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About Us

Mission
The mission of the FMCBC is to foster and promote self-propelled activities, such as hiking, mountaineering and backcountry skiing in British Columbia through leadership, advocacy and education. By working together with outdoor recreation organizations, industry and government agencies, the FMCBC protects British Columbia’s mountains and forests for our future generations to experience.

The FMCBC is a federation of mountain and outdoor recreation clubs representing most regions of British Columbia. Its membership of approximately 3500 includes hikers, climbers, mountaineers, backcountry skiers and snowshoers. As a registered BC Society and federal charity the FMCBC is funded by membership dues and donations. It also receives grants from public agencies and private organizations for specific projects. The FMCBC offers third-party liability insurance to member clubs.

Purposes

  • To foster and promote cooperation and coordination of clubs, groups and individuals interested in mountain activities in the whole Province of British Columbia, and to advise and take action on all matters on which the collective experience of these clubs, groups and individuals may prove of service to the people of British Columbia.
  • To encourage public appreciation and use of the recreational resources in the mountains of British Columbia.
  • To promote the development and maintenance of a system of mountain access roads, trails and huts.
  • To organize and coordinate training programs in mountain-craft.
  • To publish, and encourage publication of guide books to British Columbia's mountain areas.
  • To promote safety in mountain travel.
  • To promote sound management of British Columbia's mountain parks and outdoor recreation resources.
  • To encourage the conservation of mountain environment.
  • To submit recommendations to the government and private agencies in respect to the preservation, development and extension of mountain parks and mountain recreational areas.

 

Board of Directors (click on each name to see bios & photos):

 
2009-2010 FMCBC Executive and Directors
Brian Wood, President Dave King Eleanor A. Acker
Scott Webster, Vice President Don Hay David Lavery
Patrick R. Harrison, Secretary Ken Rodonets Mike Stewart
Martin Smith, Treasurer Roy Howard John Harris
Rob Gunn Bill Perry Emily Ackroyd
Antje Wahl Dave Grant Breanne Johnson
Max Bitel Travis Carter Dean Pollack
Peter Rothermel Gil Parker Mack Skinner/Cristina Jacob


Director Responsibilities and Volunteers:

  • Cloudburst newsletter: Bill Perry, Jay MacArthur
  • Fundraising: Jack Bryceland, Michele Cohen
  • Email lists: Patrick Harrison
  • Membership: Mike Stewart
  • Safety, Education & Insurance: Mike Stewart
  • Website: Antje Wahl, Kayla Stevenson (webmaster) Scott Webster

 

Programs & Committees

The FMCBC has three core programs to deliver coordinating, advocacy, and educational services on issues that are important to its members and all non-motorized users of British Columbia's backcountry:

  • Recreation & Conservation
  • Trails & Access
  • Outreach & Education

 

The Recreation & Conservation and Trails & Access programs are coordinated and carried out by regional committees. The committees are formed by dedicated volunteers from across the province who work countless hours on issues that often take years or even decades to resolve.

  • Vancouver Island: Peter Rothermel (chair)
  • Central Interior: Dave King (chair)
  • Kootenays: Doug Brown (chair)
  • Southwest BC (Recreation & Conservation): Patrick Lloyd and Sandra Nicol (co-chairs), Monika Bittel, Lesley Bohm, Evelyn Feller, Michael Feller, Bryce Leigh, Mike Stewart, Antje Wahl, Scott Webster, Brian Wood
  • Southwest BC (Trails & Access): Alex Wallace and Patrick Harrison (co-chairs), Eleanor Acker, Jack Bryceland, John Coope, Louise Irwin, Gabriel Mazoret, Scott Nelson, Dave Wharton


In the Recreation & Conservation program, committees work with representatives from the provincial government, land and resource industries and commercial recreation to resolve conflicts with other users and stakeholders such as heli-skiing, snowmobile use, logging and mining. The FMCBC's strong advocacy role also promotes the protection of key wilderness areas and the creation and maintenance of parks in BC. The FMCBC participates or provides input to several panels and planning tables such as Stewardship Panels, Land and Resource Management Plans, and provincial parks planning. The FMCBC is invited to participate in these processes by the government and other stakeholders as it is regarded as the legitimate body representing non-motorized backcountry recreational users in British Columbia.

 

In the Trails & Access program, the committees' work includes trail access, trail building and maintenance, advocating for new trail projects, networking with BC Parks, the Ministry of Forests and Range, and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. The FMCBC works to have British Columbia’s hiking and climbing access trails recognized, protected and maintained. The FMCBC also takes on trail building projects put forward by its members and supports clubs in their trail building efforts. The FMCBC developed the Adopt-A-Trail program for volunteer groups and coordinated adoptions with government agencies and municipalities.


In the Outreach & Education program, the FMCBC promotes wilderness recreation opportunities, safety, ethics, and responsible travel. In order to inform and update members and the public on issues and activities of interest, the FMCBC publishes and circulates the Cloudburst newsletter. The FMCBC also publishes a community presence through its website and establishes an effective presence in the public media through interviews and written statements.


History
The FMCBC was founded in 1971, based on a predecessor organization called the Mountain Access Committee.  Mountain Access Committee was originally founded in 1963 by a number of Vancouver-area mountaineering and hiking clubs for the expressed purpose of trail construction. Access to various areas were improved and the use of those areas promoted - both to club members and to the public.

 

Since 1971 the FMCBC has grown to a provincial umbrella organization representing clubs from around British Columbia. The FMCBC was incorporated as a Non-profit Society in 1973.  It is a registered charitable society, and is the recognized 'sport-governing' body for mountaineering and related activities in British Columbia.

In 2011 the FMCBC will celebrate 40 years of serving the hiking and mountaineering community. During those years the FMCBC has had

many successes through the dedication and hard work of volunteers.

Photo credit: Photographer unknown

 

Partnerships

The FMCBC is a member of the Outdoor Recreation Council. This relationship facilitates coordination and communication with other recreational user groups such as horseback riders, snowmobilers, mountain bikers and four-wheel drivers.

 

The FMCBC is a member of the British Columbia Environmental Network. Member organizations within the network advocate for environmental responsibility and community participation in activities leading to ecological sustainability.

 

The FMCBC initiated and now supports Hike BC, which coordinates the development of the British Columbia section of the National Hiking Trail. The National Hiking Trail is the original footpath from coast to coast that was started in 1971.

 

The FMCBC partners with Bivouac, the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia, on issues such as reporting incidents with snowmobiles or other off-road vehicles. If you experience any infractions or see any damage or unsafe behaviour, please report it here.

 

The FMCBC also works actively with BC Parks, the Ministry of Forests and Range, and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts in trail and site management and stewardship activities.


 


 
 

Copyright © 2010 The Federation of Mountain Clubs of British Columbia. All Rights Reserved.
Last Modified: 29 August, 2010