About New Pathways to Gold Society
In 2007, a group dedicated to finding solutions to the challenges facing the communities along the historic Gold Rush/Spirit Trails corridor met in Lytton, British Columbia.
They represented a broad-based coalition of local elected officials, historians, First Nations leaders, heritage tourism advocates, and local businesses. They developed a vision of a re-invented Hope to Barkerville corridor based on economic development through heritage tourism, First Nations reconciliation, community projects and heritage events. And they devised a strategy to encourage British Columbians to rediscover and explore our province’s unique heritage and hear a more inclusive narrative of our shared history.
The vehicle they created to make that vision a reality is the New Pathways to Gold Society (NPTGS). A non-profit, non-partisan organization, NPTGS partners with First Nations, communities, and all three levels of government to develop and deliver projects supporting local economies and creating heritage tourism assets. With financial support from the Government of British Columbia and other partners, NPTGS has raised and/or leveraged over $4.5 million for projects and contributed nearly $3.55 million to local communities. In partnership, the Society has also built or restored over 230 kilometres of heritage trails launched and/or completed 18 major projects and staged over 150 events, performances, symposia, and lectures.
The Society is governed by a Board of Directors representative of broad skill sets, inclusive of First Nations and regions from Hope to Barkerville. On this balanced board, half of the Directors are First Nations representatives. There is also one designated Multicultural Director an two co-chairs, one of whom is First Nations.
NPTGS is inspired by the example of Chief Spintlum, whose leadership during the Canyon War of 1858 makes him a co-founder of modern British Columbia.
NPTGS is working on major projects all along the corridor to revive Chief Spintlum’s vision of peace, prosperity and cooperation along the entire length of the Gold Rush/Spirit Trails corridor and all of BC. We hope you’ll join us in this mission.
NPTGS Board of Directors
- Chief James Hobart Canyon Indigenous, Indigenous Co-Chair
- Brent Rutherford South Cariboo, Co-Chair
- Byron Spinks Secretary
- Mike Retasket Director, Tourism Associations
- Frank Antoine Thompson Indigenous
- Roy Christopher South Cariboo Indigenous
- Ron Paull North Cariboo
- Paul Clark Thompson
- Susanna Ng Multicultural Director
- Donna Barnett Honorary Director
- Vacant (Ashcroft, Indigenous)
- Vacant (North Cariboo, Indigenous)
- Vacant (Canyon)