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Vol. 89 Issue 23 • Wednesday, June 6, 2012 • www.arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3823 • $1.25 Includes HST
House purchased for new Nakusp doctor
NACFOR held an open house to let folks know what is happening with their locally-owned forestry company. CLAIRE PARADIS/ARROW LAKES NEWS
NACFOR is forestry for us By Sonya Dann
Special to the Arrow Lakes News
The Nakusp and Area Community Forest (NACFOR) held its annual open house on May 28 with the Board of Directors serving cookies and lemonade along with information on the continuing operation of the forest tenure. The board of directors was officially established in 2006 along with the probationary assignment of the NACFOR land tenure, by the Ministry of Forests and Natural Resource Operations. But many of the members of the board had been involved in this project for 10 years or more prior to the assignment of NACFOR. The Nakusp and Area Community Forest has been, and continues to be, harvested in sections based on the prices of the various types and qualities of wood. While NACFOR’s five-year probationary community forest licence was granted in 2006, harvesting did not begin until 2009 due to low wood prices in 2006. The first area to be logged near Galena Bay was selectively harvested for cedar poles, since at that time the cedar pole product was selling at peak prices. Harvesting has continued since that time, with operations currently running in Slewiskin or MacDonald Creek. In 2011, the Ministry of Forests and Natural Resource Operations assigned a 25-year non-probationary agreement to NACFOR. Recently in NACFOR and True North’s consultations with the community regarding future harvest areas, concerns were raised about mushroom picking. The Fosthall area is slated to be logged in late 2012 and is a well-known and used mushrooming location. Mushroom pickers were concerned that consistently highly productive pine mushroom land will be disturbed. Pine mushrooms are very popular in Japan and can provide some seasonal income for pickers. NACFOR and True North have been working with the concerned groups to ensure the survival of the mushrooms after the forest has been harvested. Additional planning was undertaken and a compromise was made. NACFOR will cut in a strip system to provide an “edge effect” to ensure continued mushrooming in the Fosthall area. Additionally, 20 hectares fewer will be harvested in that area. The new mushroom cut is one of the benefits of having
The hard work of Arrow Lakes Hospital Foundation and ALH Auxiliary volunteers has bought a house which helped successfully court a new doctor to Nakusp. CLAIRE PARADIS/ARROW LAKES NEWS
Ever wondered what happens to the dollars you spend when you find that great deal in the Thrift Store? Would you believe the Arrow Lakes Hospital Auxiliary has been saving up to buy a house? Arrow Lakes Hospital Foundation and Hospital Auxiliary volunteers congregated Friday, June 1, for tours of their new house and a small reception with snacks and drinks. The Foundation and Auxiliary had banded together to purchase a home to offer doctors who might need just a little more enticement to Nakusp. Mike
George, Chair of the Foundation, said there was clearly a “desperate need” to get physicians to move to Nakusp, and Dale James of the Auxiliary agreed. At the beginning, the Auxiliary bought “extras” for the hospital for patient comfort, said James. Soon, the organization started buying equipment for the hospital in order to attract doctors to work there. “Locums say we’re the best equipped small hospital they’ve ever been to,” said George, who has seen an increase over the years in federal and provincial governments offloading responsibility for services to municipalities and volunteer groups. Even with the increase, the Auxiliary
has been able to keep the hospital well supplied. And so, the groups pooled their resources and started looking for a house to attract a doctor. James was both proud and modest about the achievement, and said the thrift store not only provided the house, but also provided a service to the community by recycling goods through the community while also being “a good outlet for old ladies with time on their hands.” All their efforts have resulted in the purchase of a good-sized house on 3rd Street with a lovely garden and pond “water feature,” for Dr. Sayed Subzwari who will be moving to Nakusp on June 23.
a community forest where additional consultations and compromises can be more than what would be expected from a private company. It is this ‘community first’ view that Warren Leigh, Kathy Smith, and others envisioned when they began writing letters and lobbying for a community forest more than 10 years ago; the willingness of the forest tenure holder to make economic sacrifices to maintain rare and valuable habitats like the pine mushroom area in Fosthall was once a mere pipe dream. Another difference is that profits from NACFOR foresting come back
to the community. Plans are for future revenue from NACFOR’s harvest to be returned to the community of Nakusp in the form of grants as well as to the Nakusp and Area Community Foundation, which funds local projects. The NACFOR board was represented that evening by Doug Switzer (president and member since 2007), Kathy Smith (Secretary and member since 2003), Warren Leigh (Director and member since 2000), Frank Poirier (representative for Area K, Director and member since 2009), and Tom Zeleznik (Director and member since 2003) As well, three representa-
tives from the forest tenure management company, True North Forestry Consulting, were present to provide information and entertaining stories for visitors. Jesper Neilsen, Frances Swan, and Hugh Watt had some very interesting stories, and safety warnings, about logging roads. Neilsen, who has been the primary party with True North responsible for the management of NACFOR, has decided to move on to new opportunities in other communities. Frances Swan will be taking over Jesper’s position at the end of July, and is looking forward to learning to fill his very big shoes.
By Claire Paradis Arrow Lakes News
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