By Dan Walton
Pioneer Staff
Earlier this year, the Lake Windermere Whiteway was named the longest ice skating trail by Guinness World Records and the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce will be spreading the word with their new Whiteway co-ordinator.
While the record was officially smashed in the spring, residents of the valley knew well before that the valleys Whiteway is the worlds longest. But what was locally known has been internationally proven by Guinness, which is why Ali Carver has been brought on board to tell the rest of the world.
The chamber created the position as a focused strategy to promoting this success, said chamber executive director Susan Clovechok. As the co-ordinator, Ms. Carver will be creating a world record tool kit, which will see her working on deliverables; largely measured through media exposure.
To have a person come on specifically to market the [Toby Creek Nordic Ski] Clubs amenity is fabulous, said president Lyle Wilson. Its great that the whole valley is engaging the Whiteway so strongly and making it a tourist draw.
The job will be made financially possible through the Columbia Valley Community Directed Funds Committee, which granted an application from the chamber for funding.
The Whiteway was originally created to connect communities, said Max Fanderl, whos a member of the Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club, and the official title will allow the rink to reach out even further.
When I saw the big sign in the newspaper, featuring Rushmere residents with a poster sign which thanked the Whiteway for being made thats really what its about, and the world record pushes that even further, he said.
While many locals will argue that its longer, Guinness measured the track to be 29.98 kilometres in length crushing Winnipegs trail on the Forks river, which is only 8.5 kilometres.