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By Jason Ryll

The Minister for Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, Ian Black, was in the Cariboo for a number of stops as he tours the province participating in community based, small business round table discussions.  During his stop in Williams Lake, the Minister met with 20 business leaders including representatives from the City, CRD, Community Futures, Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development and members of the public.

An experienced campus director, economic developer and educator has been appointed Director of Thompson Rivers University Williams Lake Campus, effective September 1.

(Photo:  Dr. Ray Sanders is the new director TRU Williams Lake)

**update**

There is a wildfire burning along Highway 97 at 140 mile.

(Photo by Joe Cousins: Helicopter dipping water out of Chimney Lake Wednesday afternoon)

Over the past 24 hours there have been approximately sixty new fire starts within the Cariboo Fire Centre's jurisdiction.

Effective at noon Thursday, July 29, all open burning, including campfires and fireworks, will be prohibited across the Cariboo Fire Centre's jurisdiction, including Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, to help prevent human-caused wildfires and to protect public safety.

Imperial Metals Corporation recently announced that significant intervals of copper/gold mineralization have been detected near the Company's Mount Polley property. 

Underground development to access the Boundary zone has been initiated by means of a portal, from which a 500-metre ramp will be excavated to provide access for further exploration and development. Ramp completion is expected in the third quarter 2010. 

Low-income Aboriginal adults now have better access to affordable housing with the opening of Eagle’s Nest, a new $7.9-million building providing 33 suites in Williams Lake, announced Donna Barnett, MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin. "We are committed to creating affordable housing solutions across B.C. to help communities like Williams Lake meet the needs of its citizens," said Barnett. "Eagle’s Nest will be a place of comfort, safety and community for individuals who may have experienced housing challenges in the past. I would like to welcome residents to their new home and thank Cariboo Friendship Society for working with the Province to bring this much-needed housing to fruition." The Province provided a capital grant of $7.2 million through the Aboriginal Housing Initiative (AHI), which was created to provide funding to develop new, affordable housing for Aboriginal people living off-reserve and to meet long-term Aboriginal housing needs. In addition, the Province provided mortgage financing of $506,659. The City of Williams Lake provided development cost relief of $57,453 and Cariboo Friendship Society provided land equity estimated at $98,545.

(Photo collage by Laureen Carruthers.  Click to enlarge image.)

 Jan Hermiston was one of the community members at the side of the highway this morning while a military convoy passed through Williams Lake.  Approximately 65 soldiers, members of Delta Company’s 12 Platoon, travelled through Williams Lake on their way to Alexis Creek to attend a private memorial service for Lieutenant Andrew Nuttall.

Jan has a deeply personal interest in the proceedings: her son, Warrant Officer Darren Herminston, is currently serving in Kandahar. Holding one end of a large Canadian flag this morning, she said she helped flag one of the military vehicles carrying six military personnel, over to the side of the road to talk with the young soldiers. "I shook hands with one of the young soldiers, thanked him for his service and said to him, 'I don't have my boy here today to get a hug,' and he put his arms around me and said, 'I'll be your boy today.'" 

(Photos by Terry Keener)

The City of Williams Lake and the Cariboo Regional District Central Cariboo Recreation and Leisure Services financial plan has been amended to allow implementation of the revised capital plan for the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex (CMRC) which utilizes $240,000 of the funds set aside for the now cancelled Marie Sharpe Community Connections Program to fund priority capital projects. 

Residents in Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and the Cariboo Regional District will benefit from $321,247 in provincial funding that will be put toward public safety initiatives and important municipal services, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett announced yesterday. The funding is part of a $38.6 million instalment from the Strategic Community Investment Fund.

Students at three schools in the Cariboo-Chilcotin school district will benefit from cleaner air and more efficient heating, thanks to a $1.4-million investment from the Province and school district, announced Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett.

"The Province is working with northern and Interior school districts to ensure we keep our education funding focused on students, not on heating schools," said Barnett. "Improved heating efficiency, a more comfortable learning environment and a cleaner air shed are all benefits of these projects."

The three schools will be receiving a variety of physical plant upgrades, which will result in an estimated carbon reduction of 234 tonnes per year for the district.

Highlights include:

• Mile 108 Elementary school will receive a ground-source heat pump system. The estimated carbon footprint reduction is 76 per cent or 63 tonnes per year.
• Naghtaneqed Elementary/Junior Secondary school will receive a new propane heating system to replace the existing oil-fired boiler. The estimated carbon footprint reduction is 44 per cent or 40 tonnes per year.
• Alexis Creek Elementary/Secondary school will receive a new bio-energy heating system to replace the existing propane-fired boiler. The estimated carbon footprint reduction is 100 per cent or 131 tonnes per year.