People in Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin are a step closer to having enhanced health care close to home as Interior Health has signed a contract for the construction of the Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH) redevelopment project with the preferred proponent, Graham Design Builders LP.

Nearly 7,800 hectares of ranch lands, along with grazing licences for 56,000 hectares of land, are being returned to Stswecem'c Xget'tem First Nation (SXFN) as part of treaty negotiations with the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw (NStQ).

Work is underway to enhance forest resilience to protect against the effects of wildfire and climate change in the Cariboo.

First Nations people living in Williams Lake and the surrounding communities of the Dakelh Dene, Tŝilhqot'in and Secwepemc Nations have access to culturally safe primary care with the opening of a new First Nations Wellness Centre (FNWC) on Oct. 11, 2022, at 281 1st Ave. North.

People in the Cariboo region will have greater protection from wildfires through a provincial investment in a series of community-led projects.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food will hold an information session on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, for small flock poultry owners in the Williams Lake area about the avian influenza virus, how they can protect their flocks and how to prepare for potential impacts if their birds become sick.

The B.C. government has provided more than $696,000 in grants to four local governments and one First Nation in the Cariboo Fire Centre to support wildfire-risk-reduction initiatives and help keep communities safe.

Eight First Nation communities in the Cariboo will be supported so they can complete well-being and poverty-reduction plans and projects in their communities, thanks to a grant from the First Nations Well Being Fund.