Wells, Osisko sign $3 million agreement to support community growth

Under the agreement, $500,000 will be directed to the Wild Ways High School program, which supports students in Grades 8 through 12 in Wells through a flexible education model connected to provincial distance learning and School District 28.

The remaining $2.5 million will be distributed over three years, with Wells receiving $1 million immediately and $750,000 in each of the following two fiscal years. Coleman said while some of the funding will help the district maintain a balanced budget, most of it will be invested in community improvements and long-term planning.

“The majority will go toward improving facilities, looking at different sectors, mainly tourism, and then just looking at the impacts,” he said.

The mayor noted that Wells is preparing for the effects of a major industrial development arriving in a municipality with a very small tax base. He said the funding will help the district address a wide range of opportunities and challenges associated with the Cariboo Gold Project.

“You’ve got a list of 50 different impacts, some very positive and others a challenge,” Coleman said.

The agreement also helps bridge a gap before the district begins receiving significant industrial tax revenue from mining infrastructure.

Although construction activity is increasing, Coleman explained that industrial taxation will not materialize immediately because facilities must reach certain stages of completion before they are assessed by BC Assessment.

“That will take a few years to come along,” he said.

In the meantime, the funding provides financial certainty for a municipality that must carefully manage limited resources.

“It helps us operate effectively without worrying about where the next dollar is coming from,” Coleman said.

Among the district’s major priorities is a planned flood protection project along Lowhee Creek, the waterway Coleman describes as the community’s biggest flood risk.

The project includes a $7-million berm designed to protect South Wells against a one-in-500-year flood event, along with a $2-million sediment trap to manage debris carried by the creek.

Beyond flood protection, Coleman said Wells has more than 110 projects identified through its strategic planning process, ranging from basic facility upgrades to larger infrastructure initiatives.

“We just have to prioritize,” he said.

While the economic benefits of the Cariboo Gold Project are expected to be significant, Coleman acknowledged that some residents have concerns about how growth could affect the community’s character.

“It is an exciting time,” he said. “It’s also strange for some residents because they’re used to a quiet town.”

Coleman said the district is working closely with Osisko to minimize impacts such as noise, dust and increased activity. Most mining operations will take place underground, while workers are primarily housed at a nearby camp rather than within the community itself. Looking ahead, Coleman sees mining and tourism developing side by side.

With nearby attractions such as Barkerville Historic Town and Bowron Lake Provincial Park, Wells already has an established tourism sector. Coleman believes the economic stability provided by the mine can help support further tourism growth and year-round visitation.

He also pointed to the district’s ongoing partnership with the Lhtako Dene Nation and Indigenous investments in tourism-related businesses in Barkerville as signs of future economic opportunity.

“We have the anchor of Bowron Lakes and Barkerville,” Coleman said. “Tourism is our other major industry.”

In a statement provided to CKPG News, Osisko Gold Group Inc. says: “The District of Wells and its residents are important partners as we advance the Cariboo Gold Project. The Support and Benefits Agreement reflects our commitment to working collaboratively with the community and helping ensure the benefits associated with the Project are felt locally.”

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Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com

by Adam Berls

Wells, Osisko sign $3 million agreement to support community growth

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