North Thompson Agriplex Project Overview

The North Thompson Agriplex Committee was formed in January of this year, and consists of eight members
comprised of community stakeholders, contractors, and businessmen. All are members of the NTFFRA and
include the NTFFRA president Donna Kibble, past-president Jill Hayward, and vice-president Karl Rainer.
The North Thompson Agriplex is part of a five year plan that the NTFFRA implemented in 2008. The Agriplex
is being built on NTFFRA property (clear title) in the District of Barriere, and will be managed in its
entirety by the NTFFRA.
The North Thompson Agriplex will provide new opportunities that the NTTFRA might engage in to enhance
and expand its agricultural presence within the Thompson Nicola Regional District. It will provide new opportunities
to improve the economic, environmental, social and cultural capacity of Barriere and its surrounding
area.
The agriculture focus of the region is on cow/calf operations, sheep, poultry, forage crops, nurseries, and
market gardens. By enhancing the area’s agricultural activities through events at the North Thompson Agriplex
it will further encourage growth in small acreage alternative crops and food sustainability within the region.
The partnering of various community and government agencies in the Agriplex Project is already enhancing
Barriere’s’ rural community capacity building, leadership skills and development, and will further strengthen
strategic partnerships between local governments and community agencies. This will ultimately promote Barriere
and the surrounding area as a place to live, work and play.

North Thompson Agriplex Benefit to the Community and Economic Impact
The economy in this area has been struggling since 2002 due to a number of factors which include; the
impact of pine beetle deforestation, mill shutdowns, loss of income for cattle ranchers, and a general downturn
in global economy. Specific to the area in 2003 wildfires destroyed the Tolko Mill in Louis Creek which was
a major employer for the Barriere area. The fire also destroyed 72 homes and nine small businesses; and the
ripple effect of the disaster caused a number of other small businesses to close. Although this event happened
eight years ago the economic impact of losing a major employer is still being felt.
The NTFFRA in the past has fielded many requests from event organizers looking for a large building similar
to the North Thompson Agriplex to host a function, trade show or event. As there are none at this time, the
NTFFRA is confident that building the Agriplex will provide this opportunity, and enhance the buildings long
term sustainability.
Diversification is needed to stimulate the valley economy and to keep tourism and visitor dollars coming into
our communities. Our facility is only a 45 minute drive from the city of Kamloops, which has a population of
approximately 100,000. We have a positive opportunity to tap into this resource by building the North Thompson
Agriplex. We will also be using local labour, contractors, and materials wherever possible during the building
of this project which will be completed in three phases over three years. Once completed the facility will
supply employment opportunities for local workers during events facilitated in the building.
Since the closing of the Kamloops Exhibition Association (KXA) in Kamloops, there is now no longer a
facility of this size available for large agricultural and non-agricultural events. The North Thompson Agriplex
will fill a need for the entire North Thompson Valley from Kamloops to Vavenby. It will also be an asset for
communities in the Cariboo and Nicola Valley. The Agriplex can become the new home of the agricultural activities
previously hosted by the KXA, becoming the regional agricultural showcase hub for the Thompson area.
The Provincial Winter Fair (previously held at the KXA) will be held at the NTFFRA facility this year.
The North Thompson Agriplex will have community economic impact to a feed store, grocery stores for
campers, motels and campgrounds, restaurants, drug store, antique stores, hardware store, building supply, spas
and beauty salons, gift and dollar stores, sports shop, golf course, fishing resorts, vacation resorts, guest ranches,
market gardeners, farm gate produce, newspaper, television and radio advertising, area home based businesses
who sell their goods directly at the fair, and North Thompson Valley service organizations who fund raise via
concessions at the fair.

North Thompson Agriplex Building Overview
The Agriplex will be a manufactured metal building 150’ by 200’ including a 100’ x 200’ clear span area,
eave height will be 21’ to 16’ at lowest beams; a 24’ by 200’ public mezzanine down one side with an office,
washrooms, concession and seating area. On the other side the 24’ by 200’ area will be used for livestock pens,
wash racks, displays, etc.
The building will have a rainwater recycling system, and translucent wall panels the full length of each 200’
side to provide passive lighting along the drop down length of the building, creating a large saving on electricity.
Solar panels will also be installed on the roof in Phase 3 of the project.
The south side of the building will feature a large wooden arch and covered entrance crafted from pine beetle
wood, and the exterior walls inside the public mezzanine will also be lined with pine beetle wood.
We are currently working on Phase 1 of the Agriplex Project. The steel building has been ordered, the building
site prepared, and we are now waiting on the engineer’s drawings for the foundations.

North Thompson Agriplex Timeline
• Preparation of ground site – completed May 1, 2011
• Foundation of building – finish by June 15/ 2011
• Delivery of building June 30/2011
• 28 days to erect building
• Building in use – Aug. 15/2011
• Phase 2 - washrooms, electrical, animal pens, landscaping and grandstands – Start Oct/2011 finish June 2012
• Phase 3 - solar power, concession, office, recycle water system - finish June 2013

Preparing the site for the North Thompson Agriplex. All equipment, drivers, and fill donated by area contractors.