What sort of year will 2012 be for Clearwater and the upper North Thompson Valley?
The local economy certainly looks more promising than it did one year ago. Canfor-Vavenby started back up after a two-year shutdown in September. Once it gets to be fully operational with two shifts in both the sawmill and planer mill (probably in January) there will be over 150 jobs created.
Yellowhead Mining’s Harper Creek project continues to move ahead. Although nothing is certain in the world of mining, if it goes into production, there could be hundreds of jobs for 20 or more years at the copper-gold-silver mine.
Further down the timeline, Imperial Metals is exploring a proposed lead-zinc mine at Ruddock Creek near Tum Tum Lake. Commerce Resources’ proposed tantalum-niobium mine near Blue River also is creating some local employment during the exploration phase.
Local tourist operators report they had a decent summer season. In Blue River, Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing continues to provide strong employment opportunities during the winter and is expanding its role in the rest of the year.
Incorporation for Clearwater seems to be working well. Yes, we are paying more to have our own mayor, council and local administration, but we are getting good value for our dollars.
In short, the local economy seems to have come out of the recession relatively unscathed. We’ve only had a reprieve, though. Rural depopulation is a long-term trend that affects the entire B.C. Interior, with the exception of the Okanagan.
If we hope to buck that trend, we will need to put our thinking-caps on and make use of whatever levers for local control we have.
Clearwater and District Chamber of Commerce’s recent decision to investigate hiring a paid staff person is a good example of the sort of thinking that is needed.
The Chamber is supposed to be the voice of business in this portion of the Valley. For far too long, however, it has relied on volunteers to do the work. Finding the money to pay for a staff person will be a problem (perhaps something could be worked out with Tourism Wells Gray).
Another positive development has been Thompson Rivers University’s decision to move ahead with constructing a new building for its Wells Gray Education and Research Center. Yes, we need resource industries to prime the pump. However, long-term sustainability for this community will depend on diversifying away into more knowledge-based industries. Wells Gray Park is unique in many ways and could serve as a catalyst to attracting those industries here through the Education and Research Center.
What sort of year will 2012 be? Right now it looks good. Let’s work to make it even better.
