Mike Robertson

Mike Robertson serves as the Economic Development Officer and senior Policy Advisor for The Carrier Cheslatta Nation. Since 1981, he has assisted the Nation with various initiatives including water and sewer projects, housing, tourism, and cultural preservation and awareness and culminating in the opening of Cheslatta Forest Products Ltd. and the awarding of the Cheslatta Community Forest License in 2002. Mr. Robertson has played a key role in promoting and negotiating various First Nation/ Community partnership projects including Three Nations Water Project, Southside Community Health Clinic, and the Keefes Landing Road Upgrade. He has been involved in many ventures over the years including building and operating his own meat shop, owner/ operator of dump truck, government fencing contractor, cat skinner for diamond drilling operation and forestry contracts, partner in excavating company.

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~Burns Lake Mountain Biking Association

To the Board Members of the Nechako Kitamaat Development Fund Society,

On behalf of the Burns Lake Mountain Biking Association (BLMBA) it is an honour to have this opportunity to try to articulate adequately what the support provided by the Nechako Kitamaat Development Fund Society (NKDF) has meant to our organization. To be accurate NKDF's support precedes and is responsible for the formation of BLMBA as NKDF funding provided the opportunity for a group of dynamic volunteers to attend an International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) conference that led to the incorporation of BLMBA as a society in August of 2006. Since that nascent step NKDF has continued to provide key support for trail construction in every phase of our development. Following BLMBA's formation NKDF funding allowed for initial trail planning and construction in the newly formed Burns Lake Bike Park. Since then we have expanded into the 4000 hectare Boer Mountain Recreation Site and NKDF's funding has been key in the construction of numerous trails: Razorback, an 18 km single track trail on the eastern perimeter of the site that joins the Bike Park with the top of Boer Mountain; a 3.5 km trail, New Kinda Downhill Flow (NKDF), that joins Razorback with our signature downhill trail When Pigs Fly; Pigasus, a 10 km trail on the western perimeter connecting the top of Boer Mountain with the Bike Park; and the current 3 year project, a 5 km downhill trail, Hogzilla, running from the top of Boer to Kager Lake, the jewel at the centre of our recreational area. Additionally, your society has generously funded two incarnations of Project Trails, a joint venture between the local high school and BLMBA that provides the opportunity for students to learn about planning, designing, and constructing single track mountain biking trails.

So NKDF not only provided the initial spark that launched this incredible journey but it is also responsible for funding the construction of more than 35 km of our 90 km trail network. To say that your society has been pivotal in the development of this world class facility is an understatement. In addition to the obvious attraction of having superlative mountain biking trails for locals and visitors to enjoy, the economic and social benefits from this support cannot be discounted. For example, our town has seen visitors from all over the world purposefully target Burns Lake as a destination because of the trails. Those visitors spend money supporting local shops and businesses. A bike shop in town was started and has been thriving because of the need generated by the trail network. A sporting goods store has become a distributor of an exclusive brand of outdoor gear because of the international recognition of Burns Lake as a mountain biking destination. (Burns Lake was first in Canada to receive the IMBA designation of Ride Centre.) Finally, a number of professionals have chosen to move to Burns Lake specifically because of the mountain biking trails. These benefits are tangible and, combined with programs and fixtures such as Project Trails, Wednesday Workbees, Kids Camp, Lake Babine Nation's Youth Mountain Biking and others the capacity for sustainability is continuously being nurtured and refined.

To summarize, the benefits that have been realized in Burns Lake and the Lakes District because NKDF has chosen to so generously support trail development here are significant. This development has played a crucial role in the economic diversification and social welfare of the area and it would not have happened without your support. With heartfelt appreciation, thank you!

Sincerely,
Guy Epkens-Shaffer, President
Burns Lake Mountain Biking Association