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Nurses Trail closed, now revitalized
By Chris Newel
The “Nurses Trail” in Kimberley has a long history, used by nurses and others since the late 1920s, it was a path from the hospital and nurses’ residence to downtown Kimberley.
The original trail has since faded but the road and link up to the Cominco Gardens is commonly referred to as the Nurses Trail. This trail, although new in comparison to the original one has been deteriorating. The stairs were rotting, slopes were sliding and it’s become unsafe. The trail was closed last year due to the condition.
To get the trail open and back into shape, Nigel Kitto and Darryl Oakley organized a revitalization work party on April 23 with the Kimberley Trails Society.
Over 20 volunteers came to help. They dug, clipped, chopped, raked and constructed stairs to improve the trail, make it safe and reopen it.
“The trail is an interesting part of our community. Branching off of Cominco Gardens the trail provides a nice link from the gardens to the downtown core,” said Nigel Kitto, City Councilor and trail project co-organizer.
The original trail ran from Howard Street through the trees to the Nurses’ Residence. Margaret McGowen Barr, now 102, recalls the trail. She came to Kimberley in 1926; went away to nursing school and came back in 1936 to begin her career. She lived in the nurses’ home and used the trail to walk downtown. She often met bears on the trail and it was a quick getaway in opposite directions for both of them. She even used to ski there, walking up and skiing down.
Pat Pagura recalls using the trail to get back and forth to school. She attended McKim in the 1940s and ran up the trail to Townsite where she resided for lunch and then back. Not sure the kids today would be so energetic. She too, talks about meeting bears.
The Kimberley Trails Society would like to thank the Kimberley Underground Mining Railway for the donation of the wood used to secure the trail and build stairs.
The trail was well used in the early days of Kimberley and it’s wonderful the society has revitalized it to continue the legacy.
Photos by Chris Newel
