please take care when using our trails at this time of the year. Some may still be quite muddy and prone to damage.
12. Porter Creek Community Association AGM: The association will be holding its Annual General Meeting by Zoom on May 10, 2021.
The association has a new website which is definitely worth a viewing regardless of your community of residence. (See https://www.portercreekcommunity.com.)
If you live in Porter Creek consider joining the association as it is always looking for new members.
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @PorterCreekCommunity
13. Copper Haul Road Notice: The City of Whitehorse would like to advise all residents “that a section of the Copper Haul Road near Fish Lake Road is closed until further notice, due to the poor condition of a culvert. A closure is required until the culvert can be repaired.”
14. Whitehorse South Trail Plan: Apparently, trail planning for this area is once again underway. It has been a long wait. A consultant has been hired and residents will soon be receiving a letter informing them as to how they can participate in the trail planning process.
Bulletin: April 24, 2021
ATWA's delegate presentation before City Council of April 13, the background notes provided to members of council and administration on that presentation, and the response of administration to our delegate presentation have now been posted to our website. Go to Issues and scroll down to E-bike Bylaw Information.
ATWA Updates: March 28, 2021
1. Draft E-Bike Bylaw: We recently asked our associates to relay any concerns or suggestions about the draft bylaw to us, so they could be included in ATWA’s response to the Draft E-Bike Bylaw. On March 17, we forwarded our response to Meagan Wilson (Projects and Trails Coordinator City of Whitehorse). We were told that our feedback would be considered in the preparation of the “final version of the bylaw.”
You can view our response on our website under Issues: Go to E-bike Bylaw Information. The document is entitled, e-bike bylaw comments. There are two other documents available, the Draft E-Bike Bylaw itself, and an e-bike bylaw information document that ATWA submitted to the City prior to its development of the draft.
When the final version of the draft bylaw comes before City Council, members of the public will have one last chance to make their views on the bylaw known to members of council. However, this will mean preparing a five-minute presentation and registering as a delegate.
We will do our best to let you know when the new bylaw is to come before City Council. Delegate presentation information is available on the City’s website under Council Meetings. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/legislative-and-administrative-services/council-meetings/-toggle-allupcoming.)
2. Mud Bogging Vehicles: This reference to a March 17, CBC article by Winston Szeto was sent to us by an associate. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/brilliant-flats-province-access-restriction-1.5953801.)
3. April 1 and ATVs: April 1 marks the day that ATVs can return to our trail system as per the ATV Bylaw. “A person may operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail during the time period April 1 to October 31 in each year and shall not operate an ATV on a motorized multiple use trail from November 1 to March 31 in each year.”
ATWA argued against the inclusion of a set time in the ATV Bylaw, but to no avail. We felt that it should be up to Bylaw Services and/or Parks and Community Development to determine when ATVs should be allowed back on our motorized multiple use trails (MMUs) in the spring.
As snow conditions change from year to year, a floating date would be more appropriate. Trails need to dry out before being exposed to ATV use, or for that matter any other type of recreational use. (This year it may take a lot longer for trails to dry out, as melting has yet to begin in earnest and the snow depth is significantly greater than in previous years.)
Last Thursday we sent an email to the City asking if it would be possible to make a public announcement suggesting ATV operators refrain from using our MMU trail system until Bylaw Services and/or Parks and Community Development deems it appropriate. We also asked that the announcement include all other trail users, reminding them of the damage that can be done to trails in the spring when they are used before they have dried out from snow melt.
4. Tennis Yukon: A donation has been made by an ATWA associate to Tennis Yukon in the name of Active Trails Whitehorse Association. The donation will help Tennis Yukon pay for the rental of an outhouse for the Mt. Mac parking lot. The City continues to refuse placing an outhouse at the location. It costs Tennis Yukon $2,215 to rent and maintain an outhouse for the summer months.
For several years a number of organizations have contributed funds to help Tennis Yukon with the cost. All recognize that the recreational facilities in the area are used by many of their respective supporters who appreciate the availability of an outhouse.
In early March ATWA sent a letter of support for the club’s recent grant application to the City’s Recreation Grant Task Force Committee. You can read that letter and find additional information about the outhouse situation on our website under Issues: Go to Letters.
5. Yukon Conservation Society: The YCS will be holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 30th, from 6-8 pm, online via Zoom. Pre-registration is required so please contact [email protected] if you wish to attend.
6. YCS Trail Guide Coordinator and Trail Guides: The YCS is looking for a Trail Guide Coordinator and three Trail Guides for the coming summer season. Job descriptions and application instructions are available on the YCS website. (Seehttp://yukonconservation.org/who-we-are/our-team/join-our-team/.) Applications for the Trail Guide Coordinator are required by April 18, 2021, and for Trail Guides by May 2, 2021.
7. Porter Creek Community Association AGM: The association will be holding its Annual General Meeting by Zoom on May 10, 2021. For more information contact the PCCA at [email protected]. If you live in Porter Creek consider joining the association as it is always looking for new members.
8. Electric Snowmobiles and Off-Road Vehicles: Looks like Polaris is now entering the “e” game. (See https://www.axios.com/polaris-electric-snowmobile-off-road-vehicles-57a576e8-bb12-4345-8e8a-594794fb335b.html.)
There is a Canadian company that has been making e-machines for some time. (Seehttps://taigamotors.ca.)
The Government of Yukon offers rebates on the purchase of new zero-emissions snowmobiles and electric motorcycles. (See https://yukon.ca/en/good-energy-rebates.) Whether or not this will result in fewer gas- powered machines out there is hard to tell. Perhaps a buy-back campaign on gas-powered machines might accelerate the process of conversion.
9. Whitehorse Community Choir: The Whitehorse Community Choir will be having its first concert since December 2019! There will be two performances: Friday April 30th and Saturday May 1st at 8:00 pm.
Titled “Look on the Bright Side”, this one-hour concert will feature live and recorded performances of cheerful and uplifting melodies guaranteed to get you singing along.
Tickets for in-person and online viewing are now available at yukontickets.com. Seating is limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, so you are encouraged to tell your family and friends as soon as you can. There will be no walk-up ticket purchases at the box office, so online is the only way to purchase tickets.
If you know people either in Whitehorse or elsewhere in Canada or in other countries who might be interested in seeing the concert online, make sure you tell them that they can purchase tickets to stream the concert. The concert can be viewed until May 13th - this means that online tickets will be available for purchase until then.
This concert will do much to get you all inspired to enjoy the wonders of our amazing trail system over the course of the coming summer.
ATWA Updates: February 24, 2021
1. Official Community Plan: There appears to be some movement on the long-awaited 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP). A Council and Administration Roundtable meeting was held on Thursday, February 18. The subject was the 2040 Official Community Plan Schedule. You can view the presentation at the following site: Go to https://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/council-and-senior-management-casm-meetings. Apparently, the Draft 2040 OCP will not come before City Council until after the 2021 municipal election.
ATWA’s Dec. 14, 2018 written submission to the City outlining the specific issues that we would like to see addressed in the new plan is available on our website under Issues (Official Community Plan). See https://www.activetwa.org/official-community-plan.html. This would be a good time to review that submission.
2. E-Bike Bylaw: ATWA went before City Council on January 20/2020, “to ensure Council [was] made aware of the need to clarify where e-bikes and other electric mobility devices [could] be legally and appropriately used within the City of Whitehorse (COW). See https://www.activetwa.org/e-bikes.html.
We are happy to see that the City is now preparing an E-bike Bylaw, as it was one of the Action items listed in the 2020 Trail Plan.
A (what looks like) pre-draft bylaw was presented by administration before a Jan. 28 2021 Council and Administration Roundtable meeting. You can view that document at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument?id=14701.
Unfortunately, although one can view the document presented by administration to City Council, one cannot hear the discussion on the document that must have taken place.
We have been told that administration plans on sharing the final draft version of the e-bike bylaw with the associations listed in the presentation document prior to it being brought forward for City Council adoption. This is the meaning of Targeted Public Consultation.
It does not appear that the bylaw will be brought forward to the general public for its review and input. One wonders why, given that there were only two questions in the 2020 Trail Plan about e-bikes.
We have placed an E-bike Information document on our website under Issues: E-bike Bylaw Information. The intent is to provide information about e-bikes and about some of the issues surrounding their use. Please realize that ATWA’s main objective has been realized in that an e-bike bylaw will be produced. That bylaw should let the public know where e-bikes and other electric mobility devices can be legally and appropriately used within the City of Whitehorse. However, if we can all help in some way to make the coming bylaw more effective, then we should do so.
Since ATWA is to be consulted in the coming weeks about an E-bike Bylaw, we would appreciate hearing from our associates about any concerns you may have about their use and/or how those concerns might be addressed. As well, if you have any suggestions as to what should be in the bylaw, please let us know. We will endeavour to pass your thoughts on to administration.
The following are some articles that you might find of interest with regard to e-bikes and other electric mobility devices:
https://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/insurance/2010/10/25/ebike_riders_need_liability_coverage_brokers_warn.html
https://ebikebc.com/a-victoria-student-fined-for-riding-without-ebike-insurance/
https://easyebiking.com/what-are-the-disadvantages-of-electric-bikes/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ebikes-bc-sea-to-sky-trails-1.5328868
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/e-scooters-expanded-in-2021-1.5898894
3. Whitehorse South and Whitehorse North Trail Plans: Action #22 of the 2020 Trail Plan confirms that it is the intention of the City to “complete [the] remaining neighbourhood level trail plans.” We expect it will be some time before the proposed “charrette style public workshops” can be held.
4. Public Communications and Awareness Survey: The City is “updating [its] Communications Policy and wants to know how [it’s] doing at keeping [the public] informed. Your input will help [the City] determine how to best communicate with the community. Complete the survey by Friday, February 26, 2021.”
The survey is available at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/communications/public-communications-and-awareness-survey. It does not take long to complete.
5. Delegates to City Council Meetings: Should you be interested in addressing City Council as a Delegate please note the following:
"Delegates may provide their comments in writing ahead of the meeting and have their written submissions read into the record by a staff person. In the event that a written submission would take longer than five minutes to be read into the record, staff may summarize the submission to fit the five-minute time frame. Written submissions must be received by 12:00 noon on the day of the meeting in order to be included.” See https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/ShowDocument?id=14767. (p. 2)
In addition, Delegates can participate by calling into a meeting. “If you wish to present to council or committee, please notify the assistant city clerk by 12 p.m. on the day of the council or committee meeting at 668-8622 or [email protected].
Meetings can be watched on Northwestel Community TV channel 209 or online at whitehorse.ca/meetingsonvideo. Meetings start at 5:30 pm."
See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/legislative-and-administrative-services/council-meetings/-toggle-allupcoming” for more information.
Please note that these two methods of addressing City Council are temporary in nature. However, there may be a possibility of continuing these methods even after the public health emergency comes to an end, and the Council Procedures Bylaw undergoes a full review.
6. Fire Department Implements Location Technology: ATWA has sent out information to all its associates on this new technology. You can find out more about this technology and how it might be of some benefit to all users of our trail system, by going to the following site: See https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/News/News/4680/31?backlist=%2fhome.
7. Notify Me: If you want to get City information sent to you via email take a look at the following site: See https://www.whitehorse.ca/about-whitehorse/notify-me. You can select the topics of which you are most interested.
8. Athletics Yukon: Snowshoe Running:
The following was received from Athletics Yukon:
“Ever wanted to try winter snowshoe running? Or already know how and just want some extra motivation to get out on the trails? Come on out and join Athletics Yukon at Mt. Mac for 4 weeks of Wednesday evening snowshoeing. We’ll spend the first 3 weeks introducing you to the Mt.Mac single track snowshoe trails via guided group snowshoe runs and then in week 4 we’ll do a fun run/race that is timed and on the same route as one of our other runs. No experience required! No snowshoes required!
When and Where? Wednesdays from March 3-24 - Mt. Mac parking lot @ 6:00 p.m. Runs will be between 3 - 7 kms in length.
Cost? Free for AY members - sign up now for your 2021 membership and have access to all of AY’s 2021 events including the snowshoe series.
https://athleticsyukon.ca/become-a-member-2/
You must be a member to participate in this series.
To sign up for the series itself, please visit: https://www.trackie.com/.../ay-march-snowshoe.../468786/...
What about snowshoes?AY has Dion Running Snowshoes available for each participant or you can bring your own.
What you need?Wear clothing appropriate for winter trail running or skiing. Footwear should be winter running shoes (no metal cleats though!)and the snowshoes will strap right on.
COVID-19 protocols? We will follow the safe 6+1 at all times, maintain appropriate social distancing, and masks are required at the pre-run briefings and inside the facilities. Participants will also be required to sign a COVID-19 attestation before each session. If you are sick, stay home!
For more information contact Ben Yu Schott at 335.0441
Maximum # of participants: 15
9. Yukon Conservation Society AGM: The meeting will take place on March 30th. The event will be held on line to conform to COVID-19 guidelines.
ATWA Updates: January 21, 2021
1. 2020 Trail Plan: As you are aware the new Trail Plan was approved by City Council on December 7. ATWA was very much involved in the process that produced the 2020 Trail Plan.
ATWA made an initial submission to consultants on April 28, 2020. In this document we mentioned the issues of concern that we felt needed to be addressed. We also submitted a critique of the Draft Trail Plan on September 30. Copies of both submissions were sent to Mayor and Council.
As well, Pat Milligan and Keith Lay had two distanced interviews with the consulting team. In addition, six letters were sent to the Whitehorse Star in which we discussed issues that we wanted to see addressed in the new Trail Plan. On December 7, we also made a presentation before City Council during which we raised our concerns about two of the thirty Action items in the 2020 Final Plan.
Hopefully, we covered most of the concerns that have been raised by ATWA associates in the past. You can read the submitted documents and the letters on our website. See https://www.activetwa.org/2007-trail-plan-rewrite.html. Our analysis of the 2020 Trail Plan can also be found on our website under Issues.
We were disappointed that the media did not appear to cover City Council’s passage of the Trail Plan. We have not seen any local news articles about City Council’s approval of the 2020 Trail Plan.
The only media article that we have seen on the 2020 Trail Plan was in the Yukon News, which mentioned that the plan was brought before City Council on November 30. See https://www.yukon-news.com/news/2020-trail-plan-comes-forward/.
Similarly, we are not aware of any coverage by our local radio stations. Please let us know if you have heard or read anything about the Trail Plan’s approval. Contact us at [email protected].
Unfortunately, we could find no reference to the approved Trail Plan on the City’s Facebook page, or on our two trail steward’s websites or Facebook pages. Hopefully, this will be rectified in order that as many people as possible are made aware of the plan's passage, and take the time to read it.
On January 15, ATWA asked Parks and Trails to place the approved plan on the City’s website.This has now been done.
As the City says, “The [Final] Trail Plan identifies priorities to direct the City in future trails-related initiatives, policies and actions over the next 10 years.”
All those who use our trails should read the 2020 Trail Plan. If we truly value our trails and environmentally sensitive areas, then we need to know how the City intends to both improve and sustain this major resource for the benefit of all its citizens.
Please do your best to get the word out that we have a new trail plan. It is a well-written document. Its 45 pages and accompanying Appendices can be read in a relatively short period of time. Both the plan and its Appendices can be found on the City’s website under trails. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails. Make sure you look at Appendix E: Cost Estimates.
2. Trail Use Concerns: Recently we have received correspondence from a citizen who felt that some cyclists are unaware of who should yield to whom when encountering other trail users, particularly walkers. The individual was also concerned about off-leash dogs on trails and the apparent lack of understanding by some owners about how they should be controlled.
The person was wondering what could be done to get the message out with regard to City bylaws and trail etiquette that pertain to both bike and dog owners.
On January 5, ATWA sent an email to Parks and Trails, Parks and Community Development, Bylaw Services, and the Contagious Mountain Bike Club. We also called Bylaw Services concerning the Animal Control Bylaw.
We felt that these were the bodies that could initiate the changes and actions requested in the email, and/or help to inform snow/fat bikers and dog owners of proper trail etiquette. The City’s Director of Community and Recreation Services also received the email and confirmed that we had correctly identified the appropriate bodies to contact.
The email we sent is found on our website under Issues. It will be found in the section entitled, Letters. See https://www.activetwa.org/letters.html.
ATWA received a prompt reply from Parks and Trails on January 6, which said the department could not “speak to the bylaw aspect of your concerns but as for Parks and Trails we will consider your suggestions as we work towards implementing the Trail Plan.”
We were not overly impressed with the reply, particularly as the new Trail Plan Actions will be implemented over the next ten years. I am sure our correspondent was hoping for a more immediate response to the concerns expressed.
To date we have not received any response from Bylaw Services, Parks and Community Development, or the Contagious Bike Club, but hopefully replies will come.
As far as the Animal Control Bylaw is concerned we are left with the impression that it has been changed at some point, but had not been updated on the City’s website.This may account for the disparity between the Off-Leash Pamphlet and the bylaw. However, until we hear from Bylaw Services we cannot confirm that this is the case.
If there are any dog owners out there who are informed as to the actual regulations concerning off-leash dogs, perhaps you could enlighten us. Just send us an email.
3. E-Bike Regulation Bylaw: It appears that administration is proposing a new e-bike bylaw. The proposed bylaw will be discussed at the January 28 Council and Administration Roundtable Meeting. This meeting takes place at noon in the Heritage Boardroom located upstairs at City Hall.
Members of the public can attend these meetings as observers. Please note that there are restrictions on capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you want to attend get there early. Make sure you wear a mask.
It will be interesting to see what administration is about to propose. In ATWA’s January 20, 2020 presentation before City Council we included the following statement by Claudio Wasko:
“E-bikes “have the potential to expand bike riding to new audiences and keep people riding bikes throughout their lives. But some confusion around how and where they can be ridden is dampening their growth potential and, as an emerging technology, they require clear regulations to govern their use and create stability in the marketplace.” (Why More States Need to Adopt the Three-Class e-Bike System by Claudia Wasko. See https://www.bosch-ebike.com/us/everything-about-the-ebike/stories/three-class-ebike-system/.)
In our presentation we made the following comment:
“As national and international media reports suggest that there is some controversy concerning the use of e-bikes on mountain bike trails, hiking trails, and even on paved urban trails, the City of Whitehorse needs to consult with trail users and develop a policy or bylaw which clearly regulates use.This needs to be done before e-bikes become a controversial subject in our own community.”
The following list contains articles concerning e-bikes that you might find of interest:
a) Regulation for electric bikes may forever change B.C. mountain trails: See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/regulation-for-electric-bikes-may-forever-change-b-c-mountain-trails-1.4595145.
b) BC Parks implementing electric bike policy: See https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2019ENV0093-001651.
c) Electric bikes ICBC: See https://www.icbc.com/vehicle-registration/specialty-vehicles/Low-powered-vehicles/Pages/Electric-bikes.aspx.
d) Are Electric Mountain Bikes Ruining Trail Systems? See https://www.gearpatrol.com/outdoors/a470260/are-electric-mountain-bikes-legal/. Article by Steve Graepel. (May 23, 2020)
4. City of Whitehorse Website Redesign Survey: We mentioned this survey in our last Update. The survey is now closed and the results are being processed.
On November 30, 2020 an ATWA associate met via Zoom with consultant Grant Hendricks of BlackBean Creative and gave our comments as to how the website might be improved.
During the 2020 Trail Plan consulting process ATWA had much to say about the City’s website, although our comments concentrated on aspects related to the policies, bylaws, maps, and plans, associated with trails.
5. Porter Creek Community Association Meeting:The meeting will take place on Monday, January 25 at 5 pm via Zoom. The association would love to have more members, so if you live in the area please consider joining. For more information contact the [email protected].
6. Safe Snowmobile Card and Safe ATV Cards: On December 02, 2020 we again appealed to Bylaw Services to provide ATWA with the total number of operators that possess Safe Snowmobile Cards, and the total number of operators that possess Safe ATV Cards. We did not get any response, so we tried again on January 06. To date there has been no reply to our request.
If you would like to know more about these required documents you can go to the following sites on the City’s website: https://www.atvcourse.com/canada/whitehorse/. AND https://www.snowmobilecourse.com/canada/whitehorse/.
7. Tracked Vehicles: At the same time we contacted Bylaw Services about the Safe Cards, we asked three other questions:
Are ATVs permitted on motorized multiple use trails in winter if equipped “with tracks for winter use?” If so, what bylaw permits this?
Are so-called “side type” vehicles considered ATVs under the ATV Bylaw?
We asked these questions as tracked vehicles are being used within City limits this winter. As well, “side type” or UTVs are also seen in the summer months within City limits.
To date we have not received a reply.
8. Puckett's Gulch Stairs Closure: The following information is found on the City’s website under Construction Notices. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/engineering-services/construction-notices.
“The Puckett’s Gulch stairway at the end of Black Street will remain closed until further notice to complete rehabilitation of the existing stairs. The majority of the stairs have been re-installed, but some work still remains such as fastening the stairs in place and installing lights before they are safe to open to the public.
For more information, please contact Wildstone Construction at 334-5092 or the City of Whitehorse Engineering Department at 668-8305.”
9. Yukon Conservation Society: The YCS is holding its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, March 30 from 6-8 pm. The venue has yet to be determined.
Bulletin: (Dec. 1, 2020) Just thought we would let all of you know what is happening re: the 2020 Trail Plan. It went before council on Monday night (Nov. 30). It will come again before City Council on Monday night December 7, and will be approved by council resolution. Apparently, (so we have been told) it is very unlikely that the plan would be sent back to administration for revision. However, one can still make a delegate submission on Monday night concerning any aspect of the plan. Any presentation has to be read by a member of administration as COVID restrictions prevent delegates from attending in person. It must be admitted that this is a far less stressful method of making a presentation, although probably not as effective as appearing in person.
You can find out how to submit a delegate presentation by going to the following site. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/legislative-and-administrative-services/council-meetings/-toggle-allupcoming.
We have not as yet had the time to go through the final plan to see what changes were made to the Draft Plan. We will go through it in detail to see which of the issues raised by ATWA were addressed and which ones were not. We hope to have this completed for ATWA’s January Update.
We encourage all of you to read the final plan as it will be in effect for at least the next ten years. At present, you can read the document at the following site: See https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/ShowDocument?id=14555. You will need to scroll down to the Community Services Committee under which you will find the Trail Plan document.
You will be able to view a video of Monday’s council meeting at the following site. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/meetings-on-video. It is not up as yet, but may appear before the end of the week. The video is divided into sections, so you do not have to view the entire meeting in order to see the discussion on the Trail Plan. (It was a very long meeting.)
Many thanks to all of you who took the time to get involved in the engagement process surrounding the development of this new Trail Plan.
Bulletin: Nov. 29, 2020
At last Monday's council meeting (Nov. 23) there was a delegate presentation to Council concerning the Capital Budget 2021-2024. One of the questions asked, concerned the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Plan. Administration’s response is found in the minutes of this coming Monday’s council meeting. It reads as follows:
Park Management Plans
One submission was received encouraging the City to include a capital project for the implementation of the first five initiatives identified in the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan. The submission also encouraged the City to establish a capital project for the development of the next regional park management plan, a project that had been provisionally identified in previous Capital Expenditure Programs.
Response:
The Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan experienced delays in implementation due to departmental capacity in 2020. [However,] administration anticipates bringing this project forward into 2021 through the re-budget process.
Due to staff capacity, Administration is not recommending the development of next regional park management plan at this time, and will re-examine the project for future budget cycles.
This suggests that there will be little chance of the City moving forward on a Regional Park Management Plan for McIntyre Creek or any other regional park in the foreseeable future. It also suggests that even if we do get (in the distant future) a regional park management plan for any of the four remaining regional parks, there is no guarantee that any of the initiatives in the plan would be realized within the timelines stated. (The City has yet to find the money or staff to ensure there is a sign placed at the start of the Chadburn Lake Road to indicate that it is a Regional Park! Hopefully, through the "re-budget process" this will be rectified in 2021, over four years after the establishment of the management plan for the park in June of 2017.)
This is why it is so important to review City budgets when they are presented in order to address issues of concern. If no one complains councillors are not likely to do anything about the expenditures listed, or the lack of expenditure in the above case. You can read a summary of all submissions on the Capital Budget at the following site: See https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/ShowDocument?id=1455.
ATWA Updates: November/December 2020
1. 2020 Draft Trail Plan: Guess what just turned up on City Council’s agenda for Monday, November 30? It appears under the Community Services Committee and is entitled, Trail Plan Update 2020. You will have to scroll down the document a long way to first find the Community Services Committee, and then locate the actual plan. It is a long document, but we encourage all of you to read it in its entirety. You are going to have to live with it for many years to come. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/ShowDocument?id=14555. It is expected that there will be an opportunity for public input. When we find out more we will let you know. It is our understanding that on Monday the final plan will just be introduced by administration.
2. City of Whitehorse Website Redesign Survey: The following information comes from our city’s website: “We want to make it easier to find what you're looking for on the City of Whitehorse website. Take our short survey to help us understand what you need from our site, and where we can do better. We appreciate your answers and feedback!” The survey can be reached at the following site: See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/communications/contact-us/website-survey. No end date is given for the survey, so we suggest filling it out as soon as possible.
You may recall that the City of Whitehorse conducted a previous website survey that was completed on March 31, 2019. As far as we know the feedback obtained was never released to the public. However, we are told that the information obtained in that survey will be considered along with that acquired in the new survey.
The City of Whitehorse has budgeted some $115,000 for the redesign. It is hoped that along with the redesign an effort will be made to update and improve some of the information available. In particular, the maps related to City approved trail plans and regional parks need much improvement for them to be of significant value to trail users.
On November 30, ATWA will be meeting (via Zoom) with consultant Grant Hendricks of BlackBean Creative, an agency based in Kelowna, BC about how we currently use the City's website and give our comments as to how it may be improved.
3. BBC Scotland News Article: The title of the article is Covid in Scotland: Social distancing ‘could wreck mountain footpaths’ by Kevin Keane. It is certainly worth a read. See https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-54907233.
4. Range Road Corridor-Conceptual Design: Some of you may be interested in this project. There is a survey that is open until December 2nd. You can obtain all the information available on the City’s website. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/engineering-services/local-improvement-projects/range-road-corridor-conceptual-design.
5. Cycling Association of Yukon: The association has a public survey available, the feedback from which will be used to create a 10-year plan. You can find the survey at the following site. See https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020-yukon-cycling.
6. CBC NL article of November 21: This article entitled, Unhappy Trails: Why the St. John’s bike plan is all downhill, is a story about the conflict that has arisen over turning walking trails into shared-use trails that include cyclists.
7. Yukon Conservation Society Walk Softly Winter 2020 edition: This edition includes an ATWA article entitled, Whitehorse snowmobile bylaw needs amending. See http://yukonconservation.org/docs/2020winter_web.pdf, p 4 and 5.
8. Need for consistency between all policies, plans, and bylaws associated with trails: The 2020 Trail Draft Plan talks about the need for all policies, plans, and bylaws associated with trails to be consistent, something ATWA has been advocating for years, and something that we made very clear in our initial written submission to those preparing the 2020 Trail Draft Plan.
This lack of consistency was demonstrated once again when the City failed to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw (2012) to reflect the (November 2016) Trail Maintenance Policy (TMP), a policy that said single-track trails were off-limits to motorized vehicles. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showpublisheddocument?id=436 p 2-3). If this had been done, at least some additional protection would have been given to non-motorized trails in Whitehorse.
In ATWA’s January 20 presentation before City Council on the subject of e-bikes, we mentioned the above concern. (We also mentioned it in our initial written submission to those who were preparing the 2020 Draft Trail Plan.)
You can imagine our surprise when Action #23 of that plan said that the City should “remove reference to the exclusion of motorized use on ‘single-track trails’ found in the TMPin order to be consistent with other policies and bylaws.”
The TMP was developed with the input of citizens, administration, and special interest groups. Council approved the document, and all contributors to the development of the TMP and members of council must have known what the policy said about single-track trails and motorized use. It is the much older Snowmobile Bylaw that should be changed to reflect the TMP.
Adding non-motorized trails, greenbelts, and open spaces to the Snowmobile Bylaw’s list of prohibited areas, would make the bylaw consistent with the ATV Bylaw, which does prohibit ATVs from using non-motorized trails, greenbelts, and open spaces. Adopting this amendment would automatically exclude snowmobiles (like ATVs) from using single-track trails.
9. Chilkoot Trail National Historic Park: As you know the park was closed in summer due to COVID. As to whether or not it will be open to snowmobiles, and cross-country and backcountry skiing this winter is still to be determined by staff members. You can get more information at 667-3915.
10. City Trail Signs: For years ATWA has been trying to get the City to a) correct the coordinate section on posted trail signs, and b) to stop putting up signs that have coordinates placed incorrectly. In the past we have been told on numerous occasions that the situation would be corrected.
Recently, we sent an email to City Parks and Trails mentioning the above, and asking if there was any logical reason why the City of Whitehorse puts Longitude before Latitude on its signs. We received the following response: “There are no plans for the immediate correction of this issue.” This response confirms that the signs are in error, that future signs will be going up with the same error, and that old signs will not be corrected.
11. Property Values and Non-Motorized Active Trails: An article entitled, Measuring Trails Benefits: Property Value, makes for a short, but informative read. See http://headwaterseconomics.org/wp-content/uploads/trails-library-property-value-overview.pdf.
12: Next ATWA Update:The next ATWA Update will be sent in January 2021. Please have the best holiday season possible. We have so much for which to be thankful.
ATWA Updates: October 25, 2020
1. 2020 Draft Trail Plan: On Thursday, October 8 Pat Milligan and Keith Lay had an almost hour long Zoom meeting with Heidi Redman of LEES + Associates, who is part of the consulting team that is working with others to develop a new updated 2020 Trail Plan for the City of Whitehorse.
During the meeting we made an effort to emphasize some of the main components of ATWA’s detailed written response to the 2020 Draft Plan, including those associated with Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs), and the Snowmobile Bylaw. Only time will tell if our efforts prove to be productive. Our written response to the 2020 Draft Trail Plan can be found under Issues on our website. (See 2007 Trail Plan Rewrite.)
It is expected that the final Draft Trail Plan will be ready for public and City Council review by the end of November.
It is unfortunate that due to the current coronavirus situation it will be very unlikely that members of the public will be able to appear directly before City Council to give their input on the final Draft Trail Plan. Input will probably take the form of written submissions of five minutes duration that will be presented before Council by a member of City Administration. This will be a far less effective process than that which occurs when presenters face City Council in person.
Due to the importance of the Draft Trail Plan, perhaps the powers at be will come up with an alternative to ensure a more effective method of public input. Maybe a Zoom public hearing could be arranged.
In any case, please read the final Draft Plan when it does appear, and take the time to send written comments to City Council members. As well, consider making a presentation before City Council in whatever shape or form that may take.
2. Official Community Plan: It now appears that it will be well into 2021 before we see a Draft Official Community Plan appear for public review. The review process started in November of 2018. ATWA made a written submission in December of 2018. This submission can be found under Issues on our website. (See Official Community Plan.)
There are a number of references in the current plan that directly relate to our trail system. Unfortunately, some of the recommendations or ideas included in those references have never been adopted. This, despite the City’s declaration, that “An OCP is a community-led plan that reflects the ideas, aspirations, priorities, and expertise of Whitehorse residents [and that citizen] involvement is key to setting the direction on how [citizens] live, work, and play in [their] city.”
One should expect that there would be nothing in the final Draft Trail Plan that contravenes with what the current OCP says about our trails and green spaces, including ESAs. Indeed, one should expect that the final Draft Trail Plan would recommend that aspects of the OCP concerning trails and green spaces that have not as yet been adopted, be finally implemented.
For more information see:
https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-sustainability-services/official-community-plan-ocp/whitehorse-2040.
3. Presentation before City Council: On October 5, 2020 ATWA made a presentation before City Council as to why the Snowmobile Bylaw should be amended to reflect the ATV Bylaw, and prohibit snowmobile operators from using non-motorized trails, greenbelts, and open spaces. Due to the coronavirus situation, a member of City staff read it. You can view a video of the presentation on the City's website.(See http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2020-10-05.mp4.html). An abbreviated version of the document was read before City Council.
The entire document, which was made available to members of City Council, administration, and the press, is found directly below this edition of Updates.
An October 8 article by Stephanie Waddell concerning the above presentation, entitled Input sought on proposed trail plan appeared in the Yukon News. It can be viewed at the following site: https://www.yukon-news.com/news/input-sought-on-proposed-trail-plan/.
4. New Trail in Whistle Bend: The City of Whitehorse with help from the Contagious Mountain Bike Club is building a new trail in Whistle Bend. The trail is in the area marked Future Single Track Trail Development on the neighbourhood Trail Plan map. Such development was approved as part of the Porter Creek, Whistle Bend, Takhini, Range Point, Trail Plan passed by City Council in 2016. (See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/maps). It is expected there will be an announcement when the trail is completed and open for use.
