Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society Grants $72,000 for Four New Projects
OCT 11, 2022

The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society Board of Directors approved funding for four new projects.

$50,000 was approved for the Village of Fraser Lake for the Curling Rink/Community Hall Development project.


The Village of Fraser Lake Curling Rink was the community’s first indoor sports facility built in 1968. Currently, the facility can only be used five months per year for curling when the ice is installed. The Village of Fraser Lake will complete a full renovation and transition the space into a Community Hall designed for multi-use that can be used by multiple community and private groups for gatherings and sports users year-round. 

$5,000 was granted to the BC Cattlemen's Association to go toward an assessment to quantify the economic impact of the veterinary shortage in BC. There is currently a critical shortage of large animal vets causing significant challenges for the farming and ranching communities across northern BC, especially in rural and remote areas. 

Nulki-Tachick Lakes Stewardship Society was granted $5,000 to go towards a feasibility study. 

There is concern of deteriorating water quality in the Nulki and Tachick lakes due to blue-green algae. This study will determine the feasibility of a harvesting program in addition to examining alternative methods that could be used to reduce excessive nutrient levels in the lakes. 

NKDF also contributed $12,000 toward the 2022 Lakes District Fall Fair which was held in Burns Lake on September 9-11. This marked the return of the fair after a two-year hiatus due to COVID. The weekend was a huge success with events including moto-x, the Children’s stage, and a music festival. The Fair was a much needed coming together for the whole community.

Quotes

Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation 

“Local leaders in Northwest B.C. work hard to build communities with stable services, jobs, and recreational opportunities that make the area a great place to live, work, and play. The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society supports local communities in realizing their goals and assists our government in achieving a shared vision for resilient communities as part of our StrongerBC Economic Plan. I’m excited to continue working together to build thriving rural and remote economies in the region and across B.C.”

NKDF Chair Cindy Shelford

“We are pleased to invest in these projects that support recreational opportunities, contribute to the strength and vitality of our communities and create the foundation for economic development.”

The next application deadline is October 28, 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 Nechako Kitamaat Development Fund Society came to our aid and assisted us with the cost of installing a fire suppression sprinkler system in one of our seniors’ housing complexes in Burns Lake. The funds...

~Lakes District Senior Citizen Housing Association