Value-added forestry products and the skills to develop and build them are seen as being important to growing the local economy by South Cariboo professionals and leaders alike.
Canim Lake First Nation (Tsq’escenemc) is a keen and an important participant in the province’s Jobs Creation Partnership (JCP) program that is providing $400,000 in project funding to upgrade some heritage/recreational sites and First Nations communities in the Cariboo.
Canim Lake Band (CLB) Chief Mike Archie says the band and council are pleased to be involved – as participants and recipients of the many project benefits – in further developing new job skills and gaining heritage infrastructure improvements and recreational facilities.
“Canim Lake Band, in conjunction with New Pathways to Gold’s [NPG], provided two [of five] participants to enhance their skills and experience while working with Sitka Log Homes, Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail Regional Management Committee, Bridge Lake Ice Caves Project, and the province’s Recreation Sites and Trails Branch.”
This job experience and training will benefit these participants in obtaining future employment in the construction industry, he adds.
The band’s own harvested timber is being used in several log structures, and the five participants hired (including the two of its band members) have been building them all summer.
There have also been other infrastructure buildings built for the Canim Lake Band community, but not on the Sitka site, as well as work on the Bridge Lake Ice Caves.
There has been much JCP work done on clearing provincial recreation site trails, trail construction of the Gold Rush/Spirit Trails corridor, building kiosks and toilet facilities, and more trail work expected at Bob’s Lake, all continuing into the fall.
Chief Archie notes the band’s new bath and washroom facility, now very near completion at one of its own recreational sites, is “a prime example” of First Nations working together with industry, and in building and strengthening those relationships.
“The newly constructed log building facility is a very good addition to our First Nations cultural activity centre and dance arbour, which again was part of the training and skills opportunities with local industry.”
Among the valuable job skills these local youth will gain during the 33-week project are experience and training in log building at Sitka Log Homes that began in the spring.
They are also very involved with Montane Forest Consultants, the project manager administering the local JCP funding.
Sitka Log Homes owner Brad Johnson says his company was happy to be part of this JCP, and after seeing the work ethic of these youth, it also helped them gain some future employee prospects.
“It was nice to [further] build our relationship with Canim Lake Band … and be part of this New Pathways to Gold. It is bringing a lot of nice things to the area and [this is one] we were able to be involved with.”
The key to this value-added industry is the local wood, local employment-seeking youth receiving the skills training, and the buildings they trained on are all staying in the community, he explains.
“[CLB capital manager Martin Dixon] is a real driving force who helped bring Sitka’s involvement in the log washroom facility – he brought together Sitka and Canim Lake Band, so we owe a lot of that to [Dixon] to help bring that together.”
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says this initiative, funded by the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation, will create both work and much-needed improvements to the area’s heritage tourism and recreation infrastructure.
“The jobs created to this project and the ongoing tourism opportunities for growth are a great benefit to the South Cariboo.”
There are also several other projects with job training on building recreation trails, log structures, and other construction also happening in this JCP program, set to be completed by Dec. 16.
