COMMUNITY TRUST REJUVENATES PARK IN POWELL RIVER

POWELL RIVER – The Community Development Trust’s Job Opportunities Program is employing four forest workers in Powell River to improve facilities, trails and wheelchair accessibility at Inland Lake Park, Community Development Minister Blair Lekstrom and Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced.

“The Community Development Trust is one of our key tools to assist communities and families through the downturn in the forest sector,” said Lekstrom. “This $98,000 project will help workers while, at the same time, improving outdoor recreation facilities for all British Columbians.”

The project is restoring the park’s 13-kilometre trail by replacing damaged retaining walls, removing uprooted and hazard trees, and adding a new surface so the trail is fully wheelchair accessible. The workers are also building new cooking shelters, fully accessible fishing piers and enhanced wheelchair accessible washrooms. The camping area will also be upgraded with the installation of new portable camping structures, known as yurts.

“The Community Development Trust is using the skills of forest workers to greatly improve recreation opportunities for Powell River residents and visitors,” said Bell. “As a result, Inland Lake Park will be further enjoyed by boaters, campers and hikers, and make a beautiful part of our province accessible to more British Columbians.”

Inland Lake Park is about 12 kilometres north of Powell River. The work will be carried out by the not-for-profit Powell River Model Community Project for Persons with Disabilities, an organization that provides advocacy and support services for persons with disabilities with a focus on employment, recreation, housing and transportation.

“This project will impact people’s lives and memories of the outdoors for years into the future,” said the Model Community Project’s executive director, David Morris. “Inland Lake Park will once again be a fully accessible, easily reached destination and will enable persons with mobility issues and their families to further enjoy our natural areas and the outdoor activities they offer.”

The $26.25-million Job Opportunities Program is helping to reduce the impact of current layoffs on workers employed in the forest industry, retaining skilled forest workers for the anticipated future upturn, and preserving the characteristics of the labour force in forest-dependent communities.

A forest-dependent community or organization and forest licensees or forest contractors working in cooperation with a forest-dependent community, are eligible to submit a project proposal to the Job Opportunities Program. So far, 103 submissions have been received, and 51 projects totalling over $8 million from across the province have been approved.

The Job Opportunities Program is one component of the Community Development Trust, which was announced in May. B.C.’s share of the federal trust is $129 million over three years, with funds also directed to a Tuition Assistance program and Transition Assistance for Older Workers Program.

For more information about the Community Development Trust and Job Opportunities Program, go to: www.cd.gov.bc.ca/cdt/

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Media

Contact:

Jennifer McLarty

Public Affairs Officer

Ministry of Forests and Range

250 387-4592

Leanne Ritchie

Public Affairs Officer

Ministry of Community Development

250 387-4089

David Morris

Powell River Community Project for Persons with Disabilities

604 485-2688




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