5. Puckett's Gulch Stairs Closure: The Puckett’s Gulch stairway (Black Street Stairs) at the end of Black Street will be closed to October 31st for reconstruction of the existing stairs.
An abbreviated version of the following documented was presented before City Council on October 5, 2020. Due to the coronavirus situation it was read by a member of City staff. You can view a video of the presentation on the City's website. (See http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2020-10-05.mp4.html.)
Standing Committee Meeting
October 5, 2020
Address to the Community Services Committee
Good evening! My name is Keith Lay and I live in Porter Creek. I am here on behalf of Active Trails Whitehorse Association.
The City is currently accepting feedback on the 2020 Draft Trail Plan. As such, this is the perfect time to ask City Council to amend the now eight-year old Snowmobile Bylaw to reflect the ATV Bylaw, and prohibit snowmobile operators from using non-motorized trails, greenbelts, and open spaces.
Why? Doing so would end the confusion surrounding the true meaning of the term non-motorized trail.
At present, only non-motorized trails that are listed in the Snowmobile Bylaw under Schedule “C” and “E” are actually non-motorized in both summer and winter.
As a result, many trail users are under the mistaken belief that all non-motorized trails are free from motorized use in winter. This creates confusion and may lead to user conflict.
Currently, in order to establish a trail as truly non-motorized (summer and winter), City Council and administration has to go through two distinct processes. First, it has to designate the trail as non-motorized.
Then, the Snowmobile Bylaw has to be amended in order to add that trail to either Schedule “C” or “E” of the bylaw, a time-consuming and costly process, and one that could be easily eliminated.
The lack of understanding of this requirement by City Council, the press, and the general public led to much confusion surrounding the Whistle Bend Perimeter trail, and resulted in additional costs to the City, needless public conflict, and much waste of everyone’s valuable time.
Amending the Snowmobile Bylaw as suggested would eliminate the need to go through such a time-consuming and costly process in order to designate a trail as truly non-motorized (summer and winter). In fact, designating trails as non-motorized (summer and winter) would become unnecessary. The only trails that would need to be designated would be those that accommodate both motorized and non-motorized users.
Amending the bylaw as suggested would bring clarity for all trail users. Any trail found on the City’s Motorized Trail Map would be open to motorized use: snowmobiles in winter, ATVs and dirt bikes in summer. Any trail not foundon the map would be considered to be a non-motorized multiple use trail all year round.
It would also mean that whenever reference was made to a non-motorized trail, everyone would know (including members of Council) that the term referred to a trail free from motorized use over the course of the entire year.
Changing the Snowmobile Bylaw as suggested would not stop motorized users including snowmobilers from asking the City to change the status of a non-motorized trail to that of a designated motorized trail.
The KSA (and strangely enough, the Contagious Mountain Bike Club) made an unsuccessful attempt to do this with the truly non-motorized Rotary Centennial Bridge and adjacent Millennium Trail.
The Trail Draft Plan talks about the need for all policies and bylaws associated with trails to be consistent.
Currently snowmobile operators unlike ATV operators are not restricted from using our greenbelts, open spaces, or non-motorized trails, as they “may drive their machines on a motorized multiple use trail and [in] any other area of the City that is not specifically excluded pursuant to section 15 of [the] bylaw.
The suggested amendment would bring consistency to the two bylaws. *
Amending the bylaw as suggested would also help protect greenbelts, open spaces, and non-motorized trails (particularly single-track trails) from snow machine use. **
Such use can result in the widening of trails that leads to more Off Road Vehicle use, damage to vegetation, and disturbance to wildlife, non-motorized users, and City residents who have a right to the quiet enjoyment of their property. It would also lend credence to the City’s motion concerning the declaration of a climate change emergency. ***
Amending the Snowmobile Bylaw will not be detrimental to the responsible snowmobiling community. Both the City and the Klondike Snowmobile Association (KSA) ask responsible operators to stay on designated motorized routes. [1]
The KSA also says that its members only use City trails once or twice a season, and that its members prefer to involve themselves in snowmobile activities that occur outside City limits. [2]
This suggests that we have more than enough snowmobile trails in Whitehorse. Denying access to trails that have not beendesigned or designated for responsible motorized use should not pose a problem.
When the current 2015 City Motorized Trail Map is updated, more motorized trails will be added to reflect the completion of the Porter Creek, Takhini, Whistle Bend, Range Point Trail Plan. Even more will be added when the Whitehorse North and Whitehorse South Trail Plan are completed.
As well, one must add all the non-motorized trails that are not found in Schedule “C” and “E” of the Snowmobile Bylaw, in order to get an idea of the potential extent of trails that are open to motorized use in winter, and this does not include the open spaces and greenbelts that are also open to snowmobile use.
Amending the bylaw would create a more equitable and balanced trail network.
For all the reasons stated it is time for Council to take the initiative and address these concerns by changing the bylaw as suggested. It just makes common sense to do so.
Thank you.
The following comments give additional information related to points mentioned in the presentation.
*The inconsistency between the two bylaws developed partly because some believe that due to snow cover, snowmobiles have less impact on the landscape than ATVs. Research indicates significant snowmobile impacts. Snow depth varies each year, and changes throughout the winter. Factors such as degree of slope, aspect, height of land, temperature variation, and vegetation cover all affect snow depth. Therefore, snow depth is never the same in all areas of the city. Vegetation located above the snow snaps easily in the cold.
If snowmobilers were required to stay on designated motorized trails and out of open spaces and greenbelts (as are ATVs), then damage would be reduced, particularly to narrow single-track trails. It would also reduce user conflict, improve safety, and make for a more equitable trail network.
**Action #23 of the Draft Plan says that the City should “remove reference to the exclusion of motorized use on “single-track trails” found in the Trail Maintenance Policy, in order to be consistent with other policies and bylaws. The definition of "single-track trails" found in the policy says, “no motorized use is permitted on single-track trails.”
However, it is interesting to note that ATWA has already gone before City Council to ask it to ensure the Snowmobile Bylaw was updated to reflect the definition of single-track trails given in the newly minted (November 2016) Trail Maintenance Policy. Instead, the Draft Plan suggests doing just the opposite.
***Although the Snowmobile Bylaw says that operators are not to “damage any vegetation or ground,” it is hardly enforceable, and any damage may not be apparent until the snow melts. The bylaw admits the fact that the activity does indeed damage vegetation.
[1]KSA Newsletter Early Spring 2012)
[2](See KSA Spring 2012 Newsletter p. 2 and KSA Fall 2018 Newsletterp.1)
ATWA Updates: September 30, 2020
1. 2007 Draft Trail Plan: On Thursday, October 8 Pat Milligan and Keith Lay will be involved in a Zoom interview with those responsible in the preparation of the 2020 Draft Trail Plan. As you know we have submitted a detailed written response.
2. Porter Creek Community Association: “Interested in a new connector route between Porter Creek and Whistle Bend? Fill out this 10-minute survey. See
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S7P7LMD.” You may not live in these two communities, but do take the time to take a look at this proposal and fill out the survey.
3. Whitehorse Star Article: This Letter to the Editor entitled, Corridor is being damaged, by Tim Green may be of interest. See https://www.whitehorsestar.com/Letters/corridor-is-being-damaged.
4. Outside Magazine Article: The Draft Trail Plan mentions that there is some concern in Whitehorse with dogs on trails.This 2018 article by Mark Remy discusses this topic. See https://www.outsideonline.com/2346221/put-dog-on-leash.
5. E-Scooters: The Draft Trail Plan implies that the City is going to have to consult with the public concerning the use of e-bikes and other electric mobility devices within our City.The following September 05, 2020 CBC article entitled, E-scooters proving popular - but they're not without their critics, is an interesting read. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/popular-e-scooters-also-causing-problems-1.5713182.
6. E-bikes: The following is another recent CTV article on e-bikes entitled, Are e-bikes safe? Personal injury lawyers weigh in by Pat Foran that you might find interesting. See https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/are-e-bikes-safe-personal-injury-lawyers-weigh-in-1.5104529.
7. E-bike rebates: Apply for a rebate when you buy a new electric bicycle. However, before you invest see if you can find out what the current regulations are concerning the rules of operation in Whitehorse. See https://yukon.ca/en/driving-and transportation/apply-rebate-when-you-buy-new-electric-bicycle.
Bulletin #2: 2020 Trail Plan Draft
A) If you viewed the Draft Trail Plan prior to September 24, you may have seen the following statement:
“Current municipal regulation does not classify snowmobiles as a motorized mode of transportation, which allows snowmobile use on some trails in winter.” The statement was incorrect and we made that fact known to those involved in the review process. As a result, the statement has been removed from the Draft Plan. The following material is the information we provided that caused them to remove the statement.
The current Snowmobile Bylaw defines a snowmobile as follows:
“SNOWMOBILE” means a motor vehicle, designed primarily for travel on snow or ice, having one or more steering skis, and self-propelled by means of an endless belt or belts driven in contact with the ground and includes a snowmobile Conversion Vehicle.
The reason why snowmobiles are permitted on non-motorized default trails is because Section 14 of the Snowmobile Bylaw says that "A person may drive a snowmobile on a motorized multiple use trail and [on/in] any other area of the City that is not specifically excluded pursuant to section 15 of this bylaw. (Bylaw 2018-25 passed 2018-07-09)”
Under the Territorial Motor Vehicles Act a snowmobile is considered to be an “excluded motor vehicle”. However, municipal regulations can be stricter. The previous Snowmobile Bylaw did not classify a snowmobile as a motor vehicle, but the current bylaw does.
B) In the Glossary of the Draft Plan you will find a definition of the term Motorized Multiple Use Trail. It reads as follows: Trails designed and designated by the City to be used by both non-motorized uses [sic] and motorized vehicles including snowmobiles.
This is not the definition found in the 2007 Trail Plan, which reads as follows: Includes only those trails formally designed and designated by the City of Whitehorse to allow the use of motorized vehicles, including 4-wheel drive vehicles, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and snowmobiles.
There is no indication that these types of trails can be used by non-motorized users.
The 2010 Official Community Plan (OCP) uses the term multi-use to describe a trail that accommodates both motorized and non-motorized recreation. (See 18.5.1 p. 74) Other jurisdictions use the term mixed-use to describe a trail that accommodates both motorized and non-motorized recreation.
City administration has been using the Draft Glossary definition for years despite our protests, but as far as we can determine it has never gone before City Council to formally change the 2007 Trail Plan definition. However, it is interesting to note that the City uses the OCP term (multi-use) on signage placed on the Hamilton Blvd paved trail and the Pine St. Extension paved trail, both of which allow motorized and non-motorized use.
C) Unfortunately, although we have repeatedly requested that a change be made to the Snowmobile Bylaw that would further protect non-motorized trails, green spaces, and open spaces, and at the same time save the City time and money, reduce trail conflict, and create a more equitable trail network for all users, there does not appear to be any indication that the Draft Plan will make a recommendation that such a change be considered by City Council.
To learn more about this issue you can read our initial submission to the Draft Plan available on our website. You can also go to our website under News and scroll down to our March 2016 Letter to Newspapers, in which we give reasons why the Snowmobile Bylaw should be amended. As you know we will be making a second submission in response to the Draft Plan in which we will make additional comments concerning this issue.
We would ask you to consider making the following comment (in bold) when you fill out the Online Comment Form. Please pass this on to others who might find this to be of interest. A number of you are involved with walking groups and it would be helpful if you would pass this information on to other members.
Amend the Snowmobile Bylaw to reflect the ATV Bylaw and prohibit snowmobile operators from using non-motorized trails, greenbelts, and open spaces.
D) Action #23 of the Draft Plan says that the City should “remove reference to the exclusion of motorized use on “single-track trails” found in the Trail Maintenance Policy, in order to be consistent with other policies and bylaws. The definition of "single-track trails" found in the policy says, “no motorized use is permitted on single-track trails.”
Certainly everyone wants to have consistency between our various policies and bylaws. However, it is interesting to note that ATWA has already gone before City Council to ask it to ensure the Snowmobile Bylaw was updated to reflect the definition of single-track trails given in the newly minted (November 2016) Trail Maintenance Policy. Default single-track trails should have been added to the Excluded Section of the Snowmobile Bylaw. Doing so would have a least given additional protection to default non-motorized single-track trails from winter snowmobile use. Note: Default Non-Motorized Multiple Use Trails have not been formally designated by the City as truly Non-Motorized Multiple Use trails (summer and winter).
The Draft Plan suggests removing the reference to the exclusion of motorized use on single-track trails, the exact opposite of what we argued before City Council.
If the City amended the Snowmobile Bylaw to reflect the ATV Bylaw, and prohibited snowmobile operators from using non-motorized trails, green spaces, and open spaces, there would be no problem changing the definition as the Draft Plan suggests.
E) We plan to have our second submission ready by September 30, and it will make up much of our September Updates. You may get more ideas for comments after reading that document.
F) The 2020 Draft Trail Plan Online Comment Form consists of three questions and there is indeed room for comment. (See https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/COWtrailplandraft.) This has to be completed by Friday, October 9, 2020.
We appreciate you taking the time to get involved in assuring that we have a new trail plan that will serve us well for the next ten years.
Bulletin #1: 2020 Trail Plan DRAFT
To all our associates:
The City of Whitehorse Trail Plan 2020 DRAFT has now been released. The information provided below is taken from the City’s website. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails.
As indicated below the Online Comment Form must be completed by October 9, 2020 (a Friday).
We encourage you to review all the documents provided by the City including the Trail Plan Background Report, Trail Plan fact sheet, What We Heard summary report (August 2020), Trail Plan 2020 Summary, Trail Plan 2020 DRAFT, Trail Plan 2020 (Appendices), plus ATWA’s written submission to the consulting team, prior to completing the Online Comment Form. See ATWA’s submission located on our website (www.activetwa.org) under Issues (2007 Trail Plan Rewrite) at 2007-trail-plan-rewrite.html.
The comment form may not address all your concerns, answer all your questions, or allow you to provide additional information. If so, then do not hesitate to contact the consulting team (Heidi Redman) at [email protected] and (Landon Kulych) at [email protected].
Please take the time to look at the material provided, fill out the Online Comment Form, and make your concerns known to the consulting team and to members of City Council. As the city’s website says, “The DRAFT Trail Plan identifies priorities to direct the City in future trails-related initiatives, policies and actions over the next 10 years.” Do not miss this opportunity to make your views known.
We are in the process of reviewing the Draft Plan and will provide the results of that review in our September Updates near the end of the month .
Cheers for now,
Keith Lay
"City of Whitehorse Trail Plan 2020
The City of Whitehorse DRAFT Trail Plan 2020 is now available for public review. The DRAFT Trail Plan identifies priorities to direct the City in future trails-related initiatives, policies and actions over the next 10 years.
- Trail Plan 2020 Summary (six-page summary of the draft report)
- Trail Plan 2020 DRAFT (full report)
- Trail Plan 2020 (Appendices)
Provide your input through our Online Comment Form by Friday October 9, 2020. See https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/COWtrailplandraft.
The first four tasks of the Whitehorse Trail Plan process are now complete. This work focused on under What We Heard summary report (August 2020) Learn more about this project by viewing the Trail Plan fact sheet.”
ATWA Updates: August 24, 2020
1. Official Community Plan: It is our understanding that the first draft of the new Official Community Plan (OCP) is to be released during the month of October. It is expected that aspects of the new plan will relate to trails, open spaces, environmentally sensitive areas (ESA’s), and regional parks.
ATWA’s December 14, 2018 OCP stakeholder meetings submission focused on environmental and recreational considerations. You can read that submission by going to the Issues section of our website and then to the section entitled Official Community Plan. If you have any comments, or suggestions for improvements with regard to that submission please let us know. There will be an opportunity for a second submission when the draft is released and we would welcome your input.
The city’s website says, “An OCP is a community-led plan that reflects the ideas, aspirations, priorities, and expertise of Whitehorse residents. Your involvement is key to setting the direction on how you live, work, and play in your city.”
You can find more information on the review process and a reference to the current plan at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-sustainability-services/official-community-plan-ocp/whitehorse-2040.
Please get involved in the rewriting of this most important document.
2. 2007 Trail Plan Rewrite: To date ATWA has sent six letters to the Whitehorse Star concerning subjects related to the rewrite of the 2007 Trail Plan. The last was published on August 7, under the title "City's approach to trails: unfair, illogical."
You will find these letters on our website under Issues/2007 Trail Plan Rewrite. Look for Letters to the media concerning the 2007 Trail Plan Rewrite. They are currently found at the end of the 2007 Trail Plan Rewrite section.
The draft plan is scheduled to come before the public in the fall or winter of 2020. More information on the plan can be found at the following site:
https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=13608.
3. Whitehorse North: As mentioned in our June and July Updates we have received complaints concerning Off-Road Vehicle activities on and around the MacPherson Road trail area of Whitehorse North. One of the complainants had the following letter published in the Whitehorse Star on August 14. Permission has been given to include the letter in our August Updates. It reads as follows:
Be proactive in reducing trail conflicts!
This is an open letter to the City of Whitehorse (Community Services Committee).
It’s a condensed version of a letter originally submitted to council on April 25, 2020 – and to which I have received no response.
I have been a resident and user of the trail network in the north end of the city for over six years.
During this time, there have been many conflicts between user groups, and outright abuse of community trails by certain users.
The conflict is often between those who use motorized means of recreation such as snowmobiles, ATVs, dirt bikes and trucks, and self-propelled users such as walkers, bikers, and skiers.
There is also concern about horse use in the area. Conflicts have reached a tipping point this winter and need to be addressed.
In the winter of 2016, the City’s Parks and Community Development Department advertised a consultation session in our community. I attended, as one of two community members at a table, along with three or four other attendees representing special interest groups within our broader community.These consultations were a part of a group called the Whitehorse North Trail Task Force.
This committee is no longer active in achieving its mission, which was to consult stakeholders and diverse users of these networks, develop trail route options and designations that worked for all, and mitigate conflicts that inevitably arise among users.
At these meetings (three in total), I scoured maps – both established and planned – and from my experience of living and actively engaging in these spaces, participated in pointing out errors in mapping, and indicating the various trail user conflicts in the area.
There have been years of inaction following this process, and increased trail user conflict. Now, I am writing to request that the Whitehorse North Trail Task Force be re-established with support from the City of Whitehorse.
I am hoping that city council will be pro-active and swift in addressing the issues that currently exist on established trails on both Crown and settlement lands in the area.
These issues involve the following:
• conflict among users;
• disregard for settlement lands by users;
• infringement of current city bylaws regarding protected areas and those outlined in the Kwanlin Dün and Ta’an Kwach’an Final Agreements;
• an increase in dumping;
• the destruction of forest areas from off-trail motorized travel;
• disruption to wildlife and seasonal migrating species;
• widening of single-track trails by motorized vehicles;
• the use of firearms involving target practice within city limits;
• illegal camping; and
• illegal fires on trails currently accessible by truck and off-road vehicles.
A main concern, and one fuelling conflict on these networks, is the uncertainly or lack of clarity as to the designated use of these trails. As well, there are questions of trail jurisdiction.
There is a need for extensive public education on trail designation, legislation and etiquette.
User density of the Whitehorse North trail network is drastically increasing, and with no clear authority or guidelines for this area, conflict is inevitable.
Please help us engage with all user groups in order to build and maintain a healthy and safe trail network for our community.
Re-establish the Whitehorse North Trail Task Force.
By being proactive in addressing issues currently plaguing our trails, you can help make this a reality.
Again, the time to (re)consult, activate community dialogue and engagement, and plan and address issues is now.
Carrie Boles
Whitehorse
4. Talking Together Project/Operational Review of By-law Enforcement Services/Bylaw Complaints: In July an email was sent to Councillor Hartland asking him for help in obtaining information concerning the above subjects.
The Talking Together project was launched on January 10, 2018 and closed on Feb. 26, 2018. It involved both the City of Whitehorse and the Government of Yukon. ATWA had input into the process, part of which was an hour-long meeting with a consultant. The Yukon Government and the City of Whitehorse issued a joint document on the project. See https://yukon.ca/sites/yukon.ca/files/engage/yg_-_eco_-_talking_together_what_we_heard_final.pdf.
According to a Development Services Division Newsletter #55 issued in April of 2018, the next step for the city was to “ share the feedback received with staff from all departments and develop strategies for consistent delivery of public outreach techniques.”
As mentioned in the email to Councillor Hartland, “It would be good to know if strategies were developed “for consistent delivery of public outreach techniques,” and if so, what those strategies involved. As well, the public should be made aware of the city’s “public outreach techniques” so that it can know how best to communicate with the city.
In the email reference was also made to the City of Whitehorse Operational Review of By-law Enforcement Services dated July 2018. See https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=10104.
“Although unfortunately there was not much in the document related to trails, there was mention of a pilot project concerning possible drone use to monitor trails. (See page 35 of the document.) This project was to be undertaken in 2019.”
The email asked if “the project was actually undertaken, and if so, what were the results?”
In addition, the Operational Review says, “Less than 20 bicycle, ATV, or snowmobile violations are processed annually.” The email asked if Bylaw Services “only records complaints that result in charges being laid or fines being assessed.”
As a result of Councillor Hartland’s efforts a reply was received from the Mayor in which the following information was provided.
As far as the Talking Together project is concerned, the “project was a Government of Yukon initiative and work is ongoing.”
With regard to the use of drones for monitoring trails, the “project did not move past conception.”
And, concerning the recording of complaints the letter stated, “Bylaw Services continues to educate the public on the City bylaws and how to report a violation. Complaints received are investigated, and if the operator or an originating address can be identified and there is sufficient evidence, tickets are issued. In recent months, Bylaw Services has received complaints that have resulted in charges and the seizure of the ATV.”
ATWA thanks Councillor Hartland for his help in obtaining the above information.
5. City of Whitehorse Strategic Priorities for 2020: These priorities can be found at the following site: https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=13616. One of the priorities listed is Environmental Stewardship. Mention is made of City Council’s declaration of “a Climate Change Emergency in the city of Whitehorse on September 23, 2019.” One wonders whether or not this declaration will have any meaningful impact on the designation of motorized trails, and on the protection of so-called non-motorized trails from motorized use.
The Snowmobile Bylaw needs to be revised to restrict all snowmobiles to designated Motorized Multiple Use trails by adding "non-motorized trails, greenbelts, [and] open spaces" to the list of "Excluded Areas" found in the Snowmobile Bylaw. This would be consistent with the ATV Bylaw. It would also clear up the on-going confusion about trail use by snowmobiles and ATVs.
It should be noted that there is an extensive network of designated motorized trails in Whitehorse for snowmobile use. Click the link below to see the City's map of designated motorized trails:
http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=4210.
6. Dogs on Lease:Outside Magazine has an interesting story on this subject, a subject that may well come up for discussion when the draft Trail Plan goes out for public review. See https://www.outsideonline.com/2346221/put-dog-on-leash.
7. Friends of McIntyre Creek AGM: The AGM will be held on September 15, 2020 at Hellaby Hall (4th& Elliot Street). For more information email [email protected]. The organization says that in order “To proactively deal with the public health impact of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, all health and safety guidelines will be followed.”
8. E-bike article:Those of you who own or are contemplating buying an e-bike might find the following CBC article to be of interest. See http
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_________________________________________________________________________________________
ATWA Mini-Updates: FEB. 24, 2018
1. Whistle Bend Trails Meeting
2. robert-service-way-area-plan
Public comment will be accepted until February 28th. Comments can be emailed to [email protected].
3. Parks & Rec “Jam”
Date: 02/28/2018 11:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Public Drop-In (no registration required)
11:30 am - 1:30 pm and 3:30 - 7:30 pm
Focus Group Sessions (please register) at [email protected]
SESSION 1 (8:45 - 10:00 am): Arts & Culture's Role in Recreation
SESSION 2 (8:45 - 10:00 am): Engaging the Next Generation in Recreation
SESSION 3 (10:15 - 11:30 am): Indigenous Participation/Reconciliation Through Recreation
SESSION 4 (10:15 - 11:30 am): Maximizing Economic Development and Tourism Benefits
SESSION 5: (2:00 - 3:15 pm): Accessibility, Inclusion, and Shifting Demographics in Recreation
4.The following is from the Yukon Conservation Society weekly Newsletter:
Yukon Science Institute Talks
Integrating Renewable Energy in Remote Communities
Sun. Feb. 25, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse, 7:30-9pm
Remote communities across the north are interested in integrating renewable energy such as wind and solar into their generation mix to reduce their dependency on, and consumption of, diesel fuel. Join Mike Ross of the Yukon Research Centre as he presents on this topic, with a focus on the Old Crow Solar Project.
5. Bylaw Services Program Review Open House
_________________________________________________________________________________________
ATWA Updates: February 2018
1. Our Rota Vicentina presentation was certainly well received. We packed the Library Meeting Room to capacity.The slide presentation may be accessible at the following site: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0uGcuRfIG8kMi3.
Unfortunately, the notations found at the bottom of the photos at the presentation will be not be found on these photos. However, the photos will be sharper than what people saw at the presentation. Just give a bit of time to allow the photos to load and come into focus. Click on the largest photo to get started.
2. The Whitehorse South Trail Task Force will resume after the city has conducted a Wolf Creek MMU exit Survey. The Wolf Creek Community Association is also conducting a survey. For more information contact [email protected].
3. The Whitehorse North Trail Task Force has not yet resumed, and there has been no information received from Parks and Community Development as to when it will do so. Common courtesy would suggest that the volunteers on this task force be kept informed as to its status.
4. The draft Robert Service Way Planning Study is now available for public review. The 'what we heard' document detailing the consultation process is also available. (See the following site: http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-building-services/robert-service-way-area-plan).
Public comment will be accepted until February 28th. Comments can be emailed to [email protected].
You might want to look at the recently completed and approved Schwatka Lake Area Plan as well. A first glance would seem to indicate that some of the Robert Service Way Planning Study includes areas that have already been considered under the Schwatka Lake Area Plan. (See http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=5158).
5. ATV Bylaw amendments are to be reviewed in March of this year. Apparently, the amendments concern the request of the Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association (YCCMA) to allow children under 16 to drive motorized dirt bikes (motorcycles) and perhaps other types of ORVS on the eight hectares of land off Robert Service Way that it has leased from the City. Under current ATV Bylaw requirements they are not permitted to do so.
Whether or not the changes will also permit adult operators to ignore current rules with regard to Section 5 of the ATV Bylaw when operating their machines on the leased property is yet to be seen. (See section 5 Driver Eligibility http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=110).
The vehicles that children use at the motorcycle park would have to be trailered to the site, as one would expect that the current rules with regard to the use of ATVs within the City (outside of the leased land) would still apply.
In ATWA’s September 7, 2017 submission to the City of Whitehorse concerning the Robert Service Planning Study we made the following comments:
“As the YCCMA will still not be able to use the area for its younger members due to restrictions found in the City’s ATV Bylaw, pressure will be exerted to open up the bylaw to allow children to use the site.
The City of Whitehorse should be aware that the Canadian Paediatric Society credits the City of Whitehorse for having stricter regulations on ORV use than does the Government of Yukon. (See http://www.cps.ca/en/status-report/off-road-vehicle-safety-legislation).
Unfortunately, the presence of the motocross track in its current location will encourage ATV operators to use City trails to get to the location. This, despite the claim, that owners will trailer their vehicles to the site.
ATWA is concerned with the continued illegal use of the Rotary Centennial Bridge and adjacent green spaces to connect to Robert Service Way and from there to the motocross park. The City needs to do more to protect the Millennium Trail and adjacent green space from illegal use by ORVs.”
6. Note: It is amazing what you can find out by carefully reviewing the Monday night Council Agenda, which is available Friday afternoon at this site: (http://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/132476/22?backlist=%2f).
It is suggested that you review this site each week. Scroll down to get all the material.
If you contact the City’s web master at [email protected] you can ask to be put on the City’s email list. You will then get current information on City related news. In addition, you will be sent the Agenda for the Monday night Council meeting.
As well, it is suggested that you look at the City’s Public Consultation page on a regular basis. There may be some consultations in which you may wish to participate. (See http://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/public-consultations).
7. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan is being revised and is going through a consultation phase that is to be completed by April of this year. We asked for more information on the review and received the following information from Linda Rapp (City Manager):
“The Parks and Rec Master Plan will include a comprehensive public engagement process. Citizen input will be sought through online surveys, social media campaigns, “pop ups” throughout the community, and a temporary installation booth at the Canada Games Complex. These opportunities will commence in mid-February and will be advertised extensively.”
You can now find more information on the process at the following site: (http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/recreation-and-facility-services/programs-events-services-/2007-parks-and-recreation-master-plan).
You can also be put on an email list, which will ensure you receive updated information on the process. In order to be put on this list go to the following site: (http://eepurl.com/djDLFr).
The City’s Trail Plan, which is due to be reviewed in 2019, will reflect what is found in the Master Plan. Therefore, it would be a good idea to keep a close eye on what the latter eventually contains. The current Parks and Recreation Master Plan can be found at the following site:
(http://en.calameo.com/read/000446749279c3e9658dc).
Yes, there are 50 or so pages to look over, but if you value your trails, regional parks, and green spaces it would be a good idea to have a look, and participate in the consultation process.
8. The City has awarded the conceptual design for the Robert Service Campground building to Kobayashi-Zeda. The target date for completion is March 31, 2018.
9. You may find an opinion article by LORNE FITCH on the science behind off-highway vehicle restrictions, which was published in the Edmonton Journal, to be of interest.
(See http://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-the-science-behind-off-highway-vehicle-restrictions).
10. ATWA will continue to do our yearly Community Clean Up on the east side of the Millennium Trail, from the Robert Campbell Bridge to the dam. This year the Food Bank Society of Whitehorse will be the beneficiary of our work to the tune of some $300.00.
Please consider offering your help when we announce the date of the clean up. It cannot be done until all the snow has gone from the trail and the surrounding vegetation. Usually this means May, but it could be as early as April. We would prefer to get it done as soon as possible. As you know, many hands make the work go faster.
11. ATWA continues to work to get proper signage installed on the gas tax funded paved trail located on the Pine Street Extension in Porter Creek. In December we were told that the existing signage would be changed to reflect the non-motorized (summer and winter) status of the paved pedestrian trail. In January, Parks and Community Development informed us that the current signage would remain, and that snowmobiles will be allowed to use the pedestrian paved trail in winter.
There is a lot more to this story than can be mentioned here, but we are doing what we can to rectify the situation.
12. We received the following information from Linda Rapp (City Manager) concerning the current status of the Trail Development Policy:
“The policy is expected to address matters including the construction and rehabilitation of trails. Stakeholder consultation is anticipated for the latter part of February and public consultation in envisioned for March. The intention is to have a draft policy ready for Council’s review this Spring.”
Given the fact that administration received direction from Council to start work on this policy in November of 2016, one wonders why so-called stakeholders have yet to be consulted. It appears that they will only be given a very limited consultation period before a draft policy goes out to the public in March. Since spring comes on March 20, it follows that the public’s opportunity for input will also be limited.
It was our understanding that additional topics were to be addressed in the new policy such as the following: how to effectively deal with unauthorized trail creation, a revised trail application form, and the establishment of a more transparent and inclusive trail development application process.
It was also our understanding that consultation was supposed to take place with trail stewards, landowners, stakeholders, and with current/active trail task force bodies.
13. The Yukon Conservation Society February 1, Newsletter listed a couple of events, which might be of interest to our readers: International Winter Bike to Work Day on Friday, Feb. 9, and an avalanche case study night on Monday Feb. 12, 7-9 pm at Baked Café.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
ATWA Mini-Updates: FEB. 24, 2018
1. Whistle Bend Trails Meeting
- Date: 02/27/2018 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- Location: Porter Creek Secondary School Cafeteria
2. robert-service-way-area-plan
Public comment will be accepted until February 28th. Comments can be emailed to [email protected].
3. Parks & Rec “Jam”
Date: 02/28/2018 11:30 AM - 7:30 PM
- Location: Old Fire Hall
- See information below
Public Drop-In (no registration required)
11:30 am - 1:30 pm and 3:30 - 7:30 pm
Focus Group Sessions (please register) at [email protected]
SESSION 1 (8:45 - 10:00 am): Arts & Culture's Role in Recreation
SESSION 2 (8:45 - 10:00 am): Engaging the Next Generation in Recreation
SESSION 3 (10:15 - 11:30 am): Indigenous Participation/Reconciliation Through Recreation
SESSION 4 (10:15 - 11:30 am): Maximizing Economic Development and Tourism Benefits
SESSION 5: (2:00 - 3:15 pm): Accessibility, Inclusion, and Shifting Demographics in Recreation
4.The following is from the Yukon Conservation Society weekly Newsletter:
Yukon Science Institute Talks
Integrating Renewable Energy in Remote Communities
Sun. Feb. 25, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse, 7:30-9pm
Remote communities across the north are interested in integrating renewable energy such as wind and solar into their generation mix to reduce their dependency on, and consumption of, diesel fuel. Join Mike Ross of the Yukon Research Centre as he presents on this topic, with a focus on the Old Crow Solar Project.
