The 2017 Annual Northern Region Games has been cancelled. This year’s games were to be hosted by Ehattesaht Nation but several factors related to the Sugarloaf Bridge replacement project made hosting the games untenable.
In a public letter Caroline Gladstone, Ehattesaht First Nation Manager, said that the bridge replacement project will prevent access to the river. In addition, the school has been closed.
“In past years we had access to the gym – this year we were not given permission to utilize the school. The use of the school’s kitchen was also a great asset in the past…,” Gladstone wrote in her letter to the public.
The bridge replacement project takes out the connector between Ehattesaht and Zeballos, a distance that can be walked in five minutes. Instead, people must use an eight-kilometre detour until late fall or early winter, when the new bridge is expected to be completed.
The Northern Region Games usually take place over the BC Day long weekend. The four participating nations, Ehattesaht, Kyuquot/Checklesaht, Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Nuchatlaht take turns hosting the family fun event.
