New water fountains should be cropping up soon on the Galloping Goose and Lochside regional trails, thanks to a quiet fundraising effort by a former marathon coach.
Tom Macdonald launched A Drop In the Bucket campaign last fall to raise $54,000, which would cover the cost of installing nine fountains between Sooke and Sidney. So far heB次元官网网址檚 funneled $43,800 to the Capital Regional District parks department, or about 80 per cent of his goal.
Macdonald expects three fountains to be installed this summer or fall B次元官网网址� at the Goose-Lochside junction near Uptown, on Lochside at the Blenkinsop Greenway junction, and on the Galloping Goose in Colwood, near Sooke Road.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 personally like to see nine put in this year, but (CRD parks) has other planning considerations. It has to dovetail with what they are doing,B次元官网网址� said Macdonald, who works as the executive director of the Local Government Management Association. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e tried to nudge everyone on for this year, but youB次元官网网址檝e got to be patient.B次元官网网址�
Karen Preston with CRD parks confirmed that three fountains will be installed this year, but details on precise locations or times havenB次元官网网址檛 been set.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 like to make something happen sooner than later,B次元官网网址� Preston said. B次元官网网址淚t will be three this year, but we donB次元官网网址檛 have a final B次元官网网址榶esB次元官网网址� on locations.B次元官网网址�
Macdonald launched the initiative after spending years as a volunteer marathon coach. He had to prearrange water drops along the regional trails for 30-plus kilometre training sessions, and thought thereB次元官网网址檚 got to be a better way.
He launched the website adropinthebucket.ca, and he and other volunteers have hit the trail on weekends to drum up cash and support. Hundreds of people have flipped in loonies and twoonies into the hat, and some have gone home and donated $500 through the website.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e spent many Sundays on the trail. My dog likes it,B次元官网网址� Macdonald said. B次元官网网址淚 hang out with a thermos of coffee and chat with people about it. Most people think its a good idea.B次元官网网址�
Morguard Investments (Uptown), Peninsula Co-op, Running Room and Don Mann Excavating have each donated $6,000, the approximate cost of installing a fountain, adding to the 75 donors listed online. Macdonald is covering administrative costs, such as the website, to ensure all donated money goes toward A Drop in the Bucket.
Support has been almost entirely positive, although Macdonald said he was shocked when one cyclist rode past and yelled, B次元官网网址渨hat a dumb idea.B次元官网网址� It turned out to be Tim Wood, the recently retired CAO for Saanich and a personal friend of Macdonald.
B次元官网网址淭im is a huge behind-the-scenes supporter of the project. He really believes in the project,B次元官网网址� Macdonald said laughing. B次元官网网址淚t caught me off guard with the B次元官网网址榙umb idea.B次元官网网址� I had a good laugh. Really, the support has been fabulous.B次元官网网址�
See www.adropinthebucket.ca for more information or to donate, or www.crd.bc.ca/parks/beinvolved/adropinthebucket.htm.
editor@saanichnews.com
