The Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District directors endorsed sending a letter to Dr. Michal Smialowski of Tatlayoko congratulating him on recently receiving the B.C. Medal of Good Citizenship.
During their regular meeting at the CRD office in Williams Lake, Friday, March 24 the directors agreed the honour is well deserved as Dr. Smialowski has been instrumental in bringing improved health care and services to the West Chilcotin.
CRD supports
Gold Rush Trail
Cariboo Regional District (CRD) directors committed $2,750 to the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association for marketing the Gold Rush Trail tourism initiative.
The Gold Rush Trail tourism initiative focuses on developing and marketing the historic Gold Rush Trail from New Westminster to Barkerville and includes a number of visitor attractions and points of interest within the Regional District.
Promoting the Gold Rush Trail as a travel experience has the potential to increase tourism in the region thereby providing economic benefit to communities and businesses. The CRD intends to reclaim this expense from the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) under the 2017 Economic Development Capacity Building program.
Grants for
assistance approved
The CRD board approved a grant for assistance totalling $1,000 for the Cariboo Aboriginal Youth Hockey Tournament on April 14-16.
Electoral Areas D, F, G, H, K and I contributed funds towards this grant. The board also endorsed a $3,900 grant for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 260 to fix the roof of their building. The grant funds were allocated from Electoral Area G ($1,000), Electoral Area L ($1,000) and the District of 100 Mile House ($1,900).
CRD Supports MRDT
The CRD will be sending a letter of support for the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association’s (CCCTA) application as an eligible entity for three per cent Municipal Regional District Tax (MRDT) collection in the electoral areas of the Cariboo Regional District.
The MRDT is a tax applied to sales of short-term accommodation on behalf of municipalities, regional districts and eligible entities. The CCCTA is applying to become an eligible entity to manage the funding. The tax provides funding for local tourism marketing, programs and projects.
CRD endorses
arts and culture grants
On the recommendation of the Central Cariboo Joint Committee, the CRD board endorsed the Central Cariboo Arts & Culture Society’s (CCACS) proposal for recipients of the 2017 CCACS Grants program.
The CRD and the City of Williams Lake jointly provide annual funding to CCACS for these grants through the CRD’s Central Cariboo Arts and Culture function.
The CRD and City provided a total of $25,000 in funding for the 2017 Arts and Culture grants program. More information is available at cariboord.ca.
Blackwater
project update
Claudette Gouger, community manager for New Gold Inc., updated the CRD board on the Blackwater Project.
New Gold Inc. is proposing a new open pit gold and silver mine in CRD Area I in the Kluskus area. New Gold anticipates hiring about 1,200 to 1,500 people during its two to three year construction period and about 500 people during mine operations.
The Blackwater Project has historically hired 65 per cent local employees, with 23 per cent of those being Indigenous employees. Currently the project is in the Environmental Assessment and permitting phase.
Community works
funding allocated
The CRD directors approved up to $12,000 in Community Works funding for the Mountain Spruce Community Centre Society in Lone Butte. The society requested the funding to install a water filtration system and a new fridge at the centre.
Next meetings
The CRD and CCRHD boards will meet again on Thursday, April 13.
Information supplied by Emily Epp, Cariboo Regional District manager of communications at 250-392-3351 or 1-800-665-1636
or at eepp@cariboord.ca.