The Wistaria Hall was built in 1925 and since that time has been an integral part of community life for many rural-dwelling families on the south side of Burns Lake. The hall had been without a potable water system, so ?good? water had to be brought in for events. Water for washing and the washrooms was hauled by truck to a holding tank. The purpose of this Society-supported project was to drill a well to provide a convenient source of ?good? water. This project was approved in the 1999-2000 fiscal year in the amount of $9000 (all of which was expended). Well drilling commenced at the end of April 2000. However, at 370 feet, there was no appreciable water, even though the area had been ?witched?. Tweedsmuir Recreation Commission then approached NKDFS to fund, in part, the digging of an additional 100 feet. This request was approved in June 2000. However, the additional depth made no difference (at only 6 gallons/hour, the water in the well was probably just seepage) and the well was capped. Unfortunately this project was another reminder of the challenges of northern rural living!

Ootsa Lake Bible Camp began in 1956 and its main purpose is to give children and youth an opportunity to make new friends, learn life skills and to become acquainted with their Creator. One of the purposes behind the new, expanded lodge is that more programs can be added for special needs groups such as seniors, families and people with disabilities. In addition, the camp is available to any local community group for retreats, training and entertainment. It is a focal part of the rural Ootsa community. The goal of its board of Directors is to have the new 10-bedroom lodge completed in 2002. The new lodge is to have washroom facilities on all floors, recreation / meeting room in the basement, a large meeting/dining room on the main floor and a full kitchen. It will be wheel-chair accessible and useable year-round. Application was made to the NKDFS for participation in part of the construction costs.

The Wistaria Hall was built in 1925 and since that time has been an integral part of community life for many rural-dwelling families on the south side of Burns Lake. The hall had been without a potable water system, so ?good? water had to be brought in for events. Water for washing and the washrooms was hauled by truck to a holding tank. The purpose of this Society-supported project was to drill a well to provide a convenient source of ?good? water. This project was approved in the 1999-2000 fiscal year in the amount of $9000 (all of which was expended). Well drilling commenced at the end of April 2000. However, at 370 feet, there was no appreciable water, even though the area had been ?witched?. Tweedsmuir Recreation Commission then approached NKDFS to fund, in part, the digging of an additional 100 feet. This request was approved in June 2000. However, the additional depth made no difference (at only 6 gallons/hour, the water in the well was probably just seepage) and the well was capped. Unfortunately this project was another reminder of the challenges of northern rural living!

Funding assistance was approved to make improvements to this historical trail used by both the local First Nations and by the early pioneers. This project did not proceed due to conditions not being met.

The Ootsa Lake Community originally applied to the NKDF for support for a new water system in early 2000, but the proposal was rejected until the community members had fully explored all their options, firmed up the costs and found more funding partners. Eighteen months later, the NKDF approved a much stronger proposal, involving a hill-top storage tank that gravity-feeds purified water to residents within a few kilometres.

The project was funded in partnership with the Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Training Association with significant contributions of staff time from the proponent. It delivered entrepreneurial training for people aged 21 to 50 near their remotely located communities. Drawing participants from the Cheslatta-Carrier, Skin Tyee and Nee Tahi Buhn communities, the program resulted in ten graduates. The training introduced the students to computers, business planning, map and compassing, GPS, how to probe for pine beetles, how to estimate forestry project costs, and how to start a tourism business.

This project was to address needs for improved public safety, partly in response to the increased traffic and industrial activity associated with the ?beetle wood? harvest. When this project was approved there was no local doctor nor ambulance and a reduction in Francois Lake Ferry service made it necessary to have locally-based emergency services. In partnership with the Southside Volunteer Fire Department, this project was successful in equipping and training six Southside residents to achieve Level 3 First Responders with spinal endorsement.

The Cheslatta Carrier Nation was approved for funding assistance for the delivery of training of community leaders and managers of recently established joint-ventures in forestry.

The purpose of this project was to bring a wide range of interest groups together to discuss the Nechako region?s training needs.

