The British Columbia government has committed up to $7.2 million to help a community group buy a research farm at Oyster River, B.C.
Owned by the University of B.C., the 1,630-acre farm is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island.
Premier Ujjal Dosanjh presented the Montfort Legacy Association with a cheque for $50,000 to prepare a business plan and signed a memorandum of understanding among the province, the Vancouver Island Farmers’ Alliance and the Montfort Legacy Association.
“We asked UBC to work with them and not sell the farm for at least a year to anyone else so the community can come together and develop that plan,” said Dosanjh.
The price will be settled between the buyer and seller. The assessed value of the farm is $7.2 million.
The Montfort Legacy Association was formed recently by concerned local residents to buy the farm and continue using it for agriculture and forestry research and education.