5. Bylaw Services Program Review Open House
- Date: 03/01/2018 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
- Location: Public Safety Building Large EOC Room
305 Range Road
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
_________________________________________________________________________________________
ATWA Updates: February 2018
1. Our Rota Vicentina presentation was certainly well received. We packed the Library Meeting Room to capacity.The slide presentation may be accessible at the following site: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0uGcuRfIG8kMi3.
Unfortunately, the notations found at the bottom of the photos at the presentation will be not be found on these photos. However, the photos will be sharper than what people saw at the presentation. Just give a bit of time to allow the photos to load and come into focus. Click on the largest photo to get started.
2. The Whitehorse South Trail Task Force will resume after the city has conducted a Wolf Creek MMU exit Survey. The Wolf Creek Community Association is also conducting a survey. For more information contact [email protected].
3. The Whitehorse North Trail Task Force has not yet resumed, and there has been no information received from Parks and Community Development as to when it will do so. Common courtesy would suggest that the volunteers on this task force be kept informed as to its status.
4. The draft Robert Service Way Planning Study is now available for public review. The 'what we heard' document detailing the consultation process is also available. (See the following site: http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-building-services/robert-service-way-area-plan).
Public comment will be accepted until February 28th. Comments can be emailed to [email protected].
You might want to look at the recently completed and approved Schwatka Lake Area Plan as well. A first glance would seem to indicate that some of the Robert Service Way Planning Study includes areas that have already been considered under the Schwatka Lake Area Plan. (See http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=5158).
5. ATV Bylaw amendments are to be reviewed in March of this year. Apparently, the amendments concern the request of the Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association (YCCMA) to allow children under 16 to drive motorized dirt bikes (motorcycles) and perhaps other types of ORVS on the eight hectares of land off Robert Service Way that it has leased from the City. Under current ATV Bylaw requirements they are not permitted to do so.
Whether or not the changes will also permit adult operators to ignore current rules with regard to Section 5 of the ATV Bylaw when operating their machines on the leased property is yet to be seen. (See section 5 Driver Eligibility http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=110).
The vehicles that children use at the motorcycle park would have to be trailered to the site, as one would expect that the current rules with regard to the use of ATVs within the City (outside of the leased land) would still apply.
In ATWA’s September 7, 2017 submission to the City of Whitehorse concerning the Robert Service Planning Study we made the following comments:
“As the YCCMA will still not be able to use the area for its younger members due to restrictions found in the City’s ATV Bylaw, pressure will be exerted to open up the bylaw to allow children to use the site.
The City of Whitehorse should be aware that the Canadian Paediatric Society credits the City of Whitehorse for having stricter regulations on ORV use than does the Government of Yukon. (See http://www.cps.ca/en/status-report/off-road-vehicle-safety-legislation).
Unfortunately, the presence of the motocross track in its current location will encourage ATV operators to use City trails to get to the location. This, despite the claim, that owners will trailer their vehicles to the site.
ATWA is concerned with the continued illegal use of the Rotary Centennial Bridge and adjacent green spaces to connect to Robert Service Way and from there to the motocross park. The City needs to do more to protect the Millennium Trail and adjacent green space from illegal use by ORVs.”
6. Note: It is amazing what you can find out by carefully reviewing the Monday night Council Agenda, which is available Friday afternoon at this site: (http://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/132476/22?backlist=%2f).
It is suggested that you review this site each week. Scroll down to get all the material.
If you contact the City’s web master at [email protected] you can ask to be put on the City’s email list. You will then get current information on City related news. In addition, you will be sent the Agenda for the Monday night Council meeting.
As well, it is suggested that you look at the City’s Public Consultation page on a regular basis. There may be some consultations in which you may wish to participate. (See http://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/public-consultations).
7. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan is being revised and is going through a consultation phase that is to be completed by April of this year. We asked for more information on the review and received the following information from Linda Rapp (City Manager):
“The Parks and Rec Master Plan will include a comprehensive public engagement process. Citizen input will be sought through online surveys, social media campaigns, “pop ups” throughout the community, and a temporary installation booth at the Canada Games Complex. These opportunities will commence in mid-February and will be advertised extensively.”
You can now find more information on the process at the following site: (http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/recreation-and-facility-services/programs-events-services-/2007-parks-and-recreation-master-plan).
You can also be put on an email list, which will ensure you receive updated information on the process. In order to be put on this list go to the following site: (http://eepurl.com/djDLFr).
The City’s Trail Plan, which is due to be reviewed in 2019, will reflect what is found in the Master Plan. Therefore, it would be a good idea to keep a close eye on what the latter eventually contains. The current Parks and Recreation Master Plan can be found at the following site:
(http://en.calameo.com/read/000446749279c3e9658dc).
Yes, there are 50 or so pages to look over, but if you value your trails, regional parks, and green spaces it would be a good idea to have a look, and participate in the consultation process.
8. The City has awarded the conceptual design for the Robert Service Campground building to Kobayashi-Zeda. The target date for completion is March 31, 2018.
9. You may find an opinion article by LORNE FITCH on the science behind off-highway vehicle restrictions, which was published in the Edmonton Journal, to be of interest.
(See http://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-the-science-behind-off-highway-vehicle-restrictions).
10. ATWA will continue to do our yearly Community Clean Up on the east side of the Millennium Trail, from the Robert Campbell Bridge to the dam. This year the Food Bank Society of Whitehorse will be the beneficiary of our work to the tune of some $300.00.
Please consider offering your help when we announce the date of the clean up. It cannot be done until all the snow has gone from the trail and the surrounding vegetation. Usually this means May, but it could be as early as April. We would prefer to get it done as soon as possible. As you know, many hands make the work go faster.
11. ATWA continues to work to get proper signage installed on the gas tax funded paved trail located on the Pine Street Extension in Porter Creek. In December we were told that the existing signage would be changed to reflect the non-motorized (summer and winter) status of the paved pedestrian trail. In January, Parks and Community Development informed us that the current signage would remain, and that snowmobiles will be allowed to use the pedestrian paved trail in winter.
There is a lot more to this story than can be mentioned here, but we are doing what we can to rectify the situation.
12. We received the following information from Linda Rapp (City Manager) concerning the current status of the Trail Development Policy:
“The policy is expected to address matters including the construction and rehabilitation of trails. Stakeholder consultation is anticipated for the latter part of February and public consultation in envisioned for March. The intention is to have a draft policy ready for Council’s review this Spring.”
Given the fact that administration received direction from Council to start work on this policy in November of 2016, one wonders why so-called stakeholders have yet to be consulted. It appears that they will only be given a very limited consultation period before a draft policy goes out to the public in March. Since spring comes on March 20, it follows that the public’s opportunity for input will also be limited.
It was our understanding that additional topics were to be addressed in the new policy such as the following: how to effectively deal with unauthorized trail creation, a revised trail application form, and the establishment of a more transparent and inclusive trail development application process.
It was also our understanding that consultation was supposed to take place with trail stewards, landowners, stakeholders, and with current/active trail task force bodies.
13. The Yukon Conservation Society February 1, Newsletter listed a couple of events, which might be of interest to our readers: International Winter Bike to Work Day on Friday, Feb. 9, and an avalanche case study night on Monday Feb. 12, 7-9 pm at Baked Café.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
ACTIVE TRAILS WHITEHORSE ASSOCIATION
PRESENTS
WALKING PORTUGAL’S COASTAL ROTA VICENTINA TRAIL (PORTO COVO TO CAPE ST.VINCENT)
Nine Days/165 kms
(This event took place on Jan. 23/2018. The library meeting room was at capacity.)
Rota Vicentina Project: Innovation/Responsibility/Sustainability
Check out www.rotavicentina.com for more information about this very special trail. Take time to view the videos.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRESENTS
WALKING PORTUGAL’S COASTAL ROTA VICENTINA TRAIL (PORTO COVO TO CAPE ST.VINCENT)
Nine Days/165 kms
(This event took place on Jan. 23/2018. The library meeting room was at capacity.)
Rota Vicentina Project: Innovation/Responsibility/Sustainability
Check out www.rotavicentina.com for more information about this very special trail. Take time to view the videos.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ATWA Updates: January 2018
1. The following information was sent from the City on January 10/2018: “Yukoners [are] invited to help the Government of Yukon and the City of Whitehorse improve public engagement.”
This is an opportunity for citizens to give their ideas as to how this can be done. ATWA has long advocated for improvement in this area as far as the City is concerned. We have often commented that the City’s business should be conducted in a more open and transparent manner.
To view this item, please go to http://www.gov.yk.ca/news/18-003.html. As well, the project’s website (Talking Together) can be accessed through this site.
2. Information about Trails Only Yukon Association’s (TOYA) consultation with the Government of Yukon with regard to the management of ATVs in the territory can be found in its December Newsletter. See http://mailchi.mp/077b8f88845f/toya-dec-news-flash?e=2f283f620e.
3. Apparently, the Whitehorse South Trail Task Force will not be meeting until the spring. No information has been received with regard to the Whitehorse North Trail Task Force.
4. An associate has been told that the Parks and Community Development department has received one trail development application since July 2017. An application was received in the fall of 2017 from the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club to do some enhancements on an existing ski trail. The department reviewed the application and approved it with conditions, all of which were met by the ski club.
5. Consultation with stakeholders and trail stewards is supposed to take place soon with regard to the establishment of a Trail Development Policy. Once that is completed the public will be engaged. To date Active Trails Whitehorse Association has not been approached to provide any input.
As mentioned previously, the Trail Development Policy was to be completed by the spring of 2017. However, current information indicates that the policy will not be presented to Council until a CASM meeting in late March of 2018, a year after it was supposed to have been completed.
6. The next Porter Creek Community Association meeting is Monday, February 5th, 5:15 pm at the Guild Hall. Those of you who live in Porter Creek should take advantage of the opportunity to attend association meetings.
7. ATWA is still working to have the Pine Street Extension paved (gas tax) trail properly signed to indicate that it is a non-motorized multiple use trail. At present, it is signed multi-use and indicates that both pedestrians and snowmobiles can use the trail.
The Extension is part of the TCT/Great Trail route and the latter is a multi-use trail. In other words, both motorized and non-motorized users can use it. The KSA grooms a snowmobile trail down the extension in winter.
However, the paved gas tax trail is supposed to be off limits to motorized use both in summer and winter. Our efforts continue to have this paved trail, and all other gas tax supported trails properly signed and designated.
8. We were recently advised that Dexter Kotylak is the current trail coordinator/trail crew leader (winter/summer) under the direction and supervision of Doug Hnatiuk (Manager, Parks and Community Development) and Marc Boulerice (Supervisor, Parks and Trails). His contact information is as follows: Bus: (867) 668-8325
[email protected]
9. City Council's Questions & Answers can be found at http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/legislative-services/council-questions-and-answers. This is a worthwhile webpage to view from time to time.
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ATWA Updates: December 2017
1. On Monday (Nov. 27) City Council gave third and final reading to a brand new bylaw: the Advisory Committee Bylaw. We were very pleased to see that the initial draft of this bylaw addressed a number of concerns that ATWA had raised in the past about how city committees function. After a review of the draft bylaw, ATWA made two written submissions, and was given the opportunity to sit down with assistant city clerk (Norma Felker) to review our comments. The final draft bylaw approved by Mayor and Council received our full support. You can view the Whitehorse Star article on the bylaw at the following site: (http://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/advisory-committee-bylaw-adopted).
ATWA sent a letter to Mayor & Council asking it to recognize the efforts of City staff, and in particular Norma Felker, in the preparation of the bylaw. The Mayor mentioned the receipt of that letter in the Minutes of the November 27 Council meeting: "Mayor Curtis acknowledged a letter received from Keith Lay on behalf of the Active Trails Whitehorse Association in support of the Advisory Committee Bylaw. He thanked Mr. Lay for taking the time to work with staff on the development of this bylaw, and also for making the effort to acknowledge the work done by the Assistant City Clerk to bring this bylaw forward."
You can view the letter below these Updates.
2. On Monday (Dec. 04) ATWA will be making a presentation before City Council concerning the status of the Trail Development Policy and the Trail Application Process. The presentation is found on our website under Issues / Trail Development Policy & Application Process: http://www.activetwa.org/trail-development-policy--application-process.html
3. Trail Task Force facilitator Jane Koepke (Nov. 6) has told us that “Dexter Kotylak, the City’s Trail Crew Leader is now up and running in a management/administrative capacity for the City” in the area of trails. He is apparently putting together a work plan, which includes looking at the McCauley Creek connection. As mentioned in our last Updates, the McCauley Creek issue was supposed to come before Council last September.
4. We received a reply (Nov. 6) from Whitehorse North Trail Task Force facilitator Jane Koepke, to our questions as to when the task force will meet again, and whether or not it will be reviewing the results of the public survey on the proposed trail plan. Jane indicated that the task force is to meet again in the New Year, and that Dexter [Kotylak] will soon send out a note to task force members advising them of a tentative start-up date. Jane also said, “The City has been working with both First Nation governments” since the time of the last trail task force meeting on their concerns in the area. In addition, Jane mentioned that the public survey results would be shared with task force members at the time of the next meeting.
5. No word as yet concerning the next meeting of the Whitehorse South Trail Task Force. It is highly unlikely that it will meet in December, so we continue to wait.
6. ATWA is still working to have the Pine Street Extension paved (gas tax) trail properly signed to indicate that it is a non-motorized multiple use trail. In other words, the trail is off limits to motorized use both in summer and winter. Our efforts to have all such gas tax trails properly signed and designated continue.
7. As some of you probably know Christina Macdonald is stepping down from her position as YCS Executive Director in order to return to the east coast. Christina helped our group get established, and has provided much appreciated advice over the last few years. We wish her all the best in the future, and hope that she will return to visit the Yukon in the years to come. You can read her message to YCS members at the following site: (http://yukonconservation.org/news-events/a-message-from-ed-christina-macdonald)
8. Great news re: the Peel!
9. Once again ATWA wishes you all the very best of the holiday season. On that note, don’t forget the Winterval Festival Santa Claus Parade & Tree Lighting event on December 9, 2017, 4:00 PM.
As per Update #1 this is the letter (see below) to which we refer.
November 27, 2017
Dear Mayor & Council:
Active Trails Whitehorse Association was pleased to see that the initial draft of the Advisory Committee Bylaw, had addressed a number of the concerns that we had expressed over the past several years with regard to the operation of City committees.
After reviewing the initial draft, ATWA made two written submissions containing questions, comments, and suggestions for possible improvement. After each submission Norma Felker took some of her valuable time to meet with us to discuss our concerns. We cannot express how much we appreciated those opportunities. It was so nice to have someone listen to our concerns, explain the rationale as to the thinking behind some aspects of the bylaw that we had questioned, and recognize the value of a number of our suggested improvements.
Bylaws often take years to draft, and most of us rarely appreciate that fact and the effort involved in their preparation prior to their introduction before Council.
We hope that at Monday’s Council meeting councillors will take the time to thank and recognize the efforts of City staff involved in the preparation of this draft bylaw, and in particular Ms. Felker.
Active Trails Whitehorse Association fully supports this bylaw. As we stated previously before the Corporate Services Committee, there is an obvious effort to ensure that there will be more transparency and democracy in the way advisory committees operate, and that City committees should “ focus on making informed and reasonable decisions in an open and transparent way and in the best interests of the community.”
In addition, there is recognition that City committees (through various means) should encourage the input of the general public, as there is a wealth of knowledge within our community from which these committees can draw.
The Advisory Committee Bylaw will be an excellent addition to our City’s bylaws.
Sincerely,
Keith Lay (Active Trails Whitehorse Association)
www.activetwa.org
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ATWA Updates: November 2017
1. Grey Mountain Summit (Dream) Trail:
ATWA is concerned with the fact that this trail has not as yet been formally designated as to its appropriate use.
Observers at the February 16, 2017 meeting of the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee noted that Mr. Hnatiuk, Acting Director of Community and Recreation Services, emphasized that this trail would be non-motorized and closed to snowmobiles since it traverses at least one Environmentally Sensitive Area, and that this would be indicated on signage at the start of the trail.
However, the City’s webpage on that trail only mentions it being a multi-use trail. (See http://whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/construction). This could lead to confusion as the 2007 Trail Plan lists two types of multiple use trails: non-motorized multiple use trails and motorized multiple use trails.
Since parts of this trail are already being utilized, the City needs to immediately specify on its webpage that this trail was proposed as non-motorized, and is prohibited to snowmobiles and all other motorized vehicles in order to protect Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
2. Next City Council Meeting:
The next meeting of City Council occurs on November 6 at 5:30 p.m. You can access the agenda at Whitehorse.ca/agendas. Council and Senior Management (CASM) meetings are usually held on Tuesday’s at 12:00. One can access those meeting agendas at Whitehorse.ca/CASM.
3. Trail Applications and Trail Development Policy:
As many of you probably know the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee has been dissolved by City Council. As a result ATWA asked City Council to tell the public when the Trail Development Policy was going to come before council, and what the trail application process would be prior to its introduction.
Administration responded, but unfortunately the responses raise more questions than answers, so we are in the process of preparing a letter to Mayor and Council requesting clarification of administration’s comments.
Council directed Mr. Hnatiuk in November of 2016 to work with the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee to produce a Trail Development Policy that was to be completed by the spring of 2017. (The committee was not disbanded until September of 2017.) Part of this policy was to address the issue of unauthorized trail creation in the City.
Now administration says that the Trail Development Policy will not be presented to Council until a CASM meeting in late March of 2018, a year after it was supposed to be completed.
Administration says it “continues to work with stakeholders, trail stewards, and land owners to develop” this policy. To date, Active Trails Whitehorse Association has not been approached by administration to provide input with regard to this policy, despite the fact that ATWA has made numerous submissions on trail subjects to both City Council and the WTGC, as well as to city administration over recent years. ATWA will be asking the City that we (along with the general public) be included in the development of this policy.
The City should respect the 2007 Trail Plan’s Guiding Principle of Inclusiveness. “The City of Whitehorse Trail Plan recognizes the importance of the trail system to residents and visitors alike and is committed to including the public in determining guidelines for trail system development, use, preservation and maintenance.”
As far as the trail application process goes, there has not as yet been any indication from administration that the general public will be allowed to view applications, or have any opportunity of providing comments as to their merit. ATWA will continue to encourage the City to make trail applications available for public view and input.
4. Downtown Planning:
The following is found on the City’s website: “Following multiple engagement events and workshops, the planning team is busy preparing the draft Downtown Plan and Downtown Action Plan. It is anticipated that the draft plans will be released for public feedback in January 2018. Please stay tuned for more details!”
You can see what the public has already said about this subject at the following site:
http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=9066
5. Whitehorse Trail Maps:
You can see the latest trail maps that the City has prepared at the following site:
http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/maps (Please note that the East of the Yukon Trail Map is not a proposed map of EYR trails, but one that was approved by City Council in January 2014.)
6. McCauley Creek Crossing:
Although the issue concerning the possible designation of the McCauley Creek Crossing as a motorized route was supposed to come before Council in September, to our knowledge it has not.
7. Porter Creek Paved Connecting Trail:
The extension of the paved trail connecting Takhini North to Porter Creek has now been completed. It runs beside the Trans Canada Trail (the Pine Street extension gravel road) that goes down to the main McIntyre Creek Bridge where the two trails briefly join as they cross the river. The paved trail is supposed to be non-motorized summer and winter as it is funded by federal gas tax funds in an effort to encourage active forms of recreation and transportation, and cut down on the use of fossil fuels. ATWA will continue its efforts to have these gas tax trails properly signed.
8. Whitehorse South Trail Task Force:
The next meeting of the Whitehorse South Trail Task Force is supposed to occur in mid to late November. ATWA is a member of this body.
9. Whitehorse North Trail Task Force:
No announcement has been made as to when the next meeting of the Whitehorse North Trail Task Force is supposed to occur. A public survey was conducted by the City concerning trails in the area, and the task force was supposed to meet to review the results, but we have heard nothing as of yet. ATWA is a member of this body.
10. Trail Etiquette:
The Bridge River Valley Trails group (located in B.C.) has kindly permitted us to reference its trail etiquette webpage, which has a list of etiquette tips for various trail users. Although certain parts may have to be modified, or added to in order to recognize some unique aspects of our wilderness city, ATWA sees this as a basis for a Whitehorse Trail Etiquette Policy. See: http://bridgerivervalleytrails.ca/trail-etiquette/
11. Yukon Conservation Event:
We are passing on this event notice from the Yukon Conservation Society’s news email.
YCS invites you to...
An Evening with Shaun Loney and the Solutions Economy
Climate change. Food insecurity. Poverty. How can these problems be reframed as opportunities to build our economy and make our communities more resilient?
Be inspired by social innovator and Canadian change-maker Shaun Loney as he shares his experiences mobilizing people, businesses and communities to solve our most pressing social and environmental problems…and learn how the Solutions Economy can take root in the Yukon.
Evening Talk (Whitehorse): Mon. Nov. 6, 7pm – Beringia Interpretive Centre
Workshop (Whitehorse): Tues. Nov. 7, 8:30am-4:30pm – Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre (registration is required for this workshop)
For more information on these events contact the YCS.
12. ElderActive Recreational Association: (55 and older)
This association has a walking group often led by Peter Long and Wynne Krangle. If you are of the right age and interested in taking part, contact the association at 456-8252. Its office is located at 302-309 Strickland St. Office hours are Monday Noon to 4 pm, and Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 1 pm.
13. Have your say!
We would like to hear from you. Give us your ideas, concerns, and/or kudos, about city trails, green spaces, and regional parks. Contact us at [email protected].
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ATWA Updates (August 2017):
1. Those of you that live in the Takhini/Porter Creek area and/or who use our paved commuting trails, may be interested in the following newspaper article concerning the extension of the paved trail connecting Takhini North to Porter Creek. http://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/pedestrian-path-paving-work-awarded
Please note that this paved trail is funded through the Federal Gas Tax Program. As such it is to be used for active forms of transportation, such as walking, biking, or running. Unfortunately, the City does not seem inclined to sign such trails to indicate that they are non-motorized summer and winter.
It should be noted that there are paved trails located within the City that are not funded through the Federal Gas Tax Program, the Whistle Bend Perimeter Trail being one such trail. (See #3) The Hamilton Boulevard Trail is properly signed as a multi-use trail, one that can be used by both motorized and non-motorized users. As such, one would expect that the Gas Tax program did not fund it. However, ATWA has been unable to confirm this.
2. The Robert Service Way Planning Study is finally underway. You are encouraged to do the longer survey. The survey must be completed by September 10. It is also suggested that you read the background report prior to doing the survey. Both the survey and the background report are found at the following site: www.whitehorse.ca/robertserviceway
Please note that the motocross conditional lease mentioned on page 26 of the report has a three-month notice for termination in its list of conditions. In other words, the City only needs to provide a three-month notice to the motocross club to terminate the lease if, for example, the City determines the land is best suited for other purposes. (The three- month notice is not mentioned in the above report.)
In addition, you may wish to look at the Schwatka Lake Area Plan that was completed in 2015 before completing the survey, as this region is adjacent to the area under study and may well be impacted by what decisions are made as a result of the Robert Service Way Planning Study. (See http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=5158)
The City is having a Robert Service Way Area Plan Popup Event on the Millennium Trail on Thursday, August 31 from 5-7pm. Apparently, there will be free ice cream and/or coffee available to those who express their thoughts about the area under consideration. On August 31, take a walk on the trail and visit the site.
3. Whistle Bend Perimeter Trail: (Please be aware that there is a lot more to this story respecting the processes followed and the decisions made than can be presented here.)
The trail task force dealing with the Whistle Bend, Takhini, Range Point, Porter Creek area recommended that the Perimeter Trail be non-motorized in both summer and winter. This was due to the fact that the response in the public survey on the subject indicated that the majority of respondents wanted the trail to be non-motorized year round. Although some on the task force did not agree, all felt that it would be difficult to take a position contrary to the survey results.
All recommendations of the trail task force were taken to the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee by the trail task force facilitator.
The Klondike Snowmobile Association, Contagious Mountain Bike Club, and the Porter Creek Community Association all sit on the WTGC. Each of these groups also sat on the trail task force. The Porter Creek WTGC representative was not able to attend the WTGC meeting, which reviewed the recommendations of the trail task force, but was replaced by the individual who represented the Friends of McIntyre Creek on the trail task force. No other members of the trail task force were asked to attend the WTGC meeting as either participants or observers.
The WTGC recommended that the Perimeter Trail be designated MMU (open to both motorized and non-motorized users). It appears that some members of the trail task force were given a “second chance” at changing the recommendations of the trail task force as (was previously mentioned) they also sit on the WTGC. This seems somewhat inappropriate and, in ATWA’s view, lacks proper process.
The committee also recommended designating the McCauley Creek Crossing as motorized despite the fact that the City’s trails consultant and trail crew leader felt “that the route [was] unsuitable for a MMU designation.
Administration claimed that the Perimeter Trail had already been designated by a previous City Council as an MMU (multi-use) trail. However, it was unable to provide concrete proof that any City Council had approved of such a designation.
A number of Whistle Bend residents appeared before Council, as did ATWA, to argue against the WTGC recommendation concerning the Perimeter Trail. The KSA president also gave a presentation promoting the MMU designation of the trail.
The result was that the majority of Council members passed a motion which read “that the Whistle Bend paved perimeter trail be designated as non-motorized. The impression with which citizens in attendance were left, was that “NO” meant “NO” and that the trail would be non-motorized summer and winter. (This may have required a change to the Snowmobile Bylaw in order to add the trail to the prohibited areas of snowmobile use.)
Signs were placed on the Perimeter Trail that confirmed this decision. However, they were quickly removed, and when ATWA asked administration about this we were told that there had been a “miscommunication” on the part of Parks crew members. The last time ATWA checked no new signs had appeared on the Perimeter Trail, even to indicate that all but snowmobiles are prohibited from using it. Lack of proper process has once again resulted in confusion, conflict, and needless cost ($’s). (Update Dec. 2017: New signs now indicate that the trail can be used by snowmobiles.)
Apparently, Council has asked for more information on the cost of designating the McCauley Creek Crossing as MMU. Council will make a decision on its status in September.
4. Proposed dissolution of the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee:
The following was taken from the Minutes of the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee of July 20, 2017:
“3.0 Status of WTGC – Douglas (Hnatiuk)
-Senior administration had a meeting with Mayor and Council and it was determined by council that the Whitehorse Trails and Greenways Committee will not function past the completion of the 2007 Trail Plan concluding at the end of 2017. The committee was unofficially disbanded at the end of this meeting. Council will officially disband the Whitehorse Trails and Greenways Committee at an upcoming Council Meeting."
As to why this is happening? Well, one could read the local newspaper articles on the story, but in ATWA’s opinion much remains unsaid about the lack of respect, problems with due process and absence of transparency affecting some of the committee's deliberations and decisions.
5. Whitehorse North and Whitehorse South Trail Task Force groups are apparently to meet again in October. ATWA has representation on both of these bodies.
For more information on these trail task force groups please see the following site: http://whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/trail-consultation
6. Grey Mountain so-called Dream or Summit Trail: (As yet, no official name has been given to this trail.)
Quote from the City website:
"The year 2017 marks the official start to construction on the Grey Mountain Dream Trail. This project is anticipated to take at least five years to complete. Once completed, this multi-use trail will allow people to traverse the entire ridge of Grey Mountain, connecting to the existing trail network behind Riverdale. This trail has long been the dream of many residents and will strengthen Whitehorse’s reputation as a Wilderness City.”
For additional information on the trail see http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/construction
7. We are passing on the following information from the last edition of the YCS Newsletter:
Yukon's Great Salt Lake
Wed. Aug. 30, 5:30-8:30pm, Takhini Valley (meet at Beringia Centre)
Meet at the Beringia Centre parking lot. See rare plants and unique mineralization with Bruce Bennett on a walk around this little-known gem of the Takhini Valley. Rubber boots are suggested due to the harsh salt. Info online.
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ATWA Updates: July 4, 2017
1. The Whistle Bend, Takhini, Range Point, Porter Creek Trail Plan was recently passed by Mayor and Council. The Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee wanted amendments to the trail plan that would have confirmed the McCauley Creek Crossing trail as motorized multi-use, and that “the designation of the Whistle Bend paved trail be confirmed as motorized multi-use until a viable alternative is brought forward for council approval or the designation is confirmed by community stakeholders.
"City Council decided that “the designation of the McCauley Creek Crossing trail be referred back to administration for further review.”
Much of the discussion concerning the paved Whistle Bend paved perimeter trail centred on the question as to whether or not it had been designated as motorized multi-use by a previous City Council. There did not seem to be any concrete evidence that supported this contention.
City Council decided “that the Whistle Bend paved perimeter trail be designated as non-motorized.”
Unfortunately, until City Council amends the Snowmobile Bylaw the perimeter trail can still be used by snowmobiles this coming winter, as under the bylaw snowmobiles are allowed on non-motorized trails. The Whistle Bend Perimeter trail would have to be added to the list of “excluded areas” found in the Snowmobile Bylaw in order for it to become truly non-motorized, as is the Millennium Trail.
A CBC news headline of June 13 entitled Whitehorse council bans motorized use of Whistle Bend trail may be somewhat optimistic. Although it was obvious that the intent of the motion was to ensure the trail would be non-motorized in both summer and winter, unless changes are made to the bylaw prior to winter, the trail will remain motorized for much of the year. If the Snowmobile Bylaw were amended to prohibit the use of non-motorized trails by snowmobiles, and requiring operators to stay on the numerous motorized trails located within the City, such issues would not arise: a non-motorized trail would be non-motorized both in summer and winter.
An email to Mayor and Council with regard to this matter may help to ensure these changes are made. ([email protected])
2. The Chadburn Lake Regional Park Plan has been passed by City Council. “Council heard from longtime local residents Peter Long and Keith Lay on the plan at its June 19 meeting.
Long called for the city to improve trail markings around town in places like the Chadburn Lake area.
He pointed to the use of coloured discs along walking trails in Europe as opposed to the signs set up at the starting point of local trails.
“I like the idea of being able to follow trails,” he said, requesting that the city fix up trails in the Chadburn Lake area.
He also noted he’d like to see greater representation of the walking community on the city’s trails and greenways committee.
Meanwhile, Lay suggested the city host an annual meeting to provide an update on the implementation of the park management plan.” (Whitehorse Star article by Stephanie Waddell on June 27, 2017. See http://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/city-adopts-chadburn-lake-management-plan)
3. No indication yet as to when the Robert Service Area Planning Study is to start, so all we can suggest is to go to the City’s website and look under Public Consultations in the hope that it will eventually appear. (See http://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/public-consultations)
4. We are passing on the following information from the YCS news email:
Knee High Nature
Thursday July 6, 10:30-11:30am
Bring your youngsters out for a new nature-based activity each week with Wildlife Viewing Yukon. Activities and games designed for kids 4-6 but siblings are welcome. One caregiver per 4 kids please! There are 8 sessions, each with a different topic, starting tomorrow and running till August 17. Attend one or all! Head up College Drive and follow the signs. Info online.
Mini-Update: June 18, 2017
1. The next meeting of the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee is tentatively scheduled for Thursday July 20, 2017 4:45 pm – 6:15 pm Sport Yukon Building Boardroom. Observers are welcome.
2. As mentioned in our Mini-Update of May 27, the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan was scheduled to be presented before Council on Monday, June 19. This is now confirmed.
3. The Whistle Bend, Porter Creek, Takhini, Range Point Draft Trail Plan has now been approved by Mayor and Council. Council approved a motion to designate the Whistle Bend Perimeter Trail as non-motorized (summer and winter). However, Council will have to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw in order to make this happen. (In other words, to prohibit the use of snowmobiles on the trail in the winter.) No word as yet when this will be done.
Mini-Update: May 27, 2017
1. The Whistle Bend, Porter Creek, Takhini, Range Point Draft Trail Plan will be presented before Council on Monday, May 29 (5:30 p.m.). You can view the draft plan (and map of same) at the following site: http://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/ShowDocument?id=8364. As ATWA sat on this task force it will not be making any comments before Council with regard to the plan. It is up to citizens to review the draft plan and see if there are aspects of same with which they do not agree. If so, you can send an email to Mayor and Council Mayor&[email protected] and/or appear before Council on the 29th, or when it comes up again for final approval, which will most likely happen the following week. You can register as a Delegate immediately prior to the meeting right in Council chambers (see administrator at desk at front right side), or preferably by emailing [email protected].(668-8635).
