[BCMA] New Roof For Historic Ranger Station

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

August 12, 2010									File: 2010812

For Immediate Release

New Roof For Historic Ranger Station

Cowichan- The blue tarp is about to be removed from the BC Forest Discovery
Centre’s Ranger Station.  For the past nine months, the building has been an
eyesore rather than a proud reminder of BC’s forest industry history.  In
the face of tight financial times at the museum, the community has banded
together to re-roof the Ranger Station.  “We are grateful to have so many
supporters for this project,” says Aimee Greenaway, Curator.  “Corporations,
small businesses and individuals from all over Vancouver Island and the
lower mainland have come forward to preserve the Ranger Station and the
history it represents to all of coastal British Columbia.”

The Ranger Station and its four car garage were built in Duncan in 1954 and
were donated to the BC Forest Discovery Centre in 1987 after being
decommissioned by the BC Forest Service.  The new cedar shake roofs will be
installed the week of August 16.  “The new roof is not just about preserving
the heritage buildings,” says Greenaway.  “It will also protect the
artifacts stored inside and provide an opportunity for new exhibit spaces.”

The outpouring of support from donors allowed the project to come together
in time to meet the museum’s goal of finishing the re-roofing project before
the rainy season.  “We are overwhelmed by the generous contributions of
materials, services, and dollars,” says Greenaway.  The Teal-Jones Group
from Surrey split and treated the shakes as a donation to the museum and a
private donor, also from the lower mainland, made a financial contribution
to the project.  T. Shepherd Trucking Ltd. from Ucluelet transported the
shakes to the BC Forest Discovery Centre for free.  Two Nanaimo companies,
Island Processing Co. and Coastal Trucking, temporarily stored the shakes
and provided assistance with unloading them at the museum.  Generous
contributions also came in locally such as red cedar logs for the shakes
from Western Forest Products and a $10,000 financial contribution from the
District of North Cowichan’s Forest Legacy Fund.

Volunteers were a key part of the project, from unloading shakes to
preparing the Ranger Station for the roofers.  “We still have one phase to
go after the roof,” says Greenaway.  “We would like to put a fresh coat of
paint on the buildings and are hoping to get a crew of volunteers together
to work on that project.”  The new roof will be ready for the Antique Truck
Show and Cowichan Valley Fire and Safety Fair event August 21 & 22.  To
volunteer with the painting crew or make a contribution for the project,
please contact Aimee Greenaway at (250) 715-1113 ext. 25 for more
information.


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Contact:
Aimee Greenaway,
Curator
(250) 715-1113 extension 25