WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2003

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 8, 2003

UNIONS DONATE $5,250 TO BARRIERE FOOD BANK

BURNABY… The British Columbia and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council and its affiliate unions have donated $5,250 to the Barriere Food Bank. The emergency donation is to help Barriere through the winter after forest fires destroyed the town’s main employer Tolko Industries.

“The Barriere Food Bank is currently providing food to 100 families (400 people) a week,” according to the Society’s President, Brenda Lavis. “Before the fire we provided food to just 300 people per month,” Lavis said. “When the cold weather comes we expect the need to increase,” Lavis predicted based on experience in the past.

The loss of Tolko Industries has devastated the local economy. Employment Insurance is helping some but the self-employed, those whose businesses have been destroyed by the fire, are not eligible for EI benefits.

“Tolko employees used to provide steady funding to the Food Bank through payroll deductions,” Lavis said. “Now those same employees are dependent on us,” she added. “Even the restaurant at the Hotel has had to cut back on its waitresses as few people can afford to eat out,” Lavis said.

Building Trades Executive Director Wayne Peppard is pleased that the Building Trades unions are able to help out the community in its time of need. “Providing funding will help the Barriere Food Bank to continue operations throughout Christmas and into the New Year,” according to Peppard.

The cheque was presented by the Secretary-Treasurer of the Building Trades Council, Mr. Terry Davies, to Ms. Lavis on behalf of the 13 affiliate unions at the Barriere Food Bank on Wednesday afternoon, October 8, 2003.

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For further information contact Wayne Peppard at 604-916-0027 (cell).

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For further information contact 

the BCYT-BCTC office:  604-291-9020

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