Burns Lake and Kitamaat Village Benefit | Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society

Burns Lake and Kitamaat Village Benefit
APR 27, 2012

At the March 28, 2012 meeting of the Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society that took place in the community of Burns Lake, the Board of Directors approved funding for two projects in the communities of Burns Lake and Kitamaat Village. These approvals bring the fiscal year-to-date total funding from the NKFS to $399,639.

The two (2) newly approved projects are:

Rose Lake Community Club is approved for $8,354 for upgrades to the community hall.
Haisla Nation Council will receive $13,223 to go toward construction of the Tsee-Motsa Nature Interpretive Trail.

NKDF Society Chair Rosanne Murray said, “With many worthy applications coming forward, our Directors work very hard to make some difficult choices, always striving for the best decisions for each community, and for the investment area overall.”

“These funds from The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society (NKDF) will be very beneficial to these two organizations in moving forward with their projects,” says Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad.

Colleen Nyce, Rio Tinto Alcan Manager of Corporate Affairs & Community Relations, said, “Congratulations to the Rose Lake Community Hall initiative and the Haisla Nation Council in their successful acquisition of NKDF monies this quarter. Rio Tinto Alcan is pleased that these funds are continually used in positive community enhancements and projects in the region.”

For those interested in applying to NKDF for funds, the next proposal deadline is August 10, 2012.

The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society was jointly established in 1997 with a combined contribution of $15 million by the government of British Columbia and the former Alcan Inc., now Rio Tinto Alcan. The Fund’s investment area includes lands impacted by the original Kemano project and focuses on those communities in the Ootsa, Lakes, Nechako and Haisla regions of the north.

The Society encourages applications from local governments and legally incorporated non-profit organizations. NKDF invests in projects that create sustainable employment, diversify the economy, and improve the basic infrastructure needed for community stability, quality of life and growth.

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...

~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