2. The Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan is currently scheduled to be presented before Council on June 19. It last appeared before Council in October, 2016. It is suggested you check the City's website on the preceding Friday to verify its inclusion.
3. The following was recently posted (5/25/17) on the City's website: Schwatka Lake - West Shore Launch Reconstruction
"The temporary closure of the public launch on the west shore of Schwatka Lake (announced last spring) will remain in effect until reconstruction of the facility is complete. Mobilization of construction on the site has begun with storage of materials and grading. Installation of the new launch will begin on June 6, with inspections to conclude by June 20.
The launch area will be fenced off and inaccessible to the public during this time. Boaters are advised to use the public boat launch located on the east shore at the Schwatka Lake Day Use Area, accessed from Chadburn Lake Road. Pilots are advised to launch by appointment from the Black Sheep Aviation lease area (call 335-0011 or email [email protected]).
We thank you for your patience during this construction period. For more information, please contact the City of Whitehorse Engineering Department at 668-8305, or visit www.whitehorse.ca/schwatkalake.
This project is funded through Gas Tax Canada."
Updates: May 2017
1. Run for Mom will take place on Sunday May 14, 2017. It will start at S.S. Klondike Park at 1:00 p.m. It involves a 4.2 kilometre walk or run on the Millennium Trail. You can register at the park prior to the event, but give yourself some time to do so.
2. Friends of McIntyre Creek are holding their Annual General Meeting Tuesday May 16, 2017 at 7 pm, Room A2103 Yukon College.
3.The next meeting of the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee is tentatively scheduled for Thursday May 18, 2017 4:45 pm – 6:15 pm Sport Yukon Building Boardroom (Use Boardroom entrance to right of main entrance). Observers are encouraged to attend! See the City’s website under Trails for current information.
4. Active Trails Whitehorse Association AGM will take place on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at Sport Yukon Boardroom #2 (the one with the windows). (Use Boardroom entrance to right of main entrance.) The meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m. Think about joining our board. We could use the help.
5. ATWA completed its Community Clean-Up assignment on the weekend. We cleaned from the Dam (on both sides of the road) to the first entrance to the Millennium Trail past the Fish Ladder, and from there to the Robert Campbell Bridge. This included the snow dump area and the trailside area off Nisutlin Dr. and Selkirk St.
The East side of the Millennium Trail that we did was in good shape. The section above the Fish Ladder was the worst area to clean. Unfortunately, it has turned into a party area. Thanks go out to the five members who gave hours of their time to complete our assigned area.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the Millennium Trail Earth Angels: Tony and Peggy Hanulik, who pick up garbage on the trail on a regular basis. We are sure there are others who also pick up garbage on the trail. Nice to know there are such people around.
6. Still no word on when the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Draft Plan is going to come before Mayor and Council. It is now almost seven months since the City said it had to do more consultation with First Nations before the plan would appear again before Council.
7. The Whistle Bend, Takhini, Range Point, Porter Creek Trail Plan consultations have now come to an end. The next step is to bring the draft plan before Mayor and Council for approval, perhaps as early as this month.
8. The Whitehorse North Trail Plan consultations have now passed the public input stage. There should be one more meeting of the task force prior to a draft plan going before Mayor and Council.
9. There is a Public survey on grizzly bear conservation and management. See http://www.gov.yk.ca/news/17-087.html#.WRKQM6MZM8Z. This is available until the end of May. It is well worth taking the time to fill it out online.
10. “Approximately 1,000 randomly selected households will be contacted by telephone between April 19th and May 31st. This year the survey is being conducted by the Yukon Bureau of Statistics (YBS). A random sample of respondents residing in the City of Whitehorse will be drawn from the YBS Household Survey Frame to participate in the survey. The survey is voluntary and confidential. The survey is used to gauge public perception about City programs and services. It helps City Council and employees assess what is working well and identify areas for improvement.”
11. The Robert Service Area Planning Study is to provide for public input in May and June. Stakeholder input was supposed to take place in late winter, although our association heard no call for such input. In addition, the study has yet to be listed on the City’s website under Public Consultation. You can find information on the study at the following site: http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-building-services/robert-service-way-area-plan.
12. The Whitehorse South Trail Task Force last met in late November. The city was planning to meet with parties such as White Pass, Yukon Parks and First Nations and then reconvene the task force. There has been some public consultation with one of the community associations. City administration has suggested that the Whitehorse South task force process may take two years to complete.
13. Unfortunately, yet another unauthorized or rogue trail has been cut between the Yukon Energy fence and the Robert Service Campground long-term parking/camping area. ORVs are obviously using the Rotary Centennial Bridge to access this trail, which eventually leads to Robert Service Way. The City has been informed, but as yet nothing has been done to effectively block the trail.
The log built structure that prevented vehicles from entering and crossing McIntyre Creek near the pump house (below the Pine Street extension) has once again been effectively destroyed. Considering the fact that there is a bridge only a few metres away, which can accommodate virtually any type of vehicle, one has to wonder why anyone would want to cross anywhere else.
May 4, 2017: Letter from member re: Lease Agreement-Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association
Active Trails Whitehorse Association has received the following letter from a member, and has been asked to send it on to our associates and post it to our website.
Dear ATWA:
The Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association (YCCMA) is applying for a lease to establish a dirt bike track at the location of the unofficial motorbike track near Robert Service Way. (See www.whitehorse.ca/amendments).
While I appreciate YCCMA’s efforts to legitimize this location for its events, including dirt bike competitions, there are several reasons why this approach is flawed.
First, the City is only now beginning its planning for the Robert Service Way area, which includes the area of the proposed lease. (See http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-building-services/robert-service-way-area-plan). Public input and planning for that area should take place before locking any land portion into a lease.
The City’s Administrative Report presented to Mayor and Council on May 1, 2017 provided the following background information with regard to this area:
“In 2009, the City acquired Lot 1267 from Yukon Government to secure long-term operational requirements associated with its existing snow disposal site on Robert Service Way.
At the time of the City’s acquisition, a portion of Lot 1267 had been occupied by the Midnight Sun Dirt Riders (MSDR) as a dirt bike track under lease with Yukon Government. It was the intention of the City to secure a lease agreement for the dirt bike track with MSDR, however prior to being able to finalize an agreement, the club became inactive and ceased using the area.
Since that time, the Robert Service Way dirt bike track has continued to be used in an informal manner by the general public and YCCMA members without any formal tenure or permission from the City.”
Please note that the 2012 ATV Bylaw increased the restrictions with regard to the use of ATV’s (including motorized dirt bikes) within the City of Whitehorse.
The continued illegal use of this motorbike track in the centre of Whitehorse has unfortunately encouraged the trespassing of off-road-vehicles (ORVs) as they try to reach the area. In particular, ORVs have been trespassing on the Millennium Trail, and other non-motorized trails and damaged green spaces on the South side of the airport fence to get to the motorbike track.
These ORVs are much noisier than the automobile traffic on Robert Service Way. This noise can be heard from the Millennium Trail, the Robert Service Campground, across the river in Riverdale, and at the Fish Ladder visitor centre. Often this loud noise goes on for hours on end. Such noise is not compatible with nearby recreational and residential areas. If the lease is granted this noise will only increase.
The YCCMA has proposed to change the ATV Bylaw to make it less restrictive, so that children are allowed to operate these machines in Whitehorse. I believe that a much better way to solve this issue is to find a suitable location for a motorbike track outside City boundaries.
The central location of the Robert Service Area is more suitable for projects aligned with the needs of the community, such as community gardens, greenhouses, affordable housing, and active (non-motorized) outdoor pursuits.
The City will hold a Public Input Session on this issue on Monday, May 8, 2017 at 5:30 pm at City Hall where residents can voice their concerns. Written submissions may also be emailed to [email protected], no later than Monday, May 8, 2017 at noon.
I urge all concerned residents to express their opinions to the City about this proposed lease.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Lebel
May 1, 2017: ATWA presentation to Council re: Lease Agreement - YCCMA
To: Mayor and Council
From: Active Trails Whitehorse Association
Concerns re: Lease Agreement – Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association
Process: By considering this lease application at this particular time the City is undermining the transparency of its planning process.
As the supporting documents state “Earlier in 2017, the City contracted a consultant to undertake the Robert Service Way Area Planning Study to look at development potential for the area, including recreational uses. YCCMA is participating in this process which is anticipated to be completed by late 2017.”
This statement suggests that the Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association has already been involved in the planning study process. According to the City’s website “stakeholder work [was supposed to be done] in the late winter.” To my knowledge there has been no call by the consultant for direct stakeholder participation, so how is the YCCMA participating in a process that has yet to begin?
The Robert Service Way Area Planning Study is supposed to involve public input. In fact, according to the City’s website “public engagement is due to take place in May and June” of this year, and a draft plan “will be completed by August, which will be available for public comment.”
So, the City calls for a study of the area, which will include public involvement, and then prior to the study being completed it simply usurps proper process and allows for the consideration of this lease agreement. The proper (and more sensible) process would be for the City to include the YCCMA’s lease suggestion in the study and allow the general public to comment on the proposal.
Why now, just as the Robert Service Planning Area Study gets underway, is City administration so keen to fast track this lease agreement?
Administration says it “is bringing forward this lease agreement for approval by Council to provide tenure to YCCMA and address any liability risks associated with the ongoing use of the property for the current season.”
Interesting that the City allows an admitted liability risk to continue for eight years, but only now, just prior to soliciting public engagement on the future of the area, opts to recommend the immediate granting of this lease. Perhaps there is a concern that the general public may not be very supportive of this proposal if it was considered in the area study. Hence the fast track approach.
The supporting documentation says, “following the conclusion of the Robert Service Way Area Planning Study, continuance of the lease agreement can be reviewed and adjusted if necessary.”
That is a dangerous course to adopt. It is prejudicial to the planning area study. Once the lease is granted it is going to be very difficult to reverse the decision even if public input to the study suggests that a dirt bike park is not what the public wants at the location in question. (The public may suggest other possible uses for the land in question.)
Benefit to the YCCMA is questionable:
One wonders how this lease agreement is going to be of any major benefit to the YCCMA as the restrictions under the lease will be far more stringent than operating on private land.
The YCCMA hosts events on private property because this allows children under 16 to participate. As well, conducting such events on private property allows any operator regardless of age to participate, as they do not have to abide by the existing regulations with regard to ATV operation.
All users of the dirt bike park will have to conform to the requirements of both the City’s ATV Bylaw and the Yukon Motor Vehicles Act, something that according to the supporting documentation, “YCCMA has acknowledged and accepted.” However, obtaining the lease will not help the club address the issue of child participation. In addition, meeting the requirements of the ATV Bylaw and the MVA may not be something its members want to do simply for the privilege of riding within the confines of a dirt bike park.
According to the City’s ATV Bylaw the operator of any ATV (which includes dirt bikes) will have to obtain the following: a prescribed safety helmet; a valid operator’s license; a current certificate of registration issued pursuant to the MVA in respect of the ATV; a registration plate attached to the ATV with the current registration sticker affixed; public liability/property damage insurance in the minimum amount of $200,000 for the operation of the ATV*, for bodily injury or death of any one person, and for loss or damage to property; and a valid ATV Card.
So, if children cannot use the leased property and adults are not willing or able to assume the requirements of the MVA and the City’s ATV Bylaw, then the viability of the entire venture is questionable.
City Liability:
Administration is not too forthcoming on how the proposed lease agreement specifically addresses liability issues for the City. One could make an argument that the lease agreement will actually increase liability issues for a City that simply does not have the staff to enforce the requirements of the lease with regard to the ATV Bylaw. The City will need to have a bylaw officer on site at every competition to ensure enforcement of the ATV bylaw and to effectively address liability issues. In addition, the park will have to be monitored by bylaw officers on a far more regular basis than is done now.
Official Community Plan & Zoning:
City administration believes that this lease proposal “does not conflict with policies relating to the OCP designation . . .” Administration tells us that the site under question is in the Public Service Zone. It also says that Public Service zones allow for “recreation services.”
If outdoor participant recreational services are allowed in the PS zone, then it becomes a recreation area, and according to the OCP (18.3.3) such areas can only accommodate active forms of recreation as defined in the OCP as “being any form of human-powered transportation, such as walking, cycling, using a wheelchair, in-line skating, or skateboarding. It seems that allowing this area to be used as a dirt bike park would violate the OCP.
Impact on the Robert Service Campground and Millennium Trail Users:
Consideration should be given with regard to users of the local campground and Millennium Trail. What will be the impact of noise from the dirt bike park on those who use the campground and/or the trail? The City’s Maintenance Bylaw prohibits noise that would “disturb the quiet, rest, enjoyment or comfort of any person of reasonable sensitivity in the neighbourhood or vicinity.” (Sec. 42 Maintenance Bylaw)
Best Option:
Perhaps the best option for the YCCMA is to raise funds for the purchase or lease of private land that would be appropriate for the use intended. This would provide security of tenure and would allow its members to operate their machines without needing to adhere to the City’s ATV Bylaw or the MVA.
Apparently, this is the solution adopted by similar organizations throughout Canada. Since, according to the supporting documentation, the club “has built up a strong base of members and volunteers and secured support from a number of local businesses,” it would seem that this course of action has a good chance of success.
Respectfully,
Keith Lay (Active Trails Whitehorse Association)
May 1, 2017
*(Has the City inquired as to the average cost of obtaining insurance for a dirt bike, especially one that may be used in competition? We are told that it is very difficult to obtain insurance for such off-road-vehicles. In addition, if the dirt bike were to be used on highways its insurers would expect the bikes to be street legal.)
Updates: (March/April 2017)
1. March 21: Another Spruce Hill Trails Public Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 21 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre (Grey Mountain Room.) Douglas Hnatiuk, Manager Parks and Community Development, will be in attendance.
2. April 4: Town Hall Meetings: The schedule for the new round of Mayor and Council’s Town Hall Meetings is available at http://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/town-hall-meetings.
The first meeting is for citizens of Whitehorse North: Porter Creek, Kopper King, Raven’s Ridge, Crestview, Taylor and Kulan, Forestview, MacPherson, and Hidden Valley. It will take place at Porter Creek Secondary School (cafeteria) on Tuesday, April 4 from 6:30 to 8 pm.
3. April 5: ATWA’s next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 5 at Sport Yukon Boardroom #1 (7:00 p.m.). (Use Boardroom entrance to right of main entrance.) Please bring any concerns you may have about our trails, green spaces, and regional parks to our meetings. All are welcome and encouraged to participate!
4. April 6: The Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Range Point/Takhini Trail Task Force group will have a final meeting on Thursday, April 6 to review public survey results and to look at the results of a Yukon Conservation Society survey that was done in the McIntyre Creek area in 2015. You can view the YCS survey at the following site: http://yukonconservation.org/programs/land-use-planning/whitehorse-area/. It is a most interesting read.
The next step in the process will see the draft trail plan go before the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee for review, and then to City Council in May. The April 6 meeting is not open to the public.
You can view the current Draft Plan Map at http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails-/trail-consultation/north. Just double click on the map to enlarge it. (Please note that the new trail construction in Porter Creek (see #3 on map) is intended to be a mountain bike flow trail, although other uses will be permitted.”)
As ATWA is a member of this task force, our association can only offer input at its meetings. We will not be able to comment when the draft plan comes before City Council for approval. Therefore, if you have any concerns about the Draft Plan you will have to make your comments known to City Council via email or by appearing as a delegate. When the Draft Plan is released to the public it should appear on the City’s website under Parks and Community Development: Trails.
Note: Please remember that snow machines (unlike ATV’s) are allowed on any non-motorized trail, and off-trail throughout green belts and open spaces within the City of Whitehorse.
The only restrictions are the following: Operators are not permitted to “damage any vegetation or ground.” And, they are not permitted to operate their vehicles on the Chadburn Lake Ski Trails, Mount McIntyre Ski Trails, Magnusson Ski Trails, or the Biathlon Ski Trails.
Snow machines are also prohibited from the following areas of the City: a boulevard, a campground, a cemetery, an area designated as environmentally sensitive, the Downtown area, the Millennium Trail, a playground, a restricted roadway, a roadway, a school playground, a ski trail (those mentioned above), open water.
In order to operate a snow machine within the City of Whitehorse the operator must have the following:
(1) a valid operator’s license as required by this bylaw;
(2) a valid certificate of registration in respect of the snowmobile;
(3) a valid registration plate affixed to the snowmobile;
(4) a valid insurance card in respect of the snowmobile; and
(5) a valid Safe Snowmobiler Card as required by this bylaw
5. April 12: The following is from the City of Whitehorse: “The City of Whitehorse is in the process of developing a Trail Plan for the neighbourhoods of Forestview, MacPherson, and Hidden Valley. Please come out and tell us:
Join us:
As ATWA is also a member of this task force, our association can only offer input at its meetings. We will not be able to comment when the draft plan comes before City Council for approval. However, you can.
6. April 20: The next meeting of the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee is tentatively scheduled for Thursday April 20, 2017 4:45 pm – 6:15 pm Sport Yukon Building Boardroom. (Use Boardroom entrance to right of main entrance.) Observers are encouraged to attend! See the City’s website under Trails for current information.
7. May 25: Active Trails Whitehorse Association’s Annual General Meeting will take place on Thursday May 25, 2017 at Sport Yukon Boardroom #2 (the one with the windows). The meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m.
If you are interested in joining our board please let us know as soon as possible. You can contact us at [email protected] to see what may be entailed. You would not be overwhelmed with work, but we would appreciate your help and input.
8. Trail Development Applications: The Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee has entertained three trail development applications in recent months. Unfortunately, these applications are not posted for public viewing, and a trail construction project could be approved, and construction commenced, before the general public is even made aware of the situation.
However, although not generally known, there is a way of seeing these applications. When a Trail Development Application is to be discussed by the WTGC, it will appear on the meeting Agenda. The Agenda is usually posted on the city’s website a few days ahead of a WTGC meeting. At that point you could contact Parks and Community Development and ask that a copy of the application be emailed to you. Contact Cherie Bauer [email protected] and/or Doug Hnatiuk at [email protected].
At present, there seems to be no way that you can make comments to the WTGC with regard to your views concerning these trail development applications. However, you could certainly send your comments to Mayor and Council. [email protected]
You may want to ask for copies of the last three trail applications. (Two involved Grey Mountain, and one involved the Riverdale area.)
Inclusiveness is one of the four guiding principles of the 2007 Trail Plan. This principle commits the City “to including the public in determining guidelines for trail system development, use, preservation and maintenance.”
As a citizen you have every right to view and make comments on these trail development applications. Certainly the last three make for interesting reading. Do not forget that when trail development applications are on the WTGC Agenda, you can always attend meetings as an observer.
9. Letter to the Editor: Recently, an ATWA letter was published in both local papers. The letter can be viewed on our website under Issues: Trail Development Application Process.
10. Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan: No word as to when the management
plan will again come before City Council.
Updates: March 2017
1. Congratulations go out to Peter Long for receiving a Heritage Award. He was recently presented “the Innovation, Education, and Community Engagement Award for his work in promoting and documenting the history of the Hepburn tramway through a website publication called Forgotten Trails: Walking the Hepburn Tramway.” (Whitehorse Star article of 2/24/17, by Dan Davidson entitled, Yukoners honoured for helping preserve history) See the website publication at http://www.whitehorsewalks.com/_docs/TheHepburnTramway.pdf
2. Another Spruce Hill Trails Public Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 21 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre (Grey Mountain Room.) Douglas Hnatiuk, Manager Parks and Community Development, will be in attendance.
3. The next meeting of the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee is scheduled for Thursday, March 16 (4:45 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.) at the Sport Yukon Building Boardroom. Use Boardroom entrance to right of main entrance. Observers are welcome to attend, but are not permitted to comment. See http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails-/trails-and-greenways-committee for current information. Please note that ATWA is no longer a member of this committee.
4. The Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee reviews all trail development applications. Whenever an application comes before the committee it will appear on the Agenda. However, the only information provided will be the name of the applicant. To see the actual application contact Douglas Hnatiuk at Parks and Community Development. ([email protected]) He will be able to provide you with a copy of the application.
The WTGC gave approval in principle to a trail proposal/application that came before the committee at its February meeting. If you want to learn more about this application you will need to see the actual document.
5. Just so you are given plenty of warning, ATWA’s AGM will take place on May 25, 2017 at Sport Yukon Boardroom #2 (the one with the windows). The meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m. Think about joining our board. We could use the help.
6. For those of you who live in Whistle Bend, Porter Creek, or Takhini North, you might find the following to be of interest. Apparently, work will begin in March on the extension of a water main that will connect Porter Creek with Whistle Bend. This will involve work between the traffic circle on Mountain View Drive, and the Pine Street extension. Anticipated completion date is July 15, 2017. If you wish more information on this project you can contact Taylor Eshpeter (City Engineering Project) at [email protected] 689-2143.
7. The February 23 Yukon Conservation Society email letter, mentioned that a Biodiversity Forum will be held at Yukon College on Saturday March 4, from 9-4 pm. This is a free event, but you must register. You can find out more by going to the Yukon College website.
8. One of our members has noticed that another rogue or unauthorized trail has appeared between Robert Service Park and the Yukon Energy fence. Our member has observed evidence of ATV and snowmobile use. Mr. Hnatiuk at Parks and Community Development was informed, but there has been no response as of yet. Bylaw Services was also informed and responded by saying that it is doing random patrols.
9. Approval of the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan has been postponed again. We have no idea as to when it will come before Mayor and Council again, although we do hope it will be sooner rather than later. Check the Agenda for City Council meetings each Friday. This can be found at http://www.whitehorse.ca/home on Friday afternoons (4:00 p.m.) prior to Monday’s council meeting.
10. ATWA has placed a new item under Resources on its website: City Trail Maps Location. http://www.activetwa.org/city-trail-maps-location.html. It may help people find what maps are available on the City’s website. Unfortunately, finding City trail maps is an exercise in frustration if you are not provided with a guide of some sort.
11. As we have said before, trail planning projects are underway in Whitehorse South, Whitehorse North, and in Porter Creek, Whistle Bend, Range Point, and Takhini. All three areas are all in various stages of development. The only new development is the Spruce Hill Trails Public Meeting (see #2).
12. If you belong to an association and wish to do some good for both your community and your association, you may want to become involved in this year’s community clean up. The due date for Community Clean Up Litter Grants applications is March 15. Visit http://www.whitehorse.ca/cleanup. Of course, you could always help us complete the clean up of our assigned section of the Millennium Trail!
13. ATWA believes that the current Trail Development Application process needs improvement. There needs to be an opportunity for the general public to have an opportunity to comment on trail development applications prior to their being recommended for approval, or (in rare cases) turned down by the WTGC. We have made some preliminary suggestions for possible changes to both the Trail Development Application process, and to the Trail Development Application form itself. You can find these on our website. See Trail Development Application Process under Issues.
Bulletin February 26, 2017: ATWA has added a new item under Resources: City Trail Maps. We have been trying for years now to get the City to post trail maps of approved trail plans. We are continually told that it is a work in progress and is dependent on the availability of financial and human resources. One wonders why our municipal government spends so much administration and citizen volunteer time on developing trail plans for various areas of the City, only to deny ready access by the public to the vital component of the plan: the approved trail plan map.
ATWA's new addition under Resources is a guide to what maps do exist on the City's website. We hope that you will find it of some value.
Updates: January 24, 2017
1. The City has heard concerns from Spruce Hill residents regarding the section of trails in this area. Staff would like to provide an opportunity for dialogue specifically with Spruce Hill residents at the following special meeting: Thursday, January 26, 2017, 7 - 8:30 pm - Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre, Grey Mountain Room. (Douglas Hnatiuk, Manager Parks and Community Development will be in attendance.)
If you are unable to attend but would like to provide input, please email [email protected] or contact Marc Boulerice, Supervisor, Parks and Trails, at 668-8655. (Information from the City’s website: http://whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails-/trail-consultation/south)
2. The City of Whitehorse is asking the public to use “caution on icy areas of the multi-use trail near Shipyards Park and KDCC.”
3. The Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan is tentatively scheduled to come before council for final approval on Monday, February 6, 5:30 p.m. Check the Agenda for the meeting to confirm. This can be found at http://www.whitehorse.ca/home on Friday afternoons (4:00 p.m.) prior to Monday’s council meeting.
4. Active Trails Whitehorse Association has applied once again to take part in our city’s Community Cleanup. Our usual area extends from the Robert Campbell Bridge along the Millennium trail to the dam. We will be asking people to give us a hand early in the spring. The more people we get, the quicker the task will go.
5. The next Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday February 16, 2017. The meeting will take place from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m., and will be held at the Sport Yukon Building Boardroom. Observers are encouraged to attend.
A meeting of the WTGC was held last week. As mentioned in previous Updates, ATWA is now a member of this committee. If you have any concerns with regard to trails, regional parks, and green spaces within our city please let us know via email ([email protected]). If you would like to present before the WTGC about concerns you may have with regard to our trails, regional parks, and/or green spaces, please contact us and we will be happy to go over the process with you.
We hope to set up a WTGC section on our website within the next few weeks in order to keep you informed (as best we can) about issues of concern that come before the committee.
6. Information about the Hepburn Tramway project can be found at http://www.whitehorsewalks.com/_walkingIdeas/HepburnTramway.html
7. This is something that people may not know, but Parks Canada public consultations will be held in cities across Canada, from January 9 to 27, 2017. For more information on the Minister's Round Table process: http://letstalkparkscanada.ca/. The future of our national parks is under review and you can provide input.
8. As you are aware, trail planning projects are underway in Whitehorse South, Whitehorse North, and in Porter Creek, Whistle Bend, Range Point, and Takhini. All three are all in various stages of development. We will let you know (when we know) what the next steps will be with regard to each of these trail-planning projects.
Updates: December 5, 2016
Updates: November 10, 2016
1. The following is from the City:
Preparation of Robert Service Way Area Planning Study
Department: Planning & Building Services
Category: Procurement Postings
RFP Number: RFP 2016-PLA0003
Start Date: 11/04/2016
Close Date: 12/16/2016 3:00 PM
The City would like to undertake a planning study for the Robert Service Way area to determine the potential for recreational and commercial development in the area, while respecting the ecological values and potential for pre and post-contact archaeological sites. This project will include significant government, stakeholder and public consultation.
An Area Development Scheme for the South Access area was completed by Inukshuk Planning in 1997. This plan reviewed potential land uses along the Alaska Highway, at Ear Lake, and across from the Schwatka Lake/Yukon Energy access. However, this report pre-dates the Final Umbrella Agreements with First Nations, several private developments, and the imminent closure of the Ear Lake quarries. As such, the City is looking to review and update the long-term vision and land use plan for this important area prior to the upcoming Official Community Plan review process.
More information can be found at www.whitehorse.ca/robertserviceway
Proponents become registered through purchasing and downloading the RFP documents from biddingo.com. All proponents must be registered.
Closing December 16, 2016 at 3 pm (PT).
2. The Trail Maintenance Policy will once again come before City Council on Monday, November 14. ATWA has been involved since June with regard to changes proposed by administration to this relatively new policy (2015).
As well, changes to the Terms of Reference for the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee will also come before Council for approval. ATWA has expressed its concerns with regard to one of the proposals, but it seems likely that Council will adopt the change.
3. The City has announced the formation of a trail task force for the Whitehorse North area of the City. This includes Hidden Valley, McPherson and Cousin’s airstrip. The following is from the City:
The first meeting will be Tuesday, November 15th from 6:30-9 pm in the library at Hidden Valley Elementary.
For those of you who are neighbourhood residents interested in taking part, there is an important piece to note. The City’s 2007 Trail Plan and accompanying bylaws support the consideration of how motorized activities legitimately fit into the City trail network. The general expectation is that neighbourhood representatives will be open to this discussion as well.
ATWA has been accepted as a member of this task force.
4. This from the Yukon Conservation Societies weekly newsletter.
What's on the River?
Wednesday Nov. 16, 12-1pm, Fish Ladder, Whitehorse
What’s on the river? A lunchtime stroll across the Rotary Centennial footbridge with Cameron Eckert. Meet at the Fish Ladder at 12 pm. Dress warm!! More information can be obtained on the Yukon Bird Club site. http://yukonbirds.ca
5. The Point Park Public Meeting: (The following is from the City.)
The public is invited to attend this meeting to discuss potential design and programming features for the proposed park. Drop in anytime during this open house event to talk to City Planners and project consultants.
Date: Wednesday 11/23/2016 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Yukon College Room C1440 (Glass Class)
Room C1440 is located on the lower level of the Yukon College main campus building (A-Wing).
See more background about The Point Park at www.whitehorse.ca/rangepoint
6. Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee’s meeting has been rescheduled (from Nov.17), and will now take place on November 24, at Sport Yukon in one of its two boardrooms. The meeting begins at 4:45 and ends at 6:15. Observers are welcome to attend. The Agenda for the meeting can be viewed at http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/home/showdocument?id=7846
7. ATWA has been appointed to the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee for a two-year term starting Nov. 24. If you have any concerns that you would like the Committee to address, please let us know. If you have any questions with regard to the Committee please contact us. The Terms of Reference of the Committee will give you a better idea of its purpose. Please see http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=4770
There is a section in the Terms of Reference entitled: Bringing a Trail Issue to the Committee. This will tell you the process involved. Yes, you can certainly apply to develop a trail, but you could also bring any other issue you may have with regard to trails, green spaces, environmentally sensitive areas, or regional parks before the Committee.
8. The Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan is due to come before Council in November. Keep checking the City’s website each Friday afternoon to see what is on City’s Council’s Agenda for the following Monday. http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca
9. The Southern Lakes Task Force continues its deliberations. Its next meeting takes place on November 30. ATWA has a member on this task force.
10. The following is from WildWise Yukon:
WildWise is currently gathering feedback on the effectiveness of some bear aware signage. We have developed the messaging throughout a directed study with Yukon College and have erected the signs on the Canada Trail behind the Arts Centre as well as adjacent to the Senior's Residence at Yukon Place. We would greatly value your feedback on messaging, presentation, etc. and will produce a final product with the recommendations we receive.
You can view the sign at http://wildwise.ca/projects/#current-initiatives (Trail signs for Whitehorse). Go to “open image in new window” for a better look.
Also from Heather is “an interesting article by an Alberta wildlife biologist about the impact of off leash pets on wildlife.”
https://crowfootmedia.com/2016/09/08/why-dogs-belong-on-a-leash-outdoors/
Heather Ashthorn
Executive Director, WildWise Yukon
wildwise.ca
867-335-5212
[email protected]
11. ATWA has received no response from Parks and Community Development with regard to our inquiry of September 15, requesting information as to the status of the East of the Yukon River Trail Plan, passed by City Council in January of 2014. We are concerned about the lack of progress with the plan’s implementation.
October 5, 2016 Updates:
1. We have now been told that the Trail Maintenance Policy is NOT on the agenda for October 11th. Parks staff plans to have it come back to Committee (City Council) on October 17th, with subsequent adoption scheduled for the 24th. Always check the City’s website (http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca) on Friday evening to see Council’s Agenda for the following week.
ATWA gave a presentation before Council on Monday (Oct. 3) indicating that if the proposed changes to the Trail Maintenance Policy are approved, we may well see the appearance of even more rogue trails in our community. In our presentation we “[urged] Council to reject the legalization of rogue trails, and to send a message to anyone contemplating such construction, that in our City rogue trail construction is not to be tolerated or rewarded, and that all such trails will be closed permanently with no possibility of future approval.” Our entire presentation is attached. (See below.) The current applicable Trail Maintenance Policy section under question, administration’s proposals, and ATWA’s suggested changes to administration’s proposals are found at the following site: http://www.activetwa.org/city-trail-maintenance-policy.html.
We encourage you to read our presentation before Council and the documents found on our website, and if you agree with ATWA’s position please contact Mayor and Council and let members know. One or two sentences is all that is required. Send your comments to [email protected]. (If any of you wish to appear before Council on October 17th with regard to the Trail Maintenance Policy, contact [email protected] (668-8622) who will be happy to let you know how that can be done.)
2. On October 3rd, City Administration presented the proposed Final Plan with regard to the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan to City Council. Council is tentatively scheduled to vote to adopt the plan on October 11th. As the City says, "The Proposed Final Plan contains numerous proposed changes from the Draft Plan. These stem from the huge amount of public input we received. The latest version of the What We Heard document has a 19 page chart detailing all input on the Draft Plan, as well as whether [or not] it was incorporated in the Proposed Final Plan.”
You can still comment on the plan before City Council on the 11th.
September, 2016 Updates:
1. An Active Trails Whitehorse Association meeting will be held on Thursday, Sept. 22 (7:00 p.m.) at Sport Yukon 4061 4th Avenue. Use the boardroom entrance found to the right of the main entrance. Topics will include the East of the Yukon River Trail Plan, protection of non-motorized trails, Chadburn Lake Regional Park Plan, Trail Maintenance Policy, Whitehorse South Trail Plan, and the City’s Trail Development Application Policy. Please attend and bring any concerns you have about our trails, green spaces, and regional parks to our attention.
