The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region will be represented on BC Street in Richmond during the Olympics.
Shelly Burich, manager of communications for the Cariboo Regional District, and Danielle Johnson, project co-ordinator for the CRD, will attend the event that will also be used to showcase the region’s forest industry, in light of the CRD receiving the Forest Capital of Canada designation.
The CRD will have a display at the BC Street pavilion, where visitors will pass through a log entrance provided by Pioneer Log Homes of B.C. and wander through a Cariboo forest filled with Douglas fir, spruce, pine, birch and cedar.
The CRD will have forest industry experts from log home builders, woodlot owners, and forest researchers from the University of British Columbia on-hand every day to share recreational and investment opportunities the Cariboo forests have to offer.
Visitors will also be able to learn about Cariboo activities at an interactive touch-screen kiosk or watch a Cariboo-Chilcotin DVD illustrating all of the tourism and investment opportunities in the region.
The 20-by-40-foot display will promote traditional forest industries, log home building, the pellet industry, secondary wood manufactures, eco-tourism, wilderness adventures, and agriculture, to name a few.
Mike Jacobson of Pioneer says Pioneer Log Homes of B.C. agreed to build and donate the log and post beam entrance that will have two benches on either side. He says Peter Arnold and Joel Roorda, two local craftsmen, are building the facade at the Williams Lake site.
Johnson says there will also be log fencing from Canada’s Log People from the South Cariboo at the display.
A log home, which is from the District of 100 Mile House’s parade float, will also be part of the display.
Burich says the display will put the region on the map, as about 15,000 visitors are expected to go through BC Street each day during the Olympics from Feb. 12-28.
The display will be in the Richmond O Zone where there will be bands and concerts.
A birch syrup display from the North Cariboo will also be on display.
Burich says funding is received through sponsors and other funding sources such as Northern Development Trust.
There are also several partners involved, including Pioneer Log Homes of B.C., the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, and the Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition, for example. She adds that the district is still looking at adding a few more sponsors.
The district is one of seven groups that will represent a number of different communities on BC Street.
The CRD is looking for someone who may have a flat-deck truck or trailer capable of carrying upwards of 10,000 pounds so the facade can be transported to BC Street.
Anyone who has an available truck can contact Johnson at the CRD at 250-392-3351. Someone who can donate time to drive the truck is also needed.
For more information, visit www.richmondozone.ca.