by EVAN MATTHEWS
Valemount Councillor Sandy Salt has been named the president of the Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway Association (TCYHA).
At its 71st Annual General Meeting, the TCYHA officially announced the beginning of Salt’s term as president. Valemount Mayor Jeannette Townsend was once, too, president of the association.
“She and I both are strong supporters of the association,” says Salt.
“It’s hugely important for Valemount because Highway 16 brings people to us; the Highway 5 corridor is also included,” she says.
Before her term officially began, the TCYHA presented Salt with the Builders of the Yellowhead Award, as the Honorable Amarjeet Sohi, the Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, participated in the presentation.
The Award recognizes long-standing commitment and service to the Association, according to John Wojcicki, the association’s Chief Administrative Officer.
The TCYHA presented Councillor Salt with the award for her special contributions as a Vice-President, Director, Committee Chair, and for her work toward the achievement of the organization’s objectives, he says.
Salt began her support of the Association while working as an administrator with the Village of Valemount, and elevated that with her election to the Village Council in 2011.
“I’ve travelled this corridor my entire life. I love when people who have travelled the corridor — if they’ve seen something, or have noticed something in need of improvement — to email us so we can do something with that feedback,” — Sandy Salt, Yellowhead Highway Association president
Soon after, Salt joined the TCYHA Board as a Director from B.C. representing Yellowhead Highway (B.C.) 5.
“I’ve travelled this corridor my entire life,” says Salt, adding her passion for the association comes from seeing so many tragedies, and wanting to increase safety for people she genuinely cares about in this community.
“We love for people who have travelled the corridor — if they’ve seen something, or have noticed something in need of improvement — to email us so we can do something with that feedback,” she says.
The Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway Association was formed in 1947 by municipalities along what is now known as Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway 16 — and Yellowhead Highway 5 in B.C. — to bring together a collective effort for construction of a northwestern highway route to the west coast.
The (over) 100 municipalities and nearly 100 corporate supporters continue to work collaboratively to address highway infrastructure issues, highway safety, economic development, and increasing tourism for the benefit of all in the Yellowhead Corridor, according to Wojcicki.
The TCYHA is very active in promoting the highway as a primary means of transportation for commercial and tourist travelers, he says, which includes a hard copy travel guide — over 85,000 distributed thru Visitor Information Centers — and a website geared to travelers to help them develop their trip planning itinerary, www.yellowheadit.com.
