As a typical kid growing up in the Okanagan, George Galbraith spent summers splashing in Kalamalka Lake and exploring the world around him.
乌鸦传媒淚 played along the rail tracks,乌鸦传媒� said the 72-year-old.
Based on those experiences, the Vernon philanthropist provided significant support for the Okanagan Rail Trail Monday 乌鸦传媒� a donation of $150,000 and he will also match up to a further $150,000 based on donations made by June 30.
The initial $150,000 is dedicated to his family, including his grandparents 乌鸦传媒� the Galbraiths who depended on rail to stock shelves in their Vernon store and the Ewers who needed rail to ship fruit from their Westbank orchard to market.
乌鸦传媒淢y parents, Harold and Lillian Galbraith, similarly worked in the Okanagan and contributed greatly to the community. It is an honour to donate to the Okanagan Rail Trail in their memory,乌鸦传媒� he said.
As for the matching dollars, it乌鸦传媒檚 a formula Galbraith has used over 20 years to support other fundraising efforts, including the tower at
乌鸦传媒淚t appeals to the public. They can say, 乌鸦传媒業f I乌鸦传媒檓 putting in $20, I know someone else will give $20. It gets directly to their sense of fairness,乌鸦传媒� said Galbraith, who brought cable TV to the valley in the 1970s.
The first matching money came from Galbraith乌鸦传媒檚 four-year-old grandson Oscar 乌鸦传媒� a toonie.
乌鸦传媒淲ay to go buddy,乌鸦传媒� said Galbraith as the $2 was handed over.
The Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative is currently $4 million towards its $7.8 million goal to develop the 49.5-kilometre rail trail from Coldstream to Kelowna.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 unbelievable what we can do when we work together,乌鸦传媒� said Leanne Hammond, with the Community Foundation of North Okanagan, which is working with the ORTI and the Central Okanagan Community Foundation to collect funds.
Galbraith is encouraging all Vernon, Coldstream, Lake Country and Kelowna residents, and particularly those with deep roots, to get involved.
乌鸦传媒淚f you go around the world and look at trails, you can乌鸦传媒檛 find one like this, it乌鸦传媒檚 very unique,乌鸦传媒� said Galbraith.
乌鸦传媒淭his opportunity only comes along every generation or two. It乌鸦传媒檚 a great opportunity for Okanagan residents to show what this means to their community and the generations ahead.乌鸦传媒�
For more information on the campaign, go to
