Every rural community could benefit from having a group of concerned citizens that collaboratively works to protect local values. Nearly twenty years ago, White Lake residents were concerned about the potential impacts from nearby proposed clearcut logging and formed an organization to advocate for protection of the lake and watershed. Over the succeeding years, this group, the White Lake Residents Association (WLRA), has expanded in numbers, its scope and its influence to become very effective at achieving results that benefit the community.
As a registered, non-profit society, WLRA has an elected board that oversees eight committees that are involved with nearly all aspects of rural living in the White Lake area. Each of these committees are organized by at least one of the WLRA directors, who in addition to providing leadership for each group, updates its progress back to the board.
The primary focus for WLRA is the protection of environmental values and promoting stewardship and sustainability. The water quality committee helps to ensure that White Lake continues to meet the Canadian standards for drinking water and recreation. To achieve this goal, it has been testing the water for siltation, bacteria, excess nutrients and other contaminants.
Collaboration with local First Nations, BC Parks, other government agencies and local fish and game clubs is how the Lake Stewardship committee works to make sure that community values are part of the management plans for the lake and Cedar Creek, where the natural spawning channels have been damaged from siltation.
With new logging plans being proposed, the Forest Stewardship Committee is busy working to ensure that the watershed, wildlife, and the area’s natural beauty is protected. There are some amazing trails around White Lake, including the inspiring lookout trail, and the Trails Committee works with the Shuswap Trail Alliance to provide the community’s perspective into proposed new trails and into the maintenance of existing ones.
Road maintenance is usually an issue in rural areas, where side roads are too often neglected. The Roads Committee aims to improve the situation by communicating with local contractors and the ministry to insert community priorities into planning so that local roads are improved and better maintained.
A local retired RCMP officer heads up the Safety Committee and works with residents and local police to monitor and mitigate potential safety risks resulting from criminal activities. Safety is also the priority for the Emergency Preparedness Committee that supports ten Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness zones. This is a CSRD program that works to develop localized response plans and communication networks in the case of a major emergency or an evacuation, which due to the increased risk of wildfire is now more likely during hot summers.
The White Lake community benefited greatly when Patrick Frank, who is the long standing WLRA president, moved there ten years ago and became involved with the group. Using his 35 years of experience in the airline industry and aviation analytics, he worked with Nick Najda to re-structure the organization by setting up the committee structure. Currently, the group’s membership is close to 90 and more importantly, there are 40 to 50 active members who participate in the committees to produce results that benefit everyone.
Perhaps the most well-known committee is the one that manages events, because it hosts the annual White Lake Turtle Festival, which is now in its third year. Set for April 12th from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. at the White Lake Community Hall, this year’s festival includes crafts and games for the children, venders, speakers, a scavenger hunt, as well as music, food and drinks. To learn more about the WLRA, visit their excellent website at wlra.ca.
POSTSCRIPT
In February 2025, the WLRA received great news that they are the 2024 recipients of the BC Lakes Stewardship Society’s annual Lake Stewardship Award. They were recognized for completing their Level 3 Stewardship and Monitoring Program, as well as their ongoing work to record lake water quality monitoring data. The congratulatory letter concluded, “Your dedication and hard work are extremely appreciated and make a significant contribution to the BCLSS fundamental values – preservation, protection and restoration of lakes throughout British Columbia.”
