Urban Kayaking

Its a hot August afternoon in the year 2013. Kimberley's Platzl is swarming with media from across Canada, all who have flooded into the downtown core to experience the newly opened Urban Kayak Experience on the banks of beautiful Mark Creek.  Its an amazing  scene that few could have predicted could happen in just a few short years. The "new" Mark Creek has been transformed back into a stunning meandering stream coursing throughout  downtown Kimberley, complete with pools, rapids, lush steambank vegetation, all specially designed not only to support aquatic and terrestial wildlife, but to promote tourism, and also slow the water flow during peak spring runoff.  

The transformation of Mark Creek from a heavily polluted stream  from Kimberley's industrial past to the current sparkling waterway brimming with life, is a story packed with community pride and deep commitment - Kimberleyites would not let their creek (or their town) die.

It all began in 2011 when the community was faced with replacing an aging concrete flue and needed to do something about it. For a small town of only 6000 people, it was simply too much of a burden and too expensive to ask locals to pay for. However, included in the vision for a sustainable future for this  mountain town was a critical piece of the equation - the Mayor and council knew that to proceed with various projects throughout the town they would have to rely on a very skilled economic development team based in Kimberley City Hall. It was difficult and - at times - frustrating work, but the E.D. team knew they had the full support of the Mayor and council. Finally, their perseverence payed off, infrastructure grants were finally approved  and the creek restoration work could proceed.   

Through a series of town hall meetings the community had input on various stages of the project, everyone was pleased with the discussion around this initiative.   Turns out there were several aquatic biologists, and even a world champion river kayaker that had just moved to Kimberley, all who offered expert advice - talk about good timing!

Kayak rentals, kayak lessons, guided trips, gear, and a multitude of economic spinoffs have shown, once again,  that out of adversity good things can happen... with a little persistence.

During the media briefing later that evening, a journalist from the Globe and Mail summed up how the media viewed the new Kimberley Urban Kayak Experience:  " I've kayaked in Vancouver, Seattle, Chicago and various other locations. This is by far the best Urban Kayak experience I've ever had. Bravo Kimberley, I'll be back!"

(So what can be learned from this experience... number one is to make sure you have the best economic development team possible, based in City Hall).

Darryl Oakley