JEAN MARIE RIVER - Jean Marie River will soon have an RV park to offer visiting tourists.

The community has been receiving quite a few RVs since Checkpoint closed, said Arnold Gargan, the economic development officer.

Jean Marie River First Nation combined a heavy equipment training course with the construction of an RV park. Here one of the course participants uses a Volvo loader to move brush from the sites. - photo courtesy of Arnold Gargan

Tourists have been visiting the community to buy gas and to visit. There are motorhomes in Jean Marie River approximately four times a week, he said.

During a meeting with staff from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI), Gargan said he got the idea to create the park to promote tourism. Currently the community isn't equipped to handle the large vehicles.

"There's no place for them to park except on the road," he said.

To create the park, a heavy equipment training course offered by Aurora College and the Jean Marie River First Nation was combined with the project. Starting on June 17, the five participants in the course spent two weeks in the classroom before heading out for about four weeks of hands-on experience with the equipment.

The participants were given the RV park project as their practical testing ground, Gargan said.

With the guidance of instructors Ken Rodh and Kevin Young, the participants including Harold Sanguez, Richard Sanguez, Stephanie Simon, Fred Menacho and Gerald Grossetete marked out the sites, cleared brush from all the locations and laid out the roads.

Over half the needed work on the park is done, said Gargan. The students will finish their last day of work with the course on July 27.

The park is located on the left side of the Jean Marie River access road just before the community. It's also along the Jean Marie River.

In its final form the park will have six sites and possibly a few day areas. Currently there are five sites. Three have large laneways with room for motorhomes to pull in. Two have normal pull-in stalls.

"It's pretty good," said Gargan.

By the end of the season Gargan hopes to have the roads and sites gravelled. Staff are also working to peel logs to make log picnic tables.

"We're promoting our sawmill at the same time," he said.

Next year work will continue on the park with tasks including supplying power, creating fireplaces, washrooms, a sewer dump out and running water.

Work will also be done to develop a Slavey name for the park and create a sign about the community's history for the entrance.

Future plans include creating a boat launch beside the facility. The final cost of the project hasn't been determined yet, said Gargan.

Gerd Fricke, the regional superintendent of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment said he approves of the initiative.

"I think it's a good idea," said Fricke.

Fricke, however, cautioned that he's not sure how many tourists a RV park will draw in.

"I see it as one element in the tourism industry," he said.

The community needs to develop other attractions such as arts and crafts to help draw people in. Activities for the tourists such as stores and cultural displays would also be beneficial, said Fricke.