2001

In 2001, the idea for Community Recreational Initiatives Society was born. The idea was inspired by an individual with Down syndrome. Troy recognized the privilege of being able to experience such outdoor activities as hiking, kayaking and cycling and realized that not everyone was as lucky to enjoy such privileges, especially those with disabilities. With a little self-reflection and empathy in mind, a powerful idea was created that would unite both people with and without disabilities.

The timing was right for CRIS founder Troy Becker as he had recently been given a severance package and thus had the opportunity to put this idea into action. During 2001, he created the name Community Recreational Initiatives Society (CRIS) and registered the organization for non-profit status. He also created the first CRIS pamphlet, borrowed his first piece of equipment the “trail rider” for hiking, and purchased one kayak. All of the CRIS operations were run out of the Becker family home. A volunteer of CRIS donated their old Mazda truck so the organization had a vehicle to transport equipment. As a way of fundraising, the CRIS organizations started collecting bottles and cans, asking businesses and restaurants to keep a separate bin for bottles and cans to be donated and collected by CRIS.

2002

By 2002 the CRIS organization got to serve its very first   participants. Although CRIS did not take out as many participants as it would have liked the idea was becoming a reality and three participants were taken out that year. The CRIS organization also got help in the equipment department when the Central Okanagan Foundation bought three kayaks for the foundation. They also received funds from the Ogopogo Rotary Club to buy the foundations first used trail rider.

2003

By 2003, CRIS had taking out about 20 to 30 participants. That year CRIS had its first Adaptive Outdoor Adventure trip with 2 nights and 3 days to Mabel Lake and its first Access Challenge (a type of adventure race) 2 days and three nights through a circuit at Mount Garibaldi. The non profit organization People in Motion donated their kayaking equipment to the CRIS organization to provide services to more persons with disabilities. That same year CRIS acquired its first trailer, one that was about to be thrown in the dump. After countless volunteer hours, the trailer was roadworthy and had the capacity to hold one trail rider. CRIS also managed to sell the old Mazda truck and purchase a more reliable van dubbed “Goldie”. Shortly afterwards, the CRIS organization bought a wooden trailer and with the help of more volunteers, converted the wooden trailer into a kayak trailer. The volunteers not only donated labour, but also donated storage space for CRIS equipment.

2004

Another key component was brought into the CRIS programming in 2004 when they added cycling to their list of programs. By adding the cycling program the CRIS organization managed to provide services to more participants. The CRIS organization received 10 tandem cycles from BC Blind Sports. That year, the first seven day CRIS Adaptive Outdoor Adventure Trip had participants and volunteers enjoying the natural beauty of Bowron Lakes, kayaking in the Interior British Columbia. The CRIS organization also had CRIS volunteers and participants return to Mabel Lake to paddle the pristine waters.

2005

Things started to improve in 2005 for the CRIS organization as they obtained a stable rental property where they could store all of their equipment at one place. This meant less time wasted driving around town to pick up equipment often at opposite sides of town. It also meant more time for the volunteers to spend with the participants outside doing an activity that both the volunteer and the participant enjoyed. Another important change came with the hiring of the first summer student. This meant that CRIS could now offer more stable programming and run more programs. Towards the end of 2005, CRIS obtained funding to buy an actual kayak trailer and say good-bye to their old creation of a kayak trailer. The CRIS organization once again collaborated with another non-profit organization Kelowna and District Society for Community Living (KDSCL) and gave them the CRIS recycling program so people with disabilities could run the program themselves and have the money go back into their own organization.

2006

In 2006 CRIS received the funds to purchase a newer van and a much needed hiking trailer. The hiking trailer was vital to our programs and volunteer’s schedules. Before the trailer, volunteers would have to come a few hours early to load up equipment and then strap it into the trailer and repeat the same duties after the trip was over. This could be very time consuming process. The new trailer could store up to 4 trail riders 2 tandem bikes and all other necessary hiking and cycling equipment. For the second consecutive year, CRIS had another summer student that helped bring out more participants and to continue the stable programming. This same year was the first CRIS seven day ocean kayak trip that sent volunteers and participants to the Gulf Islands to have a larger than life experience.

2007

The CRIS organization received government funding for three summer students in 2007. This was also the year they acquired their first full time employee. Having three summer students and one full-time staff allowed for CRIS to take out even more participants by having even more programming. Another benefit of having more summer students is that CRIS was able to do more daily Adaptive Outdoor Adventure trips. In 2007, the CRIS organization did three major hiking trips, one seven day ocean kayaking trip through the beautiful Discovery Islands and one kids’ camp for children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in Cultus Lake.

2008

In 2008, CRIS received funding for four summer students, three to run programming outside and one to run programming at the office or administrative level. On top of that, on a continuation from 2007, CRIS has a full time executive director to help organize and plan trips on an administrative level as well. In 2008, CRIS ran the most Adaptive Outdoor Adventures it has ever planned. Also continuing from 2007 CRIS has taken participants out for a minimum of three trips per day Monday to Friday from May to the end of August.

2009

The outlook for 2009 is promising with daily programs running full force throughout the week and a summer calendar filled with weekend excursions all over British Columbia.

The CRIS organization has came along way in a short period time. It has faced many barriers and challenges along the way, and through it all, has endured and carried on. Although there will be barriers in the future I am confident that the CRIS organization will continue to carry on and offer programming that is socially inclusive.