A longtime Nanaimo parks advocate has been immortalized on Mount Benson.
The Regional District of Nanaimo and the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust honoured former land trust executive director Gail Adrienne with a commemorative plaque on a trail at Mount Benson Regional Park at a ceremony Friday, May 5, rechristening it ‘Gail’s Trail,’ a press release stated. Adrienne died on Nov. 8, 2020.
As a NALT founding member, Adrienne dedicated much of her time with community involvement and environmental conservation. She was able to bring together a broad variety of community members and organizations to secure lands for the park on Mount Benson, something that became a reality in 2008, the press release said. The park now encompasses 292 hectares of forested land along the slopes of Mount Benson.
Given her advocacy and work, the trail dedication is a fitting tribute to her determination and love of nature, the release noted, adding that “for more than two decades, she worked to support, promote and protect the natural values of land and water in our region.”
The RDN and Vanessa Craig, board chairperson, expressed gratitude to Adrienne for her life’s work.
“Mount Benson Regional Park is a gem within the RDN’s parks system,” Craig said in the press release. “[Gail’s] vision and commitment so many years ago led us here today, where we can enjoy the trails and spectacular views of Nanaimo to the Strait of Georgia.”
Paul Chapman, NALT’s current executive director, said his predecessor devoted her working life to including community in environmental stewardship initiatives.
“It is a very fitting sentiment that thanks to Gail’s vision, we all get to enjoy the view from Mount Benson,” Chapman said.
Andrew Simpson, Adrienne’s son, was at the dedication and said it was an apt memorial. He expressed gratitude to NALT and the RDN for honouring his mother’s commitment and service.
“Throughout her life, my mother was passionate about enhancing the overall well-being of her community and advocating for positive change,” he said in the release.
OBITUARY: Gail Adrienne
karl.yu@nanaimobulletin.com
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