Maple Ridge’s future clear

Maple Ridge needs to capitalize on its natural attributes and develop and exploit a more modest, but enduring, Whistler-type identity.

From near and far, people flock to beautiful British Columbia to savour our golden summers and delicious salmon. Whether it be from Stony Plain, Alberta or Shanghai, China, they arrive in droves to sample our undiminished splendour.

Such attractions make a powerful case for stay-cations in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

Why fight crowded highways when so much is right here?

A quick look shows many of those attractions are in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

Care to hike to a mountain peak? Maple Ridge has that in a beautiful provincial park.

How about a paddle down a lazy river during the summer doldrums? Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows have that.

If you like safe cycling, far from the madding crowds of cars, there’s an almost endless number of trails that follow river dikes or rainforest trails. The same goes for horseback riding, where thanks to tireless volunteers, Maple Ridge has created an envious system of equestrian paths and a good supporting infrastructure, that makes it competitive in the international tourism marketplace.

Maple Ridge (and to a lesser extent Pitt Meadows,) have been struggling for an identity and an economy. Much of the answer is a case of not seeing the forest for the trees.

With its mountains, lakes, forests and streams, Maple Ridge needs to capitalize on its natural attributes and develop and exploit a more modest, but enduring, Whistler-type identity and focus that will bring jobs and money. Just look out the window.

– The News

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Maple Ridge News