By Boris Gorgitza

In July, 2020 the Conservancy applied for a grant to the British Columbia Skills Training program under the Youth Community Partnership stream of the WorkBC - Community Workforce Response Grant program. This is a federally sponsored and provincially managed program designed to support communities and youth impacted by COVID-19. Through this stream, communities can provide youth with opportunities to contribute to their community while gaining work-related skills and experience for future job opportunities or their return to school.

We were thrilled the Conservancy's $6,500 grant proposal was approved. We were able to provide skills training related to wilderness recreation which provides a benefit to both the participants and the local community. Three Gambier-based participants were identified two of whom were funded to attend a professional ten day Wilderness First Responder training course, which certified them in the provision of First Aid and CPR in a wilderness environment. After completion of this course, their skills training was overseen by the Conservancy in the maintenance and improvement of the Crown land-based Gambier Island trail system, for which they received a training stipend.

The work has involved clearing brush and re-marking of the existing trails, installing posts for trail signage expected to be installed next year on most of the existing trails, and flagging a new trail from the Sunshine Coast Regional Districts park at the head of West Bay, to Gambier Lake.. The work is expected to be completed by year-end 2020.

The Conservancy would like to thank its President Peter Scholefield, who supervised the training in the Mount Artaban area, director and trail coordinator Boris Gorgitza for his work in obtaining and administering the grant, and the participants Shanson Lunny, Nola Honeywell, and Estelle Honeywell, all from the West Bay community.