[BCMA] Fwd: Barkerville's infrastructure project officially underway September 21st

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-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Barkerville's infrastructure project officially underway 
September 21st
Date: 	Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:22:49 -0700
From: 	James Douglas <JDouglas at barkerville.ca>



*_For Immediate Release_*

*Barkerville's infrastructure project officially underway September 21^st *

September 16, 2011 (Barkerville, BC) - After three long years of 
research, planning and proposal writing, Project Manager Rueben Berlin 
will be pleased to welcome contractors and engineers to Barkerville next 
week intent on repairing and replacing Barkerville's decades-old 
underground infrastructure.

Although the tourist season does not officially end till September 25, 
Phase One of a four year, $6.87 million infrastructure project will 
begin Monday September 19^th .

"The installation of in ground waterlines and building services as well 
as wildfire and site communication conduits," Berlin said. "Phase one 
will cost three million dollars and our goal is to have the in trench 
excavation completed before freeze up which will allow us to do the 
remaining work before our end date of March 31.

"The area affected extends from the parking lot area outside the gate 
through the middle and main streets and is a huge undertaking," he added.

Although definitely not improvements that the public will see or even, 
in some cases, appreciate, the project will ensure the sustainability 
and safety of Barkerville as western North America's largest historic 
site and a very important part of British Columbia history.

"We are looking forward to the completion of this very important work," 
said Judy Campbell, Barkerville's Chief Executive Officer.  "And we are 
grateful that the provincial government recognized the need and has 
provided the resources to make it happen."

The heavy equipment will start rolling in on September 26, the day after 
Barkerville officially closes for the 2011 season, and the ensuing 
excavation and construction will render the site unavailable for 
visitation until the end of November.

"The planning, considerations and implementation of an infrastructure 
project of this nature is very different when being done in a historic 
site," said Bill Quackenbush, Barkerville's Curator.  "We have hired an 
archaeologist and two assistants for the term of the project that will 
be monitoring the excavation and any archaeological evidence that is 
discovered will be properly recorded.

"Our curatorial staff will also be going through each of our buildings 
to ensure that displays, artifacts and buildings are safely secured," 
Quackenbush added.

Project manager, Rueben Berlin is looking forward to the final outcome 
of the project.

"We will have a fully modern water distribution system that allows for 
better winterization of our buildings as well as a completely customized 
and innovative fire suppression system," he said.

During the construction and excavation of Barkerville this fall, 
visitation to the site will be discouraged and Barkerville will be 
obligated to cancel its planned annual Halloween celebrations, but the 
historic town fully anticipates full service restoration in time for 
Victorian Christmas (December 10^th to 12^th , 2011) and will definitely 
be ready to welcome visitors for its 150^th anniversary season in 2012.

- 30 --

*About Barkerville Historic Town*

BARKERVILLE HISTORIC TOWN is the largest historic site in Western North 
America (www.barkerville.ca <http://www.barkerville.ca/>).  Barkerville 
is provincially, nationally and internationally recognized for its 
historic significance associated with its place in western Canada's gold 
rush era and the role the gold rush played in BC joining Canada.  
Barkerville is widely known as a "must see" for travel itineraries in 
western Canada.  The historic town is also a significant contributor to 
the Cariboo regional economy and is widely regarded as a unique 
component of the regional identity.

The Barkerville Heritage Trust, as Barkerville's operating and managing 
partner, works in conjunction with the Province of British Columbia, the 
owner and statutory guardian of Barkerville's heritage resources,  to 
ensure that Barkerville is efficiently managed, entertaining and 
educational to visitors, and financially stable as the premier heritage 
resource and tourism attraction for the Cariboo.  The ultimate aim is to 
maintain and enhance Barkerville's position as a nationally significant 
heritage resource and tourism attraction for British Columbia and Canada.

Barkerville is situated 80 km east of Quesnel, British Columbia in the 
foothills of the Cariboo Mountains, close to Troll Mountain Ski Resort 
and Bowron Lake Provincial Park.  The nearby community of Wells (8 km 
from Barkerville) is the service and housing centre for the area 
(www.wellsbc.com <http://www.wellsbc.com/>) and is itself a dynamic 
cultural community, home of Island Mountain Arts, the acclaimed Toni 
Onley Artists' Project, the International Celtic Harp School 
(www.imarts.com <http://www.imarts.com/>), the dynamic indie music 
festival ArtsWells (www.artswells.com <http://www.artswells.com/>), and 
the Sunset Theatre (www.sunset-theatre.com 
<http://www.sunset-theatre.com/>). Wells is also situated close to a 
wide variety of winter and summer outdoor activities.

*Media Inquiries*

*
*

*Donna Dixson*

Marketing and Communications

Barkerville Historic Town

Box 19

Barkerville, BC V0K 1B0

250-994-3302 ext. 38

888-994-3332 toll free

250-994-3435 fax

donna.dixson at barkerville.ca <mailto:donna.dixson at barkerville.ca>

www.barkerville.ca <http://www.barkerville.ca>

Description: Description: B'ville Logo CMYK

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