2. The Miles Canyon Suspension Bridge will be closed from Sept. 12 to Oct. 31, 2016 to allow for permanent repairs.
3. Sept. 17, 2016, (10:00 AM) sees the start of Household Hazardous Waste Day.
4. The Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee September meeting will be held on Thursday, September 15 at 4:45 p.m. at Sport Yukon (boardroom). All welcome! There was no meeting in August. The Minutes of its July 21 meeting will not be available until a week after the September gathering. Consult the following site for current information: http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails-/trails-and-greenways-committee
5. The Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee is looking for new members. Applications must be in by September 22nd and can be obtained a the following site: http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/home/showdocument?id=7660 If there is anyone out there who would be willing to represent Active Trails Whitehorse Association on the committee please contact us at [email protected].
6. The start-up meeting for the City of Whitehorse - Whitehorse South Trail Plan is scheduled for 6:30 pm on Tuesday, September 20th at Sport Yukon boardroom on 2nd Avenue (next to High Country Inn). Active Trails Whitehorse Association will have representation on this trail task force.
7. ATWA has heard little with regard to the East of the Yukon River Trail Plan, which was passed by City Council in January of 2014. We will be contacting City administration this week to see if we can obtain an update as to its current status.
8. So far no word on when the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Draft Management Plan will be brought before City Council. We expect it will be sometime this month or next. Keep your eye on Upcoming Events on the City’s website. The Agenda for each Monday’s Council meeting is usually published on the preceding Friday. (http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/home)
9. There is also no word on when the Draft Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Takhini/Range Point Trail Plan will be brought before City Council, so again keep your eye on the City’s website (see #8) for information.
10. The Recreation and Parks Association of the Yukon (RPAY) is conducting a Yukon Healthy Living Study survey. “The purpose of this study is to better understand and monitor Yukoners’ lifestyles related to physical activity and recreation.” You are encouraged to take a few minutes of your time and complete the survey. It is available at the following site: http://datapathsystems.net/2016RPAY/YukonHealthyLivingStudy.html
11. The Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee approved Paul’s Trail located on Grey Mountain on June 16. This despite the fact that part of it is a rogue trail that was made known to the public in August of 2015. See http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/whitehorse-official-warns-rogue-trail-builders-to-obey-city-bylaws-1.3196988. As the City has not developed any specific policy with regard to rogue trails, ATWA believes that the WTGC has exceeded its authority as Mayor and Council set policy not the WTGC. The latter “is an advisory committee that makes recommendations to the City Council and/or Senior Management by way of the chair or designate.” (WTGC Terms of Reference p. 5)
After a recent meeting with administration, ATWA has received a commitment that Paul’s Trail will not go ahead this fall. Administration will wait to see what happens with the proposed changes to the Trail Maintenance Policy, which Council will address on Tuesday, October 11. In addition, it will see what is contained in the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan concerning trail matters before a final decision is made with regard to Paul’s Trail.
12. As mentioned in our August Updates, City administration’s proposed changes to the Trail & Maintenance Policy were not accepted by City Council, but were sent to the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee for review. Apparently, the committee looked at the proposed changes during its July meeting and decided more review time was needed. We are told that the revised changes are likely to come before Council again on October 11. The current applicable TMP section under question, administration’s proposals, and ATWA’s suggested changes to administration’s proposals are found at the following site: http://www.activetwa.org/city-trail-maintenance-policy.html
13. At the meeting referred to in (#11) administration also indicated that Trail Development Applications would be attached to future WTGC meeting Agendas for public viewing. Although this would be an improvement we have asked that any Trail Development Application received by the chairperson be made available for public perusal on the City’s (WTGC) website at the same time that the chairperson distributes it to committee members in order that both the public and committee members have an equal amount of time to review the document, and that the public be informed that it can forward any comments it may have on a trail application to the WTGC (via the chairperson) up to the time it is to be discussed by the WTGC (a date which should be made known to the public), so that the public’s concerns/questions/comments can be addressed at the same time as the committee discusses the application.
Trail Development Applications have to be received by the chairperson “at least three weeks prior to the upcoming WTGC monthly (regular) meeting.” (TOR 11.1) As WTGC Agendas are usually not published more than a week in advance of a WTGC meeting, attaching Trail Development Applications to the Agenda would not give the public enough time to review and comment on the application prior to the meeting. This is why we asked that the TDA be posted for public review at the same time that it is distributed to committee members.
14. WildWise Yukon has an updated website, which we are sure you would find interesting. www.wildwise.ca
The organization is “always looking for ways to share information about reducing human-wildlife conflicts.” Check out its Backyard Checklist.
15. ATWA is still a member of the Schwatka Lake Area Plan Working Group, although no meetings have been scheduled for some time. If you are interested in learning about the plan you can visit the following site: http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=5158 If you use the area please let us know of any concerns you may have.
16. Those of you living in Porter Creek may have noticed that the City has now extended its paved trail from the bridge near the Pump Station to the Power Line Road just south of the snow dump. An effort was made to ensure that there is a wide non-paved section to one side that can be used by ORVs and those of the public who like to walk and run off-pavement. This is part of the motorized section of the Trans Canada Trail. We believe that this was built with the help of federal “gas tax” funds. As such the paved trails are non-motorized.
August 8, 2016 Updates:
1. The next meeting of the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee is tentatively scheduled for Thursday August 18, 2016 from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. at one of the two boardrooms at Sport Yukon. (Meeting was cancelled for August, 2016.) See City website for information re: next meeting, which should be in September.
2. City administration’s proposed changes to the Trail & Maintenance Policy were not accepted by City Council, but were sent to the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee for review. Apparently, the committee looked at the proposed changes during its July meeting and decided more review time was needed. At present, we are told that the revised changes are likely to come before Council again on October 11. ATWA sent two documents to the WTGC concerning the changes and asked committee members to review them prior to its July meeting.
3. We have been told that the final Chadburn Lake Draft Management Plan will be brought before Council at the first or second Council meeting in September. Apparently, much input was received with regard to the Draft Plan. ATWA made a submission with regard to the draft document.
4. We have no additional information as to when the draft Trail Plan for the neighbourhoods of Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Range Point/Takhini will come before City Council. The public will have an opportunity at that time to voice any concerns it may have with regard to the plan.
5. Peter Long is still interested in hearing any stories from residents concerning the Hepburn Tramway. As he says, he believes “that we have a unique opportunity to make [the Hepburn Tramway] Whitehorse’s first Historical Walk.” You can read more about the Hepburn Tramway on his whitehorseWalks.com website.
6. The Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club is no longer a member of the WTGC. Apparently, the WTGC will wait until the fall to seek a replacement, as other vacancies may arise due to the fact that at that time the terms of some remaining members come to an end.
7. A donation has been made in the name of Active Trails Whitehorse Association to Tennis Yukon to help maintain its outhouse located at the tennis courts at the Mt. McIntyre recreation centre.
8. Another Trails Task Force is to be established in the City and will cover Whitehorse South. Apparently, this task force is to commence in the fall. ATWA made a request to sit on this task force several months ago, as it was previously scheduled to start in the summer. We hope that we will be considered as a member when the task force is formed in the fall.
9. The City is completing work on the paved trail extension from the bridge near the pump house on McIntyre Creek to the snow dump area at the bottom of the Pine Street extension. It will eventually come to the top of the Pine Street extension.
If you do not wish to receive these Updates please let us know. If you know of anyone who might benefit from our Updates please give them ATWA’s email address. We would be happy to add the person to our list of associates. In addition, ATWA membership forms are available at Sport Yukon (in our mailbox) or on our website. We could use the support.
June 19, 2016 Updates:
Hi! Just thought we would pass on two items that may be of interest to you. The first concerns the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan: Draft Release and associated events. The Draft Plan is available for public comment until Thursday, June 30. We urge anyone who uses the area under consideration to review the Draft Plan. It is suggested that you read the “What We Heard and How We Considered Your Input Document” prior to reading the Draft Plan. You can make your comments by visiting www.whitehorse.ca/chadburn. As well, you can attend one or all of the three public events and provide comments.
The second item concerns the Trail Plan for the neighbourhoods of Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Range Point/Takhini. There is an Online Survey available on our City’s website until Thursday, June 30 for review and completion. See http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/2016-trail-plan-survey. A map, which can be enlarged, is also available on the site. There are numbers on the map (25), which correspond to numbers in the survey.
ATWA encourages everyone who lives in these areas or makes use of the trails in the area, to fill out the Online Survey. Please note that non-motorized trails are only non-motorized in the summer. In the winter they can be used by snowmobile operators unless they are specifically mentioned in the Snowmobile Bylaw as being off-limits. This is something that ATWA believes needs changing.
(Please note that the Trail Task Force working on this Trail Plan must work within the confines of current bylaws. It cannot suggest changes.) However, the public can call for changes if it feels there is a need.
One of the ideas of having MMU trails is to get machines “out-and-away.” However, in the winter snowmobiles can remain "in-and-near." Even the KSA encourages their members to use MMU trails, so why does the City not change the Snowmobile Bylaw to correspond with the ATV Bylaw, which prohibits ATV’s from using non-motorized trails? (Just add MMU trails to those non-motorized trails not mentioned as off-limits in the Snowmobile Bylaw, and you will get a better picture of the potential extent of MMU (motorized) trails in the winter.)
Another question that has been brought up in recent Town Hall Meetings relates to the paved trails that are being built in the City. All but one of these City-built paved trails are apparently off-limits to ATVs/dirt bikes in the summer, but what about snowmobiles in winter? We know the paved trail along Hamilton Boulevard is designated “Mixed Use”, and allows for both non-motorized and motorized use, a situation which some consider to be unsafe. It is our understanding that most (if not all) City-built paved trails are in part funded by federal gas tax monies. (Once built, the City is responsible for the cost of their maintenance.)
In November of 2013, Brad Cathers, who was then Minister of Community Services made the following comment concerning Canada’s Gas Tax Fund and the City's pathways project: “The pathways project helps to further connect the community’s (City of Whitehorse) neighbourhoods. The paved paths provide recreational and health benefits and opportunities for multiple uses including running, walking, biking and commuting.”
In the same press release Mayor Dan Curtis said “ . . . the new pathways promote active transportation and recreation throughout our community.” The press release went on to say that the “project will link neighbourhoods together and will encourage residents to consider alternative modes of transportation. More than contributing to cleaner air and helping reduce greenhouse gasses, this project will also promote a healthier lifestyle in the community.” (To view the entire news release go to: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=793999).
The current Snowmobile Bylaw makes no mention of any paved commuter trail in the City being off-limits to snowmobiles.
May 30, 2016 Updates:
1. Mayor’s Town Hall meeting: Whitehorse West (McIntyre, Hillcrest, Valleyview, Granger, Copper Ridge, Logan, Arkell, Ingram and Lobird) Tuesday May 31 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. at Emilie Tremblay School Library 20 Falcon Drive.
2. International Trails Day takes place on Saturday June 4th. We do not know of any specific events here in Whitehorse or Yukon. However, perhaps we should all think of something that we might do to celebrate next year. In any event, celebrate this year by walking one of our great trails on Saturday.
3. Mayor’s Town Hall meeting: (Takhini, Whistle Bend, Range Point, Swan and Crow Streets) Tuesday June 7 from 6:30 to 8 pm at Takhini Elementary School Library.
4. The following is from the City of Whitehorse: "We are in the final stages of developing a Trail Plan for the neighbourhoods of Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Range Point/Takhini. Attend Our Open House
This will be live from June 10 - 30."
ATWA encourages everyone who lives in these areas or makes use of the trails in the area, to both attend the evening event and fill out the Online Survey when it becomes available on June 10. See Public Consultations on the City’s website: http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/city-council/public-consultations. Please note that non-motorized trails are only non-motorized in the summer. In the winter they can be used by snowmobile operators unless they are specifically mentioned in the Snowmobile Bylaw as being off-limits. This is something that ATWA believes needs changing.
One of the ideas of having MMU trails is to get machines “out-and-away.” However, in the winter snowmobiles can remain "in-and-near." Even the KSA encourages their members to use MMU trails, so why does the City not follow the ATV Bylaw, which prohibits ATV’s from using non-motorized trails? (Just add MMU trails to those non-motorized trails not mentioned as off-limits in the Snowmobile Bylaw, and you will get a better picture of the true extent of MMU (motorized) trails in the winter.)
5. The Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee’s next meeting is "tentatively scheduled for Thursday June 16, 2016 4:45 pm – 6:15 pm at one of Sport Yukon Boardrooms. Observers are welcome! Minutes for its April meeting are now available on the City’s website under Trails.
6. The YCS provided the following information: Yukon's upcoming territorial park, Asi Keyi, meaning 'My Grandfather's Country' in Southern Tutchone, will be nestled just north of Kluane. Yukon News story here. This is an amazing area in which to hike. I can still remember sitting on top of an 8,000 foot ridge having lunch and watching avalanches come down the slopes of Mt. Wood. Of course, I also remember the major July snow storm that forced us to remain in camp (with an amazing view of Mt. Steele) for a day, before heading down a glacier under a blue sky and camping at 11 pm. One of the photos taken by Tony Gonda on the hike was used by the Department of Tourism and was featured in Explore Magazine. Another hike took us through “ akes" of volcanic ash deposited when Mt. Churchill blew up around 1200 years ago. Some parts look like a huge golf course from high up, with ash traps rather than sand traps.
Other notes:
The Magnusson Ski Trail Project Survey has been completed and (see Minutes of WTGC of April) you will see that CMBC grooming for fat biking in the winter will continue. ATWA did not make a written submission as we felt it was an individual concern. However, we were certainly concerned with the process. Minutes suggest that two opposed the grooming. However, I made an individual submission that pointed out the impact that grooming for snow biking had on skiers, and suggested possible means to mitigate the impact. I was expecting some discussion at the WTGC that would address some of the concerns expressed. However, it does not appear that any took place. It is possible that some skiers will be displaced due to the lack of attention to some of the issues raised.
You may have heard about the illegal trail that has been built in the Mt. Mac area, and that has been actually named as “2nd Gen.” According to the CMBC it appears that the City will be assessing the trail to see if it needs to be decommissioned. If this is true it makes one wonder about the process. It the City decides to retain the trail, then it may be sending the wrong message to the public. What is the message? Answer: Build an illegal trail, admit that you have done it, then the City will ask you not to do it again and grant forgiveness, then help you with a trail application, approve the application, and then ensure you get help in bringing the trail up to the required standards for the intended use.
Trail building does impact the local environment and potentially other users of nearby trails. Trail building projects should be carefully examined before being approved. We should never forget that we are blessed with over 700 kms of existing trails with more being added each year. Perhaps every time we build a trail we should decommission another of the myriad of needless branching trails that are not necessary for our enjoyment.
If you have any concerns about what should be done with this new illegal trail, it is suggested you contact Parks and Community Development ([email protected]) and/or one of your Councillors and express your views. See news article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/rogue-trail-built-mount-macintyre-1.3598483
May 26, 2016 Updates - AGM:
Active Trails Whitehorse Association had a successful AGM on May 26, 2016. We have a new board member this year and look forward to working together to continue our efforts. Our President’s Report is found under "Home" (Activities). It will give you an idea of our activities over the past year.
New members welcome! Drop by Sport Yukon and pick up a membership form. Membership fee is $10. You can fill out the form and pay at the counter.
May 23, 2016 Updates:
The following was recently received from the City of Whitehorse.
Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan: Process Update
Dear Chadburn Lake Regional Park stakeholders and partner governments:
We wanted to bring you up to speed on all that we've done since the February Ideas Fair. The Planning Team has been matching engagement input with existing City commitments, capacity realities, and best practices in the field of park management. We now have a Draft Plan being reviewed by the City's senior administration which will then be reviewed by Mayor and Council mid-May. No decisions have been made.
We will be launching a second round of engagement on the Draft Plan in June. There will be various opportunities to see the Draft Plan, chat with planners, and provide feedback. With the Draft Plan, we will also release a "What was heard and how we considered your input" from the Ideas Fair and key-informant interviews. This will allow participants to see initial input and understand why or why not the planning team incorporated input in the draft plan. All input will remain anonymous.
We will be in touch in the coming weeks regarding the next steps for how to be involved. In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to contact [email protected] or visit whitehorse.ca/chadburn
May 8, 2016 Updates:
These are ATWA's latest Updates:
1. The City has cancelled its Town Hall Meeting for Whitehorse East that was to have taken place on Tuesday, May 10 at Takhini Elementary School. The meeting will be rescheduled.
2. Reuse Roundtable (Ideas on sharing stuff!) will be held by the City on Wednesday May 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Grey Mountain Room at the Mt. Mac Rec Centre. RSVP to [email protected] or 668-8312. Apparently, there is an online survey as well that you can complete. Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/reuseroudtable.
3. ATWA’s Millennium Trail Clean-Up will take place this Saturday, May 14 starting a 9:00 a.m. (sharp). Meet at the parking lot on the East side of the Rotary Centennial Bridge just south of Alsek Road. Please let us know via email by Wednesday May 11 if you plan on taking part as we have to ensure there are reflective vests available for each participant.
4. Friends of McIntyre Creek is holding its AGM on Tuesday, May 17 (7 p.m.) at Yukon College in classroom C 1440. Information will be given as to the future of McIntyre Creek.
5. Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 19 from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. at Sport Yukon. Observers are welcome. At the last meeting the results of the Magnusson Ski Trail project survey were apparently presented. If you are interested in learning about the results read the Minutes of the meeting, which should be posted on the City’s website (see Parks and Community Development/Trail and Greenways Committee) a week after the May 19th meeting of the WTGC.
6. Trail Planning: We received the following information from the City: The City of Whitehorse is starting neighbourhood trail planning in the “Whitehorse South” area in 2016 – which includes the green spaces in and around McLean Lake, Canyon Crescent, Whitehorse Copper, McCrae, Wolf Creek, Pineridge, Cowley Creek, Mary Lake, and Golden Horn.
The City is calling on interested organizations to participate in the planning process, a process that is to start on May 31 and continue to June 28. It will involve 4-5 two hour meetings. Organizations have until Monday, May 15 to apply. ATWA has submitted an application to participate.
If you live in one of these areas, and/or have concerns about green spaces and trails in the respective areas, then make your concerns known to Parks and Community Development and to members of the task force when its membership is confirmed.
7. ATWA’s AGM will be held on Thursday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Sport Yukon (4061 4th Avenue) Boardroom #1. We hope you will take the time to attend. It should be a relatively short meeting as only subjects related to the AGM will be on the Agenda: Election of officers, approval of financial statements, President’s Report. Only paid members can vote. Memberships can be purchased/renewed at the AGM ($10.00 for single membership and $20.00 for a family membership). Forms are available on our website or can be obtained from our mail box at Sport Yukon.
We encourage people to put their name forward as board members either before or at the AGM. We can use the help and it would not involve a huge time commitment.
April 3, 2016
Hi! Once again ATWA has been assigned community garbage clean-up on the Millennium Trail from the Robert Campbell Bridge to the Yukon Energy Dam (East side of the River) This will include the Snow Dump area on Nitsutlin Drive. We plan on doing the clean-up on Saturday, May 14.
We will meet at 9:00 a.m. at the parking lot on the East side of the Rotary Centennial Bridge just south of Alsek Road. Reflective jackets will be supplied along with garbage bags. Garden gloves should be worn. You might want to bring some water and snacks (lunch) as we will be working until we finish. Bring some hand sanitizer if you plan on eating. Last year I believe we completed our assigned area by around 1:30. The more hands we have to help, the faster it will go. If we have enough people we will divide the group into three or four teams and start at different points along the trail. As well, we will need some people to clean the wooded areas (and non-paved trails) adjacent to the main trail.
This is a major source of income for our association. Completion of the task will bring ATWA $300.00. More importantly it will be doing our community a service and allow all citizens and visitors to enjoy the Millennium Trail even more. It is a GOOD FEELING activity. However, we need volunteers. So, if you are able to help please let us know via email as soon as possible. We need to know the number and names of participants in order to ensure we have reflective vests for all.
We will contact those who volunteer via email on the 9th or 10th of May just to confirm your attendance.
Please put the date on/in your calendar today, so it does not come as a surprise later on.
Other Notes:
Our AGM location has now been confirmed. It will be held on Thursday May 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Sport Yukon (4061 4th Avenue) Boardroom #1. We hope you will take the time to attend. It should be a relatively short meeting as only subjects related to the AGM will be on the Agenda: Election of officers, approval of financial statements, President’s Report. Only paid members can vote. Memberships can be purchased for the following year at the AGM ($10.00 for single membership and $20.00 for a family membership). We encourage people to put their name forward as board members either before or at the AGM. We can use the help and it would not involve a huge commitment of time.
March 28, 2016 Updates (March/April/May 2016):
Meetings:
1. The Yukon Conservation Society is holding its AGM on Tuesday March 29, at 5:30 p.m. in the the YCS office at 302 Hawkins St. You are asked to RSVP ([email protected] or 668-5678) if you are planning to attend.
2. The Yukon Bird Club is holding its AGM on Thursday March 31, from 7-9 p.m. at Sports Yukon (4061-4th Avenue) in one of its two boardrooms.
3. Active Trails Whitehorse Association’s next meeting takes place on Thursday March 31, at 7:00 p.m. in Boardroom #2 Sport Yukon (4061-4th Avenue) All are welcome to attend!
4. Mayor’s Town Hall Meeting for Downtown and Marwell area residents will take place on Thursday March 31, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Shipyards Park Frank Slim Building. All Whitehorse citizens are invited to attend.
5. Mayor’s Town Hall Meeting for residents of Porter Creek, Kopper King, Raven’s Ridge, Crestview, Taylor and Kulan, Forestview, McPherson and Hidden Valley will take place on Thursday April 14, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Porter Creek Secondary School Cafeteria. All Whitehorse citizens are invited to attend.
6. Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee’s next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday April 21, from 4:45-6:15 p.m. at Sport Yukon (4061-4th Avenue). Observers are welcome!
7. Active Trails Whitehorse Association's AGM will take place on Thursday May 26, at 7:00 p.m. at either Sport Yukon in Boardroom #1 (4061-4th Avenue), or at the Whitehorse Library Public Meeting Room. Location will be confirmed after ATWA’s meeting this coming Thursday. We would welcome individuals to join our board and help to ensure that we are able to continue our work. Please refer to our website and review our Mission Statement. (www.activetwa.org)
Other Information:
1. Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Takhini/Range Point/Yukon College Trail Task Force had its fifth meeting on March 3. Those involved (including ATWA) may meet one more time to review the summation document. It will then go out to the general public for comment. It is suggested that you contact Cherie Bauer at Parks and Community Development (668-8332) if you have any questions with regard to the next step in the process. If you value trails in any of these areas, then make sure you make your views known when the public input process begins. Keep your eye on our local papers and on the City’s website (under Public Consultations) for any information on the subject. See http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/city-council/public-consultations.
2. Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, Crestview Trail Plan, and Magnusson Ski Trails Grooming Project are all listed on the City’s website under Public Consultations. See http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/city-council/public-consultations. When more information is available on any of these it will be posted to the site. It is suggested that you take a look once a week to ensure you do not miss anything.
3. As you know the Robert Lowe suspension bridge at Miles Canyon is still closed. We can only hope that it will be repaired prior to the influx of tourists. Walkers, bikers, and runners are getting a little anxious as the snow is melting fast and all are eager to use the bridge to enhance their recreational activities.
4. Work continues on the Schwatka Lake Area Plan. ATWA has a member on the Working Group team and attended its March 3 meeting. The meeting was mainly about Signage Strategy. From time to time you will see items on the Council Agenda related to the Area Plan.
5. ATWA had a letter included in the YCS Spring Newsletter. See http://www.yukonconservation.org/library/newsletters/spring2016.pdf.
March 2016 Letter to Newspapers:
It’s Time to Have Truly Non-Motorized Trails
The City of Whitehorse’s old Snowmobile Bylaw was rewritten and passed by Mayor and Council in 2012, as was the ATV Bylaw. Both bylaws were updated again in February 2015, after the Government of Yukon changed Motor Vehicles Act sections concerning ATV and snowmobile operation.
Within the City of Whitehorse boundaries, “Snowmobile operators must be at least 16 years old, and have a Safe Snowmobiler Card, valid driver’s license, insurance, certificate of registration (i.e. attached license plate) and [wear] an approved helmet.” http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=2802
The Snowmobile Bylaw prohibits snowmobiles from the Millennium Trail, Ski Trails, and Environmentally Sensitive Areas. It defines snowmobiles as “motor vehicles”.
Active Trails Whitehorse Association (ATWA) is concerned that, although ATV operators must stay on motorized trails and away from open spaces and greenbelts, snowmobile operators are not prohibited from these areas.
As a result, within the City of Whitehorse, most trails designated as non-motorized are “not” truly non-motorized.
Consequently, snowmobilers are not always sure where they are allowed, and many other users are under the mistaken belief that non-motorized trails are free from motorized use even in winter. This creates conflict.
This inconsistency between the ATV and Snowmobile Bylaws, and the resulting confusion for all trail users, is a compelling reason for Mayor and Council to re-open the Snowmobile Bylaw to correct this problem.
The inconsistency developed partly because some believe that due to snow cover, snowmobiles have less impact on the landscape than ATVs. Research indicates significant snowmobile impacts. Even the Snowmobile Bylaw recognizes that snowmobiles can damage vegetation, so it prohibits operators from “[damaging] any vegetation or ground.” (General Operating Rules: 24)
Snow depth varies each year, and changes throughout the winter. Factors such as degree of slope, aspect, height of land, temperature variation, and vegetation cover all affect snow depth. Therefore, snow depth is never the same in all areas of the City. Vegetation located above the snow snaps easily in the cold.
If snowmobilers were required to stay on designated motorized trails and out of open spaces and greenbelts (as are ATVs), then damage would be reduced, particularly to narrow single-track trails. It would also reduce user conflict and improve safety.
There is no question that there is a place for motorized “out-and-away” trails as defined in the City’s Official Community Plan. ATWA simply asks that motorized users stay on “motorized” trails, something both the City and the local snowmobile association also request of operators. It’s time to add some weight to this request.
Amending the Snowmobile Bylaw (by adding non-motorized trails, greenbelts and open spaces to its list of prohibited areas) would go a long way to ensuring the protection of our local environment and the enjoyment of those who prefer to use “non-motorized” trails. Making it consistent with the ATV Bylaw would reduce the confusion concerning trail use that is experienced by both non-motorized and motorized users and enhance clarity, which would improve the relationship between trail users.
The Board of Active Trails Whitehorse Association
January/February 2016 Updates:
1. Crestview Trail Plan: The following is from the City of Whitehorse. "We are in the final stages of developing a Trail Plan for the neighbourhood of Crestview. Please help us create a community-supported Plan and make your local trails as amazing as possible by participating!
Attend our Open House on Thursday, January 28, 2016 from 7-9 pm (Porter Creek Senior Secondary School Cafeteria.)
Online Survey coming soon after the Open House. Questions? Please contact Parks and Community Development at 668-8325.” It is suggested that even if you do not live in Crestview that you take the time to complete the survey. There may be questions related to trails that apply to all Whitehorse citizens.
2. Yukon Chapter of the Alpine Club: Presentation (talk and slideshow) by Dr. Peter Steele on the events featured in his book Doctor on Everest. This free program will take place on Thursday, January 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Baked Cafe. It is suggested you get there early as this event will be very popular. For more information visit the following site: http://www.accyukon.ca
3. Chadburn Lake Management Plan: The following is from the City of Whitehorse. "February 3, 2016: 'Ideas Fair' public engagement opportunity at the Old Fire Hall. Additional details will be announced in January.” Keep your eyes open as to the time of this meeting. It should eventually be posted on the City’s website under Public Consultation. http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/departments/planning-building-services/plans-and-implementation/chadburn-lake-park-management-plan
4. Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Takhini/Range Point/Yukon College Trail Task Force: Apparently, the first meeting of this task force will take place on February 4. For those living in these areas it would be wise to pay close attention to this development. At some point one would assume that citizens will be asked to partake in some sort of public input much like the Crestview situation. (See #1) It is suggested that you contact Cherie Bauer at Parks and Community Development (668-8332) if you have any questions with regard to this development.
5. Active Trails Whitehorse Association Monthly Meeting: Tuesday February 9, 2016 at 7 pm, Sport Yukon, 4061 4th Avenue, (next to the Coast High Country Inn), Whitehorse,Boardroom #1. The major topic of the Agenda will be the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan. This will be a chance for you to hear about the issues, express your concerns, and review the City’s February 3, "Ideas Fair public engagement opportunity.”
6. Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee: The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday February 18, 2016 4:45 pm – 6:15 pm Sport Yukon Boardroom #1. The January meeting was changed from the 28th to the 14th, so it would be a good idea to check early in February to ensure that the February 18 meeting will indeed take place on that day. The Agenda for the meeting can be found at the following site: http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/home/showdocument?id=5970 Observers are welcome to attend.
7. Magnusson Trails: As mentioned previously in our Updates, the Minutes of the Thursday, October 22, 2015 meeting of the WTGC contained the following information:“Magnusson Trails Winter grooming project update – Sierra and Douglas provided an update on the status of the Magnusson trail winter grooming pilot project. Suggestion included: Get feedback from trail users through website input (survey) and surveys at the trailhead that can be filled out and returned to the City Parks office at Sport Yukon. Information to be presented back to WTGC members at a future date on the appetite of the trail users using those trails regarding trail grooming.”
As of this past weekend there was no indication at the trailhead that any survey is being conducted, although signs have indicated that the trails were undergoing maintenance. Nor are we aware of any “website input” for trail users on the City’s website. If you recall, the idea is to use some of the Magnusson Trails for snow biking, and the City wants to get some idea as to how this may be received by all winter Magnusson Trail users, particularly by skiers. Certain parts of the trails are to be groomed by snow machine as the best snow biking is on packed trails. As to what this does to those seeking a non-packed surface of fresh snow on which to ski is still to be determined.
Our observations indicate that some parts of the trail are simply too narrow to allow both a packed area for snow bikes, and a non-packed area for skiers. As well, it may be impossible for snow bikers to stay out of the non-groomed area used by skiers, as the trails are simply too narrow at certain points. (The obvious route for both skiers and snow bikers is down the middle of the trail.) Some steep areas may present problems for both types of uses. Skiers may have to herringbone uphill and it would not be easy to quickly get out of the way of a snow biker coming downhill. Going downhill, both skiers and snow bikers might find it difficult to stop when encountering other users on the trail. Of course, trails could be widened to accommodate everyone, but this might degrade the enjoyment of the trails by many users.
In any case, take the time to ski the area. Take some photos. If you have any concerns as to the suitability of allowing the use of these ski trails by both skiers and snow bikers under the current conditions, contact Doug Hnatiuk at 668-8325, or by e-mail at [email protected].
8. An open letter was sent by ATWA to Mayor and Council and both local newspapers in January (see below).
Active Trails Whitehorse Association would like to thank Mayor and Council for providing the necessary funding to allow the clearing of snow on the Riverfront Trail from Rotary Peace Park to Spook Creek Station. This activity commenced in February of 2015 and will be continued this year.
In addition, the city has now included the clearing of the Millennium Trail in the current year’s capital budget. Apparently, the work will be done once a week depending on snowfall amount.
Trail users have indicated that they are seeing more people on the Millennium trail than in previous winters. Perhaps this is because clearing has made the trail more accessible than ever before, especially to those with mobility issues.
In addition to Mayor and Council, we would also like to thank Athletics Yukon for bringing the issue forward for public discussion in November of 2014, the city’s Parks and Community Development department, and the Operations (Public Works) staff who actually do the work.
Finally, we would like to thank the Klondike Snowmobile Association for its past efforts in packing the Millennium Trail in often difficult conditions.
Keith Lay (Active Trails Whitehorse Association)
www.activetwa.org
[email protected]
1. The following information was sent from the City on January 10/2018: “Yukoners [are] invited to help the Government of Yukon and the City of Whitehorse improve public engagement.”
This is an opportunity for citizens to give their ideas as to how this can be done. ATWA has long advocated for improvement in this area as far as the City is concerned. We have often commented that the City’s business should be conducted in a more open and transparent manner.
To view this item, please go to http://www.gov.yk.ca/news/18-003.html. As well, the project’s website (Talking Together) can be accessed through this site.
2. Information about Trails Only Yukon Association’s (TOYA) consultation with the Government of Yukon with regard to the management of ATVs in the territory can be found in its December Newsletter. See http://mailchi.mp/077b8f88845f/toya-dec-news-flash?e=2f283f620e.
3. Apparently, the Whitehorse South Trail Task Force will not be meeting until the spring. No information has been received with regard to the Whitehorse North Trail Task Force.
