The North Thompson Communities Foundation (NTCF) supports a number of organizations, programs and events throughout the valley from McLure to Blue River, and one of the organizations that has benefited from NTCF grants has been the Barriere Outdoor Club (BOC).
Barb Smith, secretary of the organization, has been involved with the BOC for more than 20 years. Both she and her husband, Carman, enjoy the club's year-round activities, which often take place at the Barriere Lake Trails.
"We like being outdoors, and the skiing and hiking on our set of trails up Barriere Lakes Road," she says. "Anyone of any age can come up and use the trails. We've always had it open.
"We've been very fortunate receiving some grants from the North Thompson Communities Foundation over the years, that have supported some specific events we've had like the Amazing Race. The funding really helped our group with that, such as providing props, prizing, advertising and supplies."
The Smiths also donate personally to the NTCF annually. "It is such a worthwhile organization that helps so many groups in the valley," notes Smith.
She also remembers the BOC chair, Franz Friesinger, hosting a number of "awareness barbecues" over the years to introduce residents to the NTCF and allow them to learn more about what they do. "Our club invited different groups to attend to find out what the foundation was all about. [It was] a social event with food, music and NTCF speakers providing information about how to apply for grants and how donations made to the foundation continue to give back in the valley year after year."
The NTCF hasn't assisted just the Barriere Outdoor Club with specific events. Smith recalls that when locals became interested in outdoor pickleball in Barriere, the club applied for and received a grant from the foundation to assist in resurfacing the old tennis courts, installing posts, and purchasing some nets.
"It's now a multi-use court since 2021," she says. "It was amazing during COVID that we could still play pickleball outdoors; one of the sports, like cross-country skiing, that we could still enjoy, thanks in part to the funding from the Communities Foundation."
The NTCF was founded in 2001 and began to service North Thompson Valley communities from McLure to Blue River. It continues to award grants to non-profit organizations, groups and societies for a variety of purposes, activities and programs, as well as providing student scholarships and bursaries.
"There are many new families that have moved into the valley, many from the coast or larger areas that may not know about the Communities Foundation and what it does," says Smith. "Our chair, Franz Friesinger, has been quite involved with the foundation and promoting it in the valley. Both the Barriere Outdoor Club and the NTCF have worked in partnership."
The BOC secretary says it's "nice to see" youth and younger volunteers stepping forward in the valley and "taking an interest in local organizations" while helping out.
If you are interested in learning more about the North Thompson Communities Foundation, volunteering, or would like to make a donation, you can visit their website at https://www.ntcommunitiesfoundation.com/, or email them at ntcommunitiesfoundation@gmail.com.
