West Bench
The West Bench enjoys very limited development, saving a valuable wildlife corridor and has been one of the characteristics that represent Golden & Area A's resistance to the 'Canmorization' that is found in a sister community. However, there are many activities that lend themselves to non-intensive development and could actually be seen as an alternative and hedge against residential or resort development. In fact, with Kicking Horse Mountain Resort's approved revised Master Development Agreement (and Plan), protecting this land will become more important than ever.
Possible projects on the West Bench include:
Possible projects on the West Bench include:
- Golden Golf Course Expansion & Future
- Ktunaxa Treaty Lands
- West Bench Riverfront Trail
- Golden Heritage Rail Trail
- Access to Gorman Lake
Golf Course Expansion & Future
Proposed as local golfing participation and the local economy peaked in the mid-2000s, the non profit society Golden Golf Club had put considerable efforts into planning a 18-hole expansion up the west bench. This multi-million dollar project aimed to provide destination golfers with the option to play more than one course, which the local non profit club competes with in the like of Invermere and Radium. In order to fund this initiative, various options were proposed, and the choice to sell a higher priced 'non local' lifetime membership to the Club proved unsuccessful. Currently, the expansion plans are on the shelf, but the Club has been able to fund the construction of a 19th or renovation hole, which will be put in use when other holes require significant work.
In the meantime, it is no secret that the golf club is under constant financial challenges and discussions with potential suitors is always a popular subject of rumour through the community. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort has been managing the Food & Beverage component of the Club and there is thought that they would be a natural fit to take the entire Club over. With subdividable and developable land adjacent to the Club, others think that this could be a natural fit for a resort development, possibly led by an aboriginal group.
Many parallels can be made to the community-built Whitetooth Ski Area, which was sold to Ballast-Nedam in the late 1990s, thereby creating Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. The $2M realized through that Whitetooth sale benefited the community by way of 1) paying off all outstanding Whitetooth Ski Area debts, 2) creating a Whitetooth Ski Society Fund to help local children participate in skiing and snowboarding, and 3) the creation of the Whitetooth Legacy Fund, which is held by the CSRD. However, there was a local government involvement in that project, which is lacking from the current Golden Golf Club structure.
Regardless of the future direction and ownership of the Golden Golf Club, it is paramount to the future of Golden and its riverfront that all stakeholders understand the opportunities and constraints that face the community's largest non profit (by annual revenue).
In the meantime, it is no secret that the golf club is under constant financial challenges and discussions with potential suitors is always a popular subject of rumour through the community. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort has been managing the Food & Beverage component of the Club and there is thought that they would be a natural fit to take the entire Club over. With subdividable and developable land adjacent to the Club, others think that this could be a natural fit for a resort development, possibly led by an aboriginal group.
Many parallels can be made to the community-built Whitetooth Ski Area, which was sold to Ballast-Nedam in the late 1990s, thereby creating Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. The $2M realized through that Whitetooth sale benefited the community by way of 1) paying off all outstanding Whitetooth Ski Area debts, 2) creating a Whitetooth Ski Society Fund to help local children participate in skiing and snowboarding, and 3) the creation of the Whitetooth Legacy Fund, which is held by the CSRD. However, there was a local government involvement in that project, which is lacking from the current Golden Golf Club structure.
Regardless of the future direction and ownership of the Golden Golf Club, it is paramount to the future of Golden and its riverfront that all stakeholders understand the opportunities and constraints that face the community's largest non profit (by annual revenue).
Ktunaxa Treaty Lands
While very little information is publicly available regarding the Ktunaxa Treaty Lands proposed for Golden & Area A, we do know that there are 2 proposed parcels of land: 1) a square parcel on the West Bench near Golden, between Kicking Horse Trail and Elk Road (Alpine Meadows Lodge road) and 2) Bear Island on Kinbasket Reservoir.
At a fall 2012 meeting in the Golden Seniors Centre, these 2 locations were shown on an overhead projector, however, copies of these maps or links to online pages were not made available. It is expected that this land would include Golden Cycling Club trails and it is not known what the impact would be on these trails or the community. As these lands are in Area A, little is known what purposes the land could be used for or what the impact would be on the existing Golden & Area A community.
