Mayor John Harwood and councilor Jon Kreke will represent Clearwater at a regional economic development pilot project forum in Valemount on Monday, Jan. 16.
The forum is one of the first steps in developing a blueprint for the Barriere - McBride corridor as part of Canada. Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan.
About 100 people have been invited to attend, said Harwood. The mayor said they would bring a complete report back to council afterwards.
Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, will host the forum, along with local MLAs Shirley Bond and Terry Lake.
“This forum is part of the Province’s ongoing engagement with our communities and First Nations partners to diversify their economic opportunities and create good jobs for families,” Lake said.
The Regional Economic Investment Pilot is part of the Province’s initiative to engage the public to generate ideas aimed at attracting investment and job creation.
The forum will include representatives from local government, business, industry, First Nations and education. Through sharing ideas on investment opportunities and overcoming barriers, an inventory of potential projects will be created, as well as an action plan detailing how the provincial government will assist the communities in the Barriere - McBride corridor to capitalize on opportunities.
The North Fraser communities of Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge and Mission were the first to participate in a forum and attracted over 100 participants.
The Campbell River forum has been scheduled for Monday, Jan. 30. A decision on a fourth community, a First Nation, will be announced in a short time.