Family seeks support for memorial path

A local family is hoping to create a new path in memory of their son.

The Boyer family is raising funds to reroute a section of the Baden Powell trail that winds along busy Indian River Road for about 500 metres. They want to build a new path in the forest that would keep hikers safely away from traffic.

The $125,000 plan includes the costs of a 10-metre walking bridge over Francis Creek, two smaller bridges and clearing part of an old skid road. Parts of the trail would also be resurfaced and some wooden stairs would be built, said Susan Rogers, section manager of parks planning, construction and environmental services.

As the communities of Woodlands, Sunshine and Cascades have grown, vehicular traffic on Indian River Road has increased, said David Boyer, Sr.

"More and more hikers are also using that road, and they don't realize how busy it is," he said. "Quite frankly, it's unsafe."

After their son took his life in February 2013, the Boyers came up with the project as a lasting tribute. David Boyer, Jr., who battled mental illness, was always happiest on the North Shore's local trails, his father said.

Boyer Jr. dreamed of charting a map along the ridge trails of the Indian Arm, Mount Seymour and down to the Indian River, his father said. He was always in the mountains with his friends.

"He had topographical maps all across his room," he said.

"They say that exercise helps one in dealing with depression," Boyer said. "He instinctively gravitated towards that."

The local community has been overwhelmingly supportive, Boyer said, adding that many volunteers are keen to participate in the project.

Engineers are offering their time to make bridge plans this month, Boyer said.

If the funds are raised, volunteers will clear the brush and build the trail over the summer. "Our goal is to have the trail completed by Sept. 26, in time to commemorate his birthday," Boyer said.

The Boyer family is raising funds under the parks gift donation program, which allows the public to raise funds for specific projects, Rogers said. "Community groups and schools and different people come forward with ideas to fundraise for projects, and in many cases they're successful," she said.

The project doesn't need to go to public consultation, because it has been on the district's to-do list for a while, Rogers said.

If the Boyer family can't raise enough money, the project could continue to sit on the funding list for the future, she said. There's also a possibility that council might offer to supplement a funding shortfall depending on how much money is raised, she said.

The parks department is making requests for funding on a number of capital projects in January, and the Baden Powell trail will be included, Rogers said.

The 48-kilometre Baden Powell trail is one of the most popular routes on the North Shore, with thousands of hikers using it every year, she said.

It doesn't usually get shut down in winter because it's at a lower elevation and so many hikers use it year-round, she said.

The district is offering tax receipts for all contributions over $10. More information can be found at bpmemorialconnector.com.