One of the most loved and utilized river access sites along the Elk River was finally celebrated this past month after many years of hard work, led by Tourism Fernie, in developing and confirming partnerships, funding agreements and approvals for improvements to the site.

The Morrissey boat launch area, located within Morrissey Provincial Park just south of Fernie, welcomed a ribbon-cutting event last month after the construction of a formal boat launch, enhancements to access and parking, and installation of signage supporting river safety, stewardship, navigation, site use and fishing etiquette.

“The work that Tourism Fernie has done on this project and the contributions from the funding partners involved is greatly appreciated by the angling community,” said Paul Samycia, owner of Elk River Guiding. “It is so nice to see progress being made on boat launch improvements that we as angling guides had struggled with for many years. The great part about these projects is it benefits all river users and many outdoor recreationists.”

The Morrissey project was a true collaborative effort that could not have happened without the partnership with the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), BC Parks, and Elk River Alliance, and the funding support from the Province of B.C.’s Targeted Regional Tourism Development Initiative, Elk Valley Resources (EVR), Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC (FFSBC), Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC), and the RDEK Electoral Area A.

“EVR is proud to support collaborative projects that create lasting benefits in the Elk Valley,” said Mike Carrucan, CEO, EVR. “By enhancing sustainable access to the Elk River, the Morrissey boat launch promotes safe recreation while helping to protect the long-term health of the river. We congratulate Tourism Fernie and all the other partners who contributed to this important initiative.”

The Elk River infrastructure improvements initiative started in 2021 thanks to the outcomes from the RDEK Area A Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Tourism Master Plan developed by Tourism Fernie with consultation from area businesses, residents and stakeholders. The river is a vital asset to the region, the residents and the economy.  Improvements to existing access sites ensures their long-term sustainability and supports river and riparian stewardship.

“This project is an excellent example of destination management and regional collaboration. Kootenay Rockies Tourism is very grateful for the financial support from the StrongerBC Program from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport to help kickstart these projects to better support sustainability, capacity management and economic growth along the Elk Valley’s Elk River,” exclaimed Rhiannon Paterson, Senior Program Advisor, Kootenay Rockies Tourism.

“The project was successful due to incredible leadership and dedication to the project by Tourism Fernie and for the efforts of the numerous partners involved.”

Tourism Fernie Society Executive Officer Jikke Gyorki stated, “To be able to complete this project after four years of work, and support from so many has been so gratifying and heart-warming. So many key individuals were integral to this success I can’t mention them all, but I’d like to highlight past RDEK Area A Director Mike Sosnowski, current Area A Director Thomas McDonald, Dan Savage and Jamie Davies key project team members, and Lee-Anne Walker of the Elk River Alliance.”

Louise Pedersen, ORCBC Executive Director added, “The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) is proud to be one of the many incredible partners who supported the Morrissey Boat Launch in the Elk Valley. The project is an exceptional example of how it takes a village to improve outdoor recreation infrastructure, especially when it comes to funding. We are very pleased to already see the positive impact for water recreationists on the Elk River and the ripple effects for residents, local businesses and tourism in the region.”

Learn more about the project.

Lead image: Ribbon-cutting event on June 12, showing representatives from RDEK, EVR, Elk River Alliance, Tourism Fernie, Elk River Guiding, Kootenay Rockies Tourism, McElhanney, Outdoor Rec Council of BC, and local river and fly-fishing enthusiasts. Tourism Fernie Photos

Tourism Fernie Society

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