To the editor;
Well, there’s good news and there’s bad news. Good news is that the wait is finally over! We received word on the status of our grant application for $250,000 from Heritage Canada. Bad news, we didn’t get it.
This is hugely disappointing, however, once we got over the initial shock and, okay, a bit of pouting, it was time to pick up the proverbial boot straps and jump right back in the game. We’ve already come so far as a community on making this project happen and are a long way off from it being a hopeless cause. In fact, the ball continues to roll along only slowing slightly to bounce over the speed bump of the refused grant.
So where do we go from here? Well, the 100th Anniversary Committee for Barriere is regrouping, preparing a more visual “vision” of the project which we all agree to continue with the theme that will represent Barriere, its heritage and history (including First Nations), and our logging roots. A revised design and budget will make up the initial step, followed with a list of what the project needs in order to progress so that members of the community, to possible corporate benefactors can assess if they are in a position to help see this project come to fruition.
While the snow still flies and the cold seems never ending, it’s hard to be reminded of the heat of summer and just how welcomed such a project this will be to Barriere and the entire North Thompson Valley. It’s a legacy project for the young and old alike; resident and tourist. So stay tuned in the weeks to come for more details on this much anticipated project and how you can help; even if that help is just a cheer from the sidelines although, if any one reading this has recently won the lottery, please, by all means, let’s talk.
Tasha Buchanan
100th Anniversary Committee Co-Chair