Local Emergencies and Open Parks

Ash-Creek News May 25 The Village of Cache Creek is still in a state of local emergency due to the bank damage caused by the fast-moving waters of the Bonaparte River. The Village has taken action to protect water and sewer infrastructure that is important to the well being of the residents. Approximately 175 properties along the Bonaparte corridor are still on Evacuation Alert. One property on Old Cariboo Rd. was placed on Evacuation Order today and the Emergency Support Services team was re-activated to assist the residents. The evacuation order was issued to the low-lying property after the river had eroded a substantial amount of bank behind it. Village Public Works staff continue to monitor water levels and bank erosion so that our residents can stay safe and dry.

Interior Health has indicated that there has been a surge of overdose cases during the pandemic. They had seen a steady and slow decline over the last 2 years, but over other last three months, there has been a spike in numbers. This week, families and children are thinking about the return to in-class learning that begins on June 1st.

School District 74 invites all caregivers, whether they have decided to keep children at home or are preparing to send them back to school, to a webinar lead by clinical counsellor and author Dr. Deborah MacNamara about supporting children at this time Dr. MacNamara has extensive experience in developmental science and offers practical advice for families wanting to be confident for their children. The webinar will take place on Wednesday May 27th at 10 am.

Clinton RCMP are looking for a suspect after a h and r on Friday night that involved a pedestrian. The incident happened Friday evening at 7pm. Police responded to a report of a man lying in the middle of the road in Canoe Creek. The pedestrian has serious, non life-threatening injuries.

As of May 25, the Discover Camping reservation system is back online to accept new reservations. Most existing reservations for dates after June 1 will be honored, so campsites in popular campgrounds may already be booked. Some reservations may need to be cancelled due to reduced capacity at certain campgrounds. Those who are impacted will be advised of their cancelled bookings over the coming weeks. A list of changes to campgrounds will be posted on the BC Parks website.

On June 1, additional parks will reopen for day-use activities. Playgrounds, halls and picnic shelters remain closed in all provincial parks. The remaining parks that attract the largest crowds will only reopen when it is safe to do so, taking into consideration the safety of visitors and staff, impact on nearby communities and the protection of the environment. To ensure parks stay open and safe for everyone, visitors are expected to follow physical distancing requirements and will need to manage their own safety. If a park is too busy and physical distancing cannot be maintained, visitors using parks for day-use activities are asked to find another outdoor space to enjoy close to home. Parks that remain temporarily closed are listed on the BC Parks website. People are advised to check the website often, as services and openings may change to align with the status of the COVID-19 response.