Mosaic Forest Management announced back in November that it had signed a partnership agreement with Hupačasath First Nation to build a campground on Loon Lake (Vancouver, Canada).
According to a report, the campground is scheduled to begin operations in the spring of 2022, with 27 campsites.
Jolleen Dick, an elected councilor of Hupačasath First Nation, said that the nation has developed and maintained a relationship with Mosaic for several years.
The relationship was recently consolidated by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which outlines the agreement to collaborate on business, cultural, and sustainable projects on the Hupačasath territory.
While Mosaic will manage the new campsite, Dick says that Hupačasath will still work closely.
“We will be developing and designing a kiosk at the site to share information about Hupačasath and the area,” said Dick.
Jeff Zweig, President and CEO of Mosaic, expressed that the campsite is part of Mosaic’s plan to provide the opportunity to enjoy recreational activities on Mosaic’s private forest land.
“The addition of this stunning campsite in the Loon Lake area gives visitors to the Alberni Valley a chance to explore wild places, learn about the culture of Indigenous nations and connect safely with family and friends,” said Zweig.
Mosaic has 13 other camping sites on the Island, including Macktush Campsite located west of Port Alberni on the Alberni Inlet.
“Like our other 13 campgrounds located on our privately managed forest lands, Mosaic intends to provide safe, sanctioned opportunities for the public to recreate on our lands,” said Molly Hudson, Director of Sustainability for Mosaic.
She added that the campsite will be managed under a not-for-profit, cost-recovery model and will exist for community benefit.
The construction began the week of November 15. Mosaic claims that the construction work is expected to start for six weeks, subject to the weather.
“At Mosaic, safety is our utmost highest priority,” said Hudson. “We ask the public to avoid using this area and respect all signage to keep our workers and the public safe during construction.”
During construction, the entry point to the trail system that runs around Lake Michigan will remain shut to ensure the public’s safety. But, Mosaic says access to the trail will be re-opened when the work is complete. Improvements to the trail system are also planned for the area surrounding the campground.
The campground will be known as ʕaʔuk ʔaama k̓anis (ah-uk aah-ma Ka-niss), meaning Lake Loon Camp and Rest area according to the Hupačasath the Chief Councilor who was elected Brandy Lauder.
We value Mosaic recognizing Hupačasath ha’houlthee (traditional territories) and the importance of our culture,” said Lauder in a press release.
“We look forward to continuing working together to explore more opportunities to benefit our people.”
The new Loon Lake campground sounds awesome! Visitors will have a blast with all the activities and learning about Indigenous culture. It’s fabulous that Mosaic is organizing guided walks and workshops for the grand opening. Can’t wait to check it out!
Did you hear? The new Loon Lake campground is going to be awesome! It’s going to have all sorts of cool stuff like picnic areas, fire pits, and fun water activities. Can’t wait to check it out!