Who We Are

The Omineca Beetle Action Coalition includes the region between Prince George and Smithers, led by a Board of the region's Mayors and Regional District Chairs.

The members of the Coalition are:

The Village of Burns Lake
The District of Fort St. James
The Village of Fraser Lake
The Village of Granisle
The District of Houston
The District of Mackenzie
The Village of McBride

The City of Prince George
The Town of Smithers
The Village of Telkwa
The Village of Valemount
The District of Vanderhoof
The Regional District of Bulkley - Nechako
The Regional District of Fraser - Fort George.

Each member local government is represented on the OBAC Board by its Mayor or Chair, or by an elected official designated by the

Board of Directors

Councillor
Don Bassermann
City of Prince George

Biography

Mayor
Cress Farrow
Town of Smithers

Biography

Mayor
Bernice Magee
Village of Burns Lake

Biography

Mayor
Stephanie Killam
District of Mackenzie

Biography

Mayor
Sandra Harwood
District of Fort St. James

Biography

Regional District Chair
Eileen Benedict
Regional District of
Bulkley-Nechako

Biography

Regional District Chair
Art Kaehn
Regional District of
Fraser-Fort George

Biography

Mayor
Dwayne Lindstrom
Village of Fraser Lake

Biography

Mayor
Fredrick John Clarke
Village of Granisle

Biography

Mayor
Bill Holmberg
District of Houston

Mayor
Mike Frazier
Village of McBride

Biography

Mayor
Gerry Thiessen
District of Vanderhoof

Biography

Councillor
Rimas Zitkauskas
Village of Telkwa

Mayor
Bob Smith
Village of Valemount

Biography

Background

The Omineca Beetle Action Coalition was established in September 2005 with an initial funding trust of $800,000 from the provincial government. The trust will enable the communities of Highway 16 west region to coordinate their response to the challenges and seize opportunities created by the bark beetle epidemic.

A coalition led by and accountable to local communities and the provincial government, working with First Nations, all sectors and levels of government is well positioned to address these challenges and to create a bright future.

“By acting now, we expect to make the best of the short-term increase in forestry activity, while at the same time preparing for the future challenges. By acting collectively we can be more effective.”

OBAC July 2005

The Omineca Beetle Action Coalition looks forward to working with all partners to build an economic diversification plan and take action that supports long-term sustainability for the region.

First Nations

More than twenty five First Nations communities within the region contribute substantially to the economy and social fabric of our region. These communities are also at significant risk from the beetle epidemic. Addressing the economic health of our First Nations communities in the OBAC area is integral to the Coalition's mission. The Coalition believes that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal leaders have strong and shared interests in maintaining vibrant and healthy local economies for their residents.

A number of the concerns, challenges and opportunities described in the BC First Nations Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan (September 27, 2005) and the Northwest Tribal Treaty Nations' report "Working Together to Create Sustainable Wealth" (March 2005) are the same as those described in the Omineca Beetle Action Plan Proposal and Business Plan.

The OBAC looks forward to working with First Nations leaders and communities to build on these shared concerns and interests as a foundation for stronger cooperative working relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. The OBAC respects that there may be times when Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities need to work separately but there may be times when it will be to our mutual benefit to work together. As neighbors and citizens we look forward to working together.