Dakota Ridge is on its way to becoming a winter destination for local people and tourists. The archeological and environmental studies are now complete and the Dakota Ridge Society (DRS) has received final approval to proceed with improvements on the Ridge.
The only formality left to complete is a timber cruise by the Ministry of Forests. The cruise is necessary for the ministry to determine if there is any more marketable timber in the area being upgraded.
On Wednesday, July 20, contractor Ken Sneddon of Sechelt Creek Contracting began work to improve the road leading to the Ridge. Next, according to DRS director John McNevin, a partial trail of five km will be built. "We can't afford to do anything more than that until more cash is raised," he said.
Last week the chief and council of the Sechelt Indian Band and Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons toured the area. For Chief Stan Dixon and one councillor, the trip brought back many memories. "Both the chief and one member of council used to log up there," McNevin said.
Indeed the Ridge is rife with history. In the early 1900s there was a Chinese labour crew in the area cutting shingle bolts. And later in the century, around the time of World War I, Finns occupied the area. They were conscientious objectors to the war.
The present drive to develop the site as a winter playground has been a community effort, according to McNevin. "There hasn't been one area of the community not in favour of it," McNevin said. "There will be a ski hill up there this winter."
McNevin gives full credit to the ongoing executive of the society.
"Members of the executive have been working on this for nine years. It's nice to see all their efforts being rewarded," he said.
Although the community has applied to have the Dakota Ridge declared a Live Site for the 2010 Olympics, to date there has been no reply to the application. And the spring election appears to have stalled that application and the request for B.C. Lottery funds. In the meantime, McNevin said building the trails is the priority and any money raised will go to that purpose.
