The Chawathil First Nations band will create a walking path near the main entrance to the community, providing a safe walking route between the community centre and the bus stop and creating a traffic-free space for people of all ages to exercise and increase community connection.

The Chawathil First Nations band will create the “Éy Kw’as émi” (it is good that you have come) walking path near the main entrance of the Chawathil community to make the community entrance a safer and more walkable area.

The plan increases safety as it decreases walking traffic along Chawathil Rd and Hwy #7 by creating a parallel access to increase walkability and welcome of our community. The Chawathil Rd intersection is the most dangerous intersection on the Chawathil First Nation Reserve. Since 2017, there were 5 crashes (ICBC 2023) including 2 injuries/fatalities. The main Chawathil bus-stop is located on the corner of this intersection and this walking path would give the community parallel access to avoid walking along a unsafe stretch of road. This will be used by children going to school, those accessing transit, the local preschool and provide a walking trail to increase community connection.

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Photo source: Pexels. Photo is shown for illustration purposes only and may not be an accurate representation of the project.