This project was approved on a one-time basis for the summer of 2003 to assist the Society to maintain trails and campsites once managed by the Ministry of Forests.

The Takysie Lake Trail is an historical trail used by both first nations and the early pioneers to travel from Ootsa Lake to Takysie Lake and areas north. Local residents still use parts of this trail for hiking, horseback riding and snowmobiling. The purpose of this project was to restore the entire length of the trail and then promote it for use by tourists and locals.

This is the first project the NKDF has funded in the Nee Tahi Buhn community. The activities focus on the business consulting, legal advice and training the community requires to enter the forestry business. The goal was to enable band members to work in as many aspects of the industry as possible, starting with Silviculture, driving trucks and operating heavy equipment. The matching funds came from the Burns Lake Native Development Corporation.

After entering into a forestry venture, the Skin Tyee people identified the need for training in chainsaw safety, fire suppression, hazard recognition and first aid. With the NKDF paying for the training (mostly through the College of New Caledonia), ten people once on social assistance are now employable.

The NKDF agreed to cover the price of tuition for one of SEDA?s staff to complete the ?Community Economic Development for Professionals? Certificate program at Simon Fraser University. This remove barriers hampering the area?s ability to design and manage projects and get proposals to the NKDF and other funders.

It has been a long-time dream of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation to restore, preserve and professionally display documents, maps and photos relating to first nations and pioneer history in the Francois / Ootsa Lake area. Creating this public legacy is one step towards a much larger project, which will see these historic pieces become the foundation of a collection to be displayed at the future Southside Museum and Interpretive Centre. The historical archives, when properly preserved and displayed, will attract paying visitors and will leverage additional funding from heritage agencies.

This is an innovative project that sprang from the applicant?s participation in a social enterprise workshop in Vancouver in September. They brought the lessons learned there into the northern service area, by means of a symposium and a 5-day workshop for the 12 most successful participants in the symposium. The goal of the symposium was to lead to a ?co-operative business venture? operated by Aboriginal youth (ages 19 to 29).

In Burns Lake, the Lakes Outdoor Recreation Society received funding assistance to put students to work in 2004 and build a new recreational trail that will attract and retain visitors.

NKDF Directors approved this project to replace the food concession trailer at the Fall Fairgrounds. The building was completed in time for the September 2004 fair.

LDSCHA built a senior?s housing complex in the Village of Burns Lake. The Association constructed 17 new units to meet increasing demand for senior?s housing in the Burns Lake area. The tenants for the supportive housing project are mainly residents from the Lakes District Area who requirie hospitality and personal care supports, either seniors or adults with physical disabilities which restrict them from living independently. Each unit is self-contained and wheelchair accessible.

Cheslatta Carrier Nation constructed a building to house a carving shed. It is intended to provide a place for skilled artisans for do their work while remaining open for visitors. It offers a facility to showcase local Southside skills and talents. The project was funded in partnership by NKDF and Cheslatta Carrier Nation.

Since it was first organized in 1944, the Burns Lake Public Library has moved and expanded a number of times to meet growing demands on its services. The Library serves more than 1600 patrons, including more than 100 from the Southside of Francois Lake. This grant is to assist with the construction related to doubling the size of the library. Funding partners for this project include NKDF, the Burns Lake Public Library Association and the Province of British Columbia Community Development Initiative.

The Burns Lake Band has taken possession of the old high school in Burns Lake and has begun phase one renovations. In March 2004, the Band was unsuccessful in its application for assistance with renovations. This project, which includes the development of a business plan and completion of the engineering studies, will help the Burns Lake Band clarify feasibility and remove barriers to project completion. Burns Lake Band and NKDF will each fund 50% of the costs for this project.

The Southside Volunteer Fire Department was incorporated 1983 and provides fire protection for the communities on the south side of Francois Lake. With this project, the SVFA installed a 5,000-gallon water tank underground in the Grassy Plains area from which pumpers and the tanker can fill to provide a more efficient fire protection in the area. Donors to the project included: Lakes District Road Maintenance, Southside Health & Wellness Centre, Ondina Enterprises, Regional District of Bulkley Nechako, Karen Blair, Jeff and Rhonda Giesbrecht, and Conrad Amendt Trucking Ltd.

