ABOUT US
Our History
Before WBCF was founded, there was long history of community involvement spanning over a decade. Without the hard work of so many, WBCF wouldn't be where it is today. Take a look back at the special moments that helped create the Wells Barkerville Community Forest.
1996
Inventory of area trails completed by Judy Campbell
1997
Masterplan for the Cornish Mountain Cross Country Ski Area prepared by Reidar Zapf-Gilje for the Wells and Area Trails Society (WATS)
1998
BC legislature approved legislation to implement community forest agreements
1999
The Wells Forest Community Society registered under the BC Societies Act
2000
(July 29 – August 25) “The Arts and the Backcountry” program offered by Island Mountain Arts in partnership with local outfitters
(Sep 29 to Oct 2 ) Tone Wood Conference in Wells hosted by Island Mountain Arts and Wells Forest Community Society
2002
(Mar 14-16) Wells Forest Community Society represented by Faith Moosang at BC Community Forest Forum in Victoria
(Mar 25 – Oct 18 ) Wells Forest Community Society hosted the Wells Forest Academy
2004
(August 6) “Expression of interest” in obtaining a community forest agreement sent by Wells Mayor Dave Hendrixson to BC Minister of State for Forestry Operations Roger Harris
(Sep 3 ) Letter from Doug Konkin, Deputy Minister, BC Ministry of Forests, to Mayor Hendixson: “until we have more information on available annual allowable cut we cannot determine where new CFA opportunities will be created.”
2005
(May 11) Letter from Wells Chief Administrative Officer Gary Champagne to Gerry Grant, District Manager, Quesnel Forest District, asking to be advised if community forest options will be coming available
(May 17 ) Letter from Gerry Grant to Gary Champagne with commitment to advise if any opportunities arise
2006
(April 6) “Community Forest Public Interest Meeting”, Northwoods Inn Restaurant
(May 5) Letter from Mayor Jay Vermette, District of Wells, to Gerry Grant, Manager, Quesnel Forest District supporting Wells and Area Community Forest Group initiatives and requesting an invitation to apply for a Community Forest Agreement
(June 16) “Wells Area Community Forest Public Information meeting” at Wells Community hall hosted by Wells Community Forest Group
(Oct 18) Letter from Wells Community Forest Group to BC Minister of Forests Rich Coleman requested Wells be placed on list of Community Forest Agreement applicants
2007
(Nov 19) Letter from BC Minister of Forests Rich Coleman to Wells Mayor Jay Vermette “hereby directing the regional executive director to invite the District of Wells to apply for a Probationary Community Forest Agreement”.
(Dec 11) Letter from BC Ministry of Forests with detailed requirements for the community forest application
2008
(Mar 26) Request from District of Wells to BC Ministry of Forests to extend the deadline for the community forest application
(April 8) Letter from BC Ministry of Forests extending the application deadline 2011
(Sept 7) Wells-Barkerville Community Forest Ltd. incorporated under the BC Business Corporations Act
2013
(August 27) Application for a Community Forest Agreement submitted
2014
(Sep 11) Community Forest Agreement offered by Gerry MacDougall, Regional Executive Director, BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
(Dec 1) Community Forest Agreement K3R signed
2015
(April 2) details of the agreement reviewed at a community meeting
(Nov 30) draft log purchase and woods management Request for Proposals reviewed by Directors, decision to retitle it a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), to conduct a further review in January and to issue the RFQ in February with a March deadline for replies
2016
(Jan 14) draft RFQ reviewed by Directors
(Jan 29) RFQ issued
(Feb 22 ) information meeting for potential RFQ respondents
(Mar 17) community consultation to obtain community input on the criteria for evaluating RFQ replies
(Mar 18) RFQ submission deadline; submissions / offers received from West Fraser and from Cascadia-Canadian Overseas
(May 15) Cascadia-Canadian Overseas and West Fraser present their log purchase and woods management offers to a community meeting
(May 16) decision to accept the West Fraser Mills offer
(Dec 9) log purchase and woods management contract between WBCF Ltd and West Fraser signed
(Dec 9 ) community meeting at the Legion
2017
(June 12 ) community presentation by West Fraser
(Nov 6) K3R Cutting Permit no. 1 issued to WBCF Ltd
(Nov 8) Road Permit R21779 issued to WBCF Ltd
2017-2018
West Fraser harvested 24,856 cubic meters of WBCF timber
2018
83,856 seedlings planted
(Sept 1) part time Coordinator hired
(Oct 19) log purchase and woods management contract for 2019 – 2024 signed between WBCF Ltd. and West Fraser
(Nov 22) community forest display at Wells Open House in the community hall
2019
Community forest open house in the Wells legion