Askew’s Foods presents a cheque for $100,000 to the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail. From left: Lori Pounder - Manager at Askew’s Foods Armstrong, Claire Askew – Project Specialist/Wellness Coordinator at Askew’s Foods, Dave Wallace – General Manager at Askew’s Foods, Kukpi7 Wayne Christian – Chief of Splatsin, Alex de Chantal - Fundraising Strategy Coordinator, Denis Delisle – RDNO Director Area F,  Kevin Flynn – CSRD Board Chair. (Photo Credit: Henry Schnell and Len Lazzarotto)

By Pete McIntyre

$100,000 donation

Grocery store invests in new rail trail

Oct 12, 2021 | 3:45 PM

Askew’s Foods has stepped up to support what is bound to become a major attraction in the region.

The locally-owned, independent grocery business has donated $100,000 to support construction of the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail between Armstrong and Sicamous.

The announcement was made by David Askew, the president of Askew’s Foods. The donation follows the company’s collaboration with the rail trail owners to kick-off the fundraising campaign by selling rail trail greeting cards in-store and matching all sales up to $20,000 in December 2020. Askew’s matched the card sales with a $7,040 donation, and visitors can still find those greeting cards for sale again this holiday season.

Askew’s Foods, which got is start in 1929 in Salmon Arm and now includes four stores, supports a variety of local fundraisers and is a big backer of community relationships.

“Several times throughout the year, they give to local groups who make donation requests and support local organizations providing support for youth and adult sports, town celebrations and many more,” said a news release from the Rail Trail committee. “Askew’s has a special interest in supporting healthy living and views the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail as an important piece of greenway infrastructure that will encourage outdoor activity and will be accessible to the whole community. Overall, Askew’s Foods community giving program exceeds five per cent of their total net profits each year.”

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“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a great increase in the public’s interest in outdoor recreation, and there has been research showing the outdoors are good for mental health,” said David Askew. “The Sicamous to Armstrong Rail Trail will be a wonderful addition to an already extensive trail network that we are so fortunate to have here in the Shuswap. Askew’s is honoured to be a contributor to this wonderful initiative.”

“Askew’s Foods has been a community champion of the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail from the beginning, and we are so grateful for their incredibly generous donation,” stated Alex de Chantal, Fundraising Strategy Coordinator. “Together, with the support of rail trail donors like Askew’s Foods, we are going to build a world-class multi-use trail connecting communities from Sicamous to Armstrong while unfolding the true story within Secwépemc territory.”

The Community Capital Fundraising Campaign encourages corporate and community donors to support the rail trail project by making donations, as many grants require a matching financial commitment to qualify. All contributions are tax deductible, and every dollar donated gets leveraged for grants and turns into more trail on the ground.

For more information or to donate, visit www.ShuswapNorthOkanaganRailTrail.ca/donate.