This project involves completing construction of a new lodge at Ootsa Lake Bible Camp, approximately 50 km south of Burns Lake. The goals of the project included: increasing the capacity of the camp, improving access for seniors and handicapped groups, increasing the range of winter activities, and making the camp available for winter use by community groups. The only camp of its type in the area, the project is expects to increase visits and spending in the Southside communities. As well as the NKDF contribution, the remainder of the project will be funded primarily through the Society?s private fundraising efforts and in-kind contributions. The Society completed the project by August 25, 2005 in time to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The Southside community hosted a four-day event during late July 2005, attracting a large number of visitors and participants to the area. The Homesteader?s Centennial event was the celebration of 100 years of non-aboriginal settlements on the Southside, while attracting visitors to the area and raising overall awareness about the Southside and what it has to offer. Funding partners for this project include the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako and SEDA.

This application was championed by the Soccer Club and managed by Village of Burns Lake. The purpose of the project was to construct a 10? X 20? 8? washroom facility. The property, owned by School District 91, is used by a variety of groups, including soccer, walking, handicap exercise, coach?s clinics, search and rescue, bicycle riders, students and dry-land hockey. Lack of a public washroom was a limiting factor to this property for the Burns Lake community.

The proponent is hosting a Community Arts Festival event as a step toward creating an Arts Council. While building on the strength of existing events such as the Lakes District Performing Arts Festival, the project is helping to meet the requirements to become an Arts Council, create a yearly event involving local residents, and encourage Aboriginal arts and culture awareness within the community. Artists are invited from all over the province to participate.

BLNDC hosted a two day Community Economic Development conference in Burns Lake called Exploring Our Options. The theme of the conference was to explore options for community economic development in Prince George, Nechako and Lakes areas and for the local shareholder bands.

The Burns Lake Sports Center Association is a non-profit charitable organization that operates the Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena in Burns Lake. The Arena caters to at least 15 user groups, is host to 14 winter tournaments and 3 summer events ? each event attracts approximately 160 visitors to the community. The goal of this project is to provide upgrades to the facility and purchase safety equipment for the Arena. Funding partners include Burns Lake Community Forest and the Corporation of the Village of Burns Lake.

The purpose of the project is to assess, plan, design, educate, and promote a first class mountain biking/hybrid trail system in the Lakes District. The proponent engaged the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) to work with staff and stakeholders to complete phase one of designing and laying out the trail system. IMBA is highly reputable and recognized among mountain bikers for creating high calibre trail systems. This portion of the project is for the assessment and planning portion of the the project.

The goal of this project was to purchase, renovate and develop the property of the former Beaver Museum, which was already housing the local Farmers? Market. The building is used as a permanent location for: the SEDA office; Tourist Info Centre; Farmers? Market; Community Boardroom; and one Rental Unit. Located adjacent to the Southbank ferry terminal, the 1.78 acre parcel of prime lakeshore property is now used for parking space, picnic tables and rest area and to offer gardens with local plants/flowers/berries and information about their edibility and use. NKDF is providing funding assistance for improvements to the property. The project was funded in partnership NKDFS, the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako, and Northern Development Initiative Trust.

Since it was first organized in 1944, the Library has moved and expanded a number of times to meet growing demands on its services. The Library serves more than 1600 patrons, including more than 100 from the Southside of Francois Lake. This contribution is for the purchase of shelving and installation of a lift to make the facility assessable to all patrons. Funding partners for this project include the NKDF, the Burns Lake Public Library Association and the Province of British Columbia Community Development Initiative.

