Launch of Community Forest Trail Enhancement project one focus of this year’s event

College of the Rockies is launching its second-annual Giving Tuesday campaign on Tuesday, December 1, aimed at encouraging local businesses, organizations, and individuals to give back to the community they love. This year’s campaign will include a focus on the new College of the Rockies’ Cranbrook Community Forest Trail Enhancement project.

“As our student housing project is nearing completion, the college is committed to rejuvenating the surrounding multi-use trails on College land,” said Graham Knipfel, Director of Donor and Alumni Engagement. “In collaboration with the Cranbrook Community Forest Society (CCFS), Wildhorse Cycling Club and other relevant stakeholders, we are in the preliminary stages of conceptualizing new sections of trail, as well as enhancements to existing trails near our track and student housing buildings. Inclusivity and accessibility will be key principles of trail design.”

As part of their annual Giving Tuesday campaign, the college is welcoming donations to this project from community members. All donations are eligible for charitable tax receipts and 100% of proceeds will go toward trail enhancement and rejuvenation. To further demonstrate their commitment to this project, the college will be matching donations up to a total of $50,000.

The Cranbrook Community Forest Society is thrilled the College of the Rockies is spearheading this trails improvement initiative,” said Jim Nicol, CCFS Board member. “As a gateway to the Community Forest, the trails at the College see both a high volume and wide range of users. This is an ideal location to improve existing trails and expand opportunities for the community. We look forward to seeing all the benefits this project can bring.”

While community support will determine the full scope and scale of the project, work on trail enhancement and rejuvenation will begin in the summer of 2021. Phase One of the project may include a flat, multi-use accessible trail, a mountain bike flow section with berms, and new signage, picnic tables, and benches.

Two other initiatives the college is focusing on this Giving Tuesday are the Engineers Canada Indigenous Access to Engineering Bursary, currently only a few donations away from reaching the threshold to become a permanent award, and the Dean’s Equipment Fund for Environmental Science which aims to provide specialized lab equipment and field tools for students in the College’s Associate of Science – Environmental Science program.

Giving Tuesday is a global movement, occurring on the first Tuesday after Black Friday, intended to create an international day of charitable giving at the start of the holiday season.

Learn more, or donate to the Community Forest Trail Enhancement project, or either of the other initiatives mentioned, at cotr.ca/giving

Above photo:  College of the Rockies Director, Donor and Alumni Engagement, Graham Knipfel (l) and CCFS Board member Jim Nichol (r) are excited to launch the Cranbrook Community Forest Trail Enhancement Project as part of the College’s second Giving Tuesday campaign. Giving Tuesday will take place on Tuesday, December 1. COTR Photo

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