TransCanada supports water trail with millennial perspective
Thank you to TransCanada for providing a $4,000 grant to support the continued development of the Spokane River Water Trail.
Dan Maguire, an environmental engineer for TransCanada and Forum board member, is a millennial with a passion for both the environment and outdoor recreation.
A survey conducted by Chase Card Services found that “When millennials are “out there,” what they want is lots of friends along and a party atmosphere. In fact, they are more likely than any other group to travel socially with friends and family.” And they share their experiences on social media, with three out of four millennials posting to social networks at least once a day while traveling.
This makes assets like the Centennial Trail and Spokane River Water Trail community treasures at the center of recruiting both talent and tourism to our communities.
Dan’s earliest memory is being on a park bench watching baby alligators in Florida, where his father was a park ranger. After his family moved to New Jersey, he saw the underbelly of the Delaware River filled with pollutants. But he also experienced the upstream waters and tribs that ran free, providing tubing, paddling and hiking opportunities that spurred placing the environment and the outdoors at the center of both his personal and professional pursuits.
As a graduate of Leadership Spokane and a board member for the Spokane River Forum and Friends of Centennial Trail, Dan’s putting his time where his thoughts are. Said Dan, “I’m part of the generation that is both reclaiming rivers and trails, and playing on them.”
Verlyn Bailly, who manages public awareness for TransCanada’s western pipelines, agrees with Dan. “When our staff worked with scouts on Islands Trailhead restoration, it was a treat. Those kids energized us, giving a perfect example of why TransCanada is so excited to be part of the community and contributing to these projects.”
“We’re committed as employees and a company to getting people outside and realizing how good we’ve got it. As I travel throughout the west, I’m in awe of what this region has. Having lived in ten cities in seven states, I can honestly say that Spokane is the best place I have ever lived.”
From offices overlooking the river in downtown Spokane, TransCanada staff manage environmental, safety and other needs for 1,353 miles of natural gas pipeline that goes from the Canadian border, down the Idaho Panhandle, through Spokane Valley, then south to Oregon, northern California and Nevada. As much as 2.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day travels through these pipes. TransCanada’s slogan, “In business to deliver” is evidenced every day in homes and businesses throughout the Spokane Region.
TransCanada’s support has been instrumental in development of several water trail access and restoration projects, most recently at Island’s Trailhead in Spokane Valley and Aubrey White by the City of Spokane Riverside Park Water Reclamation Facility. This year, they also supported Spokane River Cleanup efforts.
Said Dan, “I own being a millennial. As a board member, it’s exciting to apply the perspective of my generation to connect the river, people, and the future of our communities.”