Barkerville Opens on May 12th

HELP CELEBRATE BARKERVILLE'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY AS AN HISTORIC SITE

The opening of Barkerville Historic Town is always an exciting time in the Wells, Barkerville, Bowron Lakes area. Not only does it represent the start of the tourist season, but it also offers a number of ancillary benefits, including fresh baked goodies, amazing local entertainment, excellent food, enhanced shopping possibilities, and of course the return of all of the charismatic and multi-talented Barkerville employees.

Along with all of the annual special events, returning merchants, and ongoing street activities, Barkerville has a couple of new offerings for the upcoming season.

The big event to take place in Barkerville is the celebration of 50 years as a Provincial Historic Site, which takes place over three days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 18-20, 2008.

To celebrate this momentus occasion all of Barkerville's friends and alumni are invited to come join in the celebration of Barkerville Historic Town's Golden Anniversary.

The celebratory activities include a wine and cheese reception at the Visitor Reception Centre, a dance at the Wells Community Hall and a reunion pancake breakfast.

The Theatre Royal will be offering a great selection of new shows this year. For an overview of their spring and summer schedule visit their website.

For up-to-date information on Barkerville Historic Town, including interactive tours, a full events list, a complete list of 50th Anniversary festivities, and a synopsis of daily activities, visit the www.barkerville.ca website.

Story by Sundance Topham Comments Top

Time to Post Jobs and Accommodations Listings

PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR THE TOURIST SEASON

Although the blossoms aren't exactly blooming yet in Wells, it is officially spring, and that means the busy tourist season is coming right up.

With the return of the tourists, comes the return of the seasonal workers, and the Wells, Barkerville, Bowron Lakes area is expecting a huge population increase in the coming months.

Because of the large number of properties that have changed hands over the past year, rental accommodations could be in short supply this summer.

With that in mind, any businesses or individuals that have accommodations for rent are encouraged to send the particulars to the District of Wells by emailing wells@goldcity.net.

The District of Wells will also be taking any job postings that people have, and we will place both the accommodations for rent and the job postings on the relevant pages of the wellsbc.com website.

Story by Sundance Topham Comments Top

Wells Historical Town Tour Map Program

JOIN NOW TO HAVE YOUR HISTORIC BUILDING INCLUDED ON THE TOUR

A number of business owners in Wells, along with the District of Wells and various non-profit groups have been developing and producing plaques for historic buildings in the community.

The program is being offered to anyone interested in participating that has a building of historical significance in Wells, and that is prepared to produce a historical plaque for their building at their own expense based on the template approved by Council.

The purpose of the historical plaques and coinciding map are to develop a self-guided town tour that visitors can enjoy, that will encourage them to venture into our ever growing unique community and discover all that we have to offer.

Inclusion in the town tour map will only be available to parties having produced a historical plaque and shown proof of such prior to the pre-determined deadline of May 15th, 2008.

Anyone applying past the deadline can still display their historical plaques but won’t be included on the map until 2009.

For more information and program guidelines please contact Paul Morel and Ting Yuen (Art Rush Gallery) via telephone at (250) 994-3468 or email info@artrushgallery.com.

Story by Paul Morel Comments Top

Community Garden Continues to Grow

PLANS UNDERWAY FOR GREENHOUSE

The Wells Community Garden Committee is getting preparations underway for the second year of the Wells Community Garden.

Thanks to the generous donation of soil from Wright Contracting, lumber from West Fraser Mills Ltd. and the hard work of the various community volunteers, the first year of the Wells Community Garden was very successful.

Accomplishments include the planting of some hardy local flowers and bushes, along with the construction of a number of raised beds, as well as a dry compost.

Thanks to funding obtained by the District of Wells plans are underway to build a greenhouse for the Wells Community Garden this spring.

The Wells Community Garden Committee is currently examing which type of greenhouse is best suited for the location and climate, and construction is scheduled to begin once the snow is gone.

The Wells Community Garden also received funding from a grant received by the District of Wells to plant trees, flowers and vegetables as well as hold a variety of workshops throughout the summer.

If you would like to become a member of the Wells community garden, contact Megan Topham directly at 994-6809 or via email at polarbearpancake@hotmail.com.

Story by Sundance Topham Comments Top

Wells Seniors Group

"THE MEETING PLACE" UPDATE

The Wells Seniors group has been working steadily on the new drop-in room, dubbed “The Meeting Place”, in the lower level of the community hall.

The furnace ductwork has been moved up and will be covered by the drop ceiling. The initial wiring has been completed and is ready for the lights and baseboard heaters. A new door has been installed and the walls have been finished and painted.

The flooring should be installed by the end of March and possibly the drop ceiling will be ready for the panels as well. We will be planning some activities for seniors as our room nears completion.

If you have any suggestions, please call Linda at 994-3411 or Lois at 994-3313 to have them added to our list.

Membership is free until the end of 2008, and is available to those over age 55, so be sure to attend the various activities coming up!

You are also welcome to attend all meetings and to help us out with work at the center, too!

Story by Linda Davis Comments Top

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