The Friends of Bouchie-Milburn Society are excited to be moving forward with the installation of a plaque(s) recognising the Century Families* of Bouchie Lake – Milburn Lake (“Bouchie Lake District”) and completing some upgrades to the cenotaph / cairn located at Six Mile Corner (junction of Blackwater Road / Nazko Road).

Background

The Bouchie Lake Century Family Recognition Project (BLCFRP) began in 2007 with the development of the Bouchie-Milburn Community Park at the historic Six Mile Corner. At the time, some landscaping was completed and a cairn, kiosk and a concrete sign denoting “Bouchie – Milburn Community Park” was installed. The land the park is located on is part of the Right-of-Way for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI). A permit (2016-03046) exists between MoTI and the Cariboo Regional. The Bouchie Lake Recreation Commission oversees maintenance of the park under the BLRC Establishment Bylaw 4918.

In the summer of 2020, the Friends of Bouchie – Milburn Society facilitated a Community Planning Project and one of the topics discussed was to see the park completed. A “Heritage Family Plaque and Interpretive Signage” Proposal” was developed and presented to the Bouchie Lake Recreation Commission in September, 2020. There was no further development at that time. The FoBM proceeded with the project in the summer of 2024 with fundraising, accepting donations and developing a sponsorship program. The goal was to install a Remembrance Day plaque on the cairn as a starting point. In November, 2024 the FoBM facilitated the addition of this plaque that honours those who served Canada from our community. Please refer to the Remembrance Day Ceremony page of our website for information on how to get involved in our annual event. We gratefully acknowledge the organisations, businesses and individuals (see list below) for supporting us and helping us achieve this goal.

The FoBM is now in a position to complete the final components of the Bouchie Lake Century Family Recognition Project in 2025. The project is multi-faceted focused on the following:

i) Building awareness of the history of Bouchie Lake – Milburn Lake;
ii) Providing recognition to the Indigenous peoples that have lived here and used this land since time immemorial;
iii) Providing recognition to the families that settled and contributed to the community that still have family members residing in the community today;
iv) Providing a site and space for our community to gather on Remembrance Day (began 2020);
v) Creating an identity for our community that will support community pride, empowerment, and engagement;
vi) Economic development in terms of information sharing and promoting our community and its unique history; and
vii) Completing a project that was initiated in 2007 with the creation of “Pioneer Park” (aka “Bouchie – Milburn Community Park).

The current project components proposed are as follows:

i) Installation of a Remembrance Day Plaque to the on-site cairn (completed November, 2024)
ii) Cenotaph Upgrades includes raising the cairn and incorporating flags (see plans for more details);
iii) Installation of Plaques acknowledging the “Century Families” on the back of the concrete “Bouchie – Milburn Community Park” sign at Six Mile Corner;
iv) Creation of short videos using fictional and non-fictional characters that will share stories about the early days of our community and the families that settled here;
v) Car Rally to be held in the summer of 2025 that will focus on historic sites, road names, facts, etc.
vi) Historic Map created highlighting historic features, sites, etc.; and
vii) Sponsorship Recognition.

At this time, we are asking for your support with this project. If you are a member of a Century Family, we would love to hear from you and if you have stories, photographs, etc. to share this would be greatly appreciated. If you are a community member with an interest in history, learning more about the community, providing a donation / sponsorship, or have a skill to share that will enhance this project, we would love to hear from you. Letters of support for this project will also be gratefully accepted as they will assist with funding through grants, etc.  Letters have been received thus far from the Bouchie Lake Elementary School PAC and Member of Legislative Assembly, Sheldon Clare.

Click here to view an Overview Presentation on the Bouchie Lake Century Family Recognition Project.

To donate and /or be a sponsor or funding partner, please complete the online Sponsorship form.

Thank you for being a part of a meaningful project and for your support

Funding Partners

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 94 (Quesnel)

The Stopping House ($500.00 +)

Sanford Family
Robert Merz
Ken Falloon and Family
Don and Leslie Cameron

Homesteader ($250.00 – $499.99)

Moose Meadows Farm
Papa Luigi’s Pizza
Mary Anne Kopetski
Elaine Kopetski

Wagon Road ($100.00 – $249.99)

Anna Lisa Rovak
All West Glass
Brad and Deborah Strang
Rob Wilkie
Mark Kaetler
Anonymous Donor
In Honour of Kadi and Cora Koyama

Telegraph Line ($50.00 – $99.99)

Steve and Tanya Wheatley
Dayle Campbell

Trapper ($25.00 – $49.99)

Sharon and David Fookes
David and Carol Law

*Definition of a Century Family: A Century Family is a family who lived in the Bouchie Lake District in 1925 and earlier and still has a connection to the community in that family members still reside in the community and /or “Bouchie Lake District”