COMMUNITY TRUST IMPROVES BURNS LAKE SAFETY & RECREATION

BURNS LAKE – Burns Lake residents will have more year-round recreation options due to the construction of a 35-kilometre multi-use trail and will live in a community safer from forest fires thanks to $400,000 from the Community Development Trust’s Job Opportunities Program, Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger and Bulkley Valley-Stikine MLA Dennis MacKAY announced.

“The $129-million Community Development Trust is one of our key tools to assist forest workers and their families and communities during these difficult economic times,” said Krueger. “I am pleased we will be able to assist 16 workers in Burns Lake, while improving upon the area’s already outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities.”

The trust is funding two projects in Burns Lake. One will create employment for six forest workers and reduce the risk of fire in pine stands near the community by harvesting dead trees, and removing fallen limbs and debris that have accumulated on the forest floor.

“Reducing the risk of forest fires is a key component of community safety, and these forest workers will be lowering those odds through fuel management work in Burns Lake,” said MacKAY. “The trail is a great legacy to this community and will be the background of many memories in the future.”

The second project involves 10 forest workers constructing a new 35-kilometre trail from Babine Lake road to the Upper Pinkut road, which is northeast of Decker Lake. The trail will support year-round recreation in the area including snowmobiling, dog-sledding, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. It is the first phase of a planned trail to the Ailport lakes area north of Topley. The trail could one day be part of the projected “Connector Trail” which would link Prince George to Terrace.

“The Job Opportunities Program is hiring Burns Lake forest-workers to improve community safety and lifestyle options, and will help in the maintenance of the area’s skilled work force,” said Bell. “This trail is going to be enjoyed by residents and tourists for years to come and is one more reason for recreation enthusiasts to holiday in Burns Lake.”

“This program is creating employment and income for Burns Lake forest workers while putting their skills to use to create long-term benefits for residents,” said Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts Bill Bennett. “These trails are the backdrop to a lot of family and group adventures, and the Job Opportunities Program is improving them.”

Burns Lake Community Forest Ltd. is administering these two projects on behalf of the community.

“We are pleased to be involved in both of these projects,” said Bill Chapman, a director of Burns Lake Community Forest Ltd. “They help us fulfill our mandate of generating lasting benefits to the community. In addition to the needed employment these projects have created, they also demonstrate what can be achieved with cooperation between different levels of government, community groups and private industry.”

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.

Forest-dependent communities or organizations, licensees and 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 over $13 million to support 79 projects which will employ more than 620 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 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
	Michael Riis-Christianson Comfor Management Services Ltd. 250 692-7724 Ext. 228
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