Boundary Sawmills Inc. and Community Futures Boundary have been recognized with the Community Project Award at the B.C. Economic Summit Awards banquet on May 15 in Richmond, B.C.
This is the 22nd year that the Economic Development Association of BC (EDABC) and BC Hydro has presented these awards.
“It’s very exciting and I was very pleased with the application going in,” said Mayor of Midway Randy Kappes. “I was a bit concerned that an area as small as ours might not get the recognition that I thought we deserved. They absolutely believed that it was a huge success even stacked up against larger communities with their bigger budgets. It shows just how hard everyone involved put in work.”
Community Futures Boundary GM Wendy McCulloch was extremely pleased by the award and agreed with Kappes.
“We were up against some pretty stiff competition from around the province so the award for this project felt really good,” she said. “Community projects are essential in rural areas. We don’t have the resources, financial or human, that is available in larger centres.”
McCulloch explained that most people in rural communities understand the necessity to work together to make things happen.
“You need strong leadership and buy-in from the community and Midway was able to pull this together, which is great for the entire region!” she added. “It meant jobs to this small community and the surrounding region, which is a tremendous benefit for the entire area.”
Boundary Sawmills President Doug McMynn was contacted but did not respond as of press time.
The Village of Midway was hard hit when Pope & Talbot went bankrupt in 2007 and had to close a number of their sawmills.
However, Midway did not want to see the mill closed and residents, businesses and Heritage Credit Union were able to raise the money needed too open the facility.
Vaagen Brothers Lumber leases the land, but owns and operates the mill.
There are over 50 people now working at the mill and makes up 40 per cent of the local tax base.
A provincial association of economic development practitioners, the EDABC is dedicated to providing services that support the activities, profile and development of its members and their economic development goals.
Other awards include the EDABC Presidents Award to the EDABC Burns Lake Economic Recovery Team, the Economic Development Leader of the Year to Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, and the Marketing award presented to the District of Maple Ridge and its Town Centre Investment Incentive Program.
EDABC also plays a major role in marketing BC’s competitive advantages for new investment and annually publishes the Invest in British Columbia magazine.
