ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021 | NEWS | A3
Tse’K’wa historic cave site gaining momentum Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca Momentum continues to grow for the development and preservation of the Tse’K’wa national historic cave site at Charlie Lake. Earlier this year, the Tse’K’wa Heritage Society secured $379,000 in funding from the First Peoples’ Cultural Council for a planned cultural centre, while Alyssa Currie began her new role as executive director for the organization on June 1. “There’s lots going on, this is a flame that is catching … A lot excitement in the community and increased recognition about the importance of the site,” said Currie. “As more people become aware of the significance, those opportunities are only going to grow.” Tse’K’wa means rock house, and though well-known to local residents and First Nations, the cave was only discovered by archaeologists in 1974 and then excavated in the early 1980s. Among the hundreds of artifacts found were a 10,500-year-old stone bead — the oldest example of human adornment in North America — along with spear and arrow
points, harpoon heads, and bones from humans and various animals including bison and raven. The artifacts tell stories of travel patterns and ceremonial practices, and make the cave one of the most significant sites on the continent. Parks Canada designated the cave as a national historic site in 2019. Local First Nations, including Doig River, West Moberly, and Prophet River bought the land with the cave in 2012. The partnering nations all contribute to the operating costs of the non-profit society, and their support enabled Currie to be hired to oversee management of the organization. “We have made some great strides in the development of our curatorial and collections space in the building thus far,” said Currie. “We are right in the thick of things, truthfully.” The North East Native Advancing Society has also provided funding to hire summer students to work on maintenance and develop site tours, which will be hosted for the public later this summer. Currie was born and
raised Dawson Creek, and has spent the last four years as the executive director for the South Peace Regional Archives in Grande Prairie. She first heard of the cave when she left for university, completing a bachelor’s degree in English and history at the University of Northern British Columbia. She went on to finish her master’s in English at the University of Victoria. “Being able to work with an indigenous organization to realize a vision that has been so long in the making, particularly as a nonindigenous person, being welcomed into the community and being able to make a difference for that community is something that’s really exciting,” said Currie. “It’s been full circle, to be working for the organization that’s dedicated to preserving it and to educating the community both locally and broader, about its importance culturally and archaeologically,” she said. “Over the next year is when you’re going to see Tse’K’wa transform into something really special.” —Local Journalism Initiative
TSE’K’WA HERITAGE SOCIETY
Alyssa Currie is welcomed as the new executive director for the Tse’K’wa Heritage Society. From left: Laura Webb, West Moberly First Nation; Garry Oker, Doig River First Nation and President of Tse’K’wa Heritage Society; Alyssa Currie; Diane Bigfoot, Prophet River First Nation.
Peace non-profits split $36,000 Four non-profits in the Peace region have been granted $36,000 as part of the latest round of Site C related community funding. Grants have been awarded to: -North East Native Advancing Society: $10,000 for an elders and youth program, aimed at assisting elders to stay connected with family and friends through a variety of activities, including the use of social media, storytelling and gardening. -Chetwynd Senior Citizens Housing Society: $8,575 for an interactive projector gaming console at Surerus Place that encourages seniors to work collaborative-
ly and improve their mobility and social skills. -Fort St. John Association for Community Living: $10,000 for their Growing Connections Farm program, a therapeutic farming initiative that helps adults and seniors with developmental disabilities and their families. -BC SPCA branch in Fort St. John: $7,500 for affordable access to veterinary care for pets. BC Hydro says the program has granted now $540,066 to 61 projects since it was started in September 2016.
Fort St. John real estate market on red hot rebound Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca Fort St. John real estate sales saw a massive rebound of nearly 125% in the first half of 2021 compared to last year. The BC Northern Real Estate Board released its mid-year results on Friday, July 9, reporting that 422 properties worth $162.9 million were sold in the Fort St. John area through the end of June. There were 188 properties sold for $63.6 million in the first six months of 2020 and through the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the “steep pandemic-induced recession” is now “waning rapidly,” the Board reported, and home sales across northern B.C. are continuing at a very strong pace this year. “LNG Canada’s export terminal in Kitimat and the corresponding Coastal Gaslink Pipeline, worth a combined total of $46 billion, are now employing thousands of direct workers. Thousands of additional workers have returned to work at the Site C Dam near Fort St. John, at Rio Tinto’s tunnel-boring project near Kitimat, and at the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project,” the Board stated. “This employment and spending continues to boost employment growth and housing demand in the North of the province.” So far this year, 217 single-family homes have sold in Fort St. John for
an average price of $384,738, and took 62 days to sell. Compared to the first half of 2020, realtors had sold 90 singlefamily homes for an average price of $369,400 that took on average 83 days to sell. The city has also seen the sale of 46 half-duplexes (+21), 55 manufactured homes (+33), 42 homes on acreages (+21), and 21 vacant lots (+12) so far this year. Across northern B.C., sales are up by 101% so far year-over-year, with 3,565 properties reported sold for a total value of $1.2 billion. In Fort Nelson, 50 properties worth $10.1 million were sold by the end of June. That’s up from the 35 properties worth $4.3 million sold in the same period last year. Half of the 16 single family homes sold in Fort Nelson since January sold for less than $175,000, and took an average of 98 days to sell, according to the Board. As of June 30, there were 619 properties of all types available for purchase through MLS listings in the Fort St. John area, and 142 in the Fort Nelson area. Sales in 2021 are expected to surpass the previous record of 5,564 units sold in 2006 according to forecasts, the Board said. “With extremely low inventory of available homes and continued heightened demand, prices are likely to continue rising throughout the year.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMIT APPLICATION PUBLIC MEETING – MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 3:00 PM The City is seeking the public’s input regarding a Development Variance Permit Application (DVP) submitted by S2 Architecture on behalf of BC Housing. The application is for the property located at 9916 99 Avenue and is required to permit the development of a new supportive housing facility on the parcel. This DVP application is to vary the Zoning Bylaw to allow the front parcel line setback to be reduced from 1.2 m to 0.0 m to permit the development of a terrace. The proposed permit and background documentation are available for viewing at City Hall from Monday, July 12, 2021. Residents are invited to express their comments or concerns regarding this variance in one of the following ways: • Mail or hand deliver a letter to City Hall at 10631 – 100 Street, Fort St. John, BC V1J 3Z5 Attention: Bonnie McCue, Corporate Officer, by Friday, July 23, 2021, • by email to legislativeservices@fortstjohn.ca by Friday, July 23, 2021, or • attend the Regular Council meeting on Monday, July 26, 2021 starting at 3:00 p.m. Written comments received will be distributed to Council for their consideration at the meeting. For more information about these development permit applications, please contact Ashley Murphey, Planner 1 at amurphey@fortstjohn.ca or by telephone at (250) 787-8165.