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BURNS LAKE – Twelve Cheslatta Community Forest workers are restoring numerous heritage trails south of Francois Lake with $196,960 from the Community Development Trust’s Job Opportunities Program, Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger and Bulkley Valley-Stikine MLA Dennis MacKAY announced.
“The Community Development Trust is one of our key tools to assist forest workers and their families through this difficult economic time,” said Krueger. “Not only will this project help forest workers, it will preserve the trails near Francois Lake that were used as major trade, travel and communication lines by First Nations for centuries.”
The workers are clearing and widening up to 40 kilometres of pathways along the Cheslatta, Cheslatta Cat and Knapp Trails. The restoration will help in the trails being formally recognized as Heritage Trails, and promote the Southside Trail System as a year-round tourist destination, attracting hikers and winter sports enthusiasts.
“The Job Opportunities Program is helping communities and British Columbians throughout the north by creating jobs for forest workers that result in improved recreation areas and options,” said MacKAY. “The restoration of these historic trails will prove irresistible to adventure seekers, who are keen to experience the natural beauty of the area 12 months of the year.”
The project will also include silviculture work such as the removal of weeds and brush that compete with seedlings for sunlight and nutrients.
“These forest workers are using their skills and energy to not only improve recreation options for residents and tourists, but to preserve a valuable piece of history,” said Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell. “The Job Opportunities Program creates immediate benefits for forest workers through employment, but also leaves long-term legacies that will be enjoyed and inspire British Columbians for years to come.”
“The Job
Opportunities Program has been a godsend for our community,” said Chief Corrina
Leween of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation. “Not only have we been able to employ
our people during these tough economic times, we also have taken the first
steps to restore our significant historic trail system which will help
diversify our community infrastructure and create new economic opportunities.”
The Cheslatta Carrier Nation has operated a community forest since 2002, has forest and range agreements with the Province allowing a harvest of more than 900,000 cubic metres, and is an equal owner of Cheslatta Forest Products Ltd.
The $26.25-million Job Opportunities Program is reducing 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. To date, the program has approved $10.7 million to support 65 projects which will employ more than 525 forest workers in communities across the province.
The Job Opportunities Program is one component of the Community Development Trust, which was announced last spring. 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 Contacts: |
Jennifer McLarty Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-4592 Chief Corrina Leween Cheslatta Carrier Nation 250 694-3334 |
Leanne Ritchie Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Community Development 250 387-4089 |
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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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