I would like to comment on the Lac Le Jeune CONSERVATION Association meeting last week.
The constitution of the LLJCA reads:
“The purposes of the association are:
a) To help ensure the protection and conservation of our physical environment: the air, water, forest, and wildlife that surround us.
b) To care for and preserve the natural beauty of Lac Le Jeune and surrounding area for the enjoyment and recreation of all.”
Have we as a group lost sight of the purposes of the association? I am concerned that our focus now seems to be on the residents rather than the environment in which we live. The fact that the presentation on the Ajax mine proposal was not included in the LLJCA meeting, the lack of interest shown by a few LLJCA members, including executive members, and the comment made that it was not in the association’s best interest to be part of the Ajax Mine discussion are all examples of the apparent lack of concern for the place in which we live.
There are many conservation issues that could be addressed at our local level. An example might be to inform/educate people about the fragile environment we live in. At the trailhead at Stake Lake there is a well done information board about the uses, history, plants and wildlife in the Stake Lake Trail system. A board like that would be beneficial at the trailhead of the Gus Johnson, the road to Rossmore Lake and/or the bottom of the old “racetrack” trail system by the little lake.
Maybe we should be looking at some trail enhancement, such as little bridges over wet areas or highly used places. At Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers, the Mountain Bike Association has done an amazing job with the trails. They applied for and received considerable grant money for their trail work. Maybe there is some grant money that could be available to our community (in consultation with the appropriate government agencies) to hire people to help us improve the trail system here.
Many small communities build and maintain bluebird boxes. You will notice these on the fences on the way to Logan Lake and a few around the ski hill area here.
Another example might be to use our association to put pressure on the Forestry Ministry to ensure the surrounding logged areas are replanted in a “timely” manner. Take a drive out to some of the areas that were reforested 8-10 years ago and you will be amazed at the growth that has happened. We cannot see that here in our logged areas.
What about an information handout to new residents, covering topics like fire restrictions, maintaining range fences, appropriate care of septics, refuse care to avoid attracting our 4 legged friends, etc? When we built our house we had to sign off on a list of topics like this before we were given a building permit. I do not think that happens anymore.
As development in our area continues and it becomes a busier place, we need to establish stewardship of this beautiful place we are privileged to live in.
Submitted by Bev Lorimer, September 23, 2011
Resident since 2000
A friend and user of this area since 1988.
4 comments:
Bev, thanks so much for posting this. You have listed some excellent examples of initiatives LLJCA could be involved in.
I'm disturbed that decisions to exclude important topics like the Ajax Mine from the annual meeting agenda are made without consultation. If the mine proposal isn't a topic that we should be discussing, then what is? It's a project that could change our environment for years to come.
It's definitely time to revisit the purposes of the association, so thanks for adding that, Bev. We also need to review our processes.
Thanks Bev for bringing up these ideas. I have many of the same. Perhaps it's time to form a new "club" that focusses solely on preservation & protection of this beautiful area in which we are privileged to live in. Unfortunately from the LLJCA meetings that I have attended over the past 8 yrs I don't feel that preservation & protection of the area is the focus of the association (even though it is stated in the constitution).
I truly believe that it is a privilege to live here and it is our responsibility to ensure that we work together to preserve and protect this environment before it's too late. Think of what we could accomplish!
Sonia Walczak
Proud Resident and LLJ advocate since 2003
Thank you Bev for bringing this up. We built at LLJ in 1975 and made it our permanent residence in 1980. The Association was in its infancy at that time and the purpose was certainly to keep the area as prestine as possible for the enjoyment of the residents and visitors. We too have been disappointed in the change of focus of the LLJA over the last few years.
Bev, thank for for stepping up and reminding each one of us of the original intent behind the formation of the Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association.
Many of your concerns are felt by ourselves as well. We believe that originally the association was established with valid objectives however, the association seems to have lost direction over the years.
Bev's suggestion to deal with issues such as forest replanting, signage, trail enchancement and of course the Ajax mine, are some of the items that as an association we could and really should be addressing. The LLJCA could be involved in making decisions that impact the quality of life around us at present and for future generations to come. Let's get back on track.....
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