Island Corridor Foundation

The Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) is a collaboration of First Nations and Regional Districts to protect the rail corridor that extends from Victoria to Courtney and inland to Port Alberni. The corridor connects communities and provides opportunity for tourism, commuter and freight rail services and for recreation. It belongs to Vancouver Islanders in perpetuity.

In order for the train to run safely, vegetation along the corridor must be managed.

Like all managers of rail corridors, the ICF is mandated to ensure that the track is safe and, as much as possible, free of fire risk.

To keep the corridor clear of overgrowth, annual spraying takes place. Detailed information on vegetation management is included on this site.

The ICF would be pleased to work with community groups interested in adopting stretches of the corridor to manage the weeds and foliage.

Blair McKinnon, the 30-year-old vice president of the Young Professionals of Nanaimo and a leader in the goal to restore the Nanaimo train station died on April 11.

The first annual ‘Blair McKinnon Celebrity Flag Football Game’ will be held in his memory on May 29 at Caledonia Field. Proceeds will go to the Nanaimo Train Station restoration project.

The Young Professionals of Nanaimo are well on the way to raising the funds to rebuild Nanaimo’s historic station that was razed by fire in 2007.

YPN is aiming to raise more than $1 million to restore the station to the look and standards of its 1920s hey day.

There are lots of good reasons for leading the station revitalization, says YPN president Andre Sullivan, including retaining history, culture and revitalizing Nanaimo’s town core. But topping the list is supporting ICF’s goal of sustainable green transportation.

“ICF has the ambitious goal of sustainable rail on Vancouver Island,” says Sullivan. “It’s up to each

Continue reading Campaign Underway to Rebuild Nanaimo Station

Mayors and councils representing Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast have all shown their support for increased passenger rail service on the Island.

Members attending the annual conference of the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities, unanimously endorsed a resolution that would see a main rail terminus established in Nanaimo with two trains heading south each morning. The trains would get commuters to work in Victoria and in communities along the way and would provide local passenger and tourism services.

Negotiations are underway with rail partners and government with the hope that by spring 2011 trains will be motoring south.