Lytton rebuild April 11, 2024 (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

LYTTON REBUILD

More than 1,000 days later, Lytton shows signs of rebuilding

Apr 11, 2024 | 5:30 PM

LYTTON, B.C. — From the ashes will soon rise the village of Lytton. More than 1,000 days since a wildfire tore through the community in a matter of minutes, major construction is finally underway to bring people home.

“It’s something we’ve been looking forward to, something visual happening,” said Mayor Denise O’Connor. “We know there has been lots going on behind the scenes the past year, but to see things finally happening — it’s just fantastic.”

Just the sight of construction materials piled up or concrete foundations being poured has Mayor O’Connor excited to see her community taking shape — but she highlighted one important aspect that residents need for their return.

“Council is meeting with IHA (Interior Health Authority) next week to learn a little bit more about what their next consultation piece is around concept planning for a facility. We don’t know what that looks like yet but that is going to be another critical piece to people returning, people rebuilding, having that full community is health care,” O’Connor told CFJC News.

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Along with the homes, a connection to Lytton’s past was lost with the Chinese Museum burning to the ground. Last Friday (April 5), owner Lorna Fandrich got her permit and work has quickly begun on the rebuild.

“Because a few of us are building now, I really want the community to look out for the next set of people who are starting. We can do whatever we can to help them get going and perhaps it will be a little less complicated, and a little less long than it took us to get going,” said Fandrich. “That’s my goal, is to help other people now.”

While residential rebuilds have begun, work is still progressing on the permit process for commercial builds like the grocery store, coffee shop and Royal Canadian Legion, and it’s those types of buildings that will help return the feeling of community to the village.

“We used to go to the grocery store, then walk to the bank, then walk to the post office, and it would take you more than a half hour because we want community. And you would stop and visit everybody, you might stop and have coffee and a pie. And that is what we are looking for again,” said Fandrich. “And we understand that will be awhile but that’s the direction we are hoping we can go here.”

Fandrich hopes to have the museum back open to the public in September if building runs smoothly.

But with eyes keenly set to the future of Lytton, there is an awareness of ensuring the village’s long history is never forgotten.

“It’s what went on for the last 150 years in the village itself, as well as the history before that of the area that makes this place so special. We do need to recognize that,” said O’Connor.