There is significant mining exploration work happening in and around the North Thompson Valley. However, the companies involved often don’t know much about what the others are doing, not to mention what’s available locally in terms of suppliers, contractors and potential employees.
District of Clearwater and other local governments should work together to organize a mining forum for the valley to stimulate that information flow, according to Don Manson, a researcher from University of Northern British Columbia’s Community Development Institute.
The mining forum was just one idea Manson brought forward in the draft version of a community economic development plan he presented to town council and others last week.
“It became clear in our research that the greatest economic asset that Clearwater and area have is Clearwater and area ... the totality,” he said.
“Don’t settle for the low-hanging fruit. Why accept just a half-dozen jobs if a mine is going in and there’s $900 million in economic activity going on nearby? Why shouldn’t at least some workers and their families move to Clearwater?”
Another priority should be to develop a recruitment and retention package - a one-size-fits-most collection of information about the community and its advantages that can be used to attract mining companies, health professionals, potential investors and others.
Much of this work has already been done but it needs to be updated and formalized, said the UNBC researcher.
“We call it having it in your back pocket,” he said.
Particular attention should be paid to what Manson called “footloose businesses” - businesses that can be based anywhere in the world. He gave as an example some friends of his who recently moved from Vancouver to the Kootenays. Now, instead of a two-hour commute, they do all their work from home via the Internet. They put their kids on the bus for school in the morning and are there to greet them when they come back. They have no bars over their windows. They think they’re in paradise.
Economic development is important and the municipality should have a person assigned to that task and that task only, he said (presently corporate administrator Leslie Groulx handles the portfolio along with her other duties). It should be a regular item on the agenda for town council meetings.
Title for Manson’s draft report is, “A community for people of all ages and stages of life.”
“I can’t remember who said that,” he said, “but it summed up a lot of what people were saying. Nearly everyone said they’d like to see some growth, but they also said they don’t want to become another Fort MacMurray.”
His draft report identifies 11 theme areas for action, such as mining, footloose businesses, arts and culture, forestry, and agriculture.
For each area it identifies strengths and assets, areas of significant opportunity, groups and organizations to collaborate with, issues, development potential and planning assets.
Manson’s draft report is available at the District of Clearwater website: www.districtofclearwater.com. Comments are invited until April 1. The final version of the community economic development report is to be delivered April 27.
