For several weeks now, Friends of Bridge Lake (FBL) members have, for the first time, been grooming ski trails on Bridge Lake.

Their efforts are being rewarded in that secretary Karl Schmitz, who's lived here 15 years, says he's never before seen as many people on the lake as there are now.

Four trails are available, measuring 5 km, 6 km, 7 km and 25 km, so skiers can do whichever length suits them. Accesses are intelligently spaced - on Big Bear Road, Greenall Road, at Moondance Bay Resort, and on North Bridge Lake Road, just a wee bit in from the Highway 24 end. Although unmarked, all accesses are easily visible.

The FBL website at www.friendsofbridgelake.org has all the exact information you need, as well as a map you can print out.

Diana Forster - 100 Mile House Free Press – 2010-01-13

On July 4, Friends of Bridge Lake (FBL) held their annual general meeting attended by 27 members.

Speaker Bruce Rattray, Cariboo Regional District Area L director, commented on his first six months in office and described a steep learning curve.

The other speaker was Sharron Woloshyn, an original member and secretary of Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake, which came into being to defeat a proposal for an enormous development (including golf course!) at their several lakes. Sharron related how their organization progressed and prospered.

Elections saw Jim Dunbar become president. He will be assisted by vice-president Les Anderson; secretary Karl Schmitz; treasurer Richard Smith; and directors-at-large Greta and David Rickenbacher.

Note that the Friend's June 13 fishing derby was co-hosted by Interlakes Lions and the net proceeds of $1,000 was divided equally between Bridge Lake Community School and Interlakes Lions.

The second summer speaker (July 16 at 7 p.m., Bridge Lake School) is badger expert Richard Kalfki.

Diana Forster - 100 Mile House Free Press – 2009-07-15

Thank you to the Friends of Bridge Lake for hosting its summer speaker series at the Bridge Lake School. These free, weekly, hour-long sessions have been informative and entertaining and a great way to learn what concerns the neighbours. There are only two more sessions, Aug. 6 and 13, until next year's line-up and I am sure residents who attend will be glad they did!

Sharron Woloshyn - 100 Mile House Free Press – 2009-07-15

While caring non-profit organizations have existed at Deka and Sheridan Lakes for decades, it took the threat of developing an island to get Bridge Lake residents off their butts.

Friends of Bridge Lake (FBL) was successfully launched in January of 2008, (the dead of winter with no summer residents,) to prevent the development of 31 strata units on Rainbow/Rickenbacher/Heritage Island. The group has become a viable and visible organization, similar to those at the aforementioned lakes.

By not, NIMBY-like, opposing everything that comes along, FBL has proved itself a realistic and worthy body. Witness the fact that a large strata development at Muddy Lake is going forward with their blessing.

One FBL innovation was the successful 2008 Summer Speaker Series. From speaker Wendy Marshall - well know Lac des Roches birder/gardener - members learned enough for Bridge Lake's loons to be taken under the society's wing.

"We've built nests. We're active, counting and watching them now, monitoring the situation. We wouldn't have known all this without Wendy, and we take the responsibility seriously," said FBL's speaker-coordinator Les Anderson.

First on the agenda for the 2009 Summer Speaker Series is Public Health Officer Lori Frame, who will discuss drinking water, from wherever it comes. Her presentation is at 7 p.m. July 9 at Bridge Lake School.

FBL's first annual fishing derby was held June 13. It was a terrific success with about 100 fish weighed in - they didn't actually count the small ones - and over 360 tickets sold. Moondance Bay Resort guests took first and third places; Sylvia Hoogstims, whose kokanee weighed 2 lb 8 oz; and Joe Panni's rainbow weighing 2 lb 2.2 oz. In second place, Sheridan's Rolf Kirmse hooked at 2 lb 3 oz rainbow.

FBL's first annual general meeting is at 4 p.m., July 4 at Bridge Lake School.

Diana Forster - 100 Mile House Free Press – 2009-06-30

The latest community forum took place Friday with 40 Interlakes area residents who showed up to listen to various speakers and voice their concerns.

Sponsored by MLA Charlie Wyse as a meeting with constituents, the Interlakes Community Forum occurred at the Interlakes Community Hall on March 13 from 7-9 p.m., with speakers featured on a variety of current issues.

Hot topics covered at the forum included the Crown land development process, Highway 24 road maintenance and sustainable agriculture/ranching.

Ken Vanderburg of the Integrated Land Management Bureau was in attendance to explain to the crowd of concerned residents the process the ministry uses when reviewing and following up on applications for Crown land development projects.

This provided a good segue to the next topic, sustainable agriculture and the state of the ranching industry, presented by speaker Russell Ross on behalf of the BC Cattlemen's Association.

Ross highlighted an abundance of issues currently faced by ranchers, detailing hurdles that, he says, leave the industry in crisis, including depleted cattle prices, fencing issues and many other severe hardships faced by ranchers and farmers in BC. Ross says the image of cattle ranching held by the public and government seems to imply the industry is not too highly regarded in BC.

In a heartfelt commentary, Ross chronicled his own saga, of how we was a small beef rancher who started with 25 head of cattle and then eventually had to increase to 300 only to have his ranch now going under financially.

Chief Mike Archie of the Canim Lake Band also appeared at the meeting and provided a traditional welcome to the community, joined by band member John Johnston.

Carole Rooney - 100 Mile House Free Press – 2009-03-17

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