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News Release: Government partners with communities on wildfire risks

News Release
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2018FLNR0259-001733 Sept. 10, 2018	Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
Government partners with communities on wildfire risks
WHISTLER – The new Community Resiliency Investment Program will provide up to $50 million over the next three years to local governments and First Nations to help reduce wildfire risks around their communities. “Wildfires don’t recognize the difference between municipal, on-reserve or provincial Crown land, and neither should the programs designed to address those fires,” said Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “The new Community Resiliency Investment Program was designed from the ground up to address long-standing concerns with the way we were dealing with wildfire risks throughout the province.” The Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) Program takes a holistic approach to wildfire risk reduction and fuel management treatments, and will consider fire prevention activities on provincial Crown land and private land, in addition to local government and reserve land. “The First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of B.C. is proud to have collaborated on this project and assisted in developing a program that will serve to help reduce the risk of wildfire in and around Indigenous communities,” said Brent Langlois, executive director of the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of B.C. “Together we can help to mitigate wildfire risk and protect communities in British Columbia.” A key component of the new program is that it allows communities to apply for funding to cover up to 100% of their wildfire risk reduction projects, as opposed to the previous cost-sharing requirements. The types of activities eligible for funding have also been expanded to include more activities covered by the FireSmart program’s seven disciplines. “Local governments are looking for additional resources to reduce the risk of wildfire to their residents,” said Wendy Booth, president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities. “This new program builds on previous investments and provides communities with more options on the types of land that can be treated.” As part of Budget 2018, the B.C. government committed $50 million over three years to help reduce wildfire risks around communities. Up to $10 million will be available in the 2018-19 fiscal year, with $20 million available in each of the following two fiscal years. The Community Resiliency Investment Program is a big part of this renewed commitment and it will replace the Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative. The new program will include two distinct funding streams: FireSmart Community Funding and Supports: First Nations and local governments can apply for funding of up to $100,000 for activities that will help reduce wildfire risks. High Value Assets and Critical Infrastructure Protection: This program is currently being developed and will focus on protecting important, provincially owned infrastructure (such as power lines and highways) from wildfire threats. The first application intake for the Community Resiliency Investment Program (for up to $10 million in total in the 2018-19 fiscal year) opens Monday, Sept. 10, and will close on Dec. 7, 2018. Applications will be evaluated by the B.C. FireSmart Committee and project funding will be administered by the Union of B.C. Municipalities. “The Forest Enhancement Society of B.C. is pleased to collaborate with our partner agencies on the development of the CRI program,” said Steve Kozuki, executive director of the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C. “We believe it’s important to have a co-ordinated effort like this, with specialists working together, to ensure both the resiliency and enhancement of B.C.’s forests now and in the future.” The Community Resiliency Investment Program is separate from and complements the funding program administered by the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C. As of June 2018, the B.C. government has invested $235 million in the society, with over $134 million allocated to date for wildfire risk reduction, reforestation, forest rehabilitation, wildlife habitat restoration and raising awareness of the FireSmart program. Quick Facts: The number and severity of wildfires in B.C. has increased in recent years, resulting in more potential threats to life, property and quality of life. The Community Resiliency Investment Program will focus on mitigating risks to communities by addressing existing funding gaps and making more activities that align with FireSmart disciplines eligible for funding. The B.C. FireSmart Committee is a partnership between: the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development; the Office of the Fire Commissioner; the Fire Chiefs’ Association of British Columbia; the Union of B.C. Municipalities; the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of B.C. and the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C. Learn More: Applications for Community Resiliency Investment Program funding can be submitted through the Union of B.C. Municipalities website: www.ubcm.ca The FireSmart Homeowner’s Manual was developed to help people reduce the risk of personal property damage due to wildfires. The manual and more information about the FireSmart program are available here: http://gov.bc.ca/firesmart Read more about the FireSmart program on the FireSmart Canada website: https://www.firesmartcanada.ca/ A backgrounder follows.
Contact:
Media Relations Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development 250 356-7506

