Wells Receives Towns for Tomorrow Funding

POOLEY ST. PERFORMANCE CENTRE AND BALL DIAMOND UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The District of Wells continued on its mission to revitalize the community with the recent announcement of a significant project to build a new community recreational facility – the Pooley Street Performance Centre and Ball Diamond.

Thanks to a $54,834 grant from the province's new Towns for Tomorrow program, the District of Wells will reclaim a disused mining site located at the entrance of the town and convert it into a public space. The project involves importing topsoil, laying sod, installing a chain link back stop, baselines, mounds, and basic pole mounted lighting. The outfield will also serve as a festival seating area for a future outdoors performance stage giving Wells the opportunity to host ball tournaments, festivals and outdoor performances.

"This is one more step in making our community whole," said Wells Mayor Jay Vermette. "We are a relatively young community and this will be our first municipal recreational facility. We hope this new park will draw groups to Wells for ball tournaments and concert events and help make our town, and the area around it, an arts, cultural and tourism destination."

The announcement of the funding took place at a small ceremony in Wells on Wednesday, July 18, where Gordon Hogg, Minister of State for ActNow BC, announced the funding. "We're committed to helping B.C.'s smallest communities with the infrastructure support that will make them even better places to live – greener, healthier and more sustainable," said Hogg. "Through Towns for Tomorrow and our other Green Cities programs we're pleased to help build places, like this new ball diamond, that encourage community participation in activities that will help everyone along the road to a healthier British Columbia."

Towns for Tomorrow is one of four programs announced by Premier Gordon Campbell at the 2006 Union of BC Municipalities convention, aimed at making B.C. communities greener, healthier and more sustainable places to live. The other programs are LocalMotion, B.C. Spirit Squares and the Green City Awards.

Posted by Sundance Topham Comments Top

ArtsWells 2007 - August Long Weekend

FESTIVAL PROMISES TO BE BEST YET

The 4th annual ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art is almost here! This award winning festival, which takes place in Wells and Barkerville from August 3-6, has developed into one of BC’s largest and best new Indie arts festivals.

ArtsWells features over 50 musical acts, the 8th International One Minute Play Festival and free workshops, ranging from songwriting, belly dancing, and yoga to djembe drumming.

In addition to amazing and diverse musical acts, there will also be dance performances, a visual ArtWalk around the town of Wells, a puppet show, kids activities, artisans selling their wares, and discounts to local attractions like Barkerville Historic Town - where you can catch more ArtsWells musical acts just 8 km down the road.

Festival goers, volunteers, and artists alike return each year for the great hospitality, the historical gold-rush draw and natural beauty of Wells, as well as the ability to see and mingle with a wide array of amazing talent from across the country.

A great way to experience the festival is by volunteering. If you are able to volunteer for 12 hours you will receive a weekend pass for free, get fed, and keep a souvenir hand-made ArtsWells Festival pendant as well as program recognition. If you can only volunteer a short shift 4-6 hours, you will be entitled to a free day pass and one meal per shift. There are all kinds of volunteer positions to be filled, but one specific job the organizers are looking for is a volunteer videographer.

Island Mountain Arts is also looking for donations of any kind that will be raffled off at the festival in order to raise money to offset production costs for the festival. There are still tickets available for an amazing price of $40, $35 for IMA members, Youth (13 - 18) $20 and children 12 and under free.

For more information, to get tickets, volunteer or make a donation, please email artswellsfestival@imarts.com or volunteer@imarts.com, or visit our beautiful newly redesigned website at www.imarts.com.

Story by Julie Fowler Comments Top

Happy Birthday To Us

DISTRICT OF WELLS CELEBRATES 9TH ANNIVERSARY

On June 29th the District of Wells celebrated its 9th year of incorporation with a free community BBQ in front of the Municipal Office.

The event, with burgers and drinks catered by the Rocker Box, and a beautifully designed cake provided by the Goldfield Bakery was a huge success, with over 100 people coming out to enjoy the festivities.

The District of Wells is one of British Columbia's smallest municipalities, with a population that hovers around 240 year-round residents. If you would like more information on the services provided by the District of Wells, please visit the district.wells.bc.ca website.

Story by Sundance Topham Comments Top

Power Surge Damage Claim Denied

WELLS AND BARKERVILLE OFFICIALS APPEAL BC HYDRO DECISION

The management of the District of Wells and Barkerville Historic Town have joined forces to appeal a recent BC Hydro decision to deny both organizations damage claims resulting from the January 23, 2007 power disturbance that affected the Wells, Barkerville area.

In a letter to Bob Elton, President and CEO of BC Hydro, the District of Wells and Barkerville Historic Town are requesting full reimbursement of the costs associated with replacing fire alarm systems and communications equipment.

The afore mentioned power disturbance caused $1,482.94 worth of damage to the fire alarm system installed only three months previously at the Wells, Barkerville Community School, and $1,877.60 in damage to the fire alarm system and radio communications base station at Barkerville Historic Town.

Although BC Hydro admitted to both organizations in a letter that “...the power disturbance affected approximately 67,000 customers in the area between Quesnel and Fort St John." They do not take any responsibilty for the incident, noting that “...a review of the incident to determine the cause of the outage has been conducted, and based on information we have to date, we cannot establish any negligence on the part of BC Hydro, or any other party performing work on our behalf, in this matter.”

Both the representatives of the District of Wells and Barkerville Historic Town are asking BC Hydro to reconsider its decision to not compensate the District of Wells and Barkerville Historic Town for damages.

Posted by Sundance Topham Comments Top

Random Wells

IMAGES FROM WELLS AND AREA

This month's Random Wells shot shows Dawn Fitzgerald getting ready to enjoy a delicious sirloin tip burger prepared by Rob Almond of the Rocker Box at the District of Wells Anniversary BBQ.

Both Dawn and Rob have moved to the community of Wells in the past couple of years, making their way up to the Cariboo from the lower mainland.

As property sales continue to be brisk in the community, more and more people are making Wells their full-time home.

If you, or someone you know is interested in moving to the community, be sure to check ou the www.wellsbc.com website for in-depth information about the area, including a "move to Wells" page with videos showing various aspects of the community.

If you come across any innovative or interesting pictures in the Wells, Barkerville, Bowron Lakes area be sure to send them to us for posting on the Wells Newsletter at wells@goldcity.net.

Posted by Sundance Topham Comments Top

ddddd