4. An associate has been told that the Parks and Community Development department has received one trail development application since July 2017. An application was received in the fall of 2017 from the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club to do some enhancements on an existing ski trail. The department reviewed the application and approved it with conditions, all of which were met by the ski club.
5. Consultation with stakeholders and trail stewards is supposed to take place soon with regard to the establishment of a Trail Development Policy. Once that is completed the public will be engaged. To date Active Trails Whitehorse Association has not been approached to provide any input.
As mentioned previously, the Trail Development Policy was to be completed by the spring of 2017. However, current information indicates that the policy will not be presented to Council until a CASM meeting in late March of 2018, a year after it was supposed to have been completed.
6. The next Porter Creek Community Association meeting is Monday, February 5th, 5:15 pm at the Guild Hall. Those of you who live in Porter Creek should take advantage of the opportunity to attend association meetings.
7. ATWA is still working to have the Pine Street Extension paved (gas tax) trail properly signed to indicate that it is a non-motorized multiple use trail. At present, it is signed multi-use and indicates that both pedestrians and snowmobiles can use the trail.
The Extension is part of the TCT/Great Trail route and the latter is a multi-use trail. In other words, both motorized and non-motorized users can use it. The KSA grooms a snowmobile trail down the extension in winter.
However, the paved gas tax trail is supposed to be off limits to motorized use both in summer and winter. Our efforts continue to have this paved trail, and all other gas tax supported trails properly signed and designated.
8. We were recently advised that Dexter Kotylak is the current trail coordinator/trail crew leader (winter/summer) under the direction and supervision of Doug Hnatiuk (Manager, Parks and Community Development) and Marc Boulerice (Supervisor, Parks and Trails). His contact information is as follows: Bus: (867) 668-8325
[email protected]
9. City Council's Questions & Answers can be found at http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/legislative-services/council-questions-and-answers. This is a worthwhile webpage to view from time to time.
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ATWA Updates: December 2017
1. On Monday (Nov. 27) City Council gave third and final reading to a brand new bylaw: the Advisory Committee Bylaw. We were very pleased to see that the initial draft of this bylaw addressed a number of concerns that ATWA had raised in the past about how city committees function. After a review of the draft bylaw, ATWA made two written submissions, and was given the opportunity to sit down with assistant city clerk (Norma Felker) to review our comments. The final draft bylaw approved by Mayor and Council received our full support. You can view the Whitehorse Star article on the bylaw at the following site: (http://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/advisory-committee-bylaw-adopted).
ATWA sent a letter to Mayor & Council asking it to recognize the efforts of City staff, and in particular Norma Felker, in the preparation of the bylaw. The Mayor mentioned the receipt of that letter in the Minutes of the November 27 Council meeting: "Mayor Curtis acknowledged a letter received from Keith Lay on behalf of the Active Trails Whitehorse Association in support of the Advisory Committee Bylaw. He thanked Mr. Lay for taking the time to work with staff on the development of this bylaw, and also for making the effort to acknowledge the work done by the Assistant City Clerk to bring this bylaw forward."
You can view the letter below these Updates.
2. On Monday (Dec. 04) ATWA will be making a presentation before City Council concerning the status of the Trail Development Policy and the Trail Application Process. The presentation is found on our website under Issues / Trail Development Policy & Application Process: http://www.activetwa.org/trail-development-policy--application-process.html
3. Trail Task Force facilitator Jane Koepke (Nov. 6) has told us that “Dexter Kotylak, the City’s Trail Crew Leader is now up and running in a management/administrative capacity for the City” in the area of trails. He is apparently putting together a work plan, which includes looking at the McCauley Creek connection. As mentioned in our last Updates, the McCauley Creek issue was supposed to come before Council last September.
4. We received a reply (Nov. 6) from Whitehorse North Trail Task Force facilitator Jane Koepke, to our questions as to when the task force will meet again, and whether or not it will be reviewing the results of the public survey on the proposed trail plan. Jane indicated that the task force is to meet again in the New Year, and that Dexter [Kotylak] will soon send out a note to task force members advising them of a tentative start-up date. Jane also said, “The City has been working with both First Nation governments” since the time of the last trail task force meeting on their concerns in the area. In addition, Jane mentioned that the public survey results would be shared with task force members at the time of the next meeting.
5. No word as yet concerning the next meeting of the Whitehorse South Trail Task Force. It is highly unlikely that it will meet in December, so we continue to wait.
6. ATWA is still working to have the Pine Street Extension paved (gas tax) trail properly signed to indicate that it is a non-motorized multiple use trail. In other words, the trail is off limits to motorized use both in summer and winter. Our efforts to have all such gas tax trails properly signed and designated continue.
7. As some of you probably know Christina Macdonald is stepping down from her position as YCS Executive Director in order to return to the east coast. Christina helped our group get established, and has provided much appreciated advice over the last few years. We wish her all the best in the future, and hope that she will return to visit the Yukon in the years to come. You can read her message to YCS members at the following site: (http://yukonconservation.org/news-events/a-message-from-ed-christina-macdonald)
8. Great news re: the Peel!
9. Once again ATWA wishes you all the very best of the holiday season. On that note, don’t forget the Winterval Festival Santa Claus Parade & Tree Lighting event on December 9, 2017, 4:00 PM.
As per Update #1 this is the letter (see below) to which we refer.
November 27, 2017
Dear Mayor & Council:
Active Trails Whitehorse Association was pleased to see that the initial draft of the Advisory Committee Bylaw, had addressed a number of the concerns that we had expressed over the past several years with regard to the operation of City committees.
After reviewing the initial draft, ATWA made two written submissions containing questions, comments, and suggestions for possible improvement. After each submission Norma Felker took some of her valuable time to meet with us to discuss our concerns. We cannot express how much we appreciated those opportunities. It was so nice to have someone listen to our concerns, explain the rationale as to the thinking behind some aspects of the bylaw that we had questioned, and recognize the value of a number of our suggested improvements.
Bylaws often take years to draft, and most of us rarely appreciate that fact and the effort involved in their preparation prior to their introduction before Council.
We hope that at Monday’s Council meeting councillors will take the time to thank and recognize the efforts of City staff involved in the preparation of this draft bylaw, and in particular Ms. Felker.
Active Trails Whitehorse Association fully supports this bylaw. As we stated previously before the Corporate Services Committee, there is an obvious effort to ensure that there will be more transparency and democracy in the way advisory committees operate, and that City committees should “ focus on making informed and reasonable decisions in an open and transparent way and in the best interests of the community.”
In addition, there is recognition that City committees (through various means) should encourage the input of the general public, as there is a wealth of knowledge within our community from which these committees can draw.
The Advisory Committee Bylaw will be an excellent addition to our City’s bylaws.
Sincerely,
Keith Lay (Active Trails Whitehorse Association)
www.activetwa.org
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ATWA Updates: November 2017
1. Grey Mountain Summit (Dream) Trail:
ATWA is concerned with the fact that this trail has not as yet been formally designated as to its appropriate use.
Observers at the February 16, 2017 meeting of the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee noted that Mr. Hnatiuk, Acting Director of Community and Recreation Services, emphasized that this trail would be non-motorized and closed to snowmobiles since it traverses at least one Environmentally Sensitive Area, and that this would be indicated on signage at the start of the trail.
However, the City’s webpage on that trail only mentions it being a multi-use trail. (See http://whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/construction). This could lead to confusion as the 2007 Trail Plan lists two types of multiple use trails: non-motorized multiple use trails and motorized multiple use trails.
Since parts of this trail are already being utilized, the City needs to immediately specify on its webpage that this trail was proposed as non-motorized, and is prohibited to snowmobiles and all other motorized vehicles in order to protect Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
2. Next City Council Meeting:
The next meeting of City Council occurs on November 6 at 5:30 p.m. You can access the agenda at Whitehorse.ca/agendas. Council and Senior Management (CASM) meetings are usually held on Tuesday’s at 12:00. One can access those meeting agendas at Whitehorse.ca/CASM.
3. Trail Applications and Trail Development Policy:
As many of you probably know the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee has been dissolved by City Council. As a result ATWA asked City Council to tell the public when the Trail Development Policy was going to come before council, and what the trail application process would be prior to its introduction.
Administration responded, but unfortunately the responses raise more questions than answers, so we are in the process of preparing a letter to Mayor and Council requesting clarification of administration’s comments.
Council directed Mr. Hnatiuk in November of 2016 to work with the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee to produce a Trail Development Policy that was to be completed by the spring of 2017. (The committee was not disbanded until September of 2017.) Part of this policy was to address the issue of unauthorized trail creation in the City.
Now administration says that the Trail Development Policy will not be presented to Council until a CASM meeting in late March of 2018, a year after it was supposed to be completed.
Administration says it “continues to work with stakeholders, trail stewards, and land owners to develop” this policy. To date, Active Trails Whitehorse Association has not been approached by administration to provide input with regard to this policy, despite the fact that ATWA has made numerous submissions on trail subjects to both City Council and the WTGC, as well as to city administration over recent years. ATWA will be asking the City that we (along with the general public) be included in the development of this policy.
The City should respect the 2007 Trail Plan’s Guiding Principle of Inclusiveness. “The City of Whitehorse Trail Plan recognizes the importance of the trail system to residents and visitors alike and is committed to including the public in determining guidelines for trail system development, use, preservation and maintenance.”
As far as the trail application process goes, there has not as yet been any indication from administration that the general public will be allowed to view applications, or have any opportunity of providing comments as to their merit. ATWA will continue to encourage the City to make trail applications available for public view and input.
4. Downtown Planning:
The following is found on the City’s website: “Following multiple engagement events and workshops, the planning team is busy preparing the draft Downtown Plan and Downtown Action Plan. It is anticipated that the draft plans will be released for public feedback in January 2018. Please stay tuned for more details!”
You can see what the public has already said about this subject at the following site:
http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=9066
5. Whitehorse Trail Maps:
You can see the latest trail maps that the City has prepared at the following site:
http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/maps (Please note that the East of the Yukon Trail Map is not a proposed map of EYR trails, but one that was approved by City Council in January 2014.)
6. McCauley Creek Crossing:
Although the issue concerning the possible designation of the McCauley Creek Crossing as a motorized route was supposed to come before Council in September, to our knowledge it has not.
7. Porter Creek Paved Connecting Trail:
The extension of the paved trail connecting Takhini North to Porter Creek has now been completed. It runs beside the Trans Canada Trail (the Pine Street extension gravel road) that goes down to the main McIntyre Creek Bridge where the two trails briefly join as they cross the river. The paved trail is supposed to be non-motorized summer and winter as it is funded by federal gas tax funds in an effort to encourage active forms of recreation and transportation, and cut down on the use of fossil fuels. ATWA will continue its efforts to have these gas tax trails properly signed.
8. Whitehorse South Trail Task Force:
The next meeting of the Whitehorse South Trail Task Force is supposed to occur in mid to late November. ATWA is a member of this body.
9. Whitehorse North Trail Task Force:
No announcement has been made as to when the next meeting of the Whitehorse North Trail Task Force is supposed to occur. A public survey was conducted by the City concerning trails in the area, and the task force was supposed to meet to review the results, but we have heard nothing as of yet. ATWA is a member of this body.
10. Trail Etiquette:
The Bridge River Valley Trails group (located in B.C.) has kindly permitted us to reference its trail etiquette webpage, which has a list of etiquette tips for various trail users. Although certain parts may have to be modified, or added to in order to recognize some unique aspects of our wilderness city, ATWA sees this as a basis for a Whitehorse Trail Etiquette Policy. See: http://bridgerivervalleytrails.ca/trail-etiquette/
11. Yukon Conservation Event:
We are passing on this event notice from the Yukon Conservation Society’s news email.
YCS invites you to...
An Evening with Shaun Loney and the Solutions Economy
Climate change. Food insecurity. Poverty. How can these problems be reframed as opportunities to build our economy and make our communities more resilient?
Be inspired by social innovator and Canadian change-maker Shaun Loney as he shares his experiences mobilizing people, businesses and communities to solve our most pressing social and environmental problems…and learn how the Solutions Economy can take root in the Yukon.
Evening Talk (Whitehorse): Mon. Nov. 6, 7pm – Beringia Interpretive Centre
Workshop (Whitehorse): Tues. Nov. 7, 8:30am-4:30pm – Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre (registration is required for this workshop)
For more information on these events contact the YCS.
12. ElderActive Recreational Association: (55 and older)
This association has a walking group often led by Peter Long and Wynne Krangle. If you are of the right age and interested in taking part, contact the association at 456-8252. Its office is located at 302-309 Strickland St. Office hours are Monday Noon to 4 pm, and Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 1 pm.
13. Have your say!
We would like to hear from you. Give us your ideas, concerns, and/or kudos, about city trails, green spaces, and regional parks. Contact us at [email protected].
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ATWA Updates (August 2017):
1. Those of you that live in the Takhini/Porter Creek area and/or who use our paved commuting trails, may be interested in the following newspaper article concerning the extension of the paved trail connecting Takhini North to Porter Creek. http://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/pedestrian-path-paving-work-awarded
Please note that this paved trail is funded through the Federal Gas Tax Program. As such it is to be used for active forms of transportation, such as walking, biking, or running. Unfortunately, the City does not seem inclined to sign such trails to indicate that they are non-motorized summer and winter.
It should be noted that there are paved trails located within the City that are not funded through the Federal Gas Tax Program, the Whistle Bend Perimeter Trail being one such trail. (See #3) The Hamilton Boulevard Trail is properly signed as a multi-use trail, one that can be used by both motorized and non-motorized users. As such, one would expect that the Gas Tax program did not fund it. However, ATWA has been unable to confirm this.
2. The Robert Service Way Planning Study is finally underway. You are encouraged to do the longer survey. The survey must be completed by September 10. It is also suggested that you read the background report prior to doing the survey. Both the survey and the background report are found at the following site: www.whitehorse.ca/robertserviceway
Please note that the motocross conditional lease mentioned on page 26 of the report has a three-month notice for termination in its list of conditions. In other words, the City only needs to provide a three-month notice to the motocross club to terminate the lease if, for example, the City determines the land is best suited for other purposes. (The three- month notice is not mentioned in the above report.)
In addition, you may wish to look at the Schwatka Lake Area Plan that was completed in 2015 before completing the survey, as this region is adjacent to the area under study and may well be impacted by what decisions are made as a result of the Robert Service Way Planning Study. (See http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=5158)
The City is having a Robert Service Way Area Plan Popup Event on the Millennium Trail on Thursday, August 31 from 5-7pm. Apparently, there will be free ice cream and/or coffee available to those who express their thoughts about the area under consideration. On August 31, take a walk on the trail and visit the site.
3. Whistle Bend Perimeter Trail: (Please be aware that there is a lot more to this story respecting the processes followed and the decisions made than can be presented here.)
The trail task force dealing with the Whistle Bend, Takhini, Range Point, Porter Creek area recommended that the Perimeter Trail be non-motorized in both summer and winter. This was due to the fact that the response in the public survey on the subject indicated that the majority of respondents wanted the trail to be non-motorized year round. Although some on the task force did not agree, all felt that it would be difficult to take a position contrary to the survey results.
All recommendations of the trail task force were taken to the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee by the trail task force facilitator.
The Klondike Snowmobile Association, Contagious Mountain Bike Club, and the Porter Creek Community Association all sit on the WTGC. Each of these groups also sat on the trail task force. The Porter Creek WTGC representative was not able to attend the WTGC meeting, which reviewed the recommendations of the trail task force, but was replaced by the individual who represented the Friends of McIntyre Creek on the trail task force. No other members of the trail task force were asked to attend the WTGC meeting as either participants or observers.
The WTGC recommended that the Perimeter Trail be designated MMU (open to both motorized and non-motorized users). It appears that some members of the trail task force were given a “second chance” at changing the recommendations of the trail task force as (was previously mentioned) they also sit on the WTGC. This seems somewhat inappropriate and, in ATWA’s view, lacks proper process.
The committee also recommended designating the McCauley Creek Crossing as motorized despite the fact that the City’s trails consultant and trail crew leader felt “that the route [was] unsuitable for a MMU designation.
Administration claimed that the Perimeter Trail had already been designated by a previous City Council as an MMU (multi-use) trail. However, it was unable to provide concrete proof that any City Council had approved of such a designation.
A number of Whistle Bend residents appeared before Council, as did ATWA, to argue against the WTGC recommendation concerning the Perimeter Trail. The KSA president also gave a presentation promoting the MMU designation of the trail.
The result was that the majority of Council members passed a motion which read “that the Whistle Bend paved perimeter trail be designated as non-motorized. The impression with which citizens in attendance were left, was that “NO” meant “NO” and that the trail would be non-motorized summer and winter. (This may have required a change to the Snowmobile Bylaw in order to add the trail to the prohibited areas of snowmobile use.)
Signs were placed on the Perimeter Trail that confirmed this decision. However, they were quickly removed, and when ATWA asked administration about this we were told that there had been a “miscommunication” on the part of Parks crew members. The last time ATWA checked no new signs had appeared on the Perimeter Trail, even to indicate that all but snowmobiles are prohibited from using it. Lack of proper process has once again resulted in confusion, conflict, and needless cost ($’s). (Update Dec. 2017: New signs now indicate that the trail can be used by snowmobiles.)
Apparently, Council has asked for more information on the cost of designating the McCauley Creek Crossing as MMU. Council will make a decision on its status in September.
4. Proposed dissolution of the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee:
The following was taken from the Minutes of the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee of July 20, 2017:
“3.0 Status of WTGC – Douglas (Hnatiuk)
-Senior administration had a meeting with Mayor and Council and it was determined by council that the Whitehorse Trails and Greenways Committee will not function past the completion of the 2007 Trail Plan concluding at the end of 2017. The committee was unofficially disbanded at the end of this meeting. Council will officially disband the Whitehorse Trails and Greenways Committee at an upcoming Council Meeting."
As to why this is happening? Well, one could read the local newspaper articles on the story, but in ATWA’s opinion much remains unsaid about the lack of respect, problems with due process and absence of transparency affecting some of the committee's deliberations and decisions.
5. Whitehorse North and Whitehorse South Trail Task Force groups are apparently to meet again in October. ATWA has representation on both of these bodies.
For more information on these trail task force groups please see the following site: http://whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/trail-consultation
6. Grey Mountain so-called Dream or Summit Trail: (As yet, no official name has been given to this trail.)
Quote from the City website:
"The year 2017 marks the official start to construction on the Grey Mountain Dream Trail. This project is anticipated to take at least five years to complete. Once completed, this multi-use trail will allow people to traverse the entire ridge of Grey Mountain, connecting to the existing trail network behind Riverdale. This trail has long been the dream of many residents and will strengthen Whitehorse’s reputation as a Wilderness City.”
For additional information on the trail see http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/construction
7. We are passing on the following information from the last edition of the YCS Newsletter:
Yukon's Great Salt Lake
Wed. Aug. 30, 5:30-8:30pm, Takhini Valley (meet at Beringia Centre)
Meet at the Beringia Centre parking lot. See rare plants and unique mineralization with Bruce Bennett on a walk around this little-known gem of the Takhini Valley. Rubber boots are suggested due to the harsh salt. Info online.
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ATWA Updates: July 4, 2017
1. The Whistle Bend, Takhini, Range Point, Porter Creek Trail Plan was recently passed by Mayor and Council. The Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee wanted amendments to the trail plan that would have confirmed the McCauley Creek Crossing trail as motorized multi-use, and that “the designation of the Whistle Bend paved trail be confirmed as motorized multi-use until a viable alternative is brought forward for council approval or the designation is confirmed by community stakeholders.
"City Council decided that “the designation of the McCauley Creek Crossing trail be referred back to administration for further review.”
Much of the discussion concerning the paved Whistle Bend paved perimeter trail centred on the question as to whether or not it had been designated as motorized multi-use by a previous City Council. There did not seem to be any concrete evidence that supported this contention.
City Council decided “that the Whistle Bend paved perimeter trail be designated as non-motorized.”
Unfortunately, until City Council amends the Snowmobile Bylaw the perimeter trail can still be used by snowmobiles this coming winter, as under the bylaw snowmobiles are allowed on non-motorized trails. The Whistle Bend Perimeter trail would have to be added to the list of “excluded areas” found in the Snowmobile Bylaw in order for it to become truly non-motorized, as is the Millennium Trail.
A CBC news headline of June 13 entitled Whitehorse council bans motorized use of Whistle Bend trail may be somewhat optimistic. Although it was obvious that the intent of the motion was to ensure the trail would be non-motorized in both summer and winter, unless changes are made to the bylaw prior to winter, the trail will remain motorized for much of the year. If the Snowmobile Bylaw were amended to prohibit the use of non-motorized trails by snowmobiles, and requiring operators to stay on the numerous motorized trails located within the City, such issues would not arise: a non-motorized trail would be non-motorized both in summer and winter.
An email to Mayor and Council with regard to this matter may help to ensure these changes are made. ([email protected])
2. The Chadburn Lake Regional Park Plan has been passed by City Council. “Council heard from longtime local residents Peter Long and Keith Lay on the plan at its June 19 meeting.
Long called for the city to improve trail markings around town in places like the Chadburn Lake area.
He pointed to the use of coloured discs along walking trails in Europe as opposed to the signs set up at the starting point of local trails.
“I like the idea of being able to follow trails,” he said, requesting that the city fix up trails in the Chadburn Lake area.
He also noted he’d like to see greater representation of the walking community on the city’s trails and greenways committee.
Meanwhile, Lay suggested the city host an annual meeting to provide an update on the implementation of the park management plan.” (Whitehorse Star article by Stephanie Waddell on June 27, 2017. See http://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/city-adopts-chadburn-lake-management-plan)
3. No indication yet as to when the Robert Service Area Planning Study is to start, so all we can suggest is to go to the City’s website and look under Public Consultations in the hope that it will eventually appear. (See http://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/public-consultations)
4. We are passing on the following information from the YCS news email:
Knee High Nature
Thursday July 6, 10:30-11:30am
Bring your youngsters out for a new nature-based activity each week with Wildlife Viewing Yukon. Activities and games designed for kids 4-6 but siblings are welcome. One caregiver per 4 kids please! There are 8 sessions, each with a different topic, starting tomorrow and running till August 17. Attend one or all! Head up College Drive and follow the signs. Info online.
Mini-Update: June 18, 2017
1. The next meeting of the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee is tentatively scheduled for Thursday July 20, 2017 4:45 pm – 6:15 pm Sport Yukon Building Boardroom. Observers are welcome.
2. As mentioned in our Mini-Update of May 27, the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan was scheduled to be presented before Council on Monday, June 19. This is now confirmed.
3. The Whistle Bend, Porter Creek, Takhini, Range Point Draft Trail Plan has now been approved by Mayor and Council. Council approved a motion to designate the Whistle Bend Perimeter Trail as non-motorized (summer and winter). However, Council will have to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw in order to make this happen. (In other words, to prohibit the use of snowmobiles on the trail in the winter.) No word as yet when this will be done.
Mini-Update: May 27, 2017
1. The Whistle Bend, Porter Creek, Takhini, Range Point Draft Trail Plan will be presented before Council on Monday, May 29 (5:30 p.m.). You can view the draft plan (and map of same) at the following site: http://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/ShowDocument?id=8364. As ATWA sat on this task force it will not be making any comments before Council with regard to the plan. It is up to citizens to review the draft plan and see if there are aspects of same with which they do not agree. If so, you can send an email to Mayor and Council Mayor&[email protected] and/or appear before Council on the 29th, or when it comes up again for final approval, which will most likely happen the following week. You can register as a Delegate immediately prior to the meeting right in Council chambers (see administrator at desk at front right side), or preferably by emailing [email protected].(668-8635).
2. The Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan is currently scheduled to be presented before Council on June 19. It last appeared before Council in October, 2016. It is suggested you check the City's website on the preceding Friday to verify its inclusion.
3. The following was recently posted (5/25/17) on the City's website: Schwatka Lake - West Shore Launch Reconstruction
"The temporary closure of the public launch on the west shore of Schwatka Lake (announced last spring) will remain in effect until reconstruction of the facility is complete. Mobilization of construction on the site has begun with storage of materials and grading. Installation of the new launch will begin on June 6, with inspections to conclude by June 20.
The launch area will be fenced off and inaccessible to the public during this time. Boaters are advised to use the public boat launch located on the east shore at the Schwatka Lake Day Use Area, accessed from Chadburn Lake Road. Pilots are advised to launch by appointment from the Black Sheep Aviation lease area (call 335-0011 or email [email protected]).
We thank you for your patience during this construction period. For more information, please contact the City of Whitehorse Engineering Department at 668-8305, or visit www.whitehorse.ca/schwatkalake.
This project is funded through Gas Tax Canada."
Updates: May 2017
1. Run for Mom will take place on Sunday May 14, 2017. It will start at S.S. Klondike Park at 1:00 p.m. It involves a 4.2 kilometre walk or run on the Millennium Trail. You can register at the park prior to the event, but give yourself some time to do so.
2. Friends of McIntyre Creek are holding their Annual General Meeting Tuesday May 16, 2017 at 7 pm, Room A2103 Yukon College.
3.The next meeting of the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee is tentatively scheduled for Thursday May 18, 2017 4:45 pm – 6:15 pm Sport Yukon Building Boardroom (Use Boardroom entrance to right of main entrance). Observers are encouraged to attend! See the City’s website under Trails for current information.
4. Active Trails Whitehorse Association AGM will take place on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at Sport Yukon Boardroom #2 (the one with the windows). (Use Boardroom entrance to right of main entrance.) The meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m. Think about joining our board. We could use the help.
5. ATWA completed its Community Clean-Up assignment on the weekend. We cleaned from the Dam (on both sides of the road) to the first entrance to the Millennium Trail past the Fish Ladder, and from there to the Robert Campbell Bridge. This included the snow dump area and the trailside area off Nisutlin Dr. and Selkirk St.
The East side of the Millennium Trail that we did was in good shape. The section above the Fish Ladder was the worst area to clean. Unfortunately, it has turned into a party area. Thanks go out to the five members who gave hours of their time to complete our assigned area.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the Millennium Trail Earth Angels: Tony and Peggy Hanulik, who pick up garbage on the trail on a regular basis. We are sure there are others who also pick up garbage on the trail. Nice to know there are such people around.
6. Still no word on when the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Draft Plan is going to come before Mayor and Council. It is now almost seven months since the City said it had to do more consultation with First Nations before the plan would appear again before Council.
7. The Whistle Bend, Takhini, Range Point, Porter Creek Trail Plan consultations have now come to an end. The next step is to bring the draft plan before Mayor and Council for approval, perhaps as early as this month.
8. The Whitehorse North Trail Plan consultations have now passed the public input stage. There should be one more meeting of the task force prior to a draft plan going before Mayor and Council.
9. There is a Public survey on grizzly bear conservation and management. See http://www.gov.yk.ca/news/17-087.html#.WRKQM6MZM8Z. This is available until the end of May. It is well worth taking the time to fill it out online.
10. “Approximately 1,000 randomly selected households will be contacted by telephone between April 19th and May 31st. This year the survey is being conducted by the Yukon Bureau of Statistics (YBS). A random sample of respondents residing in the City of Whitehorse will be drawn from the YBS Household Survey Frame to participate in the survey. The survey is voluntary and confidential. The survey is used to gauge public perception about City programs and services. It helps City Council and employees assess what is working well and identify areas for improvement.”
11. The Robert Service Area Planning Study is to provide for public input in May and June. Stakeholder input was supposed to take place in late winter, although our association heard no call for such input. In addition, the study has yet to be listed on the City’s website under Public Consultation. You can find information on the study at the following site: http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-building-services/robert-service-way-area-plan.
12. The Whitehorse South Trail Task Force last met in late November. The city was planning to meet with parties such as White Pass, Yukon Parks and First Nations and then reconvene the task force. There has been some public consultation with one of the community associations. City administration has suggested that the Whitehorse South task force process may take two years to complete.
13. Unfortunately, yet another unauthorized or rogue trail has been cut between the Yukon Energy fence and the Robert Service Campground long-term parking/camping area. ORVs are obviously using the Rotary Centennial Bridge to access this trail, which eventually leads to Robert Service Way. The City has been informed, but as yet nothing has been done to effectively block the trail.
The log built structure that prevented vehicles from entering and crossing McIntyre Creek near the pump house (below the Pine Street extension) has once again been effectively destroyed. Considering the fact that there is a bridge only a few metres away, which can accommodate virtually any type of vehicle, one has to wonder why anyone would want to cross anywhere else.
May 4, 2017: Letter from member re: Lease Agreement-Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association
Active Trails Whitehorse Association has received the following letter from a member, and has been asked to send it on to our associates and post it to our website.
Dear ATWA:
The Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association (YCCMA) is applying for a lease to establish a dirt bike track at the location of the unofficial motorbike track near Robert Service Way. (See www.whitehorse.ca/amendments).
While I appreciate YCCMA’s efforts to legitimize this location for its events, including dirt bike competitions, there are several reasons why this approach is flawed.
First, the City is only now beginning its planning for the Robert Service Way area, which includes the area of the proposed lease. (See http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-building-services/robert-service-way-area-plan). Public input and planning for that area should take place before locking any land portion into a lease.
The City’s Administrative Report presented to Mayor and Council on May 1, 2017 provided the following background information with regard to this area:
“In 2009, the City acquired Lot 1267 from Yukon Government to secure long-term operational requirements associated with its existing snow disposal site on Robert Service Way.
At the time of the City’s acquisition, a portion of Lot 1267 had been occupied by the Midnight Sun Dirt Riders (MSDR) as a dirt bike track under lease with Yukon Government. It was the intention of the City to secure a lease agreement for the dirt bike track with MSDR, however prior to being able to finalize an agreement, the club became inactive and ceased using the area.
Since that time, the Robert Service Way dirt bike track has continued to be used in an informal manner by the general public and YCCMA members without any formal tenure or permission from the City.”
Please note that the 2012 ATV Bylaw increased the restrictions with regard to the use of ATV’s (including motorized dirt bikes) within the City of Whitehorse.
The continued illegal use of this motorbike track in the centre of Whitehorse has unfortunately encouraged the trespassing of off-road-vehicles (ORVs) as they try to reach the area. In particular, ORVs have been trespassing on the Millennium Trail, and other non-motorized trails and damaged green spaces on the South side of the airport fence to get to the motorbike track.
These ORVs are much noisier than the automobile traffic on Robert Service Way. This noise can be heard from the Millennium Trail, the Robert Service Campground, across the river in Riverdale, and at the Fish Ladder visitor centre. Often this loud noise goes on for hours on end. Such noise is not compatible with nearby recreational and residential areas. If the lease is granted this noise will only increase.
The YCCMA has proposed to change the ATV Bylaw to make it less restrictive, so that children are allowed to operate these machines in Whitehorse. I believe that a much better way to solve this issue is to find a suitable location for a motorbike track outside City boundaries.
The central location of the Robert Service Area is more suitable for projects aligned with the needs of the community, such as community gardens, greenhouses, affordable housing, and active (non-motorized) outdoor pursuits.
The City will hold a Public Input Session on this issue on Monday, May 8, 2017 at 5:30 pm at City Hall where residents can voice their concerns. Written submissions may also be emailed to [email protected], no later than Monday, May 8, 2017 at noon.
I urge all concerned residents to express their opinions to the City about this proposed lease.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Lebel
May 1, 2017: ATWA presentation to Council re: Lease Agreement - YCCMA
To: Mayor and Council
From: Active Trails Whitehorse Association
Concerns re: Lease Agreement – Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association
Process: By considering this lease application at this particular time the City is undermining the transparency of its planning process.
As the supporting documents state “Earlier in 2017, the City contracted a consultant to undertake the Robert Service Way Area Planning Study to look at development potential for the area, including recreational uses. YCCMA is participating in this process which is anticipated to be completed by late 2017.”
This statement suggests that the Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association has already been involved in the planning study process. According to the City’s website “stakeholder work [was supposed to be done] in the late winter.” To my knowledge there has been no call by the consultant for direct stakeholder participation, so how is the YCCMA participating in a process that has yet to begin?
The Robert Service Way Area Planning Study is supposed to involve public input. In fact, according to the City’s website “public engagement is due to take place in May and June” of this year, and a draft plan “will be completed by August, which will be available for public comment.”
So, the City calls for a study of the area, which will include public involvement, and then prior to the study being completed it simply usurps proper process and allows for the consideration of this lease agreement. The proper (and more sensible) process would be for the City to include the YCCMA’s lease suggestion in the study and allow the general public to comment on the proposal.
Why now, just as the Robert Service Planning Area Study gets underway, is City administration so keen to fast track this lease agreement?
Administration says it “is bringing forward this lease agreement for approval by Council to provide tenure to YCCMA and address any liability risks associated with the ongoing use of the property for the current season.”
