Many of you probably got the same letter, but I just got this today…
I am responding to your email of October 24, 2016, regarding lands owned by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) located in the District ofNorth Vancouver.
CMHC and the Province of British Columbia are joint owners of 640 acres of federal/provincial land assembly known as the Blair Rifle Range, located in the district ofNorth Vancouver. CMHC, as the majority landowner, manages the property, which was acquired in 1969. In early 2016, we were made aware ofunauthorized trail building activity on CMHC lands which could potentially raise safety concerns and litigation exposure. In our role as co-owner and manager of the land, updated signage was installed around the perimeter of the property given that it is not a public space for recreation.
This action triggered concern among various parties. In response to concerns expressed, we met with representatives from the Province, the District ofNorth Vancouver and the North Shore Mountain Bike Association (NSMBA) to discuss current recreational usages of the property. The meetings were an important first step in establishing an open dialogue with interested parties, and underscoring our commitment to considering all points of view.
As a result of the meetings, and information brought forward by interested parties, CMHC and the Province are prepared, as co-owners, to permit reasonable and responsible recreational use of the property. Users are reminded that persons entering this land do so entirely at their own risk, and that the owners are not responsible for any damage or loss to property, or personal injury.
We very much appreciate the extent to which local groups, citizens and Members of Parliament mobilized to make us aware of the importance of this space locally.
Thank you for writing.