By Jill Hayward
Seasons greetings to all the folks who live in the North Thompson Valley! I am honoured to be tasked as your official representative from Area “O” at the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Board of Directors table for the next four years, and have already started meeting and working with my constituents throughout our area.
My first official event as director was the Canada Winter Games Mixed Doubles Qualifier at the Barriere Curling Rink on Dec. 2-4, and I commend all of the volunteers who presented such a top-quality event.
I have also had great pleasure in being able to approve a number of grants-in-aid to area non-profits that service residents throughout our region: the Anti Violence Advocates Society, Barriere and District Seniors Society, Barriere First Responders, Barriere Lions Club, Barriere and District Chamber of Commerce, Barriere and District Heritage Society, North Thompson Museum and Archives, Little Fort Recreation Society, and the Squam Bay Community Club.
I am looking forward to 2023 as being an opportune time to network, problem solve, bring forth new ideas, and work towards finding and creating the opportunities required to ensure progress and positive results on items that are important for all who live and work in our region.
For those who may be wondering what TNRD Area “O” is all about, I am providing a brief overview regarding government in our region.
The TNRD board is the governing body of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and is comprised of 27 members. This includes one director from each of the 10 TNRD Electoral Areas, one director from each of the 10 smaller TNRD member municipalities (such as the District of Barriere and the District of Clearwater), and seven directors from the City of Kamloops. Of note is the District of Barriere (governed by an elected mayor and council) which is flanked on all sides by Area “O” (Lower North Thompson). It is the fourth-largest of our 10 TNRD electoral areas, and covers 5,381 sq. km. Our region encompasses a lower portion of the North Thompson Valley and contains vast wilderness areas, mountains, and lakes, including Adams Lake, which is the second-deepest lake in the province, and is also listed as the fifth-deepest lake in North America.
Area “O” has a population of 1,523 (1,719 including First Nations reserves). The main transportation routes are the Yellowhead Highway (Hwy. 5) and the Interlakes Highway (Hwy. 24). Little Fort, Darfield, East Barriere Lake, and the Agate Bay Area are our main communities.
Within the TNRD Area “O” boundaries is an electoral service area that includes:
• Cemeteries (Little Fort Cemetery)
• Community Parks (Latremouille Park — Little Fort)
• Dangerous Dog Control
• Economic Development
• Emergency 9-1-1 Service
• Emergency Preparedness
• Environmental Planning and Zoning
• Fire Protection: Little Fort Fire Department. In addition to administering rural Fire Departments, the TNRD has contracts with a number of neighbouring jurisdictions to provide Fire Protection to TNRD properties. You can find out whether your property is provided with fire protection by searching your address on the TNRD’s Community Services Map webpage at https://bit.ly/3jziji8.
• Garbage and Recycling: Agate Bay Transfer Station, Little Fort Transfer Station, Louis Creek (Barriere) Transfer Station,
• Invasive Plant Management
• Mosquito Control
• Public Library: Thompson Nicola Regional Library branch in Barriere
• Water Service: Maple Mission
A frequent question from residents is about the maintenance and repair of local roads within TNRD Area “O”, or within First Nations reserve lands. They are maintained by the Province of BC through contractors, not by the TNRD.
To learn more about the Thompson-Nicola Regional District go to https://bit.ly/3Vr6NCC.
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