Interesting that the City allows an admitted liability risk to continue for eight years, but only now, just prior to soliciting public engagement on the future of the area, opts to recommend the immediate granting of this lease. Perhaps there is a concern that the general public may not be very supportive of this proposal if it was considered in the area study. Hence the fast track approach.
The supporting documentation says, “following the conclusion of the Robert Service Way Area Planning Study, continuance of the lease agreement can be reviewed and adjusted if necessary.”
That is a dangerous course to adopt. It is prejudicial to the planning area study. Once the lease is granted it is going to be very difficult to reverse the decision even if public input to the study suggests that a dirt bike park is not what the public wants at the location in question. (The public may suggest other possible uses for the land in question.)
Benefit to the YCCMA is questionable:
One wonders how this lease agreement is going to be of any major benefit to the YCCMA as the restrictions under the lease will be far more stringent than operating on private land.
The YCCMA hosts events on private property because this allows children under 16 to participate. As well, conducting such events on private property allows any operator regardless of age to participate, as they do not have to abide by the existing regulations with regard to ATV operation.
All users of the dirt bike park will have to conform to the requirements of both the City’s ATV Bylaw and the Yukon Motor Vehicles Act, something that according to the supporting documentation, “YCCMA has acknowledged and accepted.” However, obtaining the lease will not help the club address the issue of child participation. In addition, meeting the requirements of the ATV Bylaw and the MVA may not be something its members want to do simply for the privilege of riding within the confines of a dirt bike park.
According to the City’s ATV Bylaw the operator of any ATV (which includes dirt bikes) will have to obtain the following: a prescribed safety helmet; a valid operator’s license; a current certificate of registration issued pursuant to the MVA in respect of the ATV; a registration plate attached to the ATV with the current registration sticker affixed; public liability/property damage insurance in the minimum amount of $200,000 for the operation of the ATV*, for bodily injury or death of any one person, and for loss or damage to property; and a valid ATV Card.
So, if children cannot use the leased property and adults are not willing or able to assume the requirements of the MVA and the City’s ATV Bylaw, then the viability of the entire venture is questionable.
City Liability:
Administration is not too forthcoming on how the proposed lease agreement specifically addresses liability issues for the City. One could make an argument that the lease agreement will actually increase liability issues for a City that simply does not have the staff to enforce the requirements of the lease with regard to the ATV Bylaw. The City will need to have a bylaw officer on site at every competition to ensure enforcement of the ATV bylaw and to effectively address liability issues. In addition, the park will have to be monitored by bylaw officers on a far more regular basis than is done now.
Official Community Plan & Zoning:
City administration believes that this lease proposal “does not conflict with policies relating to the OCP designation . . .” Administration tells us that the site under question is in the Public Service Zone. It also says that Public Service zones allow for “recreation services.”
If outdoor participant recreational services are allowed in the PS zone, then it becomes a recreation area, and according to the OCP (18.3.3) such areas can only accommodate active forms of recreation as defined in the OCP as “being any form of human-powered transportation, such as walking, cycling, using a wheelchair, in-line skating, or skateboarding. It seems that allowing this area to be used as a dirt bike park would violate the OCP.
Impact on the Robert Service Campground and Millennium Trail Users:
Consideration should be given with regard to users of the local campground and Millennium Trail. What will be the impact of noise from the dirt bike park on those who use the campground and/or the trail? The City’s Maintenance Bylaw prohibits noise that would “disturb the quiet, rest, enjoyment or comfort of any person of reasonable sensitivity in the neighbourhood or vicinity.” (Sec. 42 Maintenance Bylaw)
Best Option:
Perhaps the best option for the YCCMA is to raise funds for the purchase or lease of private land that would be appropriate for the use intended. This would provide security of tenure and would allow its members to operate their machines without needing to adhere to the City’s ATV Bylaw or the MVA.
Apparently, this is the solution adopted by similar organizations throughout Canada. Since, according to the supporting documentation, the club “has built up a strong base of members and volunteers and secured support from a number of local businesses,” it would seem that this course of action has a good chance of success.
Respectfully,
Keith Lay (Active Trails Whitehorse Association)
May 1, 2017
*(Has the City inquired as to the average cost of obtaining insurance for a dirt bike, especially one that may be used in competition? We are told that it is very difficult to obtain insurance for such off-road-vehicles. In addition, if the dirt bike were to be used on highways its insurers would expect the bikes to be street legal.)
Updates: (March/April 2017)
1. March 21: Another Spruce Hill Trails Public Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 21 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre (Grey Mountain Room.) Douglas Hnatiuk, Manager Parks and Community Development, will be in attendance.
2. April 4: Town Hall Meetings: The schedule for the new round of Mayor and Council’s Town Hall Meetings is available at http://www.whitehorse.ca/city-council/town-hall-meetings.
The first meeting is for citizens of Whitehorse North: Porter Creek, Kopper King, Raven’s Ridge, Crestview, Taylor and Kulan, Forestview, MacPherson, and Hidden Valley. It will take place at Porter Creek Secondary School (cafeteria) on Tuesday, April 4 from 6:30 to 8 pm.
3. April 5: ATWA’s next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 5 at Sport Yukon Boardroom #1 (7:00 p.m.). (Use Boardroom entrance to right of main entrance.) Please bring any concerns you may have about our trails, green spaces, and regional parks to our meetings. All are welcome and encouraged to participate!
4. April 6: The Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Range Point/Takhini Trail Task Force group will have a final meeting on Thursday, April 6 to review public survey results and to look at the results of a Yukon Conservation Society survey that was done in the McIntyre Creek area in 2015. You can view the YCS survey at the following site: http://yukonconservation.org/programs/land-use-planning/whitehorse-area/. It is a most interesting read.
The next step in the process will see the draft trail plan go before the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee for review, and then to City Council in May. The April 6 meeting is not open to the public.
You can view the current Draft Plan Map at http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails-/trail-consultation/north. Just double click on the map to enlarge it. (Please note that the new trail construction in Porter Creek (see #3 on map) is intended to be a mountain bike flow trail, although other uses will be permitted.”)
As ATWA is a member of this task force, our association can only offer input at its meetings. We will not be able to comment when the draft plan comes before City Council for approval. Therefore, if you have any concerns about the Draft Plan you will have to make your comments known to City Council via email or by appearing as a delegate. When the Draft Plan is released to the public it should appear on the City’s website under Parks and Community Development: Trails.
Note: Please remember that snow machines (unlike ATV’s) are allowed on any non-motorized trail, and off-trail throughout green belts and open spaces within the City of Whitehorse.
The only restrictions are the following: Operators are not permitted to “damage any vegetation or ground.” And, they are not permitted to operate their vehicles on the Chadburn Lake Ski Trails, Mount McIntyre Ski Trails, Magnusson Ski Trails, or the Biathlon Ski Trails.
Snow machines are also prohibited from the following areas of the City: a boulevard, a campground, a cemetery, an area designated as environmentally sensitive, the Downtown area, the Millennium Trail, a playground, a restricted roadway, a roadway, a school playground, a ski trail (those mentioned above), open water.
In order to operate a snow machine within the City of Whitehorse the operator must have the following:
(1) a valid operator’s license as required by this bylaw;
(2) a valid certificate of registration in respect of the snowmobile;
(3) a valid registration plate affixed to the snowmobile;
(4) a valid insurance card in respect of the snowmobile; and
(5) a valid Safe Snowmobiler Card as required by this bylaw
5. April 12: The following is from the City of Whitehorse: “The City of Whitehorse is in the process of developing a Trail Plan for the neighbourhoods of Forestview, MacPherson, and Hidden Valley. Please come out and tell us:
- How you like to use the local trails
- What trails are most important to you
- Issues and concerns around trails or trail use
- Ideas and opportunities for improving the trail network
Join us:
- Wednesday, April 12, 2017, 7 - 9 pm @ Hidden Valley Elementary School Library
As ATWA is also a member of this task force, our association can only offer input at its meetings. We will not be able to comment when the draft plan comes before City Council for approval. However, you can.
6. April 20: The next meeting of the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee is tentatively scheduled for Thursday April 20, 2017 4:45 pm – 6:15 pm Sport Yukon Building Boardroom. (Use Boardroom entrance to right of main entrance.) Observers are encouraged to attend! See the City’s website under Trails for current information.
7. May 25: Active Trails Whitehorse Association’s Annual General Meeting will take place on Thursday May 25, 2017 at Sport Yukon Boardroom #2 (the one with the windows). The meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m.
If you are interested in joining our board please let us know as soon as possible. You can contact us at [email protected] to see what may be entailed. You would not be overwhelmed with work, but we would appreciate your help and input.
8. Trail Development Applications: The Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee has entertained three trail development applications in recent months. Unfortunately, these applications are not posted for public viewing, and a trail construction project could be approved, and construction commenced, before the general public is even made aware of the situation.
However, although not generally known, there is a way of seeing these applications. When a Trail Development Application is to be discussed by the WTGC, it will appear on the meeting Agenda. The Agenda is usually posted on the city’s website a few days ahead of a WTGC meeting. At that point you could contact Parks and Community Development and ask that a copy of the application be emailed to you. Contact Cherie Bauer [email protected] and/or Doug Hnatiuk at [email protected].
At present, there seems to be no way that you can make comments to the WTGC with regard to your views concerning these trail development applications. However, you could certainly send your comments to Mayor and Council. [email protected]
You may want to ask for copies of the last three trail applications. (Two involved Grey Mountain, and one involved the Riverdale area.)
Inclusiveness is one of the four guiding principles of the 2007 Trail Plan. This principle commits the City “to including the public in determining guidelines for trail system development, use, preservation and maintenance.”
As a citizen you have every right to view and make comments on these trail development applications. Certainly the last three make for interesting reading. Do not forget that when trail development applications are on the WTGC Agenda, you can always attend meetings as an observer.
9. Letter to the Editor: Recently, an ATWA letter was published in both local papers. The letter can be viewed on our website under Issues: Trail Development Application Process.
10. Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan: No word as to when the management
plan will again come before City Council.
Updates: March 2017
1. Congratulations go out to Peter Long for receiving a Heritage Award. He was recently presented “the Innovation, Education, and Community Engagement Award for his work in promoting and documenting the history of the Hepburn tramway through a website publication called Forgotten Trails: Walking the Hepburn Tramway.” (Whitehorse Star article of 2/24/17, by Dan Davidson entitled, Yukoners honoured for helping preserve history) See the website publication at http://www.whitehorsewalks.com/_docs/TheHepburnTramway.pdf
2. Another Spruce Hill Trails Public Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 21 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre (Grey Mountain Room.) Douglas Hnatiuk, Manager Parks and Community Development, will be in attendance.
3. The next meeting of the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee is scheduled for Thursday, March 16 (4:45 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.) at the Sport Yukon Building Boardroom. Use Boardroom entrance to right of main entrance. Observers are welcome to attend, but are not permitted to comment. See http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails-/trails-and-greenways-committee for current information. Please note that ATWA is no longer a member of this committee.
4. The Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee reviews all trail development applications. Whenever an application comes before the committee it will appear on the Agenda. However, the only information provided will be the name of the applicant. To see the actual application contact Douglas Hnatiuk at Parks and Community Development. ([email protected]) He will be able to provide you with a copy of the application.
The WTGC gave approval in principle to a trail proposal/application that came before the committee at its February meeting. If you want to learn more about this application you will need to see the actual document.
5. Just so you are given plenty of warning, ATWA’s AGM will take place on May 25, 2017 at Sport Yukon Boardroom #2 (the one with the windows). The meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m. Think about joining our board. We could use the help.
6. For those of you who live in Whistle Bend, Porter Creek, or Takhini North, you might find the following to be of interest. Apparently, work will begin in March on the extension of a water main that will connect Porter Creek with Whistle Bend. This will involve work between the traffic circle on Mountain View Drive, and the Pine Street extension. Anticipated completion date is July 15, 2017. If you wish more information on this project you can contact Taylor Eshpeter (City Engineering Project) at [email protected] 689-2143.
7. The February 23 Yukon Conservation Society email letter, mentioned that a Biodiversity Forum will be held at Yukon College on Saturday March 4, from 9-4 pm. This is a free event, but you must register. You can find out more by going to the Yukon College website.
8. One of our members has noticed that another rogue or unauthorized trail has appeared between Robert Service Park and the Yukon Energy fence. Our member has observed evidence of ATV and snowmobile use. Mr. Hnatiuk at Parks and Community Development was informed, but there has been no response as of yet. Bylaw Services was also informed and responded by saying that it is doing random patrols.
9. Approval of the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan has been postponed again. We have no idea as to when it will come before Mayor and Council again, although we do hope it will be sooner rather than later. Check the Agenda for City Council meetings each Friday. This can be found at http://www.whitehorse.ca/home on Friday afternoons (4:00 p.m.) prior to Monday’s council meeting.
10. ATWA has placed a new item under Resources on its website: City Trail Maps Location. http://www.activetwa.org/city-trail-maps-location.html. It may help people find what maps are available on the City’s website. Unfortunately, finding City trail maps is an exercise in frustration if you are not provided with a guide of some sort.
11. As we have said before, trail planning projects are underway in Whitehorse South, Whitehorse North, and in Porter Creek, Whistle Bend, Range Point, and Takhini. All three areas are all in various stages of development. The only new development is the Spruce Hill Trails Public Meeting (see #2).
12. If you belong to an association and wish to do some good for both your community and your association, you may want to become involved in this year’s community clean up. The due date for Community Clean Up Litter Grants applications is March 15. Visit http://www.whitehorse.ca/cleanup. Of course, you could always help us complete the clean up of our assigned section of the Millennium Trail!
13. ATWA believes that the current Trail Development Application process needs improvement. There needs to be an opportunity for the general public to have an opportunity to comment on trail development applications prior to their being recommended for approval, or (in rare cases) turned down by the WTGC. We have made some preliminary suggestions for possible changes to both the Trail Development Application process, and to the Trail Development Application form itself. You can find these on our website. See Trail Development Application Process under Issues.
Bulletin February 26, 2017: ATWA has added a new item under Resources: City Trail Maps. We have been trying for years now to get the City to post trail maps of approved trail plans. We are continually told that it is a work in progress and is dependent on the availability of financial and human resources. One wonders why our municipal government spends so much administration and citizen volunteer time on developing trail plans for various areas of the City, only to deny ready access by the public to the vital component of the plan: the approved trail plan map.
ATWA's new addition under Resources is a guide to what maps do exist on the City's website. We hope that you will find it of some value.
Updates: January 24, 2017
1. The City has heard concerns from Spruce Hill residents regarding the section of trails in this area. Staff would like to provide an opportunity for dialogue specifically with Spruce Hill residents at the following special meeting: Thursday, January 26, 2017, 7 - 8:30 pm - Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre, Grey Mountain Room. (Douglas Hnatiuk, Manager Parks and Community Development will be in attendance.)
If you are unable to attend but would like to provide input, please email [email protected] or contact Marc Boulerice, Supervisor, Parks and Trails, at 668-8655. (Information from the City’s website: http://whitehorse.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails-/trail-consultation/south)
2. The City of Whitehorse is asking the public to use “caution on icy areas of the multi-use trail near Shipyards Park and KDCC.”
3. The Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan is tentatively scheduled to come before council for final approval on Monday, February 6, 5:30 p.m. Check the Agenda for the meeting to confirm. This can be found at http://www.whitehorse.ca/home on Friday afternoons (4:00 p.m.) prior to Monday’s council meeting.
4. Active Trails Whitehorse Association has applied once again to take part in our city’s Community Cleanup. Our usual area extends from the Robert Campbell Bridge along the Millennium trail to the dam. We will be asking people to give us a hand early in the spring. The more people we get, the quicker the task will go.
5. The next Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday February 16, 2017. The meeting will take place from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m., and will be held at the Sport Yukon Building Boardroom. Observers are encouraged to attend.
A meeting of the WTGC was held last week. As mentioned in previous Updates, ATWA is now a member of this committee. If you have any concerns with regard to trails, regional parks, and green spaces within our city please let us know via email ([email protected]). If you would like to present before the WTGC about concerns you may have with regard to our trails, regional parks, and/or green spaces, please contact us and we will be happy to go over the process with you.
We hope to set up a WTGC section on our website within the next few weeks in order to keep you informed (as best we can) about issues of concern that come before the committee.
6. Information about the Hepburn Tramway project can be found at http://www.whitehorsewalks.com/_walkingIdeas/HepburnTramway.html
7. This is something that people may not know, but Parks Canada public consultations will be held in cities across Canada, from January 9 to 27, 2017. For more information on the Minister's Round Table process: http://letstalkparkscanada.ca/. The future of our national parks is under review and you can provide input.
8. As you are aware, trail planning projects are underway in Whitehorse South, Whitehorse North, and in Porter Creek, Whistle Bend, Range Point, and Takhini. All three are all in various stages of development. We will let you know (when we know) what the next steps will be with regard to each of these trail-planning projects.
Updates: December 5, 2016
- Wednesday, December 7, at 6 p.m. – Alpine Club of Canada – Yukon Section event featuring a Parks Canada presentation on Ivvavik, Tuktut Nogait, and Aulavik National Parks. This is a free presentation, which will be held at the Whitehorse Public Library.
- Thursday, December 15, from 4:45 – 6:15 p.m. – Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee meeting at Sport Yukon. (Use Boardroom entrance to right of main entrance.) All are welcome to attend as observers. See the City’s website under Trails for current information including the Minutes of previous meetings. ATWA is now a member of the WTGC. If you have any issues, which you would like us to raise before the Committee, please contact us at [email protected]. At the Dec. 15 meeting there will be a progress report concerning the Whitehorse South (Southern Lakes) and Whitehorse North Trail Task Force. As well, there will be an update on the Committee’s Action Plan. You can review the Committee’s last Annual Report (2015) at the following site: http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=5151
- Robert Service Way Area Planning Study – apparently “the City is looking to review and update the long term vision and land use plan for this important area prior to the upcoming Official Community Plan review process.” (City of Whitehorse) Apparently, there will be some overlap between this study and the Schwatka Lake Area Plan with regard to trails, recreation aspects, and connections. You can view a map of the area under consideration at http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=7902. The project manager for this study is Kinden Kosick, 668-8348. He can also be reached at [email protected].
- The Whitehorse South Trails Task Force had the last of its formal meetings recently. As ATWA is a member of this task force, we will keep you informed of the next step in the process when it becomes known. The area under discussion includes the following: Wolf Creek, Pineridge, Spruce Hill, Mary Lake, Cowley Creek, and Golden Horn.
- The Whitehorse North Task Force also held the last of its formal meetings a week ago. ATWA is a member of this task force as well, and we will endeavour to keep you apprised of the next step in the process.
- ATWA has yet to receive any response from Parks and Community Development with regard to our inquiry of September 15, requesting information as to the status of the East of the Yukon River Trail Plan, passed by City Council in January of 2014. We are concerned about the lack of progress with the plan’s implementation, particularly with the lack of signage to indicate motorized trails within the area.
- The Trail Maintenance Policy has now been updated. ATWA made a number of appeals before Council concerning some of the suggested changes. Some of our concerns were heard and the result is definitely better than what was originally proposed by administration. The new policy is not yet available on the City’s website, but you can view the Council approved document under City Council (Nov. 14) Agenda at http://199.192.184.59/Home/ShowDocument?id=7890.
- Council has approved a change to the Terms of Reference for the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee. ATWA argued against the change. The updated Terms of Reference has yet to appear on the City’s website, but you can view what council approved by looking at the November 8 City Council Agenda. See the following site: http://199.192.184.59/Home/ShowDocument?id=7864
- Information with regard to the proposed Point Park can be viewed by going to the following site: The Point Park at www.whitehorse.ca/rangepoint.
- Council approval of the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan has been delayed once again. The plan is scheduled to come before Council on January 30th. We suggest you check the City’s website each Friday afternoon to see what is on City’s Council’s Agenda for the following Monday. http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca
- Schwatka Lake Area Plan: The City will be replacing the Schwatka Lake west shore launch. This work is scheduled to take place in the spring of 2017, and will take up to two weeks to complete. Signage work on the west shore will apparently commence in 2017. ATWA is a member of the Schwatka Lake Working Group.
- The City’s (Winter) Active Living Guide is now available on the City’s website. See http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/recreation-and-facility-services/programs-events-services-/active-living-guide.
- Parks and Community Development has been tasked by City Council to develop a Trail Development Policy. The department intends to look at other municipalities’ trail development policies, and see if some aspects of those policies might work for our community. If you are familiar with any that do seem to work please let us know and we forward your suggestion(s) to the department.
- The Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee is apparently going to look at improving the current Trail Development Application process. ATWA has long felt that this process needs some attention in order to ensure that the general public has an opportunity to both view and make comments on these applications prior to them coming before the WTGC. We will be making our suggestions known to the Committee. Our preliminary comments with regard to the process, are now found on our website in the coming days. (See Issues and go to Trail Development Application Process.)
- ATWA intends to request the City to amend the Snowmobile Bylaw so that it lists the same prohibited areas as does the ATV Bylaw. In other words, all non-motorized trails, open spaces, and greenbelt areas would be added to the list of prohibited areas found in the Snowmobile Bylaw. One reason for doing this would be to help reduce the confusion that arises as to motorized use of non-motorized trails in the winter.
Updates: November 10, 2016
1. The following is from the City:
Preparation of Robert Service Way Area Planning Study
Department: Planning & Building Services
Category: Procurement Postings
RFP Number: RFP 2016-PLA0003
Start Date: 11/04/2016
Close Date: 12/16/2016 3:00 PM
The City would like to undertake a planning study for the Robert Service Way area to determine the potential for recreational and commercial development in the area, while respecting the ecological values and potential for pre and post-contact archaeological sites. This project will include significant government, stakeholder and public consultation.
An Area Development Scheme for the South Access area was completed by Inukshuk Planning in 1997. This plan reviewed potential land uses along the Alaska Highway, at Ear Lake, and across from the Schwatka Lake/Yukon Energy access. However, this report pre-dates the Final Umbrella Agreements with First Nations, several private developments, and the imminent closure of the Ear Lake quarries. As such, the City is looking to review and update the long-term vision and land use plan for this important area prior to the upcoming Official Community Plan review process.
More information can be found at www.whitehorse.ca/robertserviceway
Proponents become registered through purchasing and downloading the RFP documents from biddingo.com. All proponents must be registered.
Closing December 16, 2016 at 3 pm (PT).
2. The Trail Maintenance Policy will once again come before City Council on Monday, November 14. ATWA has been involved since June with regard to changes proposed by administration to this relatively new policy (2015).
As well, changes to the Terms of Reference for the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee will also come before Council for approval. ATWA has expressed its concerns with regard to one of the proposals, but it seems likely that Council will adopt the change.
3. The City has announced the formation of a trail task force for the Whitehorse North area of the City. This includes Hidden Valley, McPherson and Cousin’s airstrip. The following is from the City:
The first meeting will be Tuesday, November 15th from 6:30-9 pm in the library at Hidden Valley Elementary.
For those of you who are neighbourhood residents interested in taking part, there is an important piece to note. The City’s 2007 Trail Plan and accompanying bylaws support the consideration of how motorized activities legitimately fit into the City trail network. The general expectation is that neighbourhood representatives will be open to this discussion as well.
ATWA has been accepted as a member of this task force.
4. This from the Yukon Conservation Societies weekly newsletter.
What's on the River?
Wednesday Nov. 16, 12-1pm, Fish Ladder, Whitehorse
What’s on the river? A lunchtime stroll across the Rotary Centennial footbridge with Cameron Eckert. Meet at the Fish Ladder at 12 pm. Dress warm!! More information can be obtained on the Yukon Bird Club site. http://yukonbirds.ca
5. The Point Park Public Meeting: (The following is from the City.)
The public is invited to attend this meeting to discuss potential design and programming features for the proposed park. Drop in anytime during this open house event to talk to City Planners and project consultants.
Date: Wednesday 11/23/2016 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Yukon College Room C1440 (Glass Class)
Room C1440 is located on the lower level of the Yukon College main campus building (A-Wing).
See more background about The Point Park at www.whitehorse.ca/rangepoint
6. Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee’s meeting has been rescheduled (from Nov.17), and will now take place on November 24, at Sport Yukon in one of its two boardrooms. The meeting begins at 4:45 and ends at 6:15. Observers are welcome to attend. The Agenda for the meeting can be viewed at http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/home/showdocument?id=7846
7. ATWA has been appointed to the Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee for a two-year term starting Nov. 24. If you have any concerns that you would like the Committee to address, please let us know. If you have any questions with regard to the Committee please contact us. The Terms of Reference of the Committee will give you a better idea of its purpose. Please see http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=4770
There is a section in the Terms of Reference entitled: Bringing a Trail Issue to the Committee. This will tell you the process involved. Yes, you can certainly apply to develop a trail, but you could also bring any other issue you may have with regard to trails, green spaces, environmentally sensitive areas, or regional parks before the Committee.
8. The Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan is due to come before Council in November. Keep checking the City’s website each Friday afternoon to see what is on City’s Council’s Agenda for the following Monday. http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca
9. The Southern Lakes Task Force continues its deliberations. Its next meeting takes place on November 30. ATWA has a member on this task force.
10. The following is from WildWise Yukon:
WildWise is currently gathering feedback on the effectiveness of some bear aware signage. We have developed the messaging throughout a directed study with Yukon College and have erected the signs on the Canada Trail behind the Arts Centre as well as adjacent to the Senior's Residence at Yukon Place. We would greatly value your feedback on messaging, presentation, etc. and will produce a final product with the recommendations we receive.
You can view the sign at http://wildwise.ca/projects/#current-initiatives (Trail signs for Whitehorse). Go to “open image in new window” for a better look.
Also from Heather is “an interesting article by an Alberta wildlife biologist about the impact of off leash pets on wildlife.”
https://crowfootmedia.com/2016/09/08/why-dogs-belong-on-a-leash-outdoors/
Heather Ashthorn
Executive Director, WildWise Yukon
wildwise.ca
867-335-5212
[email protected]
11. ATWA has received no response from Parks and Community Development with regard to our inquiry of September 15, requesting information as to the status of the East of the Yukon River Trail Plan, passed by City Council in January of 2014. We are concerned about the lack of progress with the plan’s implementation.
October 5, 2016 Updates:
1. We have now been told that the Trail Maintenance Policy is NOT on the agenda for October 11th. Parks staff plans to have it come back to Committee (City Council) on October 17th, with subsequent adoption scheduled for the 24th. Always check the City’s website (http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca) on Friday evening to see Council’s Agenda for the following week.
ATWA gave a presentation before Council on Monday (Oct. 3) indicating that if the proposed changes to the Trail Maintenance Policy are approved, we may well see the appearance of even more rogue trails in our community. In our presentation we “[urged] Council to reject the legalization of rogue trails, and to send a message to anyone contemplating such construction, that in our City rogue trail construction is not to be tolerated or rewarded, and that all such trails will be closed permanently with no possibility of future approval.” Our entire presentation is attached. (See below.) The current applicable Trail Maintenance Policy section under question, administration’s proposals, and ATWA’s suggested changes to administration’s proposals are found at the following site: http://www.activetwa.org/city-trail-maintenance-policy.html.
We encourage you to read our presentation before Council and the documents found on our website, and if you agree with ATWA’s position please contact Mayor and Council and let members know. One or two sentences is all that is required. Send your comments to [email protected]. (If any of you wish to appear before Council on October 17th with regard to the Trail Maintenance Policy, contact [email protected] (668-8622) who will be happy to let you know how that can be done.)
2. On October 3rd, City Administration presented the proposed Final Plan with regard to the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan to City Council. Council is tentatively scheduled to vote to adopt the plan on October 11th. As the City says, "The Proposed Final Plan contains numerous proposed changes from the Draft Plan. These stem from the huge amount of public input we received. The latest version of the What We Heard document has a 19 page chart detailing all input on the Draft Plan, as well as whether [or not] it was incorporated in the Proposed Final Plan.”
You can still comment on the plan before City Council on the 11th.
September, 2016 Updates:
1. An Active Trails Whitehorse Association meeting will be held on Thursday, Sept. 22 (7:00 p.m.) at Sport Yukon 4061 4th Avenue. Use the boardroom entrance found to the right of the main entrance. Topics will include the East of the Yukon River Trail Plan, protection of non-motorized trails, Chadburn Lake Regional Park Plan, Trail Maintenance Policy, Whitehorse South Trail Plan, and the City’s Trail Development Application Policy. Please attend and bring any concerns you have about our trails, green spaces, and regional parks to our attention.
2. The Miles Canyon Suspension Bridge will be closed from Sept. 12 to Oct. 31, 2016 to allow for permanent repairs.
3. Sept. 17, 2016, (10:00 AM) sees the start of Household Hazardous Waste Day.
4. The Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee September meeting will be held on Thursday, September 15 at 4:45 p.m. at Sport Yukon (boardroom). All welcome! There was no meeting in August. The Minutes of its July 21 meeting will not be available until a week after the September gathering. Consult the following site for current information: http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails-/trails-and-greenways-committee
5. The Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee is looking for new members. Applications must be in by September 22nd and can be obtained a the following site: http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/home/showdocument?id=7660 If there is anyone out there who would be willing to represent Active Trails Whitehorse Association on the committee please contact us at [email protected].
6. The start-up meeting for the City of Whitehorse - Whitehorse South Trail Plan is scheduled for 6:30 pm on Tuesday, September 20th at Sport Yukon boardroom on 2nd Avenue (next to High Country Inn). Active Trails Whitehorse Association will have representation on this trail task force.
7. ATWA has heard little with regard to the East of the Yukon River Trail Plan, which was passed by City Council in January of 2014. We will be contacting City administration this week to see if we can obtain an update as to its current status.
8. So far no word on when the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Draft Management Plan will be brought before City Council. We expect it will be sometime this month or next. Keep your eye on Upcoming Events on the City’s website. The Agenda for each Monday’s Council meeting is usually published on the preceding Friday. (http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/home)
9. There is also no word on when the Draft Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Takhini/Range Point Trail Plan will be brought before City Council, so again keep your eye on the City’s website (see #8) for information.
10. The Recreation and Parks Association of the Yukon (RPAY) is conducting a Yukon Healthy Living Study survey. “The purpose of this study is to better understand and monitor Yukoners’ lifestyles related to physical activity and recreation.” You are encouraged to take a few minutes of your time and complete the survey. It is available at the following site: http://datapathsystems.net/2016RPAY/YukonHealthyLivingStudy.html
11. The Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee approved Paul’s Trail located on Grey Mountain on June 16. This despite the fact that part of it is a rogue trail that was made known to the public in August of 2015. See http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/whitehorse-official-warns-rogue-trail-builders-to-obey-city-bylaws-1.3196988. As the City has not developed any specific policy with regard to rogue trails, ATWA believes that the WTGC has exceeded its authority as Mayor and Council set policy not the WTGC. The latter “is an advisory committee that makes recommendations to the City Council and/or Senior Management by way of the chair or designate.” (WTGC Terms of Reference p. 5)
After a recent meeting with administration, ATWA has received a commitment that Paul’s Trail will not go ahead this fall. Administration will wait to see what happens with the proposed changes to the Trail Maintenance Policy, which Council will address on Tuesday, October 11. In addition, it will see what is contained in the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan concerning trail matters before a final decision is made with regard to Paul’s Trail.
12. As mentioned in our August Updates, City administration’s proposed changes to the Trail & Maintenance Policy were not accepted by City Council, but were sent to the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee for review. Apparently, the committee looked at the proposed changes during its July meeting and decided more review time was needed. We are told that the revised changes are likely to come before Council again on October 11. The current applicable TMP section under question, administration’s proposals, and ATWA’s suggested changes to administration’s proposals are found at the following site: http://www.activetwa.org/city-trail-maintenance-policy.html
13. At the meeting referred to in (#11) administration also indicated that Trail Development Applications would be attached to future WTGC meeting Agendas for public viewing. Although this would be an improvement we have asked that any Trail Development Application received by the chairperson be made available for public perusal on the City’s (WTGC) website at the same time that the chairperson distributes it to committee members in order that both the public and committee members have an equal amount of time to review the document, and that the public be informed that it can forward any comments it may have on a trail application to the WTGC (via the chairperson) up to the time it is to be discussed by the WTGC (a date which should be made known to the public), so that the public’s concerns/questions/comments can be addressed at the same time as the committee discusses the application.
Trail Development Applications have to be received by the chairperson “at least three weeks prior to the upcoming WTGC monthly (regular) meeting.” (TOR 11.1) As WTGC Agendas are usually not published more than a week in advance of a WTGC meeting, attaching Trail Development Applications to the Agenda would not give the public enough time to review and comment on the application prior to the meeting. This is why we asked that the TDA be posted for public review at the same time that it is distributed to committee members.
14. WildWise Yukon has an updated website, which we are sure you would find interesting. www.wildwise.ca
The organization is “always looking for ways to share information about reducing human-wildlife conflicts.” Check out its Backyard Checklist.
