Funding awarded to the extensive restoration of the Mascot Mine Site in Hedley

Photo: Mascot Gold Mine Tour

A unique heritage infrastructure has been selected for an extensive restoration project after been awarded funds from the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP).

In October 2020, the Upper Similkameen Indian Band (USIB) with support from HeritageWorks, completed an application for the Mascot Mine Site restoration and were awarded with $797,480 on Wednesday.

This announcement is part of BC’s $10 billion COVID response, which includes the StrongerBC for Everyone recovery plan — a plan that protects people’s health and livelihoods while supporting businesses and communities — and granted the project the CERIP.

“Upper Similkameen is thrilled with the announcement as we can finally address the long-standing concerns around historical preservation, public access and safety at the site. We know that Mascot is a beloved curiosity for many who are familiar with the area, and we hope with this restoration work the public can be welcomed back in a way that will support the protection of this amazing historical site for generations to come.” Chief Bonnie Jacobsen with the USIB said in a press release.

USIB will be working with HeritageWorks Ltd, in implementing a work plan that will begin spring/summer 2021, and is looking to be completed before March 31, 2023.

“The awarded projects show us the strong local connections of our history and heritage. CERIP has shown us the great need for this type of funding and it has shown us that people need their heritage,” Britney Dack, the chair of Heritage BC’s board of directors said. “It is part of our daily lives. It is part of communities and our stories.”

The Mascot Mine is located within the traditional territory of the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, on the western face of Nickel Plate Mountain.

Holding complex mine-related structures constructed on multiple levels, the site includes various wooden buildings, platforms, tramway remains, adit, rock tunnels and mining ephemera.

The project is aiming to enrich the experience of visitors to Hedley Mascot, with improvements on life safety, better visitor access, and interpretation. These goals include:

• Work on developing a Conservation Plan for the site to guide decision-making
• A new website dedicated to Hedley Mascot Mine.
• Improve and update wayfinding and interpretation on site.
• Address critical repairs
• Address Emergency Stabilization – entrance portals & Main adit
• Facilitate access to Construct new parking lot
• Improve trails and add new wood stairs in the steeper sections between parking and main gate.
• Improve safety and stability of existing approach road to Top Station.

The Project will be initiated no later than December 31, 2021 and it will be completed before March 31, 2023.