About Us

emails      
kortsbc@gmail.com             KORTS
kaslodiscgolf@gmail.com    Kaslo Disc Golf Club
bikekaslo@gmail.com          Kaslo Mountain Bike Club 

What is KORTS?
KORTS stands for the Kaslo Outdoor Recreation and Trails Society, which is a recent (2018) amalgamation of the Kaslo Trailblazers Society and the Kaslo Outdoor Recreation Society. Here is a bit of history about how KORTS has evolved in Kaslo…….

In 2003 six of us Kaslovians decided we did not enjoy walking on the highway and so, with some existing but disjointed rough trails by the river, we thought……why not join up some of these trail sections for a river trail walk! Two years later, with more and more people walking this north side river trail, we organized a community meeting and 25 interested hikers formed the Kaslo Trailblazers Society. An ambitious 5 phase project was drawn up to widen the Goat Trail that had been completed, build a trail on the south side of the Kaslo River, connect the trails with two pedestrian bridges, and provide an interpretive trail on the north side, together with signage, an interpretive brochure, and maps.

After only 2 years of fundraising and thousands of hours by dedicated volunteers, 2007 was a banner year with the building of the Trailblazers Bridge. In 2008 the Kaslo Trailblazers Society became a registered charity, able to issue tax receipts for donations. Unfortunately, 2008 was also the year that recession hit Canada and we had to widen our net to obtain funds for what became the Unity Bridge, completed in 2015. The Unity Bridge was so named because it joined the north and south sides of the Kaslo River Trail, and to showcase what a small group of dedicated volunteers can accomplish when they have the support of their community, their country and the world. We presently have bridge plaques sponsored from 9 provinces, 2 territories, 7 USA states and 13 other countries. We continue to solicit more plaque sponsorship from friends and visitors from all parts of the world. The building of the river trail spawned more mountain biking and nordic ski trails and programs for kids, which has resulted in more clubs and organizations with cross-overs in volunteers. All funds raised have been spent on materials, with less than 1% of our funding going toward administration.

In 2016 we floated the idea of amalgamating several Kaslo outdoor recreation Clubs and organizations into one society in order to reduce the need for separate AGM’s and boards. We were very pleased when in the spring of 2018 the Kaslo Trailblazers Society, the Nordic Ski Club and the Mountain Bike Club joined forces with under the new banner of KORTS…..Kaslo Outdoor Recreation and Trails Society. KORTS has assumed the Kaslo Trailblazers Society charitable status, which now applies to donations for all Clubs. Under the umbrella of KORTS, each Club is managed by a core group of volunteers with representation on the KORTS Board of Directors. Donations and membership fees can be directed to whichever Club the donor wishes to support. Since the amalgamation, one other group has joined KORTS – the newly formed Kaslo Disc Golf Club. This joining of forces has eliminated the need for 4 separate.   societies, boards, government reporting and associated costs. It has also opened the doors for better funding through Columbia Basin Trust and other Foundations.

We welcome any enquiries and will attempt to answer any questions you may have about our Charitable Society or to make a welcome donation please contact:    kortsbc@gmail.com

The Village of Kaslo (pop. 1032) is nestled between the Selkirk and Purcell mountains in south-eastern BC and ideally situated beside beautiful Kootenay Lake.  The Kaslo Trailblazers Society was formed in 2005 by a local group of enthusiastic hikers dedicated to making our wilderness accessible to everyone. 

Since 2005 the Society members and volunteers have donated more than 14,000 hours of labour towards trail-building and maintenance. Our members include both working and retired engineers, carpenters, forest reclamation specialists, bankers, and outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life.

Respectfully submitted by Val Koenig (former President). If you have any questions about who we are, what we do, how to join, or just want to volunteer your time, feel free to contact us. Please see below

We are a registered society under the BC Society Act with an elected board of directors, constitution and bylaws.   Annual General Meetings are held in early spring.  We became a federally registered charity in 2008.
 
Kaslo Outdoor Recreation and Trails Society (umbrella organization / Society)
    Kaslo Mountain Bike Club
    Kaslo Nordic Ski Club
    Kaslo Disc Golf Club
    Kaslo Trailblazers

Revenue Canada Charitable Registration # 863051181 RR0001

The Purposes of the Society are to:
1. Encourage community and visitor participation in non-motorized outdoor 
recreation activities, especially, but not limited to Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, hiking, running, paddling, and the like.
2. Build and maintain non-motorized recreational trails in and around Kaslo for public use.


email: kortsbc@gmail.com
 website: www.korts.ca or   http://kortsbc.blogspot.com    either will work

Please note that our PO Box has changed effective May 1, 2012.
Kaslo Outdoor Recreation and Trails Society
Box 1024
Kaslo, BC  V0G 1M0
Canada
250-551-3028 (Dan Miles)

2023 Executive
President: Dan Miles
Vice-President: Francois Blouin
Treasurer: Ken Butt
Secretary: Stu Heard
    

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