With proper community consultation and engagement, the addition of the Ktunaxa Nation into the Golden & Area A planning process could be very advantageous to all residents, stakeholders and lands.
At a fall 2012 meeting in the Golden Seniors Centre, these 2 locations were shown on an overhead projector, however, copies of these maps or links to online pages were not made available. It is expected that this land would include Golden Cycling Club trails and it is not known what the impact would be on these trails or the community. As these lands are in Area A, little is known what purposes the land could be used for or what the impact would be on the existing Golden & Area A community.
With proper community consultation and engagement, the addition of the Ktunaxa Nation into the Golden & Area A planning process could be very advantageous to all residents, stakeholders and lands.
West Bench Riverfront Trail
There have been some discussions with both the Golden Golf Club and Golden Cycling Club around the concept of a non motorized trail from Golden to the Golf Course. While the Rotary Trails are great for Golden residents to tour the community's perimeter, the proposed trail would provide more secluded and natural views to the north of Town. This trail, with very little elevation change, could become very popular with local residents and tourists alike if it is built wide and prepared to a high level, where the majority of the population (not just biking population) could navigate it.
A project like this will help the Golf Course to become integrated, appreciated and enjoyed by the general population of Golden & Area A, which, even for non golfers, plays a significant economic development role in the community; and help the Cycling Club by providing an easy graded trail (Green Circle).
Trails are quickly becoming recognized for their positive impact on community economic development. There are some very interesting, multi-stakholders models in BC, some of which include:
Shuswap Trail Alliance
Kootenay Columbia Trails Society
A project like this will help the Golf Course to become integrated, appreciated and enjoyed by the general population of Golden & Area A, which, even for non golfers, plays a significant economic development role in the community; and help the Cycling Club by providing an easy graded trail (Green Circle).
Trails are quickly becoming recognized for their positive impact on community economic development. There are some very interesting, multi-stakholders models in BC, some of which include:
Shuswap Trail Alliance
Kootenay Columbia Trails Society
Golden Heritage Rail Trail - Columbia River Logging
"With CPR's building of the transcontinental railway in 1885, a huge demand for timber was created to build the line and new settlements springing up across Western Canada. The Columbia River Lumber Mill in Golden was one of the largest of its type in BC at its time, and to feed the mill, a 20 mile logging railway was built across the West Bench from Nicholson to Donald. Although this railway line was lost in a huge forest fire in 1926 and the mill was closed shortly thereafter, portions of the railline continues to be used today for recreation trails, access to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort plus Moonraker Trails for mountain biking, Dawn Mountain for Nordic Skiing, and Gorman to Wiseman for Snowmobiling." - Irv Graham
The remnants of this trail have been found and lightly cleared and some sizable artifacts remain today. However, much of the trail has either been irreparably destroyed by logging or is overgrown. Still, with the success of other rail trails in mind (Kettle Valley Rail Trail), it is a potential opportunity, albeit requiring significant resources to map, clear, develop, mark and market.
Should the community wish to proceed with this project, substantial research, resources, planning and work will be required to develop, maintain and market it.
The remnants of this trail have been found and lightly cleared and some sizable artifacts remain today. However, much of the trail has either been irreparably destroyed by logging or is overgrown. Still, with the success of other rail trails in mind (Kettle Valley Rail Trail), it is a potential opportunity, albeit requiring significant resources to map, clear, develop, mark and market.
Should the community wish to proceed with this project, substantial research, resources, planning and work will be required to develop, maintain and market it.
Access to Gorman Lake
Each year, without logging activity, the Gorman Lake FSR falls further into disrepair. It is now not recommended to attempt the last 2km of the drive without a high-clearance vehicle, for fear of tearing apart one's oil pan.
Gorman Lake is arguably one of the most spectacular sites in Golden and Area A's front country. Once at the trail head, it is a 1.5 - 2hr hike for the majority of the traveling population, and it's inaccessibility will result in lost economic development for the entire community.
Gorman Lake is arguably one of the most spectacular sites in Golden and Area A's front country. Once at the trail head, it is a 1.5 - 2hr hike for the majority of the traveling population, and it's inaccessibility will result in lost economic development for the entire community.
