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Press Release, July 2/02
FRIENDS OF WEST KOOTENAY PARKS SOCIETY SECURE VISITOR CENTRE
Late last week, the Friends of West Kootenay Parks Society (the "Friends") learned that their proposal to manage the Visitor Centre at Kokanee Creek Park has been accepted and that a Park Use Permit will be issued shortly. The Friends will enter into an 11 year agreement with BC Parks.
Since the termination of Interpretive Services was announced, the Friends have been concerned that the Visitor Centre would be closed or let out to some other commercial use. Late in May, 30 people gathered at the Visitor Centre to discuss the future of the building and interpretation services in the park. They were told that for the near term, the future of the building as a focus for interpretive services would be more dependent on volunteer efforts, both to manage the Visitor Centre and to raise funds to maintain the building.
For the summer of 2002, the main focus will be on assisting Ecosense Interpretive Ltd, the provider of interpretation programs in Kokanee Creek Park. Ecosense was recently chosen by BC Parks to provide these services over a 10 year period. The cancellation of funding for Interpretive Services has meant that Ecosense has had to rethink their programming and hours of operation. A full slate of programs is planned for July and August - information will be available at the park. For the summer months, Ecosense is coordinating volunteers around their hours of operation. Members of the public that wish to volunteer some time during the summer to work at the Visitor Centre can leave their name and phone number at 825-4723 or contact the Friends by email at fwkp@kics.bc.ca.
As in the past, the Friends will be running a Sales Desk of educational and souvenir items at the Visitor Centre - unfortunately, the Society was unable to secure an HRDC grant to hire a student for the summer so the Sales Desk will be staffed by volunteers and Ecosense employees whenever possible. Proceeds from the Sales Desk will be put towards the maintenance of the Visitor Centre.
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