2024 AGM Notes

President’s Welcome: Kyle Leitch
Welcome, members, directors and staff. The PVTA has continued with its mandate to maintain the Pemberton trail network with guidance from the Trails Master Plan, the Trails Working Group, local user groups and a dedicated membership base. We thank you for your time and input. To our Trail Crew, Darren, Jarrord and Braedyn - for your outstanding work, and to all the local volunteers who generously give their time to help keep the trails in great shape, thank you.  
Gratitude to our Executive Director, Allie, the PVTA was able to expand the trail crew from just 1 in 2022 to 3 in both 2023 and 2024. We are confident that with ongoing efforts, the PVTA will secure the necessary funding to sustain its work for 2025 and beyond.
To our volunteer board, none of this would be possible without your support and dedication. It takes a very special person to do what you do, thank you.
Directors: Kyle Leitch, Julia Poetschke, Andrew Benson, Aimee Fishman, Thea Sturdy, Luke De Jager, Caleb Smith, Will Cadham, Kailey Moran, Mark Beaton
Trail Crew (Staff): Darren Nicoll, Jarrod Anderson, Braedyn Kozman, ED (Staff): Allie Gilchrist
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TREASURER'S REPORT   Andrew Benson, read by Julia Poetschke
For 2023 the PVTA recorded its highest ever level of revenue: $95,201. This compares favorably with the previous high of $80,936 for 2022.

• Net profit for 2023 was $395 and the year end cash position was $58,798.
• 2024 has proved more challenging as expenses have been higher than forecast and revenues lower. We will likely end the year with around $50,000 in cash.
• Having a healthy cash balance at year end is really important for the PVTA as the majority of our funding arrives later in the year. Barring unforeseen events we are well funded and ready for a strong start to 2025.

Accomplishments: Allie Gilchrist

• Strategic Plan done for 2024-2027
• Annual Report done for 2023
• Tour de Soo/Umik/Dogwood Ridge Approval from Líl̓wat and Section 57 from RSTBC
• BSF Connector Application approved by Líl̓wat, and submitted to RSTBC for a Section 57. Currently awaiting approval. This will be a joint project with PORCA
• Cross country ski partnership with Big Sky for the next 2 years. Donation of a new to PVTA sled for cross country ski trail maintenance from the WB maintenance Department
• Utilized Backcountry Motorsports loaner sled last year - thank you 
• Kiosk/Map Revamp Project including 3 new map/info kiosks at trailheads and 20 new maps planned for roll out in Spring 2025
• Continued filling in wayfinding signage gaps across the network
• Trail Crew Training and advocacy. Darren to Mtb Symposium in Penticton, Chainsaw Safety Course, and First Aid Courses
• Staffing- Contract workers became PVTA staff- 1P/T Executive Director and 3 trail crew.

Membership: Thea Sturdy

• In 2023 PORCA Memberships contributed $12,940 in Membership dollars to the PVTA
• 2024 members YTD: 730 (2023: 684, 2022: 697)
• PVTA Corporate membership: 10
• PVTA Commercial Operators: 3
• Event Organizers: 2
• 5% of all PVTA membership fees will go directly back to the Líl̓wat Culture, Heritage, and Language Authority (LCHLA). 2024 estimated at $900 (2023: $800).

Events: Mark Beaton

• Trail days ended up being 8, 7 of them to local businesses. Outstanding contributions from local businesses. $450 a night. Moved them to weekdays to increase attendance of the trail nights. Darren, Luke were in attendance to provide expertise. Scheduled them every other Tuesday following the PORCA Fivers. Learnings there to plan for 2025.
• Building a program together with corporate sponsorship – coordinating with PORCA
• 2025 will bring back bike raffle 
• Coordinating with PORCA to not infringe on their silent auction 
• Always open to other ideas. email: [email protected]​

Supporters: Allie Gilchrist

• We would like to thank all our generous 2024 sponsors and partners who helped us this past year from local businesses to the Federal Government
• Pemberton Valley Utilities Services (PVUS) for 30% of local government core funding 
• Special thanks to PORCA for their substantial donations and continued collaboration, providing PVTA with a membership base and contributions from events​
• PVTA  also received grant/subsidies from Destination Development Fund for Pemberton Trail Map Kiosk Replacement Project, Whistler Community Foundation for Trail Crew Safety Training and equipment, WB Foundation for the Community Chainsaw Safety Course, WB Envirofund for Trail Maintenance Tool Upgrade for environmentally friendly battery operated tools , Devinci Bikes for Community Builders and Maintenance Fund and BC Hydro Mount Currie Trail blowdown and maintenance, Canada Parks / SLRD funding helped with getting additional trail workers

