OPEN LETTER TO MEDIA & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
April 13, 2023
RE: Bridal Veil Mountain Resort
We are writing to you today in response to the recent article published on April 6, 2023 in the Fraser Valley Today called “BVMR says the public strongly supports its ski resort project east of Chilliwack”. We wish to publicly announce our strong opposition to this proposed project and express deep concern over the lack of any consultation or expression of interest by the proponents to engage with our organizations to understand the impacts of this project to our respective motorized recreation sports.
As you may know, there is currently actually two projects being proposed in the same general area (Bridal Falls) by two different proponents, and this is causing some confusion amongst the public.
Members of the off-road motorized sports groups, including the Quad Riders Association of BC (ATVBC), BC Off-Road Motorcycle Association (BCORMA), BC Snowmobile Federation (BCSF) and the Four Wheel Drive Association of BC (4WDABC), have come together regularly since September 2022 to address another project in the area, named the Cascade Skyline Gondola Project (CSGP). We have been working directly with CSGP to address our concerns on their current proposal and are encouraged, to date, on their willingness to hear our concerns and work with us to bring together potential solutions. We hope to have an update on that progress in the very near future.
However, we are concerned over the clarity in the public’s perception about these two very different projects and we encourage the public to ask questions about each project to understand each of their impacts. This recent article has only further ignited concerns and frustration amongst our members about the lack of transparency from the BVMR proponents We challenge the BVMR group’s claim of 80% public support for their project when no real evidence exists of proper consultation with the user groups in the area or the broader general public.
In consideration of the thousands of volunteer hours put into the area of the proposed ski resort by all our associations and local clubs including trail development, maintenance, and cleanups over the last 70 years, we feel it is important that our members be considered and consulted when making decisions that will affect these public riding areas.
We are NOT in support of the current BVMR proposal. As provincial organizations representing thousands of members who will be potentially impacted, we believe it is our obligation to share our members’ concerns regarding this project.
We encourage the proponents of this project to consider the impacts on all outdoor recreation groups and encourage BVMR to work with us to mitigate these concerns before moving forward.
Yours truly,
Chris D’Silva, President
ATVBC Quad Riders Association of BC
Peter Sprague, Executive Director
BC Off-Road Motorcycle Association
Donegal Wilson, Executive Director
BC Snowmobile Federation
dwilson@bcsf.org
Kim Reeves, President
Four Wheel Drive Association of BC
