Black Diamond will soon see an upgrade in their pathway system thanks to Wednesday's Canada 150 grant announcement.

The town will receive $78,298 towards the expansion.

Deputy Mayor Jackie Stickel says they're grateful for the federal funding.

"It's wonderful," she says. "We're really thankful to the government for the Canada 150 program, which is for infrastructure within the town."

Stickel says the Town plans to expand the two existing pathways into one.

"The money that we're going to get, we have to match it," she says. "What we're going to do with it, is join two existing pathways to make one longer one, which is all on the west side of town, and we'll show off the sheep river valley and the distant mountains."

She says the pathways will do wonders for those using them.

"Pathways are very important to most communities," she says. "Because it gives an enhancement to the communities, there's lots of cycling, walking or running and the social aspect."

The plan is to start work on the path next spring in order to be complete by Canada Day 2017.

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