Brilliant Bridge | CBT helps to restore history by TANYA LAING | One of the many community initiatives that Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) is supporting is the restoration of the historic Brilliant Bridge in Castlegar.

"We have committed to them that we will fund this project to the tune of $200,000, which is a huge chunk of what their fundraising is about," said Delphi Hoodicoff, the acting manager of communications for CBT in Castlegar.

The Brilliant Bridge was built in 1913 to cross the Columbia River, joining the Doukhobor community of Brilliant to the growing city of Castlegar, but it fell into disuse alter a new bridge was built. Discussion surrounding its inevitable deconstruction was halted when the Doukhobor Historical Society began raising awareness about the bridge's significance.

"I think the Doukhobors have a connection to this bridge," said Hoodicoff. "It was something they all knew ... I think there's a lot of support in the community to (restore the bridge). And that's one of the ways that CBT likes to get involved in projects here"

For more information an the reconstruction, please see www.brilliant-bridge.ca.

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Reprinted by permission, Kootenay Business magazine (kootenaybiz.com)