nitinaht
dubayaax a ts'awalk
everything is one
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Ditidaht Development
The Ditidaht Economic Development Corporation (DDC) manages economic development for the Ditidaht Nation. Our mandate is to optimize existing resources and businesses and identify new opportunities. Read about some of our current projects below, or get in touch today.
Bryan Cofsky
Executive Director, DDC
1-250-746-8380
Board of Directors
Jack Thompson
Peggy Hartman
Carl Edgar Jr.
Elaine Layman
Posting coming for the 5th Director.
Current projects
Caycuse Campground and Windsurf Park Expansion
Regional signage
Overview
New signage will make it easier for community members, tourists and others to navigate throughout the Nitinaht Region.
This initiative is part of a larger conversation with regional and provincial partners around road improvements and upgrades.
Partners
Ministry of Transport & Infrastructure, Parks Canada, Western forest Products, Timber West, Teal Jones
Status
Signs will be installed on highways and logging roads in 2017.
Contractors
Ditidaht Dev Corp
Tourism Marketing – Nitinaht Lake and Doobah Fishing Camp
Overview
The Ditidaht Development Corporation is exploring enhanced tourism opportunities for the Nitinaht Lake area, including the 350 hectare Doobah Fishing Camp Site.
Key tourism features include a new (third) entry point for West Coast Trail managed by the DDC, shorter hikes and Comfort Camping for “weekend warriors” and more casual adventurers who may not wish to hike all 75 kilometres of the trail, and recent upgrades to Windsurf Park and the Nitinat Lake Motel.
Ditidaht has commenced construction of the Windsurf Park Expansion opening May 2019. 40 hectares of Ditidaht private lands bordering the existing campsite will see an additional 40 tenting sites and 12 RV sites as well as trail systems and access to both the Caycuse River and Looper Creek.
Partners
- Destination BC
- Cowichan Valley Regional District
- Parks Canada
- West Coast Trail Cooperation Board
- Province of BC
Status
These projects are on-going with annual upgrades and expansion
Contractors
Ditidaht Development Corp, Castlemain Group, PFS Studios
St Jean’s Seafood Cannery
Overview
The Ditidaht Nation is a one fifth partner in St Jean’s Cannery and Smokehouse, and the Raincoast Trading Company.
The Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Development Corporation (NSDC) purchased the operations in June 2016.
The NSDC represents five West Coast First Nations from the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council (Ditidaht, Huu-ay-aht, Kyuquot/Checklesaht, Uchucklesaht and Ucluelet). St Jean’s has been in operation on Vancouver Island since 1960.
Partners
- Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Development Corporation, which represents five West Coast First Nations from the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council (Ditidaht, Huu-ay-aht, Kyuquot/Checklesaht, Uchucklesaht and Ucluelet)
- Gerard St Jean, former cannery owner
- Steve Hughes, former cannery president
- Canadian Western Bank
Status
- Currently employ 130 people
Website
Forest and Cedar Products
Overview
Ditidaht Forestry Ltd (DFL) and Ditidaht Cedar Salvage (DCS) were established in 2015 and 1999 respectively.
Our newly established Ts’aa7ukw Forestry Management established in 2020 will manage the Nation’s Forestry Tenures bringing more stability and stewardship to its traditional lands.
DFL holds 3 Timber Sale Licences in both Tree Farm Licences 44 & 46 and is actively logging in partnership with Timber West.
DCS salvages cedar blocks from the TFLs for shakes and shingles.
The Ditidaht Development Corporation is presently in negotiations with the Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resources as well as Western Forest Products and Teal Jones to acquire long-term access to resources through licences and/or revenue sharing.
Partners
- Timberwest Corporation
- Teal Jones
- Western Forest Products
- Ministry of Forest Lands & Natural Resources BC
Status
Revenue generated support administrative Education and Equity for Developing projects