GEORGIA STRAIGHT – April 19-26/2001

GRIND MIGHT BE SOLD

The Greater Vancouver Water District board has quietly granted

authority to the regional district’s chief administrative officer,

Johnny Carline, to sell the publicly owned Grouse Grind.

Greater Vancouver Regional District spokesperson Bob Paddon

told the Straight that the municipal politicians on the GVWD

board made this decision recently at an in-camera meeting.

“We had no consultation with anybody on it,” Paddon said.

Under the Local Government Act, he added, decisions dealing

with land must be made behind closed doors. Paddon said he

couldn’t say whether or not a new owner would impose a fee to

hike the 2.9-kilometre trail up the south face of Grouse

Mountain, which is now free.

“At this point, there is no sale in the offing,” Paddon said.

He also said that the GVWD might sell the the land to avoid

liability. The water district owns most of the land, he added.

The trail, which is now closed because of ice and snow, is not

designated as a regional park.

According to the GVRD, 100,000 “trail users” climb the

Grouse Grind each year. Paddon said that Grouse Mountain

Resorts Ltd. has been involved in discussions about the

long-term management of the trail. Company president Stuart

McLaughlin was unavailable for comment by deadline.

• Charlie Smith