15. ATWA is still a member of the Schwatka Lake Area Plan Working Group, although no meetings have been scheduled for some time. If you are interested in learning about the plan you can visit the following site: http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=5158 If you use the area please let us know of any concerns you may have.
16. Those of you living in Porter Creek may have noticed that the City has now extended its paved trail from the bridge near the Pump Station to the Power Line Road just south of the snow dump. An effort was made to ensure that there is a wide non-paved section to one side that can be used by ORVs and those of the public who like to walk and run off-pavement. This is part of the motorized section of the Trans Canada Trail. We believe that this was built with the help of federal “gas tax” funds. As such the paved trails are non-motorized.
August 8, 2016 Updates:
1. The next meeting of the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee is tentatively scheduled for Thursday August 18, 2016 from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. at one of the two boardrooms at Sport Yukon. (Meeting was cancelled for August, 2016.) See City website for information re: next meeting, which should be in September.
2. City administration’s proposed changes to the Trail & Maintenance Policy were not accepted by City Council, but were sent to the Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee for review. Apparently, the committee looked at the proposed changes during its July meeting and decided more review time was needed. At present, we are told that the revised changes are likely to come before Council again on October 11. ATWA sent two documents to the WTGC concerning the changes and asked committee members to review them prior to its July meeting.
3. We have been told that the final Chadburn Lake Draft Management Plan will be brought before Council at the first or second Council meeting in September. Apparently, much input was received with regard to the Draft Plan. ATWA made a submission with regard to the draft document.
4. We have no additional information as to when the draft Trail Plan for the neighbourhoods of Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Range Point/Takhini will come before City Council. The public will have an opportunity at that time to voice any concerns it may have with regard to the plan.
5. Peter Long is still interested in hearing any stories from residents concerning the Hepburn Tramway. As he says, he believes “that we have a unique opportunity to make [the Hepburn Tramway] Whitehorse’s first Historical Walk.” You can read more about the Hepburn Tramway on his whitehorseWalks.com website.
6. The Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club is no longer a member of the WTGC. Apparently, the WTGC will wait until the fall to seek a replacement, as other vacancies may arise due to the fact that at that time the terms of some remaining members come to an end.
7. A donation has been made in the name of Active Trails Whitehorse Association to Tennis Yukon to help maintain its outhouse located at the tennis courts at the Mt. McIntyre recreation centre.
8. Another Trails Task Force is to be established in the City and will cover Whitehorse South. Apparently, this task force is to commence in the fall. ATWA made a request to sit on this task force several months ago, as it was previously scheduled to start in the summer. We hope that we will be considered as a member when the task force is formed in the fall.
9. The City is completing work on the paved trail extension from the bridge near the pump house on McIntyre Creek to the snow dump area at the bottom of the Pine Street extension. It will eventually come to the top of the Pine Street extension.
If you do not wish to receive these Updates please let us know. If you know of anyone who might benefit from our Updates please give them ATWA’s email address. We would be happy to add the person to our list of associates. In addition, ATWA membership forms are available at Sport Yukon (in our mailbox) or on our website. We could use the support.
June 19, 2016 Updates:
Hi! Just thought we would pass on two items that may be of interest to you. The first concerns the Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan: Draft Release and associated events. The Draft Plan is available for public comment until Thursday, June 30. We urge anyone who uses the area under consideration to review the Draft Plan. It is suggested that you read the “What We Heard and How We Considered Your Input Document” prior to reading the Draft Plan. You can make your comments by visiting www.whitehorse.ca/chadburn. As well, you can attend one or all of the three public events and provide comments.
The second item concerns the Trail Plan for the neighbourhoods of Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Range Point/Takhini. There is an Online Survey available on our City’s website until Thursday, June 30 for review and completion. See http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/departments/parks-and-community-development/trails/2016-trail-plan-survey. A map, which can be enlarged, is also available on the site. There are numbers on the map (25), which correspond to numbers in the survey.
ATWA encourages everyone who lives in these areas or makes use of the trails in the area, to fill out the Online Survey. Please note that non-motorized trails are only non-motorized in the summer. In the winter they can be used by snowmobile operators unless they are specifically mentioned in the Snowmobile Bylaw as being off-limits. This is something that ATWA believes needs changing.
(Please note that the Trail Task Force working on this Trail Plan must work within the confines of current bylaws. It cannot suggest changes.) However, the public can call for changes if it feels there is a need.
One of the ideas of having MMU trails is to get machines “out-and-away.” However, in the winter snowmobiles can remain "in-and-near." Even the KSA encourages their members to use MMU trails, so why does the City not change the Snowmobile Bylaw to correspond with the ATV Bylaw, which prohibits ATV’s from using non-motorized trails? (Just add MMU trails to those non-motorized trails not mentioned as off-limits in the Snowmobile Bylaw, and you will get a better picture of the potential extent of MMU (motorized) trails in the winter.)
Another question that has been brought up in recent Town Hall Meetings relates to the paved trails that are being built in the City. All but one of these City-built paved trails are apparently off-limits to ATVs/dirt bikes in the summer, but what about snowmobiles in winter? We know the paved trail along Hamilton Boulevard is designated “Mixed Use”, and allows for both non-motorized and motorized use, a situation which some consider to be unsafe. It is our understanding that most (if not all) City-built paved trails are in part funded by federal gas tax monies. (Once built, the City is responsible for the cost of their maintenance.)
In November of 2013, Brad Cathers, who was then Minister of Community Services made the following comment concerning Canada’s Gas Tax Fund and the City's pathways project: “The pathways project helps to further connect the community’s (City of Whitehorse) neighbourhoods. The paved paths provide recreational and health benefits and opportunities for multiple uses including running, walking, biking and commuting.”
In the same press release Mayor Dan Curtis said “ . . . the new pathways promote active transportation and recreation throughout our community.” The press release went on to say that the “project will link neighbourhoods together and will encourage residents to consider alternative modes of transportation. More than contributing to cleaner air and helping reduce greenhouse gasses, this project will also promote a healthier lifestyle in the community.” (To view the entire news release go to: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=793999).
The current Snowmobile Bylaw makes no mention of any paved commuter trail in the City being off-limits to snowmobiles.
May 30, 2016 Updates:
1. Mayor’s Town Hall meeting: Whitehorse West (McIntyre, Hillcrest, Valleyview, Granger, Copper Ridge, Logan, Arkell, Ingram and Lobird) Tuesday May 31 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. at Emilie Tremblay School Library 20 Falcon Drive.
2. International Trails Day takes place on Saturday June 4th. We do not know of any specific events here in Whitehorse or Yukon. However, perhaps we should all think of something that we might do to celebrate next year. In any event, celebrate this year by walking one of our great trails on Saturday.
3. Mayor’s Town Hall meeting: (Takhini, Whistle Bend, Range Point, Swan and Crow Streets) Tuesday June 7 from 6:30 to 8 pm at Takhini Elementary School Library.
4. The following is from the City of Whitehorse: "We are in the final stages of developing a Trail Plan for the neighbourhoods of Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Range Point/Takhini. Attend Our Open House
- Thursday, June 9
- 7-9 pm
- Takhini Elementary School library
This will be live from June 10 - 30."
ATWA encourages everyone who lives in these areas or makes use of the trails in the area, to both attend the evening event and fill out the Online Survey when it becomes available on June 10. See Public Consultations on the City’s website: http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/city-council/public-consultations. Please note that non-motorized trails are only non-motorized in the summer. In the winter they can be used by snowmobile operators unless they are specifically mentioned in the Snowmobile Bylaw as being off-limits. This is something that ATWA believes needs changing.
One of the ideas of having MMU trails is to get machines “out-and-away.” However, in the winter snowmobiles can remain "in-and-near." Even the KSA encourages their members to use MMU trails, so why does the City not follow the ATV Bylaw, which prohibits ATV’s from using non-motorized trails? (Just add MMU trails to those non-motorized trails not mentioned as off-limits in the Snowmobile Bylaw, and you will get a better picture of the true extent of MMU (motorized) trails in the winter.)
5. The Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee’s next meeting is "tentatively scheduled for Thursday June 16, 2016 4:45 pm – 6:15 pm at one of Sport Yukon Boardrooms. Observers are welcome! Minutes for its April meeting are now available on the City’s website under Trails.
6. The YCS provided the following information: Yukon's upcoming territorial park, Asi Keyi, meaning 'My Grandfather's Country' in Southern Tutchone, will be nestled just north of Kluane. Yukon News story here. This is an amazing area in which to hike. I can still remember sitting on top of an 8,000 foot ridge having lunch and watching avalanches come down the slopes of Mt. Wood. Of course, I also remember the major July snow storm that forced us to remain in camp (with an amazing view of Mt. Steele) for a day, before heading down a glacier under a blue sky and camping at 11 pm. One of the photos taken by Tony Gonda on the hike was used by the Department of Tourism and was featured in Explore Magazine. Another hike took us through “ akes" of volcanic ash deposited when Mt. Churchill blew up around 1200 years ago. Some parts look like a huge golf course from high up, with ash traps rather than sand traps.
Other notes:
The Magnusson Ski Trail Project Survey has been completed and (see Minutes of WTGC of April) you will see that CMBC grooming for fat biking in the winter will continue. ATWA did not make a written submission as we felt it was an individual concern. However, we were certainly concerned with the process. Minutes suggest that two opposed the grooming. However, I made an individual submission that pointed out the impact that grooming for snow biking had on skiers, and suggested possible means to mitigate the impact. I was expecting some discussion at the WTGC that would address some of the concerns expressed. However, it does not appear that any took place. It is possible that some skiers will be displaced due to the lack of attention to some of the issues raised.
You may have heard about the illegal trail that has been built in the Mt. Mac area, and that has been actually named as “2nd Gen.” According to the CMBC it appears that the City will be assessing the trail to see if it needs to be decommissioned. If this is true it makes one wonder about the process. It the City decides to retain the trail, then it may be sending the wrong message to the public. What is the message? Answer: Build an illegal trail, admit that you have done it, then the City will ask you not to do it again and grant forgiveness, then help you with a trail application, approve the application, and then ensure you get help in bringing the trail up to the required standards for the intended use.
Trail building does impact the local environment and potentially other users of nearby trails. Trail building projects should be carefully examined before being approved. We should never forget that we are blessed with over 700 kms of existing trails with more being added each year. Perhaps every time we build a trail we should decommission another of the myriad of needless branching trails that are not necessary for our enjoyment.
If you have any concerns about what should be done with this new illegal trail, it is suggested you contact Parks and Community Development ([email protected]) and/or one of your Councillors and express your views. See news article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/rogue-trail-built-mount-macintyre-1.3598483
May 26, 2016 Updates - AGM:
Active Trails Whitehorse Association had a successful AGM on May 26, 2016. We have a new board member this year and look forward to working together to continue our efforts. Our President’s Report is found under "Home" (Activities). It will give you an idea of our activities over the past year.
New members welcome! Drop by Sport Yukon and pick up a membership form. Membership fee is $10. You can fill out the form and pay at the counter.
May 23, 2016 Updates:
The following was recently received from the City of Whitehorse.
Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan: Process Update
Dear Chadburn Lake Regional Park stakeholders and partner governments:
We wanted to bring you up to speed on all that we've done since the February Ideas Fair. The Planning Team has been matching engagement input with existing City commitments, capacity realities, and best practices in the field of park management. We now have a Draft Plan being reviewed by the City's senior administration which will then be reviewed by Mayor and Council mid-May. No decisions have been made.
We will be launching a second round of engagement on the Draft Plan in June. There will be various opportunities to see the Draft Plan, chat with planners, and provide feedback. With the Draft Plan, we will also release a "What was heard and how we considered your input" from the Ideas Fair and key-informant interviews. This will allow participants to see initial input and understand why or why not the planning team incorporated input in the draft plan. All input will remain anonymous.
We will be in touch in the coming weeks regarding the next steps for how to be involved. In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to contact [email protected] or visit whitehorse.ca/chadburn
May 8, 2016 Updates:
These are ATWA's latest Updates:
1. The City has cancelled its Town Hall Meeting for Whitehorse East that was to have taken place on Tuesday, May 10 at Takhini Elementary School. The meeting will be rescheduled.
2. Reuse Roundtable (Ideas on sharing stuff!) will be held by the City on Wednesday May 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Grey Mountain Room at the Mt. Mac Rec Centre. RSVP to [email protected] or 668-8312. Apparently, there is an online survey as well that you can complete. Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/reuseroudtable.
3. ATWA’s Millennium Trail Clean-Up will take place this Saturday, May 14 starting a 9:00 a.m. (sharp). Meet at the parking lot on the East side of the Rotary Centennial Bridge just south of Alsek Road. Please let us know via email by Wednesday May 11 if you plan on taking part as we have to ensure there are reflective vests available for each participant.
4. Friends of McIntyre Creek is holding its AGM on Tuesday, May 17 (7 p.m.) at Yukon College in classroom C 1440. Information will be given as to the future of McIntyre Creek.
5. Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 19 from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. at Sport Yukon. Observers are welcome. At the last meeting the results of the Magnusson Ski Trail project survey were apparently presented. If you are interested in learning about the results read the Minutes of the meeting, which should be posted on the City’s website (see Parks and Community Development/Trail and Greenways Committee) a week after the May 19th meeting of the WTGC.
6. Trail Planning: We received the following information from the City: The City of Whitehorse is starting neighbourhood trail planning in the “Whitehorse South” area in 2016 – which includes the green spaces in and around McLean Lake, Canyon Crescent, Whitehorse Copper, McCrae, Wolf Creek, Pineridge, Cowley Creek, Mary Lake, and Golden Horn.
The City is calling on interested organizations to participate in the planning process, a process that is to start on May 31 and continue to June 28. It will involve 4-5 two hour meetings. Organizations have until Monday, May 15 to apply. ATWA has submitted an application to participate.
If you live in one of these areas, and/or have concerns about green spaces and trails in the respective areas, then make your concerns known to Parks and Community Development and to members of the task force when its membership is confirmed.
7. ATWA’s AGM will be held on Thursday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Sport Yukon (4061 4th Avenue) Boardroom #1. We hope you will take the time to attend. It should be a relatively short meeting as only subjects related to the AGM will be on the Agenda: Election of officers, approval of financial statements, President’s Report. Only paid members can vote. Memberships can be purchased/renewed at the AGM ($10.00 for single membership and $20.00 for a family membership). Forms are available on our website or can be obtained from our mail box at Sport Yukon.
We encourage people to put their name forward as board members either before or at the AGM. We can use the help and it would not involve a huge time commitment.
April 3, 2016
Hi! Once again ATWA has been assigned community garbage clean-up on the Millennium Trail from the Robert Campbell Bridge to the Yukon Energy Dam (East side of the River) This will include the Snow Dump area on Nitsutlin Drive. We plan on doing the clean-up on Saturday, May 14.
We will meet at 9:00 a.m. at the parking lot on the East side of the Rotary Centennial Bridge just south of Alsek Road. Reflective jackets will be supplied along with garbage bags. Garden gloves should be worn. You might want to bring some water and snacks (lunch) as we will be working until we finish. Bring some hand sanitizer if you plan on eating. Last year I believe we completed our assigned area by around 1:30. The more hands we have to help, the faster it will go. If we have enough people we will divide the group into three or four teams and start at different points along the trail. As well, we will need some people to clean the wooded areas (and non-paved trails) adjacent to the main trail.
This is a major source of income for our association. Completion of the task will bring ATWA $300.00. More importantly it will be doing our community a service and allow all citizens and visitors to enjoy the Millennium Trail even more. It is a GOOD FEELING activity. However, we need volunteers. So, if you are able to help please let us know via email as soon as possible. We need to know the number and names of participants in order to ensure we have reflective vests for all.
We will contact those who volunteer via email on the 9th or 10th of May just to confirm your attendance.
Please put the date on/in your calendar today, so it does not come as a surprise later on.
Other Notes:
Our AGM location has now been confirmed. It will be held on Thursday May 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Sport Yukon (4061 4th Avenue) Boardroom #1. We hope you will take the time to attend. It should be a relatively short meeting as only subjects related to the AGM will be on the Agenda: Election of officers, approval of financial statements, President’s Report. Only paid members can vote. Memberships can be purchased for the following year at the AGM ($10.00 for single membership and $20.00 for a family membership). We encourage people to put their name forward as board members either before or at the AGM. We can use the help and it would not involve a huge commitment of time.
March 28, 2016 Updates (March/April/May 2016):
Meetings:
1. The Yukon Conservation Society is holding its AGM on Tuesday March 29, at 5:30 p.m. in the the YCS office at 302 Hawkins St. You are asked to RSVP ([email protected] or 668-5678) if you are planning to attend.
2. The Yukon Bird Club is holding its AGM on Thursday March 31, from 7-9 p.m. at Sports Yukon (4061-4th Avenue) in one of its two boardrooms.
3. Active Trails Whitehorse Association’s next meeting takes place on Thursday March 31, at 7:00 p.m. in Boardroom #2 Sport Yukon (4061-4th Avenue) All are welcome to attend!
4. Mayor’s Town Hall Meeting for Downtown and Marwell area residents will take place on Thursday March 31, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Shipyards Park Frank Slim Building. All Whitehorse citizens are invited to attend.
5. Mayor’s Town Hall Meeting for residents of Porter Creek, Kopper King, Raven’s Ridge, Crestview, Taylor and Kulan, Forestview, McPherson and Hidden Valley will take place on Thursday April 14, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Porter Creek Secondary School Cafeteria. All Whitehorse citizens are invited to attend.
6. Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee’s next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday April 21, from 4:45-6:15 p.m. at Sport Yukon (4061-4th Avenue). Observers are welcome!
7. Active Trails Whitehorse Association's AGM will take place on Thursday May 26, at 7:00 p.m. at either Sport Yukon in Boardroom #1 (4061-4th Avenue), or at the Whitehorse Library Public Meeting Room. Location will be confirmed after ATWA’s meeting this coming Thursday. We would welcome individuals to join our board and help to ensure that we are able to continue our work. Please refer to our website and review our Mission Statement. (www.activetwa.org)
Other Information:
1. Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Takhini/Range Point/Yukon College Trail Task Force had its fifth meeting on March 3. Those involved (including ATWA) may meet one more time to review the summation document. It will then go out to the general public for comment. It is suggested that you contact Cherie Bauer at Parks and Community Development (668-8332) if you have any questions with regard to the next step in the process. If you value trails in any of these areas, then make sure you make your views known when the public input process begins. Keep your eye on our local papers and on the City’s website (under Public Consultations) for any information on the subject. See http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/city-council/public-consultations.
2. Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan, Crestview Trail Plan, and Magnusson Ski Trails Grooming Project are all listed on the City’s website under Public Consultations. See http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/city-council/public-consultations. When more information is available on any of these it will be posted to the site. It is suggested that you take a look once a week to ensure you do not miss anything.
3. As you know the Robert Lowe suspension bridge at Miles Canyon is still closed. We can only hope that it will be repaired prior to the influx of tourists. Walkers, bikers, and runners are getting a little anxious as the snow is melting fast and all are eager to use the bridge to enhance their recreational activities.
4. Work continues on the Schwatka Lake Area Plan. ATWA has a member on the Working Group team and attended its March 3 meeting. The meeting was mainly about Signage Strategy. From time to time you will see items on the Council Agenda related to the Area Plan.
5. ATWA had a letter included in the YCS Spring Newsletter. See http://www.yukonconservation.org/library/newsletters/spring2016.pdf.
March 2016 Letter to Newspapers:
It’s Time to Have Truly Non-Motorized Trails
The City of Whitehorse’s old Snowmobile Bylaw was rewritten and passed by Mayor and Council in 2012, as was the ATV Bylaw. Both bylaws were updated again in February 2015, after the Government of Yukon changed Motor Vehicles Act sections concerning ATV and snowmobile operation.
Within the City of Whitehorse boundaries, “Snowmobile operators must be at least 16 years old, and have a Safe Snowmobiler Card, valid driver’s license, insurance, certificate of registration (i.e. attached license plate) and [wear] an approved helmet.” http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=2802
The Snowmobile Bylaw prohibits snowmobiles from the Millennium Trail, Ski Trails, and Environmentally Sensitive Areas. It defines snowmobiles as “motor vehicles”.
Active Trails Whitehorse Association (ATWA) is concerned that, although ATV operators must stay on motorized trails and away from open spaces and greenbelts, snowmobile operators are not prohibited from these areas.
As a result, within the City of Whitehorse, most trails designated as non-motorized are “not” truly non-motorized.
Consequently, snowmobilers are not always sure where they are allowed, and many other users are under the mistaken belief that non-motorized trails are free from motorized use even in winter. This creates conflict.
This inconsistency between the ATV and Snowmobile Bylaws, and the resulting confusion for all trail users, is a compelling reason for Mayor and Council to re-open the Snowmobile Bylaw to correct this problem.
The inconsistency developed partly because some believe that due to snow cover, snowmobiles have less impact on the landscape than ATVs. Research indicates significant snowmobile impacts. Even the Snowmobile Bylaw recognizes that snowmobiles can damage vegetation, so it prohibits operators from “[damaging] any vegetation or ground.” (General Operating Rules: 24)
Snow depth varies each year, and changes throughout the winter. Factors such as degree of slope, aspect, height of land, temperature variation, and vegetation cover all affect snow depth. Therefore, snow depth is never the same in all areas of the City. Vegetation located above the snow snaps easily in the cold.
If snowmobilers were required to stay on designated motorized trails and out of open spaces and greenbelts (as are ATVs), then damage would be reduced, particularly to narrow single-track trails. It would also reduce user conflict and improve safety.
There is no question that there is a place for motorized “out-and-away” trails as defined in the City’s Official Community Plan. ATWA simply asks that motorized users stay on “motorized” trails, something both the City and the local snowmobile association also request of operators. It’s time to add some weight to this request.
Amending the Snowmobile Bylaw (by adding non-motorized trails, greenbelts and open spaces to its list of prohibited areas) would go a long way to ensuring the protection of our local environment and the enjoyment of those who prefer to use “non-motorized” trails. Making it consistent with the ATV Bylaw would reduce the confusion concerning trail use that is experienced by both non-motorized and motorized users and enhance clarity, which would improve the relationship between trail users.
The Board of Active Trails Whitehorse Association
January/February 2016 Updates:
1. Crestview Trail Plan: The following is from the City of Whitehorse. "We are in the final stages of developing a Trail Plan for the neighbourhood of Crestview. Please help us create a community-supported Plan and make your local trails as amazing as possible by participating!
Attend our Open House on Thursday, January 28, 2016 from 7-9 pm (Porter Creek Senior Secondary School Cafeteria.)
Online Survey coming soon after the Open House. Questions? Please contact Parks and Community Development at 668-8325.” It is suggested that even if you do not live in Crestview that you take the time to complete the survey. There may be questions related to trails that apply to all Whitehorse citizens.
2. Yukon Chapter of the Alpine Club: Presentation (talk and slideshow) by Dr. Peter Steele on the events featured in his book Doctor on Everest. This free program will take place on Thursday, January 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Baked Cafe. It is suggested you get there early as this event will be very popular. For more information visit the following site: http://www.accyukon.ca
3. Chadburn Lake Management Plan: The following is from the City of Whitehorse. "February 3, 2016: 'Ideas Fair' public engagement opportunity at the Old Fire Hall. Additional details will be announced in January.” Keep your eyes open as to the time of this meeting. It should eventually be posted on the City’s website under Public Consultation. http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/departments/planning-building-services/plans-and-implementation/chadburn-lake-park-management-plan
4. Porter Creek/Whistle Bend/Takhini/Range Point/Yukon College Trail Task Force: Apparently, the first meeting of this task force will take place on February 4. For those living in these areas it would be wise to pay close attention to this development. At some point one would assume that citizens will be asked to partake in some sort of public input much like the Crestview situation. (See #1) It is suggested that you contact Cherie Bauer at Parks and Community Development (668-8332) if you have any questions with regard to this development.
5. Active Trails Whitehorse Association Monthly Meeting: Tuesday February 9, 2016 at 7 pm, Sport Yukon, 4061 4th Avenue, (next to the Coast High Country Inn), Whitehorse,Boardroom #1. The major topic of the Agenda will be the Chadburn Lake Regional Park Management Plan. This will be a chance for you to hear about the issues, express your concerns, and review the City’s February 3, "Ideas Fair public engagement opportunity.”
6. Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee: The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday February 18, 2016 4:45 pm – 6:15 pm Sport Yukon Boardroom #1. The January meeting was changed from the 28th to the 14th, so it would be a good idea to check early in February to ensure that the February 18 meeting will indeed take place on that day. The Agenda for the meeting can be found at the following site: http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/home/showdocument?id=5970 Observers are welcome to attend.
7. Magnusson Trails: As mentioned previously in our Updates, the Minutes of the Thursday, October 22, 2015 meeting of the WTGC contained the following information:“Magnusson Trails Winter grooming project update – Sierra and Douglas provided an update on the status of the Magnusson trail winter grooming pilot project. Suggestion included: Get feedback from trail users through website input (survey) and surveys at the trailhead that can be filled out and returned to the City Parks office at Sport Yukon. Information to be presented back to WTGC members at a future date on the appetite of the trail users using those trails regarding trail grooming.”
As of this past weekend there was no indication at the trailhead that any survey is being conducted, although signs have indicated that the trails were undergoing maintenance. Nor are we aware of any “website input” for trail users on the City’s website. If you recall, the idea is to use some of the Magnusson Trails for snow biking, and the City wants to get some idea as to how this may be received by all winter Magnusson Trail users, particularly by skiers. Certain parts of the trails are to be groomed by snow machine as the best snow biking is on packed trails. As to what this does to those seeking a non-packed surface of fresh snow on which to ski is still to be determined.
Our observations indicate that some parts of the trail are simply too narrow to allow both a packed area for snow bikes, and a non-packed area for skiers. As well, it may be impossible for snow bikers to stay out of the non-groomed area used by skiers, as the trails are simply too narrow at certain points. (The obvious route for both skiers and snow bikers is down the middle of the trail.) Some steep areas may present problems for both types of uses. Skiers may have to herringbone uphill and it would not be easy to quickly get out of the way of a snow biker coming downhill. Going downhill, both skiers and snow bikers might find it difficult to stop when encountering other users on the trail. Of course, trails could be widened to accommodate everyone, but this might degrade the enjoyment of the trails by many users.
In any case, take the time to ski the area. Take some photos. If you have any concerns as to the suitability of allowing the use of these ski trails by both skiers and snow bikers under the current conditions, contact Doug Hnatiuk at 668-8325, or by e-mail at [email protected].
8. An open letter was sent by ATWA to Mayor and Council and both local newspapers in January (see below).
Active Trails Whitehorse Association would like to thank Mayor and Council for providing the necessary funding to allow the clearing of snow on the Riverfront Trail from Rotary Peace Park to Spook Creek Station. This activity commenced in February of 2015 and will be continued this year.
In addition, the city has now included the clearing of the Millennium Trail in the current year’s capital budget. Apparently, the work will be done once a week depending on snowfall amount.
Trail users have indicated that they are seeing more people on the Millennium trail than in previous winters. Perhaps this is because clearing has made the trail more accessible than ever before, especially to those with mobility issues.
In addition to Mayor and Council, we would also like to thank Athletics Yukon for bringing the issue forward for public discussion in November of 2014, the city’s Parks and Community Development department, and the Operations (Public Works) staff who actually do the work.
Finally, we would like to thank the Klondike Snowmobile Association for its past efforts in packing the Millennium Trail in often difficult conditions.
Keith Lay (Active Trails Whitehorse Association)
www.activetwa.org
[email protected]
Dec 19 2015: Miles Canyon suspension bridge to remain closed until repaired. Engineers inspected the bridge in October and found it is unsafe so it is barricaded. Some crossbeams and wooden stringers are decayed and need replacing. At this stage, no date is available on when it will be re-opened. Information including the engineering report can be found at: http://www.gov.yk.ca/news/15-390.html
Dec 5 2015: Developing a Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan. Public input on developing the plan has begun. See Issues tab, Chadburn Lake Regional Park or http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-building-services/plans-and-implementation/chadburn-lake-park-management-plan
Dec 5 2015: Developing a Chadburn Lake Park Management Plan. Public input on developing the plan has begun. See Issues tab, Chadburn Lake Regional Park or http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/planning-building-services/plans-and-implementation/chadburn-lake-park-management-plan
Dec 1 2015: A new group for all Yukoners with snowshoes. The Snowshoe Society plans to do group outings on Sunday once there is enough snow.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153090624627035&set=a.80596357034.94695.539307034&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153090624627035&set=a.80596357034.94695.539307034&type=3&theater
Nov 23 2015: Magnusson Ski Trails proposed pilot Winter Grooming Project. These ungroomed trails are on the east side of the Yukon River. The City’s advisory committee (Whitehorse Trail & Greenways Committee) is looking for feedback from users about whether to go forward with a pilot project to groom the Magnusson Ski Trails to accommodate snow bikers beside skiers and other winter users. See Issues tab, Magnusson Ski Trails.
Nov 3 2015: ATWA provided an information on our group to the new City Councilors. A copy is under Archive tab, Whitehorse 2015 elections.
Nov 1 2015: BC off-road vehicle registration & license plate is now mandatory:
Snowmobilers, before heading out to Atlin, the White Pass, Chilkoot or Haines summit, check out the new BC rules for snowmobiles and ATVs on BC crown land.
For more info, see ATVs & Snowmobiles tab, New Snowmobile & ATV Rules for BC:
http://www.activetwa.org/new-snowmobile--atv-rules-for-bc.html
Snowmobilers, before heading out to Atlin, the White Pass, Chilkoot or Haines summit, check out the new BC rules for snowmobiles and ATVs on BC crown land.
For more info, see ATVs & Snowmobiles tab, New Snowmobile & ATV Rules for BC:
http://www.activetwa.org/new-snowmobile--atv-rules-for-bc.html
Oct 21 2015: City closes Miles Canyon bridge for inspection and maintenance
http://www.gov.yk.ca/news/15-310.html
http://www.gov.yk.ca/news/15-310.html
October 2015: update on Yukon ORV Regulations:
The “what we heard” document will be released at the end of 2015. Internal Yukon government policy work will start on the regulations and is anticipated to take the 2015/2016 winter. See Issues tab, Yukon consultation on ORV rules.
The “what we heard” document will be released at the end of 2015. Internal Yukon government policy work will start on the regulations and is anticipated to take the 2015/2016 winter. See Issues tab, Yukon consultation on ORV rules.
Aug. 18 2015: The City of Whitehorse received reports that trail building activity is occurring off the Go-T trail in the Magnusson area of Grey Mountain. This trail was not approved by the City through its trail building policy. http://whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/News/News/1144/31?backlist=%2fhome
Aug 13 2014: City Trail Improvements
If you have used the Takhini to McIntyre Creek paved trails you will have noticed that the City has made some major improvements to the area. On August 13, 2014 ATWA sent the following email to Wayne Tuck and staff in his Department thanking them for their efforts. Copies were sent to Mayor and Council, the Friends of McIntyre Creek and the Porter Creek Community Association.
To: Mayor and Council
From: Active Trails Whitehorse Association
At last evening's Active Trails Whitehorse Association meeting a discussion was held with regard to the improvements being made along the Takhini to McIntyre Creek paved trail. All were most impressed with the work Wayne Tuck and his staff have done in the area. Efforts have been made to effectively block some of the "cut-off" trails adjacent to the paved trail and to prevent the use of the trail by motorized vehicles. As well, trees have been planted in order to improve the look of the area. It has never looked so good!
Attached you will find a few photos to give you a better idea of the improvements that have been made. Mr. Tuck and his staff should be congratulated on the work that has been done.
Yours sincerely,
Keith Lay and The Executive of Active Trails Whitehorse Association (ATWA)
If you have used the Takhini to McIntyre Creek paved trails you will have noticed that the City has made some major improvements to the area. On August 13, 2014 ATWA sent the following email to Wayne Tuck and staff in his Department thanking them for their efforts. Copies were sent to Mayor and Council, the Friends of McIntyre Creek and the Porter Creek Community Association.
To: Mayor and Council
From: Active Trails Whitehorse Association
At last evening's Active Trails Whitehorse Association meeting a discussion was held with regard to the improvements being made along the Takhini to McIntyre Creek paved trail. All were most impressed with the work Wayne Tuck and his staff have done in the area. Efforts have been made to effectively block some of the "cut-off" trails adjacent to the paved trail and to prevent the use of the trail by motorized vehicles. As well, trees have been planted in order to improve the look of the area. It has never looked so good!
Attached you will find a few photos to give you a better idea of the improvements that have been made. Mr. Tuck and his staff should be congratulated on the work that has been done.
Yours sincerely,
Keith Lay and The Executive of Active Trails Whitehorse Association (ATWA)