Trail Work: Will Cadham

• Total paid trail hours YTD: 628 hrs Jan-Sept (2023: 349 hrs) - due to additional crew, extra funding
• Total volunteer trail hrs YTD: 340 hrs Jan-Sept (2023: 405 hrs)
• No. of Trails Worked on YTD: 93 Jan-Sept (2023: 68 trails) out of 195 total 
• Total volunteer trail hours to date is less than  last year - still enormous contribution
• New Program grant from Devinci and Specialized Soil Searching program– the PVTA were able to offset costs associated with work provided by a dedicated group of local trail maintenance volunteers. Tools, fuel, etc. In exchange for reporting volunteer hours. Better understand how many hours it actually takes to uphold the network. There are additionally 100s of hours that happen that we don’t ever know about. If you do volunteer work on existing trails in Pemberton, check out our IG page or website for more info. For some financial support possibilities click here.
• Trail user has plateaued Year over Year since COVID caused a big surge 
• If you’ve ridden in town in the last year, you’ve probably noticed the amazing condition of most of the trails, this is largely thanks to our Trail Crew Lead Darren and his part time co-workers Braedyn, Jarrod and Andrew, as well as the dedicated crew of not-so-silent volunteers. Thank you everyone for your hard work on the trails!
• Excited that Braedyn/Jarrod will be around this fall to give Darren a hand
• TrailForks Usage Stats (Jan-Sept): 2024 YTD: 7,368, (2023: 7,171)

Advocacy: Kyle Leitch
These are all big collaboration protects, many with PORCA, the Líl̓wat Lands & Resource department and local Sea to Sky nonprofits.

• Educational campaign with the Pemberton Wildlife Association and Clear Course Consulting to increase awareness of Pemberton’s species at risk; the sharp tailed snake.
• Land protection campaign through the government’s Don’t Love It to Death initiative
• Work with Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council on awareness around Play Clean Go
• Land use & Hunting Awareness Educational campaign with Líl̓wat Lands & Resources 
• Land respect campaign with the Líl̓wat Lands & Resource department
• Advocating for a new trail system within the new proposed Nkwukwma (Benchlands) Development Parks and Trails plan
• Attended Destination Trails Roundtable session with the Minister of Tourism. 
• Quarterly Trails Working Group meetings With Líl̓wat, SLRD, VOP, PORCA, RSTBC, PWA, SPS, SCF 
• Attending RSTBC Mountain Bike Pilot Project Dashboard Roundtables
• Determining an appropriate equestrian loop in the Mosquito Lake zone (roll out spring 2025)

** the vast majority of this advocacy work was done as a team with our Director of Communications Kailey Morin, Kailey, is there anything you would like to add?** All of these are very collaborative and PVTA is just one part. Perfect example, snake habitat and finding endangered species there. These campaigns consistently get the most engagement, a way to get a wider group of people in Pemberton engaged in the trails and their surroundings.
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Upcoming Projects: Julia Poetschke
Some projects have already been identified for next year, but there will be more discussion and planning to come with the entire board. Our work continues to be guided by the Trails Master Plan, the Trails Working Group, and our membership. 

• Continue to seek long-term core funding for trail maintenance
• BSF to Happy connector construction once final approval is received by RSTBC
• New moto trail proposed in the Rutherford in collaboration with PDBA (application in progress, awaiting approval from Líl̓wat)
• Develop tiered corporate sponsorship program
• Update our constitution and bylaws
• Continue to explore opportunities for new green and blue descent trails, driven by community feedback

Elections: Allie Gilchrist
Acknowledgement of Outgoing Directors 
Andrew Benson -Treasurer
Aimee Fishman -Secretary 
On behalf of everyone involved with the PVTA we want to thank them for their contribution, dedication, support and hard work over their time on the board. 

Board of Directors Nominations

Vacant Positions
Treasurer Vacant Position Candidate: Angie Fulton
Secretary Vacant Position Candidate: No Applications
Fundraising Incumbent Candidate: Mark Beaton
Membership Vacant Position Candidate: Thea Sturdy (Current Director at Large) 
Moto Rep Incumbent Candidate: Luke DeJager
Horse Rep Incumbent Candidate: Caleb Smith

Positions continuing on in the second year of their term:

• President - Kyle Leitch 
• Vice President - Julia Poetschke
• Director of Trails - Will Cadham
• Director of Communications - Kailey Morin