Canoeists and kayakers may one day be able to paddle theirw way in a full circle around downtown if a proposal that emerged from the Smart Growth committee is successful.
The proposal calls for the 10-foot-diameter culvert under Highway 99 - large enough to allow small boats to pass - joining the end of the Mamquam Blind Channel to a waterway that runs through Dentville.
"The area will be undergoing construction as it is with the work being done on Highway 99," said Paul Russell, Smart Growth member and advocate of the proposed canoe loop.
"If it were to go ahead all the way you would be able to launch at the Adventure Centre and paddle down through Dentville," said Russell. "At that point there would be a Portage across Buckley Avenue, and then you'd take the waterway to the rail lines, and portage there to the estuary.
"There are a number of challenges down the line, like dredging part of waterways between the rail line and Buckley, and getting permission to cross the rail lines, but those can be handled down the line," said Russell. "If an underpass can't be put in at the highway, then none of this will work."
Russell has the support of Mayor Ian Sutherland, at least in principle.
"It's an activity that people could do, and it adds to our inventory of outdoor pursuits and attractions," said Sutherland.
"It would be a benefit to both the people who live here and visitors. The issue before us though is how much would it cost and how would it work logistically?"
Sutherland said that the issue has been discussed with the Ministry of Transportation, and while MOT has concerns about how the canoe channel would work, they were not completely closed to the idea.
A memo from John Cavanagh of the Sea to Sky Highway Improvement Team (STSHIP) raised concerns about how the project would be funded, stating, "any changes contemplated to the existing culvert would have to be funded outside of the STSHIP."
Sutherland agreed that funding would need to be addressed, but with construction proceeding the timeline to look at the proposal is limited.
"Definitely the time to look at this is now," said Sutherland.
