History of Gold Country

A united effort began in the late 1980s as a desperate reaction to the devastation of Fraser Canyon communities brought on by the opening of the Coquihalla Highway. The mayors of Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Lytton and Clinton got together, visited Victoria and found they got the best attention as a united voice. The Provincial Government under a new program called “Strong Communities of the 90’s,” contracted a Community Economic Development Officer to help spark some revitalization and development activity. A local committee was formed consisting of the four mayors and four Chamber reps who took the “tourism development” approach and a contractor was hired.  In the spring of 1991 the communities organized a joint Community Tourism Action Plan, with the help of the Ministry of Tourism, and were joined by four additional communities Logan Lake, Lillooet, Savona and Spences Bridge (the latter two are currently TNRD Area J and I Communities).

In November 1991, Gold Country Communities Society was born with eight members. With financial support from the communities and funding from provincial and federal economic development programs, the budget was in excess of $60,000. This funding lasted for nearly five years; but government funding programs declined and outside financial support finally ceased in 1996. All that was left was the membership fees from the communities, not enough to keep on a full time EDO. The executive was determined that Gold Country would not die. They found ways to operate within the available budget and provide the best service possible under the restricting circumstances.  Gold Country is currently comprised of 12 members: Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Clinton, Lillooet, Logan Lake, Lytton, Merritt, and TNRD Area E (70 Mile, Green Lake, Loon Lake), Area I (Hat Creek, Spences Bridge, Walhachin), Area J (Savona, Tunkwa Lake, Deadman Valley), Area M (Upper Nicola, Quilchena, Douglas Lake) and Area N (Lower Nicola, Brookmere, Aspen Grove). GCCS is governed by a board of directors that includes, for each Local Government area, one elected official (Mayor, Councillor or TNRD director) and one representative of the business or economic development community. Ad hoc committees are established for projects requiring specific expertise.  A combination of taxed-based funding (starting 2011) and membership fees form the core of our annual funding and are leveraged with other sources whenever possible. These annual fees allow for part-time clerical assistance, promotional material, advertising in tourism associations and maintenance of a website. Through other grants and contributions, GCCS is able to carry out additional projects related to its mandate, such as the award winning Gold Country GeoTourism Program.