Society History

CONSTITUTION

1. The name of the Society is CARIBOO CHILCOTIN BEETLE ACTION COALITION SOCIETY.
2. The purposes of the Society are:
        
   1. The Society will be effective with:
      1. the government regarding the mountain pine beetle epidemic
      2. the future of the communities of 100 Mile House, Williams Lake and Quesnel, and
      3. the entrepreneurial spirit that is fundamental to the Cariboo-Chilcotin lifestyle.
         
         
   2. In addition, the purpose of the Society is to invest, spend and otherwise manage monies allocated to it by the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada, for the ongoing economic, environmental and social benefit of the region contained within the boundaries of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan as determined by the British Columbia Ministry of Forests.

MISSION STATEMENT

To develop a coalition that will be effective with government regarding the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic and the future of our communities. To ensure that our communities are economically stable, that there are jobs in all sectors, and support the entrepreneurial spirit that is fundamental to the Cariboo-Chilcotin lifestyle.

The Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition (CCBAC) believes it is essential to bring together natural resource managers and economic development expertise to minimize the potential economic impacts of the beetle epidemic, and to make the best of the ensuing opportunities."

MANDATE

CCBAC will continue to focus on forest dependent communities within the Cariboo-Chilcotin region that are impacted by the MPB epidemic. These communities include First Nations, municipalities, and unincorporated communities within the boundaries of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan.

BACKGROUND

The Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition (CCBAC) was created in 2005 by community leaders who were concerned about the long term impacts that the massive Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) epidemic would have on the Cariboo Chilcotin region.

CCBAC as a coalition aims to work effectively with all levels of government, the other Beetle Action Coalitions, the private sector and other organizations in order to mitigate the impacts of the mountain pine beetle epidemic and ensure the future of the Cariboo Chilcotin communities. The goal of CCBAC is to ensure that our communities are economically stable, that there are jobs in all sectors, and to support the entrepreneurial spirit that is fundamental to the Cariboo Chilcotin lifestyle.

In the first four years of operation (2005 -2009) CCBAC focused most of its effort on five major activity areas:

1. Completing extensive analysis of the probable economic, environmental and social impacts that the MPB epidemic would have on the Cariboo Chilcotin region.
2. Completing extensive analysis and studies on possible ways to encourage more rapid economic growth and diversification in the region.
3. Completion and submission of the CCBAC MPB Mitigation Strategy to the Provincial Government.
4. Creation and funding of three regional coordinator positions – Forest Worker, Social Development and Conservation – to begin implementing initiatives to help address MPB mitigation issues.
5. Completion of a wide variety of activities to increase both general public and political and business leader awareness of the MPB epidemic and its impacts on the region and the provincial economy.

During this time, CCBAC produced a large number of important studies and reports for the region.

Mitigation Strategy Final Reports

In early 2010 (with the limited financial resources it had available) CCBAC began focussing its efforts on developing and implementing projects and initiatives that addressed priority recommendations from the CCBAC Mitigation Strategy.

In his keynote speech to the Union of BC Municipalities annual conference in September 2010, Premier Gordon Campbell acknowledged the importance of the work of the three Beetle Action Coalitions. Premier Campbell also announced that the Province would provide $1 million in funding to each of the three BACs for a three year period so that the BACs could continue their important work.

Since May 2011 the CCBAC has funded numerous projects to support communities and help diversify economies.

CCBAC Projects