September 9, 2009
Job Opportunities Program Supports Valemont Workers

VICTORIA - Workers in the community of Valemount will benefit from more than $49,000 in funding for a trail management project, announced Shirley Bond, Prince George-Valemount MLA, and Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. The project will create short-term jobs for three unemployed resource workers through the Job Opportunities Program.

"This community, like so many others, has had the challenge of dealing with a downturn in the forest industry at the same time as the pine beetle epidemic," said Bond. "We know that every job counts and this grant provides three jobs for unemployed resource workers, and at the same time helps maintain important recreational infrastructure."

Workers involved in this Valemount Area Recreation Development Association project are manually brushing seven winter trails spanning 44.25 km in the vicinity of Valemount. Workers will increase the accessibility and safety of the trails that are popular with snowmobilers by clearing them of hazards and obstructions.

"Valemount's back-country is a playground for snowmobilers and other winter enthusiasts," said Krueger. "Many people come to the area to enjoy the trails, which are an important part of Valemount's tourism infrastructure."

"Making sure the trails in the area are safe and free of dangerous debris is vital to preserving an important community asset," said Valemount Mayor Bob Smith. "And the jobs this project will create will have a direct and positive impact on the workers and their families."

The Job Opportunities Program was first announced in May 2008 as one component of the federally-funded $129-million Community Development Trust. In July 2009, the provincial government committed an additional $30 million toward the program, which the federal government matched on a project-by-project basis through the Community Adjustment Fund.

The Province of British Columbia's contribution to the Job Opportunities Program is part of its commitment to provide stability for workers and communities, maintain the workforce during the economic downturn and help British Columbians gain new skills to be successful in the future.

For more information about the Job Opportunities Program, go to www.cd.gov.bc.ca/cdt/.

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