Project Investment:

• Island Coastal Economic Trust: $50,000
• Job Opportunities Program: $34,078
• Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts: $50,000
• Total Budget: $134,077

Project Highlight:

As a result of the work completed, improvements were made to the Robert’s Lake Resort restaurant and it was reopened.

The North Island area is renowned for its wilderness recreation opportunities. However, most of the existing amenities are geared to a fully mobile, younger demographic. There were little or no facilities to address the needs of the aging population, physically challenged or families with young children. Roberts Lake has a reputation for being one of the best fishing spots in the Campbell River area, yet it had become overgrown with vegetation was not fully accessible and needed a new fishing dock and outhouse.

To address these concerns, the Campbell River Fish and Wildlife Association along with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts worked on clearing out the overgrowth and improving the infrastructure. Trees were removed and vegetation at the lakeshore was cleared to create a beach area. Landscaping was done and gravel was used to create a fully accessible trail with proper grade. A new footbridge and viewing area were constructed and made wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair-accessible fishing dock donated by Marine Harvest was secured in place and two outhouses, one wheelchair accessible, were installed.

These improvements, completed in 2011, have created a prime recreation opportunity for those with mobility challenges or young families with strollers. Together with the accessible trails at Mount Washington and other recently developed accessible outdoor recreation opportunities in the mid-Island and North Island areas, these facilities are attracting a new niche tourism market to the region with great potential for growth as the population continues to age.