A steady drizzle couldnB次元官网网址檛 dampen the excitement felt from the Colwood community at the official opening of Painter Trail, a paved pedestrian pathway that connects the Royal Bay development with the Wishart neighbourhood.

Mayor Carol Hamilton spoke of the benefits the trail will have for the community, prior to a ribbon cutting ceremony.

B次元官网网址淭his makes it safe B次元官网网址� we can get people off the road and into a safer area. We can improve the connectivity of our community,B次元官网网址� she said.

The trail will be of particular use for students of both Royal Bay secondary and Dunsmuir middle school and promises to see even more usage as the areaB次元官网网址檚 development projects get built out.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a nice connection because we have Dunsmuir kids come to our school often for the academy or visits and now you have a nice little walk B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e excited about this,B次元官网网址� said Royal Bay principal Windy Beadall.

The trail has been especially beneficial for Royal Bay student Kelsey Worth, who uses a wheelchair and used to have a tough route to school along Metchosin Road on days where she would choose to travel with friends instead of take the bus.

B次元官网网址淚t just makes everything easier because weB次元官网网址檙e not on the road, so youB次元官网网址檙e not worried about getting hit by a car, which is always a good thing,B次元官网网址� Worth said.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 more room for all of us to spread out so we can talk to each other. And itB次元官网网址檚 easier on the chair, because thereB次元官网网址檚 no gravel getting into the equipment, which is always a problem with thick gravel.B次元官网网址�

Worth lives on Benhomer Drive and said she can now get home from school before her bus typically arrives to pick her up.

Other students from Dunsmuir and Royal Bay were in attendance and planted the first trees that will line the new trail.

joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com