Support for the community of Lillooet’s request for the return of passenger rail service between Prince George and North Vancouver was among the items discussed at the the Cariboo Regional District board meeting held Thursday, March 24.
The board agreed to send a letter about the service to Premier Christy Clark.
Other highlights from the meeting were provided by the CRD as follows.
Financial plans and budgets approved
Both the CRD and the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District’s proposed 2016 budgets and five-year financial plans were adopted, resulting in a total requisition increase for the CRD of 0.8 per cent for new and improved services. To view the budgets go to crdboard.ca.
Support for community NDIT applications
The board will provide support to the following application’s to the Northern Development Initiative Trust:
A request for $250,000 in grant funding from the Cariboo-Chilcotin/Lillooet Regional Development Account, under the Economic Diversification Infrastructure program was supported by the board.
The funding will be used to renovate and enhance the existing visitor reception centre (VRC) at Barkerville Historic Town.
In addition to the VRC improvements, they also intend to construct a multi-season outdoor activity space. These improvements will create new commercial opportunities at Barkerville, and improve the visitor experience.
Other funding for the project, which has a total value of $520,000, is proposed to come from the Province of British Columbia, Community Futures North Cariboo and the Barkerville Heritage Trust.
A Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association request for $20,000 in grant funding from the Cariboo-Chilcotin/ Lillooet Regional Development Account, under the marketing initiatives program, was endorsed by the board.
The funding will be used to develop and promote a visitor engagement campaign for the Gold Rush Trail which utilizes current digital tools and technologies to enhance the visitor experience.
This campaign will involve multiple ways to engage and interact with communities and attractions along the Gold Rush Trail, and will include such activities as trivia, games and other challenges for visitors to participate in, using digital devices.
Other funding for the project, which has a total value of $90,000, is proposed to come from the Gold Rush Trail Collaborative, and the Province of British Columbia (Destination B.C.).
North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA)
The board has re-appointed Electoral Area F Director Joan Sorley as the representative for the CRD on the NCLGA Executive.
This will be Sorley’s third consecutive term on the NCLGA Executive as the CRD representative.
The next Committe of theWhole meeting is scheduled for April 21.
The next CRD board meeting follows on April 22.