There’s a joke I’ve heard more than once: Clearwater is just a truck stop with a view.
I’ll admit, the view is not bad. Mountains that punch the sky. Rivers that catch the light just right. A wilderness that’s as humbling as it is healing.
But the “truck stop” part? That one stings.
Because we’re more than that. At least, we could be.
So, here’s the question I’ve been chewing on: What do we want Clearwater to be? Not just tomorrow, or next week, but 10, 20 years from now? What’s the long-term dream?
That’s where something called the Official Community Plan—the OCP—comes in.
I get it. “Official Community Plan” doesn’t sound exciting. It sounds like a binder collecting dust in the DOC. But it’s more than paperwork. It’s our community’s blueprint for the future. It is the guiding document for both the municipal council and the DOC to guide their decisions for our future.
It’s where we define what matters: What kind of housing do we need? How do we protect nature while growing smartly? What’s our plan for local businesses, transportation, recreation, and public services?
If we don’t make those choices for ourselves, someone else will.
For generations, Clearwater has been a resource extraction community—logging, forestry, and now, potentially, mining. We’ve ridden the ups and downs of boom-and-bust cycles, often shaped by markets and decisions far beyond our control.
Right now, there’s talk of a large copper mine on the horizon. Big promises are being made, and there’s a buzz of hope in the air.
And maybe it will happen. But maybe it won’t.
We live in uncertain times. Global forces—politics, economics, environmental policies—can change overnight. Even if the mine does proceed, it's still five to ten years out.
That gives us time. And I say, let’s use it wisely.
Let’s stop waiting for the next big thing to save us. Let’s build something now that we can rely on later. Because someday, when the mine fills in the big hole and packs up and leaves town—what then?
We need to build a future that doesn’t depend on one industry, one project, or one promise. We need a community that stands on its own.
Tourism may not be flashy, and it doesn’t bring the same money as industry. But it’s been consistent. Year after year, people come from all over the world to paddle our lakes, walk our trails, and breathe in the wild beauty of the valley. They pay to experience what we live with every day.
In a way, they’re paying us to showcase our home. That’s free global advertising. Let’s use it. Let’s build a community that reflects who we are and tells our story—not just as a gateway to a park, but as a destination in its own right.
It’s time to stop treating Clearwater like a pit stop and start shaping it into a place where people want to stop, stay, and belong.
We need a downtown that feels like a home base. Streets where you can grab a coffee, bump into a neighbour, hear music on a summer night. Housing that works for young families and for seniors. Local businesses that don’t just survive but thrive.
We need a place that reflects our values: respect for nature, space for everyone, and a sense of belonging that lasts long after the tourists leave.
That’s the work of the OCP. Not just planning but dreaming—together.
In the coming months, Clearwater will begin the process of updating its OCP. This is our chance to speak up, to imagine, to shape the future we want—not just for ourselves, but for the next generation.
Think of our kids. What kind of community do we want them to inherit? One built on hope, connection, and resilience—or one still waiting for the next boom to roll into town?
Clearwater’s at a crossroads. We can continue to drift—or we can choose to design something bold, lasting, and truly ours.
