TORCA membership fee increase
Thank you for being part of the TORCA community and for supporting our trails, events, and advocacy efforts. Your commitment as members is what helps TORCA thrive, and we’re grateful for your ongoing involvement and passion for our trails.
We want to inform you about an upcoming change to our membership fee, which will increase from $20 to $40 per year, effective November 15th 2024, which is the start of our renewal cycle. Memberships purchased after November 15th will be valid for the remainder of 2024 and all of 2025.
We made this decision after careful consideration, ensuring we can continue to provide and expand the quality and maintenance of the trail network, as well as our initiatives that directly benefit the community. We also recognize that many active families enjoy our trails and trail days, so in addition to our individual memberships, we are preparing to launch a $100 “Family Membership” program (2 adults and 2 kids) and a $20 “Youth Membership” (under 19).
Why the Increase?
TORCA is a non-profit organization and registered charity (837383777RR0001) led by a volunteer Board of Directors, and membership fees are an essential source of funding for our work. Since the inception of TORCA in 1998, our membership fees have never been changed. After literal decades of rising costs – and having given consideration to membership fees charged by other trail associations (TORCA will still be one of the lowest-cost trail association memberships in BC) – we felt this increase was long overdue.
Your membership fee contribution goes directly towards:
- Trail Building and Maintenance: Our team works hard to maintain existing trails and build new ones, keeping them safe, accessible, and sustainable for all skill levels.
- Events and Programs: Your support helps us invest in staff and resources to organize community events, group rides, skill clinics, and youth programs that connect and empower our community.
- Advocacy and Conservation: Access is a privilege, and TORCA is dedicated to preserving that access to and use of, our natural spaces and representing the voice of our community in local decision-making processes. Our efforts help protect these trails for future generations.
The Value and Impact of Membership:
Every dollar from your membership fee makes a difference. Here’s how:
- Trail Building and Maintenance: With your support, we can continue to invest in hiring experienced builders, purchase quality tools and materials, and apply for, plan and complete more projects each season.
- Education and Community Engagement: Your contributions help us organize free events and workshops to share trail knowledge, best practices, and foster inclusivity.
- Building Stronger Partnerships: Membership engagement and resulting fees enable us to bring a unified voice from our community to secure critical resources and cooperation in our work with local organizations, land owners, and government stakeholders and maintain mutually beneficial relations and enduring partnerships.
By supporting TORCA, you’re directly investing in our trails, community, and the future of mountain biking in our area.
Members who have registered for auto-renewal will be charged the new membership fee of $40 starting with our renewal cycle on November 15, 2024.
Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions, please feel free to email [email protected].
We’re excited to see what we can accomplish together, now and in the future!
TORCA