About Us
Friends of Rails to Trails - Vancouver Island (FORT-VI)
Right Photo: Vancouver Island trail by Vik Approved (CC BY NC 3.0)
Our vision is a continuous active transportation trail that connects communities across Vancouver Island
FORT-VI encourages the preservation and protection of the E&N railway corridor as a continuous, multi-use active transportation network connecting communities and First Nations on Vancouver Island. We believe that repurposing the existing rail line as a trail is the most sensible, affordable and truly climate-friendly option.
“It is hard to imagine a single action having a greater effect on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving mental and physical health and boosting the economies of communities, including First Nations, through low impact tourism, than transforming the long derelict E&N rail bed into a world class active transportation corridor from Victoria north to Courtenay and from Parksville west to Port Alberni.”
David Slade, Vice-President, FORT-VI
Our History
Founded in 2018, FORT-VI is a volunteer society that advocates for re-purposing unused Vancouver Island rail lines as multi-use trails. We delivered a petition with more than 3,000 signatures to the BC Legislature in 2018 to support converting the E&N rail corridor into a multi-use trail for walkers, cyclists, e-bicyclists and other non-motorised means of transportation. Even so, FORT-VI is not against rail if and when it is economically feasible.
