George Burton, 87, pauses to look out over the Clack Creek waterfall at the spot in Cliff Gilker Park where he dreams of bringing the love of his life in her wheelchair. For months he has been on a personal crusade to make part of the park's trail in Roberts Creek wheelchair accessible and to build a wooden lookout platform. "I've been involved from the very beginning as the sole person to not only design it but to bring it to where it is today," Burton said.
With the Rotary Club of Sechelt's commitment to provide materials and labour, letters of support from seniors' organizations and pending Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) approval, he may once again be able to share the view with his wife of 67 years.
He and Rosa - who is now an invalid - moved to Sechelt from Eastern Canada 10 years ago and used to walk together in the park. But because of the tree roots and rough ground, he is no longer able to take her to the waterfall now that she is in a wheelchair.
"Being an artist, it's one of the most beautiful spots I have come across on the Coast," Burton said.
He describes the proposed platform spanning five by five metres, surrounded by unbreakable glass panels with railings on the front and sides, "so anyone sitting down in a wheelchair could see the falls."
He also aims to see a wheelchair-accessible wash-room facility as well as benches in the park. "Seats would encourage the older people to walk a little further," he noted.
The SCRD's draft management plan for Cliff Gilker Park includes a priority plan to make the just-under 200 metres of trail leading to the waterfall wheelchair accessible and to add a viewing platform. The draft management plan is available for public review and input until the end of November. The SCRD hosted a public open house recently to present the plan and gather input. Copies are available for viewing at www.scrd.bc.ca or at the Sechelt and Gibsons public libraries.
The Cliff Gilker advisory committee and the SCRD's consultant will work the public input into a final management plan that will then go to the SCRD board for approval.
The Rotary Club had sent a letter to the SCRD "indicating it was prepared to undertake this project as one of its community projects and would pay for the materials and provide labour," Rotary director Tom Pinfold said. The club would get started on the project after the SCRD approves it.
Burton approached the Rotary Club a couple months ago asking for a letter of support. Rotary president Ev Maley told him she thought they could go one step further, after which the project received unanimous Rotary board approval.
Living with his wife's accessibility issues for six years has heightened Burton's awareness of people's need for access. "There are other places I want to visit and be a bit of an ambassador on getting places wheelchair accessible," Burton said.
