Page 2 ~—6« Ehain Lake Park Mr. Frauk Calder, M.L.A. for the Atlin District brought the following information to our attention rec- ently concerning Boya Lake Park, better known to Cassiar residents as Chain Lake. In 1963 a. recreational reserve of 3,840 acres was established on Boya Lake, some 30 miles east of Cassiar, and on November 30, 1965, Boya Lake Class "A" Provincial Park, comprising 11,360 acres was created by 0.1.C. 3349. At this time there were at least eleven cabins on the shore, and houseboats on the lake, but whether they were there with anyone's authority we have been unable to ascertain. In the spring of 1973, Boya Lake Park was dedicated by an Act of the Legislature. In July of 1971 there were 41 structures of assorted types in the park, most of which were established sub- sequent to 1965, and without any authority, real, implied or imaginary. This last July the park was inspected by our Smith- ers District Park Officer, who records the following observations - 1. Trespass continues unabated, with a whole new .colony of cabins under construction half-way down the east shore of the lake. 2. A complex of roads is appearing, particularly along the eastern shore. 3. The Cassiar Lions Club has built a picnic shelter 4, Cutting of tree cover and the erection of stock corrals was noted. 5. Garbage, particularly 45 gal. drums, litters the southwesterly portion of the lake. Over the past ten years, due to the difficulty of access, except from Cassiar and the Alaska Highway, Boya Lake has come to be looked upon as a private pre- serve by residents of the area, particularly those living in Cassiar itself. Also, because of the isolation and difficult access we have been unable to exercise any effective control over it. This proliferation of un- authorized buildings, and other abuses is the result. With road access now being available from Terrace and Stewart, greatly increased general tourist use is anticipated, and we plan to establish proper super- ‘vision and maintenance this next season, along with a small work program to provide sanitary facilities, signs, etc. ' provided all for no cost to the Parks Board. As everyone in Cassiar knows the access to Chain _ Lakes Park has been the same for the Parks Board for the past 10 years as it has for the residents of Cassiar. This is a very poor excuse for not making any improve- ments to the park area. The Parks Board up to now have not spent one cent for improvements to this so called park area, there has never been a sign posted, a road built or any camping facilities provided by the Parks Board. As usual the people that live in the north pro- vide their own facilities as they have at Chain Lake over the past 15 years. The roads that have been built were done by volunteer labour, docks were built and a camping shelter and toilet facilities, garbage barrels, The Cassiar Lions Club along with many other Cassiar and Good Hope Lake residents provided these facilities for everyones use. There are plenty of other lakes along the Stewart road that could make excellent tourist grounds with very little effort from the Parks Board. Mr. Stein, President of Cassiar, Mr. Murdoch, Manager of Cassiar and Mr. Calder, M.L.A. Atlin, have written to the Government to give their views on the subject. If you are interested in preserving Chain Lakes for the local people then I suggest you also write ~— to. the Government Parks Board in Victoria. Your Editor @ Car Washing Facilities Cassiar Town Council are looking into the feasibil- ity and location of installing a car washing facility for the use of local residents. It would contain a high pressure pump along with soap solution and be coin operated. The main difficulty is to find a place with A NA ae 7) (NY Ie I °; > 4 ‘te, a yy 13 yy Kee . 4 . 4, ry tones . os Ie ALG CVA SOR A very lively meeting was held by the Cassiar Town y Council on the evening of April 21st, 1975. There were hot water available, electric power available and drain- a good number of issues brought up and discussed by the age. If possible it will be installed this year. Council with an unanimous decision passed on the majority Bicycle Safety Course of items. Councillor Paul Wood will conduct the Bicycle Safety Course again this year as soon as the pavement Is all bare and the bicycles are back in operation again. There will be prizes for those that make the best marks. Prizes will be donated by W. S. Electronics, thanks to Mr. Werner Schneeberger. Mosquito Prevention Program: There will be a Mosquito Prevention Program carried on this spring and summer. We have permission from the Dept. of Agriculture and the Dept. of Fish and Game to use the chemical ABET-4E to spray all the stagnate water around the town area to destroy the mosquito larva. Of course there will be a few hardy mosquitoes escape and we have hopes of controlling these by the use of the fog . sprayer. We hope for a mosquito and fly free summer. Picnic Tables and Benches As we hope the mosquitoes will be practically wiped out this year and we expect to have a nice grass area along Connell Drive, the Council propose to install a few picnic tables and park benches in this area so that on that nice sunny Sunday you can go for a picnic near home. Sidewalk and Paved Streets The continuation of the cement sidewalk from Zimmer- -man Street to Bateman Street will be let out on contract this summer with the hope of its completion before Fall. The subject of paving streets was discussed with this project to be a good possibility in 1976 when the Government highway continues their paving on the Watson Lake-Cassiar road. ; Welcome Wagon The Council Welcome Wagon Committee is busy these ’ days welcoming the 13 new families that have arrived in Cassiar in the last month or so to give the new comers a little taste of the northern hospitality and welcome Defensive Driving Course to Cassiar. There is very little traffic in Cassiar but there are a lot of accidents mostly due to poor driving habits. Your Town Council have been interested for some time to provide a defensive driving course locally and as they are conducting these courses in Whitehorse we will have Mr. Borsato attend the course so he can instruct the program for Cassiar resiiuis. : Street Lights at Recreation Area The parking area leading to the Recreation Centre has no street lighting at present but the Town Council will put a little pressure on the Electrical Dept. for at least 2 street lights to be installed in this area before the Fall weather sets in again.