The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society board of Directors approved funding for five new projects.
$50,000 was approved for the Village of Fraser Lake to upgrade the docks at the White Swan public boat launch on the shores of Fraser Lake. The upgrade includes replacing the current wood piling and top rail system with a new steel piling system. The new system will allow the docks to be installed up to twelve weeks earlier in the season. Additionally, lighting will be installed on top of the pilings.
$40,000 was approved for the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako to go toward the purchase of a new fire engine for the Fort Fraser Volunteer Fire Department. Replacing the current engine, which is 25 years old, will contribute to sustaining community quality of life and increasing the ability of the Fort Fraser Fire Department to respond to emergency calls.
$10,000 was approved for the Nechako Valley Rodeo Association to assist with hosting the 2022 Rodeo. This marks the return of this vibrant community event after a two-year hiatus due to COVID. The rodeo will take place in Vanderhoof June 17-19.
District of Vanderhoof was granted $5,000 to install interpretive signage at Riverside Park. In partnership with Saik’uz First Nation, dual-language signs with information on the park plant and animal species, including illustrations and names in both English and Dakelh, will be installed. The signage will create an engaging experience for park users and remind both Indigenous and non-Indigenous users of the cultural practices that occurred in our area long before Vanderhoof was a settlement.
$5,000 was granted to the District of Vanderhoof to go toward construction of a public washroom at the Airport. The Vanderhoof Airport has previously won the Airport of the Year award from the BC Aviation Council. The airport supports emergency services, recreational opportunities, is home to two flight schools, and will be the site of the 2022 Vanderhoof International Air Show, returning after a two-year hiatus.
Chad Penney, Manager of Communities and Communications for Rio Tinto’s BC Works says, “It is fantastic to see all the economic development happening in BC’s Northwest and the positive benefits the NKDF fund offers in supporting community interests. Congratulations to all the recipients, the proposed projects will support economic growth and community stability. We are all excited to see these projects evolve.”
NKDF Chair Cindy Shelford says, “It’s great to see the volunteers hard at work and communities emerging after the past two years. The return of the Rodeo to Vanderhoof, the White Swan Park boat launch and the Interpretive Signage in Riverside Park will provide much needed social and recreational opportunities and strengthen community spirit.”
The next application deadline is July 29, 2022 For more information, please visit http://www.nkdf.org/ For requests under $5,000 applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
For more information on past projects funded throughout the NKDF investment area please visit http://www.nkdf.org/projects or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NKDFS
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. The Fund’s investment area includes lands impacted by the original Kemano project and focuses on the communities in the Ootsa, Lakes, Nechako and Haisla regions of the north.
The Society encourages applications from local governments, local First Nations 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.
The Fraser Lake & Area Menshed Society we feel has been a great success, largely due to the grant for our shop addition from the NKDF. Without the grant we would not have had the courage to proceed with its...