Housing & Accomodation

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The Cariboo Tourism Arts and Heritage Corporation, a subsidiary of Osisko, has purchased homes in Wells. Cariboo Tourism, Arts and Heritage is here to support tourism and promote the arts and heritage that make Wells unique.

We are purchasing homes to support housing for employees and contractors for Cariboo Gold, and also people/families who want to make Wells their home, including people working in the tourism sector and people that support the community. 

Providing appropriate accommodation for employees and contractors working in Wells while maintaining capacity for visitors is an important part of supporting Wells community growth.

We are ensuring that rooms and spaces will remain available to tourists, including the Hubs, Whitecaps and Wells RV park, which has been open for the past 2 seasons. 

Cariboo Tourism Arts and Heritage Corporation have previously purchased homes that were publicly listed for sale, as well as properties from owners who expressed an interest in selling.

Cariboo Tourism Arts and Heritage Corporation are making meaningful investments in the community that will promote a thriving economy and community over the long term. 

Many of the homes are currently occupied, including with residents that are living in Wells full time. 

A number of the homes that have been purchased were in need of significant repairs. We are in the process of renovating and restoring these homes.

Several of the homes that have been purchased sat empty for years, we are renovating and restoring these homes and ensuring that they are available for people to live in the community. 

We have provided housing for individuals working in the tourism industry and also people supporting the community. 

Some of the homes are currently occupied, including with residents that are living in Wells full time. 

A number of the homes that have been purchased were in need of significant repairs. We are in the process of renovating and restoring these homes. 

Several of the homes that have been purchased sat empty for years, we are renovating and restoring these homes and ensuring that they are available for people to live in the community. 

Cariboo Tourism Arts and Heritage Corporation believes in Wells as a community today and in its future. We believe arts, culture, tourism and mining can thrive together, and we want Wells to continue to be a great place to live, work, run a small business and raise a family.

We are upgrading the homes that we have purchased while maintaining their character that makes Wells unique. 

Having homes available in Wells helps to ensure people working at the mine are part of the community and able to support local business and participate in cultural events.

The Cariboo Tourism Arts and Heritage Corporation has not evicted anyone from the properties that we own. 

We have not evicted anyone for criticizing the mine. 

 No. Buying a house for more than its assessed value does not mean your property taxes go up by the same amount.

The easiest way to understand it is this:

• The District decides how much money it needs to provide services. Property assessments are then used to divide that amount among property owners.
• So if property values in Wells go up, that does not mean the District suddenly collects that same percentage more in taxes.
• The approximately 3% annual increase is about the cost of providing municipal services—not because we purchased properties at higher prices.
• Our purchases may influence future assessed property values because they are part of the local real estate market, but higher assessments do not automatically mean equally higher taxes.
• When homes sell above their assessed value, it shows that homes in Wells may be worth more than their assessed value