Electoral Area C Director Ronda Wilkins has provided $5,507 in Union of British Columbia Tourism Funding to School District 28 to support the development of a wheelchair accessible trail at the Cottonwood House Historic Site.

This trail contributes to the goal of making the Cariboo Chilcotin a wheelchair and low-mobility travel destination and helps increase tourism and healthy living in the North Cariboo.

Baker Creek

Under the 2008 funding schedule for the Community Works Fund, the CRD board is giving the Baker Creek Community Society $4,000 for energy efficiency improvements to the community hall.

The funds will be used to install insulation in the community hall ceiling.

Horsefly River

Richard Holmes, from the Horsefly River Roundtable Committee, appeared before the board to provide an update on the Roundtable and a summary of its Fish Sustainability Report.

The presentation focused on the importance of the Horsefly River, the watershed and the current fisheries and habitat activities.   

Recruitment

Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District is allocating $100,000 to be used towards the recruitment and retention of medical professionals to the Cariboo Chilcotin.

The board is setting guidelines for how and when these funds will be used.

Currently the South and North Cariboo are experiencing shortages as a result of positions vacated and imminent retirements

In collaboration with Interior and Northern Health Authorities, the funds will be used to promote the region to potential candidates.

Plant Team

The CRD’s Invasive Plant Management team presented a summary of this year’s regional activities to the board.

From May to August 2008, an inventory reflecting the current density and distribution patterns of invasive plant species in the Cariboo Regional District continued to be collected.

Historical invasive plant sites were re-assessed by field crews and initial assessments were conducted on new sites.

Based on data taken from inventory activities, 4.7499 hectares were mechanically treated, 61.797 hectares were chemically treated, and 5,135 biological agents were released.

To view the complete document, visit the CRD website, www.cariboord.bc.ca    

Accessibility

CRD board of directors reviewed the new Wheelchair Accessible Trails Inventory and Assessment.

In April 2008, the Board approved UBCM Community Tourism funding to complete a Wheelchair Accessible Trails Inventory and Assessment.

Kary Fell of CARE Consulting conducted the study of approximately 46 sites and viewpoints and has identified seven trails or proposed sites including: 108 Lake and Sepa Lake Trails, Farwell Canyon, Tatlayoko Lake, Horsefly Salmon Habitat Trail, Quesnel Forks, Kersley Lease Land and Cottonwood Historic Site Trail that hold the most promise for being developed into wheelchair accessible trails.

The full report is available online, www.cariboord.bc.ca