The road to access

Carmen Purdy has spent much time immersed in B.C.’s backcountry, both through work and recreational pursuits. As an ATVer, sledder and trapper, he was frustrated by road closures preventing access to Crown lands. Spurred into action, he formed Access B.C., aiming to promote responsible Crown land use by recreationists and other outdoor users, such as prospectors and foresters. On March 20, Access B.C. held a successful inaugural public seminar and AGM in Cranbrook. The keynote speakers—land users and experts from political, biological and geological fields—spoke to a large group of outdoor enthusiasts. An ongoing issue with access to Crown lands is road deactivation. Legally, industrial operators must deactivate their roads after they have finished using them, as they are liable for any damages to the environment or to people that could potentially happen on the road. The speakers were adamant that a solution that would keep the roads open without any cost to industrialists or the environment should be found. Accessing B.C.’s land resources has economic implications for numerous sectors, from tourism to exploration. Purdy has received hundreds of letters from citizens concerned over land loss, but said that letters are best directed to political leaders. “We live in an activist society,” he said. “Those of us who wish to maintain our freedom to move on the land had better become activists or suffer the consequences.” For more details, go to the Access B.C. website.