Southside Health & Wellness Centre offers basic public health services to clients in the Southside area. This project expanded those services to include and autoclave, a centrifuge and an audiometer. The new equipment enables the proponent to perform and process blood work locally, for which the clients previously needed to travel outside the community. The equipment reduces the time needed for locals to travel away from Southside to get the medical services, as well as lowering the risk of traveling for medical reasons. The equipment will have a long-term positive impact on the quality of life in the Southside area. Funding partners for this project include the NKDF Society, the Cheslatta Community Forest Legacy and Southside Health & Wellness Centre.

The Village of Burns Lake will develop a community waterfront park to create a passive and active recreation and meeting area for residents and visitors. Proponent has chosen the 2.5 acre property currently known as Nourse Park for this project. The project is planned to include a bandstand and seating area, an open grassy area, greenery, pathways, historical statues/art, and general amenities such as newly constructed washroom facilities, an irrigation system, lighting and a concession stand. NKDF and the Village of Burns Lake will co-fund this first phase of the project, which includes the design, surveying and testing.

This project first came to NKDFS in November 2005 and was approved for $3,360 to assist with the completion of the planning and assessment. That part of the project was completed in May 2006, with the help of the International Mountain Bicycling Assn. (IMBA). The proponent, Burns Lake Mountain Bike Association, was incorporated as a non-profit in August 2006. Through an impressive mix of funding, volunteer time, donated labour, equipment, materials and supplies, public recognition and political will, the stakeholders have now completed Phase I of the project. This approval is to assist with furthering the development of a world class standard mountain bike park in Burns Lake.

During the winter of 2006-2007 the Lakes communities experienced record breaking snowfalls, the weight of the snow collapsing buildings, downing power lines and trees from Houston through to Fort Fraser. As a result, there is a need to clean up massive amounts of woody debris on rights of ways, yards, roads and hay meadows. With the help of NKDFS funding assistance, Cheslatta Carrier First Nation will purchase a large capacity wood chipper and contract clean up jobs throughout the area. Once established, the operation will expand to include other types of work, such as tree trimming, pruning and brush clean-up. The proponent will begin training workers as early as late May 2007 and to begin working in the field in late June 2007.

After a grueling winter that left the facility in poor repair, NKDF approved funding assistance for improvements to the Community Hall in Grassy Plains, specifically repairs to the broken walkway, railings and overhead roof, and installation of a Plexiglas windbreak along the back deck. The Community Hall has been in existence almost 40 years, has been and will continue to be maintained by the self-sustaining Grassy Plains Community Hall Association, largely supported through fundraisers and volunteer efforts.

NKDF previously supported the Burns Lake Band for engineering and business planning for Phase I of the Gathering Place. The funding is to assist with preparing the architectural drawings and engineering documents for Phase III of the project, which is to renovate 3 meeting rooms (capacity 125 people). Other funding partners include the Burns Lake Community Forest Society and the Burns Lake Band.

The proponent first applied for assistance for upgrades to the Arena in October 2005 and was approved for $30,000 for improvements to the facility (including rubber flooring, install roofs, painting, light bulbs, furnace, and floor scrubber). The project was successfully completed. This component of the project is to complete energy saving upgrades oriented toward lowering the cost of maintaining the facility, including a refrigeration system, insulating gable ends, installing a new heating system and improving the water supply. The project will be funded in partnership by NKDFS, the Village of Burns Lake and the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako.

The fair grounds are home to the annual agriculture fair, which has been ongoing for more than 60 years. This year, LDFFA will build a barn for heavy horses and other stock as well as upgrade the addition of the exhibit hall by putting in a concrete floor, permanent lighting and roughing in the plumbing. NKDF, COMFOR and LDFFA will partner in funding this project.

Lakes Economic Development Association is approved for funding assistance with this downtown Burns Lake revitalization project, comprised of creating and replacing the easterly and westerly ?Welcome to Burns Lake? community signs, as well as adding a 3rd entrance sign south to town.

BLNDC proposed to purchase a remote controlled, mini-airplane for the purpose of creating a cost-effective method to provide geo-referenced aerial photos along predetermined geographic position system (GPS) routes. BLNDC is conducting a study to determine feasibility of a small social enterprise centred around bringing the innovative technology to the area.

