We were pleased to see the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation backtrack on their controversial decision to ban hikers, mountain bikers and dog-walkers from myriad trails in the Seymour area.
Many of us choose to live in this neck of the woods because of the easy access to nature. It seems for decades we may have taken that unfettered access for granted, blissfully unaware of the fact this land is not our land.
So, it comes as no surprise that some locals were shocked to see No Trespassing signs with bright red letters posted at trailheads in the Seymour Heights, Blueridge, Parkgate and Windsor Park neighbourhoods appear overnight around Thanksgiving.
“Unauthorized access for recreational or any other activities is strictly prohibited. The owner is not responsible for damage or loss of property or injury,” read the warning on the signs.
The CHMC is the landlord of a 644-acre swath of forest stretching up Mount Seymour from Mount Seymour Parkway near Northlands Golf Course – and has jointly owned the parcel with the province since 1968.
We have to ask: why restrict access now? Are there other intentions for that land?
Kudos to our local politicians and trail user groups, especially the North Shore Mountain Bike Association, who came out of the woodwork to let the CMHC know we all share a common ground here.
After the outcry the CMHC did a 180, much to the relief of many Seymour and Deep Cove area residents. To cut off access to portions of the beloved Baden Powell Trail would be criminal.
It’s understandable, in this day and age, that the CHMC may have concerns about liability. But given all the adrenaline junkies that live here, I don’t think there’s an appetite for us to become a bubble-wrapped society.
We’re sure the owners of Cove Bikes and Endless Biking are breathing a sigh of relief, along with other businesses that rely on Seymour’s trails staying open for them to generate revenue.
Don’t mind us, we’re going to step out freely for some fresh air now.
