29 March 2010

Wild West Express Helps to Raise Funds for Station's Restoration

Artist's rendering of the Nanaimo station as it would appear after restoration.

Nanaimo Vancouver Island British Columbia - Organizers of Saturday's Wild West Express fundraiser to help rebuild Nanaimo's historic E&N Railway Station are thrilled with the results.
 
Arsonists torched the Selby Street station in the summer of 2007. It is feared the historic building maybe torn down unless those who want to see the station restored can raise $400,000.
 
The station is a key historical building in the city and has federal and municipal heritage status.
 
Officials have said the fate of the station is uncertain if the $400,000 shortfall toward the $2.4-million heritage restoration project is not raised.
 
Last fall the Island Corridor Foundation learned it would receive the insurance coverage the foundation inherited from VIA Rail when it took over the station.
 
Formed in 2005 by a coalition of 13 First Nations and local governments, the ICF wants to use the rail corridor as a way to decrease greenhouse gases, expand tourism, and be an economic generator for the Island.
 
Recently, Tourism Nanaimo and officials with the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership learned it was imperative to raise the necessary funding in order to save the historic station.
 
"If we don't act now, it will be lost," Downtown Nanaimo Partnership executive director Matt Hussmann said.
 
The ICF hopes to restore the train station to its original glory but also to modern building standards.
 
The ICF must adhere to Heritage Canada guidelines and use as much original material as possible to rebuild the station, at a cost of $2.5 million. The Young Professionals of Nanaimo are trying to help the ICF raise enough money to have the building restored.
 
Andre Sullivan of the YPN said he's confident the fundraiser, which saw a steam locomotive leave Nanaimo for Duncan, will exceed the $40,000 target the young professionals and the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership had hoped to reach.
 
"I can't tell you exactly how much we raised because we are still counting the money," Sullivan said Sunday afternoon.
 
"I can tell you it was much more than we could have expected."
 
Saturday's event was to demonstrate the viability of tourism rail excursions, he said. Approximately 220 people bought the $200 a ticket to ride Wild West Express, which ended with a raffle, auction, and dinner at the Quw'utsun' Cultural Centre in Duncan.
 
"I would say that this event proves that excursion tourism trains, if handled properly, will work on Vancouver Island," said Sullivan.
 
Last Wednesday, Don Evans of the West Coast Railway Association gave a speech during the ICF's "Get on the Train" workshop in which he praised the ICF, and its partners for wanting to restore excursion train travel on Vancouver Island.
 
The WCRA loaned the vintage rail cars that were used in Saturday's Wild West Express.
 
The ICF has a wonderful opportunity to make its vision of making the Island's railway corridor a tourist destination a success, said Evans.
 
"I believe that Vancouver Island could develop itself as a tourist destination for train travel if it's done right," he said.
 
Lindsay Windecker of the DNP said she was also happy with the turnout for the event.
 
"We are absolutely thrilled with the support we received from the public but it will be a day or so before we know our final tally," said Windecker.
 
Those aboard the Wild West Express saw a mock kidnapping where bandits entered the train and carted away "Miss Kitty," said Windecker.
 
"We held an auction to pay Miss Kitty's ransom," said Windecker. "It was a real success."
 
Walter Cordery.