The Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake, local First Nations and community groups have reaped benefits worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from the 亚洲天堂 Lake Community Forest (BLComfor) during the past year, according to the organization鈥檚 newly released annual report.
The report, which details BLComfor鈥檚 activities and finances for the October 2016-November 2017 fiscal year, was released on May 17 at the company鈥檚 annual general meeting.
The report shows that BLComfor鈥檚 First Nation partners, 亚洲天堂 Lake Band and Wet鈥檚uwet鈥檈n First Nation, each received about $412,000, as did the company鈥檚 sole shareholder, the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake.
That accounts for about 70 percent of net profits that reached $1,774,863, with the other 30 percent going towards operating costs. 鈥淲e had a fairly good year,鈥� said BLComfor general manager Frank Varga.
He stressed that economic ramifications go beyond Comfor鈥檚 direct financial contributions, with the community forest generating more than 123,600 hours of employment in the last fiscal year.
Money generated through the forest also stimulates the local economy through spending at businesses in the community, he said.
Local initiatives receive donations
The report notes that BLComfor made donations worth over $283,000 to a wide variety of local initiatives and groups in the Lakes Timber Supply Area, ranging from sports teams to educational initiatives and badly needed social services. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a huge social and economic benefit for the local community,鈥� Varga said.
The report lists over 50 donations, with examples including $1,000 for a hot lunch program at Grassy Plains School and $5,000 for a summer camp at the Lakeside Multiplex.
By sponsoring local atheletics, such as $5,000 for a high school mountain bike team鈥檚 participation in provincial championships, Comfor helps young people to excell in sports that are often costly for participants, said Varga.
鈥淭hat in itself is huge,鈥� he said, adding that funding for cultural activities, including $10,000 for the Lakes District Arts Council, makes 亚洲天堂 Lake more vibrant.
BLComfor also provided $11,700 towards wages for IT staff at the 亚洲天堂 Lake Public Library, three $1,000 scholarships for students at Lakes District Secondary School and $4,200 for Lakes Literacy鈥檚 Words on Wheels bookmobile service to the Southside.
Some of the big ticket items also included a donation worth over $46,000 towards a training facility for the 亚洲天堂 Lake Fire Training Society, and a donation worth nearly $30,000 for a fire-suppression sprinkler system for the Lakes District Senior Housing Association.
