By Donna Barnett
I have spent the majority of my life in the Cariboo, so I may be a bit biased, but I believe that the Cariboo has some of the friendliest people in the province.
They are always ready and willing to lend a helping hand to their neighbours and visitors. This hospitality was on clear display the past year when our area was subjected to numerous challenges, such as forest fires and floods in the Chilcotin. People from all across our region banded together to help one another.
And our local leaders deserve recognition as well.
That’s why I recently presented Mayor Kerry Cook, safer community co-ordinator for the City of Williams Lake Dave Dickson, Cariboo Regional District board chair Al Richmond and emergency director for the CRD Rowena Bastian with a plaque thanking them for all their hard work and dedication to the residents of the Cariboo Chilcotin during the floods and fires of 2010.
Most recently, this hospitality has taken one of our local businesses to the big time.
Pioneer Log Homes has been a pillar of our community for years, demonstrating quality craftsmanship and what a great neighbour a successful local business is, by providing jobs for residents and stimulating our local economy.
On Jan. 9 they appeared on the hit show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
They were able to give their expertise and world-class materials to give a beautiful, back-country feel to a new home built for some folks, the Lampe family, who had suffered through some hard times.
And that wasn’t enough.
On Jan. 23, master craftsman André Chevigny and the Pioneer team were back on, to build a log cabin that will sleep eight to 10 girls with a wheelchair-accessible bathroom and shower at the Girl Scouts’ Camp Tanglewood.
Many thanks to our residents for all they do for each other and thank you to Pioneer Log Homes for showing Cariboo hospitality to all the viewers of Extreme Makeover.
Donna Barnett is the Liberal MLA for Cariboo Chilcotin.