Esquimalt is contesting a contest that could give the E&N rail trail a new official name.
Council is requesting the Capital Regional District cancel the proposed naming contest for a new regional trail being built alongside sections of the E&N railway from Victoria to Langford.
Esquimalt Coun. Randall Garrison said he is appalled thousands of dollars could be spent on the initiative, especially in the absence of public consultation.
“I’d like to head off that waste of public money and time, and also the potential removal of the name ‘rail trail,’” he said.
CRD Parks staff have said there is $2,300 available in budget for the contest. The Galloping Goose trail was also named through a contest.
CRD Parks staff said they’d like to launch the contest in April then announce a winner in June, but the timeline is still being fleshed out.
The contest may even demonstrate the current name is the best one, Young said.
“I think that’s one of the purposes of the contest,” said Geoff Young, CRD board chair. “We have to make people aware that (the trail) is there.
“I kind of think the current one is not a bad one. It’ll have to be a pretty good one to convince me we should change it.”