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QUESNEL – Five forest workers have restored the trail and reduced the risk of forest fire in Quesnel’s 10 Mile Lake Provincial Park as a result of $33,883 from the Community Development Trust’s Job Opportunities Program, Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger and Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today.
“The Community Development Trust is one of our key tools to assist forest workers and their families through this difficult time,” said Krueger. “This funding will help provide employment while improving recreation and safety in the Quesnel area.”
The restoration included the chipping of stumps and previously cleared limbs, tops and branches, and used the mulch to level and resurface 2.5 kilometres of the 3.2-kilometre loop trail. The chipping of the woody debris reduces forest fire hazards and risks in the park and the nearby community of 10 Mile Lake, and also provides a much-improved recreation trail, used by hikers in the spring and summer, and cross-country skiers in the winter. The lake is about 11 kilometres north of Quesnel on Highway 97.
“The forest workers employed
through the Job Opportunities Program are creating long-term benefits for
Quesnel residents and families who enjoy 10 Mile Lake, year-round,” said
“Quesnel residents, as well as those visiting our community, are really going to enjoy the improvements to the park that our forest workers are making,” said Quesnel Mayor Mary Sjostrom. “Their skills and hard work will improve the recreation experience for those on foot, snowshoe and ski, and be part of many good memories in the future.”
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 co-operation with a forest-dependent community are eligible to submit a project proposal to the Job Opportunities Program. To date, the program has approved $9.5 million to support 57 projects that will employ more than 475 forest workers in communities across the province.
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/
10 Mile Lake project pictures can be seen at www.for.gov.bc.ca/pab/media/photos.htm
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Contact: |
Vivian Thomas Communications Manager Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-5728 Matt Wood Communications Supervisor City of 250 991-7475 |
Leanne Ritchie Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Community Development 250 356-0979 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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