Lakeshore
Shuswap Vol. 28 No. 41 October 13, 2017
Market News
Inside Shuswap
A4 Gutter scam averted
Bank teller alerts seniors to situation. Plus Opinion A6 South Shuswap A10
Chase
A29
Aiming for top spot
MLA Todd Stone takes to road for support. Plus Chase Heat A30 What’s On A30
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Lookout’s fate rests with government Splatsin band, Shuswap MLA onside with efforts to retain cabin. Lachlan Labere salmon arm observer
At an elevation of approximately 7,700 feet, atop a rugged, rocky mountain peak, sits a solitary cabin. Taped to its door is a stop work order, issued by the B.C. government. The notice states it was issued on Sept. 5, 2017 by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, and applies to “all persons undertaking construction activities on this building.” The “building” is a 14 by 14-foot engineered refurbishment of the original Eagle Pass Summit fire lookout, originally constructed in 1922. Carried out over the past two years by volunteers and donations, this reconstruction project is currently under investigation by the ministry. Taped to the door on top of the stop work notice is a letter by Splatsin First Nation Title and Rights/ Fisheries and Wildlife manager Stuart Lee. In the letter, Lee states he has reviewed the “commendable efforts” of the volunteers, and he has found the engineered repair to exceed building codes for such a structure. “The Splatsin approves of the “Civic Good” the Lookout will provide in its service to hikers and back-country users from the Splatsin and Canadians alike,” writes Lee.
Photo contributed
Work on the Eagle Pass Summit fire lookout, rebuilt to withstand the elements – and landing helicopters – has been put on hold while the B.C. government investigates the volunteer construction project. Onside with the Splatsin are the District of Sicamous, the City of Enderby, Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo and Sicamous and District Chamber of Commerce and other groups and individuals, who have asked the B.C. government to not destroy the reconstructed shelter – one possible outcome of the investigation, says the ministry. The request was delivered in person to ministry representatives at the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention by Sicamous Coun. Gord Bushell and Columbia Shuswap Regional District Area E director Rhona Martin. The response they received wasn’t as encouraging as hoped for. “We pleaded our case, showed them photos, gave them letters of support…
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They’re going to look into it,” said Bushell. “But we didn’t get that feeling where they said, ‘whoa, we’ll stop everything until we get a handle on it.’ They can’t once the investigation has started.” Kyllo applauds the effort and workmanship that went into the reconstruction. And while he wants people to follow the rules and make the appropriate permit applications, he said the volunteers were not made aware such approvals were required. “Although I have not spoken directly with anybody in compliance and enforcement, my understanding is there was some comments made, I believe at a meeting last year, where a compliance and enforcement officer made some comments where if
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this had occurred in his area or jurisdiction, he’d burn it down,” said Kyllo. “That type of commentary certainly isn’t helpful. I think what really the focus of the communication now is, it’s unfortunate the appropriate permits weren’t applied for. It looks like a very well-built and sound structure, and tearing it down certainly would not prove to serve anybody other than maybe somebody’s ego.” Caught in the middle of this bureaucratic brouhaha is Sicamous resident Rene St. Onge, the person who got the ball rolling to save the historic lookout. He said the effort actually began years back in a visit to forestry officials in Vernon. “We talked to three or four officials there who
said, ‘no, they couldn’t give approval for that, even though it was an existing cabin,’” said St. Onge. “They said FrontCounter BC could, so they called over and I went there with a friend and met the manager… We had a great talk, talked for about an hour, and he was totally excited about it.” During this meeting, St. Onge asked about financial support, knowing the project would be a costly endeavour, but was told none was available. On the upside, St. Onge said he was told, ‘If you’re building a new cabin or road or trail, you need to do an application, but he said this is existing, if you want to clean it up and put the roof back on, awesome. He gives verbal approval.’” Continued on A3
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