Nechako-Kitamaat Development Funding Approvals for 2007-2008 | Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society

Nechako-Kitamaat Development Funding Approvals for 2007-2008
MAR 31, 2008

Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society has completed another successful year, bringing the total amount approved for projects to $4,861,073. Total grants approved during this fiscal amounted to $730,517. NKDF has approved an average of $822,548 per year for the past five years. The following table shows the organizations, the projects and the amounts approved for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

NKDF Grant Approvals for 2007-2008
BC Paraplegic Assn / North Central Municipal Assn – Measuring Up	$7,500
Burns Lake Band – Community House	22,000
Burns Lake Mountain Bike Assn. – Bike Park Final Phase	50,000
Burns Lake Native Development Corp.– CropCam Feasibility	1,000
Burns Lake Native Development Corp.– Block Processing Plant	29,340
Burns Lake Sport Centre Association – Arena Energy Saving	25,240
Cheslatta Carrier Nation – Wood Chipper	29,550
Community Futures Dev. Corp. of FFG – EDABC Conference	2,500
Community Futures Development Corp. of Nadina – Poultry	3,250
District of Vanderhoof – Downtown Revitalization	50,000
District of Vanderhoof – Interpretive Centre Feasibility/Business Plan	10,000
District of Vanderhoof – Spirit Square	74,017
District of Vanderhoof – Sportfield & Stadium	50,000
Fort Fraser Local Commission – Beautification	5,880
Gya’Wa’Tlaab Healing Centre Society - Feasibility	5,000
Kitamaat Village Council – Haisla Archives	20,100
Kitamaat Village Council – Haisla Marine Shipping Lines	10,000
Lake District Airport Society – Terminal Building	100,000
Lakes District Fall Fair Association – Fall Fair Building Upgrades	22,140
Lakes Economic Development Association – Community Signs	15,000
Nechako Valley Historical Society – OK Café Renovation	25,000
Southside Economic Development Assn. – Grassy Plains Hall	3,000
Village of Burns Lake – Spirit Square Nourse Park	30,000
Village of Fraser Lake – Arena Upgrade Phase II	100,000
Village of Fraser Lake – Southside Development	40,000
Total Approved to March 31, 2008	$730,517

To the Board Members of the Nechako Kitamaat Development Fund Society, On behalf of the Burns Lake Mountain Biking Association (BLMBA) it is an honour to have this opportunity to try to articulate adequately what...

~Burns Lake Mountain Biking Association

To the Board Members of the Nechako Kitamaat Development Fund Society,

On behalf of the Burns Lake Mountain Biking Association (BLMBA) it is an honour to have this opportunity to try to articulate adequately what the support provided by the Nechako Kitamaat Development Fund Society (NKDF) has meant to our organization. To be accurate NKDF's support precedes and is responsible for the formation of BLMBA as NKDF funding provided the opportunity for a group of dynamic volunteers to attend an International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) conference that led to the incorporation of BLMBA as a society in August of 2006. Since that nascent step NKDF has continued to provide key support for trail construction in every phase of our development. Following BLMBA's formation NKDF funding allowed for initial trail planning and construction in the newly formed Burns Lake Bike Park. Since then we have expanded into the 4000 hectare Boer Mountain Recreation Site and NKDF's funding has been key in the construction of numerous trails: Razorback, an 18 km single track trail on the eastern perimeter of the site that joins the Bike Park with the top of Boer Mountain; a 3.5 km trail, New Kinda Downhill Flow (NKDF), that joins Razorback with our signature downhill trail When Pigs Fly; Pigasus, a 10 km trail on the western perimeter connecting the top of Boer Mountain with the Bike Park; and the current 3 year project, a 5 km downhill trail, Hogzilla, running from the top of Boer to Kager Lake, the jewel at the centre of our recreational area. Additionally, your society has generously funded two incarnations of Project Trails, a joint venture between the local high school and BLMBA that provides the opportunity for students to learn about planning, designing, and constructing single track mountain biking trails.

So NKDF not only provided the initial spark that launched this incredible journey but it is also responsible for funding the construction of more than 35 km of our 90 km trail network. To say that your society has been pivotal in the development of this world class facility is an understatement. In addition to the obvious attraction of having superlative mountain biking trails for locals and visitors to enjoy, the economic and social benefits from this support cannot be discounted. For example, our town has seen visitors from all over the world purposefully target Burns Lake as a destination because of the trails. Those visitors spend money supporting local shops and businesses. A bike shop in town was started and has been thriving because of the need generated by the trail network. A sporting goods store has become a distributor of an exclusive brand of outdoor gear because of the international recognition of Burns Lake as a mountain biking destination. (Burns Lake was first in Canada to receive the IMBA designation of Ride Centre.) Finally, a number of professionals have chosen to move to Burns Lake specifically because of the mountain biking trails. These benefits are tangible and, combined with programs and fixtures such as Project Trails, Wednesday Workbees, Kids Camp, Lake Babine Nation's Youth Mountain Biking and others the capacity for sustainability is continuously being nurtured and refined.

To summarize, the benefits that have been realized in Burns Lake and the Lakes District because NKDF has chosen to so generously support trail development here are significant. This development has played a crucial role in the economic diversification and social welfare of the area and it would not have happened without your support. With heartfelt appreciation, thank you!

Sincerely,
Guy Epkens-Shaffer, President
Burns Lake Mountain Biking Association