Prince George Heli-Ski Company Gets Green Light

Monday, December 12, 2005 01:33 PM

The provincial government has granted a three-year conditional heli-ski tenure to BearPaw Heli-Skiing of Prince George,

In making the announcement, Tourism, Sport and the Arts Minister Olga Ilich said “Backcountry recreation, including heli-skiing, is an important part of our growing tourism sector, this tenure agreement strikes a good balance between supporting backcountry tourism growth and protecting the values that attract visitors to northern B.C. in the first place – abundant wildlife and opportunities to connect with nature.”

The tenure has been granted subject to an approved wildlife management plan, and allows BearPaw to operate in the McGregor River drainage, about 100 km east of Prince George. To protect local mountain caribou populations, the tenure prohibits heli-skiing in three critical habitat areas: Captain Otter, Mount Severeid and Bearpaw Ridge.

The operator will also be required to observe further protective measures for mountain caribou under a Memorandum of Understanding, signed in late November, between the provincial government and HeliCat Canada, which represents approximately 40 helicopter and snowcat ski operators in B.C.

The tenure will be subject to amendment to conform to any future government approved Mountain Caribou Recovery Implementation Plan.

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