The 亚洲天堂 Lake Community Forest (BLCF) distributed a total of $187,618 to community organizations in the Lakes District from November 2015 to October 2016, in addition to $13,100 in-kind contributions.
That鈥檚 $88,382 less than what was distributed in 2016, but higher than recent years prior to 2016, when community donations did not exceed the $100,000 mark.
Frank Varga, BLCF general manager, explained that the annual distribution is based on the number of requests and total budget.
鈥淢ore profit equals more distribution through the license agreement amount,鈥� he said.
The BLCF鈥檚 total revenue declined from $6.1 million in 2015 to $3.8 million in 2016.
A total of 28 organizations benefited from this year鈥檚 donations, including the Lakes Outdoor Recreation Society ($30,000), the Lakes District Airport Society ($30,000), the Omineca Ski Club ($20,700), the Lakes District Fall Fair ($15,000), the Royal Canadian Legion Branch ($11,600) and the Lakes District Arts Council ($10,000).
According to the BLCF鈥檚 consolidated financial statements, over $328,000 were distributed to each of the BLCF鈥檚 shareholders - the 亚洲天堂 Lake Band, Wet鈥檚uwet鈥檈n First Nation and the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake.
Varga said there have been no changes in salaries over $75,000. Two positions earned over $75,000 - the operations manager [general manager], who earned $115,937, and the operations supervisor, who earned $88,910.
The BLCF provided a total of 119,960 hours of direct employment from November 2015 to October 2016 - about 53 full-time equivalent hours.
According to the financial statements, 鈥渨ages and benefits鈥� costs have been increasing - $157,203 in 2014, $173,052 in 2015 and $187,518 in 2016. When asked about the increase, Varga said he cannot speak to numbers from 2014 and 2015 since he wasn鈥檛 the general manager.
鈥淗owever, I can say that it鈥檚 important to note and understand that Comfor is a business, and as such, changes in business scopes and practices will create levels of normal annual variance,鈥� he said.
Office expenses increased from $23,885 in 2015 to $26,921 in 2016. Costs with directors fees have also been increasing - $39,165 in 2014, $43,749 in 2015 and $44,757 in 2016. Varga explained that director fees 鈥渋ncrease when you have full board participation.鈥�
鈥淎s per director policy, directors are remunerated for their attendance at scheduled business and operational meetings, and special meetings or sessions,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he number varies every year; in 2016 we have had all six of the board in all scheduled meetings.鈥�
The BLCF purchased over $3 million worth of goods and services from November 2015 to October 2016. More than 85 per cent of these goods and services were local.
In addition, over one million seedlings were planted by a local contractor, consisting of a 50/50 species mix of spruce and pine. This technique is used to enhance the resilience of a plantation to the risks of insects and diseases.
Approximately 170,000 cubic metres was harvested this season, supplying saw logs to Canfor Ltd., Babine Forest Products, Decker Lake Forest Products, Pacific Timber and Sheraton Custom Milling.
The BLCF鈥檚 annual allowable cut (AAC) was reset as of May 1, 2016 to 225,000 cubic metres per year. After 2020, the AAC is expected to drop to 63,000 cubic metres.
