The district of Clearwater’s mayor and council are excited to be welcoming a new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), James Thackray, to join the team officially next Wednesday, Oct. 11 and bring him up to speed on pending projects and files, said Mayor Merlin Blackwell.
“Simpcw is doing such impressive work in the valley. We are looking forward to being involved more once our new CAO, James Thackray, is settled in a bit, specifically with signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Simpcw First Nation and the other valley mayors from Barriere, Valemount and McBride which will formally announce our working partnership in the North Thompson and Highway 5 corridor together soon.”
Blackwell knows the new CAO will have to take some time to familiarize himself with things in the district but is confident in his experience and abilities.
“It feels great to have someone with an excellent background and I know that he is looking forward to getting to know everyone here as well.”
Blackwell said he believes having Kúkpi7 Lampreau from Simpcw First Nation advocating for the valley at the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention and working with everyone on local issues sent a powerful message to the provincial ministers and officials when they all attended together.
“This hasn’t really happened before, and I appreciate and respect the Kúkpi7 for doing this, bringing us together as a working group. It was his idea and we all appreciate his partnering immensely. Even when we aren’t there with him, we are assured the advocacy continues through him on all of our behalf and that’s brilliant.”
Blackwell added he doesn’t take that partnership for granted.
“This is such a progressive, cooperatively friendly way of working together. It’s such a good news story. This is about relationships and how we can work together in the valley and as a group. It’s pretty hard to dismiss an entire territory when we are united with each other in this way.”
Thackray has officially signed his contract. Once he is here he will be taking the reins to understand specific projects which need to move ahead, explains the mayor.
“We are launching into budget season right now, and there is a lot that has to happen with regards to financial planning and what needs to be accomplished.”
Along with a new roads contractor coming on board with Black River Contracting heading into winter, the mayor and council will be working on a strategic plan and official community plan in the next year or two. Sewer, water and roads are a key priority now.
“As a working group we are focusing on issues that impact everyone in the valley, such as highway safety, increased enforcement, hydro and internet capacity, and sustainable development. Following this extreme wildfire season there will be a lot of proactive discussion around mitigation and planning for the future.
“We are rolling up our sleeves to get to work with our new CAO, and on exciting work with our neighbours in the North Thompson.”