BACKGROUNDER
For Immediate Release 2018FLNR0259-001733 Sept. 10, 2018	Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
More fire prevention activities eligible for funding
Mitigating wildfire risks is a shared responsibility of the provincial government, local governments, First Nations, industry, stakeholders and individual British Columbians. FireSmart is the Canadian standard recognized by all provinces and territories for reducing wildfire risks. It is based on National Fire Protection Association standards that have evolved over the last 40 years. FireSmart is backed by a vast amount of field, laboratory and modelling research. Its methods have been demonstrated time and time again to reduce the risk of losses, under even the most extreme fire conditions. The types of fire prevention work eligible for funding under the new Community Resiliency Investment Program are being expanded to include more activities covered by the FireSmart program’s seven disciplines: education vegetation management legislation and planning development considerations inter-agency co-operation emergency planning cross-training Individual British Columbians can play a crucial role in mitigating wildfire risks on private property by undertaking FireSmart initiatives around their homes. The FireSmart Homeowner’s Manual includes a checklist to assess potential wildfire risks and advice on how to reduce those threats. The manual and more information about the FireSmart program are available here: http://gov.bc.ca/firesmart
Contact:
Media Relations Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development 250 356-7506

Fuel Modification: Step 1 - Wildfire Prevention Plan

Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash

As we continue efforts for fuel modification in our community, we will be working on an up-to-date Wildfire Prevention Plan.

We are looking for volunteers to assist with this process. There are several resources available and models to follow from communities that have been successful in implementing an effective program.

If you are interested in becoming involved please contact Contact Clay Govett at gmail dot com

Summer 2018 News

Download a copy (PDF) of the Summer 2018 Lac Le Jeune news.

AGM Agenda

LAC LE JEUNE

CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

When: Sunday September 9, 2018, 11:00 – 12:30
Where: Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park Day Area Shelter

There will be a snacks and refreshments for LLJCA families and guests.

Special requests: 

• Bring your own mug or glass
• Refer to the minutes of the 2017 AGM ahead of the meeting. A few printed reference copies will be made available at the meeting
• Bring $10 to maintain your LLJCA membership 

1. Adoption of minutes from the 2017 AGM
2. Treasurer's report – Leyla Johnson
3. Lake Monitoring Program – Howie Mattfeld & Hugh Burton
4. Conserving water  – Cindy Swain
5. Increasing bat population – Cindy Swain
6. Community contact & mailing list – Steve Roy
7. RCMP report – Cpl TBA
8. BC Parks – Michelle Weibe
9. Invasive Plant Program – Dr. Catherine Tarasoff
10. Fire Safe Community – Clay Govett
11. TNRD area J representative – Ronaye Elliot
12. Kamloops Bike Riders Association – Paul Berry (tentative)
13. Elections: Little Lake rep, Vice President
14. Other business

Bear spray workshop for outdoor enthusiasts

We are coordinating a workshop in collaboration with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District WildSafeBC Community Program for Lac Le Jeune residents to learn how to use bear spray effectively.

The workshop will be held on Thursday, September 13th, 4:00 - 6:00pm. Topics to address include:
- what bear spray is
- how and what to purchase
- proper storage when at home or travelling
- proper deployment of the spray (allowing everyone to deploy inert bear spray for practice)

There will be a nominal fee based on the number of participants. It is payable on the day of the workshop. The cost of each can of inert training bear spray for a group of 4 people to practice with is $25.

Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a guardian and must show respectful maturity when using inert bear spray.

By completing this registration form you are stating that you are interested and available at this date and time. If there are any changes to your circumstances please email sylvia.currie at gmail dot com.

You will be contacted closer to the workshop date with further information about venue and what to expect.

 

Annual General Meeting

LAC LE JEUNE

CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Sunday, September 9, 2018

11:00 – 12:30

Provincial Park 

Day Area Shelter

Refreshments and snacks for the whole family

Hope to see you there!

Changes to our mailing addresses

Canada Post is discontinuing the use of postal box numbers. Instead, we will be using our street (aka 911) addresses. Letters were distributed in July outlining the changes.

Remember to pick up your new mailbox keys beginning Monday, August 20th.

Click for a larger view

LLJCA AGM + 2018 Info Sheet

This is the updated one-pager to outline what the Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association is all about. Have a look, pass it along to your new neighbours, and be sure to come to the Annual General Meeting!

When: September 9, 2018 @ 11:00
Where: Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park day area shelter


 

The toads are crossing the road!

The western toad migration has begun! These little guys cross Lac Le Jeune Road every summer around this time in a 1-kilometre stretch of road near the Michell Ranch.

You can help out these little toads by taking the Coquihalla on your trips to Kamloops during these few days of migration. They are so small many people don’t even notice them on the road.

sydney Rae