The purpose of this project is to train local workers for employment in a block processing plant owned by BLNDC. During the start-up phase of the operation, workers will receive OFA, Transportation Endorsement, Safety and transitional on-the-job training, This project is funding in partnership by NKDF, BLNDC and PGNAETA.

The Village of Burns Lake will develop a community waterfront park to create a passive and active recreation and meeting area for residents and visitors. Proponent has chosen the 2.5 acre property currently known as Nourse Park for this project. The project is planned to include a bandstand and seating area, an open grassy area, greenery, pathways, historical statues/art, and general amenities such as newly constructed washroom facilities, an irrigation system, lighting and a concession stand. NKDF and the Village of Burns Lake will co-fund this second phase of the project, which includes the Radley Beach Entrance Area and the Noarse Park and Shelter Entrance Area.

The purpose of this project is to produce a 90-minute documentary about the struggles for economic and social survival and development of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation and the Burns Lake Band. This partnership is made up of Cheslatta Carrier First Nations, Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada (SSHCC), UBC (in-kind), and NKDF.

The Village of Burns Lake will develop a community waterfront park to create a passive and active recreation and meeting area for residents and visitors. Proponent has chosen the 2.5 acre property currently known as Nourse Park for this project. The project is planned to include a bandstand and seating area, an open grassy area, greenery, pathways, historical statues/art, and general amenities such as newly constructed washroom facilities, an irrigation system, lighting and a concession stand. NKDF and the Village of Burns Lake will co-fund this portion of the project, which includes the Performance Shelter, and the Washroom/Concession.

The Burns Lake Beautification Committee will replace the older, well-used banner with a new electronic sign to communicate with locals and visitors to the area. The electronic sign will display advertising for commercial and non-profit chamber members and non-members.

Power interruption is a frequent and often prolonged occurrence for Southside residents. SH&WC experiences numerous power failures each year, causing interference to the delivery of services. An extreme example of this occurred during the snowstorm of October 2006, when the facility was closed for over 2 service days resulting in several programs being cancelled or rescheduled. The installation of an emergency backup generator, located at the Health Centre will benefit all community residents by allowing for the continuous delivery of much needed health services, even if there are delays in getting back onto the Hydro grid. This project consists of purchasing and installing an emergency backup power generator at the Southside Health & Wellness Centre. This project is funded in partnership by NKDF, Southside Health & Wellness Centre, and Rio Tinto Alcan.

Southside Volunteer Fire Dept is a registered Society operating since 1983 in the Southside area. The fire hall does not currently have a water supply – water is hauled to the hall location from François Lake. In 2005, NKDF assisted SVFDS to install a 5000 gallon underground water tank at the Southside Health & Wellness Centre. This application is for funding assistance to install a 1500' water line from Francois Lake to the fire hall to create a year round supply of water to that location. This project is funded in partnership by NKDF, Southside Volunteer Fire Department Society, and Hamp Construction.

Omenica Ski Club was founded in 1927 and has enjoyed growth and many successes leading up to today. The Jean Paulson Lodge was built in 2005, with a potential occupancy of 150. The Biathlon is the combination of ski and shooting skills. It is a sport growing in popularity, and one where the contestants must complete and demonstrate skills at both skiing and shooting. Omenica Ski Club is building on existing assets to construct a biathlon range to BC Biathlon standards, as well as purchasing the equipment needed for the Club to host regional competitions. This project is funded in partnership by NKDF, COMFOR and the Omenica Ski Club.

The fair grounds are home to the annual agriculture fair, which has been ongoing for more than 60 years. With this project, LDFFA intends to upgrade the exhibit hall and horse barn, as well as upgrading the washroom and constructing a first aid / office building.

This proposal arises from a recently completed feasibility analysis that was completed to determine what improvements are needed to the Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena, and prioritize those improvements. The Arena caters to at least 15 user groups, is host to 14 winter tournaments and 3 summer events – each event attracts approximately 160 visitors to the community. NKDF approved funding to assist with improvements to the arena according to the priorities identified in the feasibility study.