The B.C. government announced this morning it is investing $11 million through the BC Air Access Program to support 26 upgrades at two dozen airports throughout British Columbia, including one in Invermere and three in the Central Kootenay.

“The BC Air Access Program provides front-line funding that supports wildfire suppression, air-ambulance, emergency-response, tourism and economic-development initiatives for British Columbia’s airports,” said Heather McCarley, chair of the BC Aviation Council. “These strategic investments are particularly important for the province’s remote, rural and Indigenous communities.”

“Airports play a key role in bringing together communities and people, and provide the vital links that keep goods moving and our economy strong,” said Dan Coulter, Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit. “This provincial support will help our regional airports with a wide range of upgrades that will increase safety, reliability and capacity for the services that British Columbians rely on, including access to health care and support for firefighting.”

B.C. is home to more than 300 public airports, heliports and water aerodromes that connect people and their communities, support the economy and help keep people safe.

While airports fall under federal jurisdiction, the Province recognizes the importance of smaller airports to their communities. Aviation-sector support through the BC Air Access Program (BCAAP) is critical to help the B.C. government fulfil its responsibilities related to medivac, wildfire suppression, emergency response, access to remote and Indigenous communities, tourism and economic development, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure noted in a media release.

Among the 26 upgrades being funded is the Invermere Airport, receiving $17,100 for runway and apron improvements.

In the Central Kootenay, the West Kootenay Regional Airport at Castlegar is receiving $1.6 million to rehabilitate the aviation apron; Creston Airport is getting $35,000 to create an airport master plan; and Trail Airport will receive $19,747 to cut tops off trees around the airport for safety.

Since 2017, BCAAP has committed more than $63 million in grants to infrastructure projects at 71 air facilities. The program is open to facilities that serve fewer than one million passengers per year.

BCAAP has an open intake for all eligible applicants annually from November to December, and for Indigenous applicants and for small urgent safety-related projects throughout the year.

Lead image: Part of the runway area of Invermere Airport, looking north.   e-KNOW file photos

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