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June 18, 2015
Two Sections, 40 pages
Water park on verge of fruition
Free Press
RECORD BREAKERS AT TRACK MEET A19
BUILDING BUDDIES FOR THE FUTURE B1
Gaven Crites photo
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July 18-26 2015
HELPING HANDS FOR A GOOD CLAWS
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Doug Stecyk was one of the volunteers preparing the main course at the 4th Annual Rotary Club of 100 Mile House Lobsterfest Fundraiser Dinner Auction, which saw a good turnout with close to 130 people in attendance at the 100 Mile House Community Hall on June 13.
Seniors housing a concern
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says there are “certainly a lot of issues with seniors” in a recent report by British Columbia seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie. “We all know that seniors housing, affordability, accessibility, availability is an issue in many communities, and I share her concerns.” She adds Mackenzie has done “a lot of work” around the province and in reporting and formulating 18 recommendations on what she has heard, which is why the independent office was established a year ago. “She is a great advocate. She
is doing a great job and she has identified the issues. “We can’t find solutions to everything at once, but if we nip away at it piece by piece, anything we can do to help will be a benefit.” The B.C. Liberal government has committed to implementing the majority of recommendations that pertain to the health ministry, but states in a press release that other recommendations have “wide-reaching implications” and it will need further analysis before government can commit to an approach. “I know we are working on
solutions and it is not always that easy to find all [of those],” says Barnett. “At the end of the day ... if we don’t have new industry, there are no new dollars.” The MLA notes she has talked to two individual elderly constituents within the last month who were unaware they might qualify for financial help. “Many seniors are in the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters [SAFER subsidy program], but I don’t think a lot of people know that is available.” Barnett notes that while she believes it is beyond municipal Continued on A4
The future of the local water park proposal may have reached a pivotal point. The South Cariboo Joint Committee (SCJC) meets June 22 to discuss funding a utility lift station for the proposal that could see the water park built as early as next spring. At SCJC’s meeting on May 4, it was resolved that Cariboo Regional District (CRD) and District of 100 Mile House staff tour the potential sites at Centennial Park and the South Cariboo Rec. Centre (SCRC) with the 100 Mile House Waterpark Society. However, society president Jamie Hughes says when its members went and discussed the potential layout at the SCRC with staff, they discovered a significant stumbling block. “It is just too costly. It would probably be double or triple the cost to do it at the arena than it would at the park. “There is landscaping, there would actually have to be two lift stations instead of one because of the distance the water park would have to go farther away, due to the [100 Mile & District Outriders Club] leasing the spot that we wanted.” Now, the current joint committee members will decide where the project will go from here. CRD chair Al Richmond, who cochairs SCJC (with
Mayor Mitch Campsall), says he has not seen the costs associated with the arena site. “From what I understand, it would be more expensive. But it’s coming back to the committee to make a decision.”
JAMIE HUGHES
While its decisions still go to the CRD board (and possibly District council) before approval, he notes with directors and councillors sitting on the joint committee, it does carry a lot of weight. “I don’t recall the board ever not going along with [SCJC recommendations].” Richmond says if they decide to fund the lift station, it would likely be more appropriate to be taken out of the CRD’s South Cariboo Recreation function, rather than through any grants. “Since they operate the park, the District has said they will fund the operations of it.” However, this meeting is not looking at that level yet, but rather considering the costs at both sites, what might work to move forward on the project, and from where the funding should be taken, he notes. Continued on A4