January 2025 - Newsletter

This past April, the town of Chetwynd came alive with the sights and sounds of young performers honing their skills at the annual Circus Camp. Thanks to a $5,000 grant from the BC Hydro GO Fund to the Chetwynd Community Arts Council, over 40 children aged 8 to 18 from Chetwynd, West Moberly First Nation, and Saulteau First Nations participated in this week-long program.

Now in its 20th year, the Circus Camp has become a beloved tradition in the community, offering accessible, high-quality instruction in circus arts. The program is entirely free, ensuring that children from all socio-economic backgrounds can participate. Over the course of the week, professional instructors will guide participants through a variety of circus skills, including stilt-walking, clowning, tightrope walking, juggling, acrobatics, aerial skills, and performance techniques. The camp culminates in a community showcase, where the young performers share their hard work and newfound talents with an audience of approximately 500 family members and community members.

For many children, Circus Camp is an opportunity to return each year, building on previously learned skills and growing into mentorship roles within the program. This progression fosters confidence, teamwork, and leadership, creating young leaders who are socially responsible and community-minded.

“Circus Camp is more than just a week of fun; it’s a chance for kids to build confidence, develop valuable social skills, and discover their potential,” said Julia Nelson, president, Chetwynd Community Arts Council. “It’s amazing to see the transformation in these young people as they learn to trust themselves and each other. We’re incredibly grateful to BC Hydro and Northern Development for making this possible.”

The program’s inclusive nature ensures that every child, regardless of their background, can enjoy the benefits of learning and performing together. As they master challenging skills, they also learn the value of perseverance, collaboration, and community engagement.

Circus Camp continues to be a source of joy and growth for the youth of Chetwynd. This year’s participants are showcasing their talents and celebrating their accomplishments with their families and friends.

The Fort Nelson Heritage Museum is celebrating a transformative milestone with the completion of a major expansion in April 2022. This ambitious project, supported by a $292,209 Cultural Infrastructure grant from Northern Development, has significantly increased the museum’s capacity to share the rich history of Fort Nelson, the Northern Rockies, and the Alaska Highway.

The expansion includes a two-story addition that increases the museum’s floor area by an impressive 240%. The main floor of the new space features expanded gallery areas, a theatre, and modern, universally accessible public washrooms, enhancing the visitor experience. The second floor now houses museum operational functions such as offices, staff areas, a meeting room, an artifact restoration area, and archival and general storage.

“Overall, the expansion has been absolutely fantastic.  We have room to grow as an organization for the first time ever.  We have a few not-for-profit organizations that benefit from the free use of our boardroom as its just the right size for a smaller board and equipped with everything they need.  Public inquiries are replied to much more quickly as our archives and general storage is much neater and more organized allowing the curator to find items easily. Our business manager and finance dept have a separate space allowing for better productivity and privacy. We are so incredibly happy and very appreciative to NDIT because this project would never have been possible without their help,” said Kim Eglinski, business manager, Fort Nelson Historical Society.

The project addresses the museum’s long-standing challenge of limited space, which had constrained the ability to refresh exhibits and introduce new opportunities. By significantly increasing gallery space, the museum can now display a greater variety of artifacts and tell more interdisciplinary stories. Visitors can expect an ever-evolving experience that encourages repeat visits and deepens connections to local heritage.

In addition to enhancing the museum’s offerings, the project prioritized sustainability and accessibility. A new energy-efficient gas boiler was installed, replacing the original system to serve both the new addition and the existing building. The addition also incorporates modern design features to ensure accessibility for all visitors.

With this expansion, the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum has not only reinvigorated its space but also its mission to preserve and share the stories of the Northern Rockies. The museum is now better equipped than ever to inspire curiosity and appreciation for the region’s history among locals and tourists alike.

The Nechako Valley Sporting Association has taken a significant step in supporting local recreation and community wellness by completing a dedicated workshop project for the Nechako Nordics cross-country ski club in Vanderhoof, B.C. This initiative was supported through a $9,979 grant from Northern Development’s Recreation Infrastructure program.

The project involved acquiring and customizing a 40-foot c-can to establish a workshop tailored to the club’s needs. The facility now provides a secure space for snowmobile storage during the summer months, a dedicated area for equipment repair, and efficient storage for tools and parts. Key components of the project included the purchase and transportation of the c-can, site preparation, and the construction of a foundation and access ramp. Additional upgrades included electrical wiring for lighting, plugins, and heating, the installation of an electrical heating unit, and the creation of work benches and shelving. To ensure durability and an aesthetically pleasing finish, the c-can was also painted.

This workshop addresses the growing demands of the Nechako Nordics, a volunteer-driven club that has experienced a surge in membership and participation. This growth is largely due to the success of cross-country ski programs in local schools and the club’s rental shop, which have encouraged community engagement in the sport. Following the construction of a grooming shed in 2022, the new workshop enhances the club’s capacity to maintain grooming equipment, ensuring consistently excellent skiing conditions for members and visitors alike.

“This project is a game-changer for the Nechako Nordics,” said Richard Burkholder, chair of the Nechako Valley Sporting Association. “The new workshop allows us to efficiently maintain our equipment and meet the growing expectations of our members. We’re grateful to Northern Development for their support and to the volunteers who made this vision a reality.”

The Nechako Valley Sporting Association believes that investing in recreation infrastructure not only promotes healthier lifestyles but also contributes to the sustainability and economic stability of the community. With the completion of this workshop in September 2024, the Nechako Nordics are better equipped than ever to support their members and the local community.

Applications for the following programs are now open in our new online application portal https://ndit.my.site.com/s/:

Grant Writing Support

Economic Development Capacity Building

Fabulous Festivals and Events

Community Places

Cultural Infrastructure

Economic Infrastructure

Main Street Revitalization – Planning

Main Street Revitalization – Capital

Marketing Initiatives

Northern Housing Incentive

Recreation Infrastructure

Northern Healthy Communities Fund – Capital

Northern Healthy Communities Fund – Capacity Building

Competitiveness Consulting Rebate

Small Business Recovery Consulting Rebate

Northern Industries Innovation Fund

We have a new application system in place. If you have applied before, the email that you used for your application is already in our system. You will receive an email notification directing you to create a new password. If you have not applied before, you can create a new log in account.

If you are experiencing any issues with the new system, please feel free to call us at 250-561-2525.