Ashcroft

The Village of Ashcroft is holding a Water Conservation Poster Contest. So design a poster that includes a water saving tip for a chance to become an Ashcroft water conservation superstar and have your poster showcased around town. As well as a special prize yet to be disclosed.

The Ashcroft Indian Band’s new elders’ centre — a six-unit senior’s residence located near the band office — will benefit from clean, renewable energy now that an 18-kilowatt solar array has been installed on the building’s roof. The project was one of seven clean energy projects in First Nations, northern, and rural communities that received funding through the Community Energy Leadership Program (CELP).

The Band received $18,000 toward the $55,000 project from CELP, and it is estimated that the cost savings will be about $2,775 a year. That figure will likely increase, as there were enough panels left over to construct a solar array on the roof of the band office as well. Both projects are now complete.

Band Administrator Jodene Blain says that they’re already seeing big savings from the project. The Band also received funding from the New Relationship Trust, and Blain says they would like to look at getting more solar projects.

Cache Creek The 2020 flooding has officially been declared a "Disaster" by Emergency Management BC - this means if you suffered any damage to your home you may be eligible for funding from the Province - please check here for more information and application forms. Residents can apply directly to the Province.

In this program, we also visit with organizers of Desert Daze.

Provincial COVID-19 update: 146 new cases since we reported on Friday, for a total of 3,787 cases in British Columbia. Coming out of the BC Day long weekend, we all need to pay attention to how we are feeling, and contact 811 should any symptoms develop.

Host Gareth Smart says: " have been using the covid 19 app, so I have not seen cases of covid 19 around me. This could mean one of two things… It doesn’t work yet in BC or we are clear here in Ashcroft and Cache Creek."

The British Columbia government and the City of Vancouver are trying a new way to help get homeless people off the streets with the country’s first-ever navigation centre. The Vancouver centre would have 60 beds, support and services to help people with addictions and other health issues to find more permanent housing.

The provincial government allocated $1.5 million in funding a year for the next three years to create two centres, with the second centre expected to be announced for Vancouver Island.

Housing Minister Selina Robinson says they continue to build more supportive homes for people who are homeless but there’s also a need to support those who have complex challenges while being homeless. Residents referred to the navigation centre will be able to stay until longer-term housing is available. A location for the Vancouver centre hasn’t yet been identified, but the provincial government and the city are aiming for it to be operational by the spring of next year.