Enderby, British Columbia — Today, Colin Mayes, Member of Parliament for Okanagan—Shuswap, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced funding of $31,555 towards the Sounds of Light Multicultural Society to support a new youth work experience program and affordable housing initiative. Funding is provided under the Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI), a component of the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program, through Western Economic Diversification Canada.

“Our Government realizes the importance of having our rural youth engaged in valuable work experience programs,” said Mr. Mayes. "Not only will this experience provide important employment opportunities, but this project is diversifying the use of Mountain Pine Beetle affected wood in an innovative way.”

Funding for the Sounds of Light Multicultural Society will help deliver a work experience program for youth and people with disabilities who have demonstrated an interest in construction trades.  The youth participants will work toward constructing two log homes, made out of Mountain Pine Beetle affected wood, as a prototype of an affordable housing alternative with a low environmental impact. 

“We were extremely pleased to receive confirmation of the $31,555 federal funding contribution under CEDI,” said Barb Craven, Secretary Treasurer of the Society.  “It is helping us to make this innovative project a reality for our community.”

Managed by Western Economic Diversification Canada, CEDI will invest more than $33 million over two years towards projects in communities most at risk from the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation. The program supports a wide range of projects that further economic growth, job creation and future community sustainability.

The CEDI program is part of the Government of Canada’s $200 million comprehensive response to mitigate the short- and long-term effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation on B.C.’s forestry sector. This federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program is led by Natural Resources Canada, in collaboration with Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and Transport Canada.

Western Economic Diversification Canada in partnership with the provinces, industry associations, and communities promotes the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and represent the interests of western Canadians in national decision-making.

For more information on the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program, please visit: http://mpb.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/