Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Mid-Island Chapter
Box 442, Qualicum Beach, BC, V9K lS9, ph. 250 752-6585, fax: 250 752-7085
email: wcwcqb@shaw.ca
Press Release

Monday, January 12, 2004

Cathedral Grove Parking lot Tour Sunday, 1:00 pm

This Sunday at 1:00 pm, the Western Canada Wilderness Committee will be hosting a tour of the critical elk winter range in MacMillan Provincial Park, where the government is proposing to locate a 150-plus car and 20-bus/RV parking lot and washroom facilities.

The approximate 2-hour tour, an easy and scenic walk, will also show an area clearcut in 2000, where the parking lot could be located without destroying the critical elk habitat or the riparian forest buffer that protects the famous giants from the fierce winter storm winds.

“The riparian forest where the government wants to put the proposed parking lot, represents one of the last remaining elk winter range locations easily accessible to the local resident herd of elk,” explains Annette Tanner, WCWC spokesperson. “The winter feeding grounds are critical for the herd surviving the winter, as much of the deer and elk winter range surrounding Cathedral Grove has been logged,” Tanner adds.

Ministry studies of the elk also confirm that …over 90 % of the time that people walked within 320 m of an elk in timber, its heart rate increased. Elk have been known to avoid areas where they have repeatedly been disturbed. ”

The tour meets at 1:00 pm in the old Cathedral Grove parking lot. Carpool leaves Qualicum Beach Civic Centre at 12:30 pm. Hot chocolate follows at the Arrowsmith Hall, on the Coombs Country Fairgrounds behind the General Store where maps, drawings and further information will be available. Info: 248-3667 or 752-6585.

-- for more information phone Annette Tanner, 250 752-6585, --