Your editor got to listen to Don Manson give much the same spiel three times last week. It was worthwhile, despite the repetition.
The first time was at Clearwater Library on Tuesday afternoon, when the University of Northern B.C. researcher gave a presentation about his draft community economic development study to about a half-dozen local residents. Then Tuesday evening he was at the town council meeting, telling the councilors more or less the same message. Wednesday morning Manson was at Clearwater Rotary Club’s breakfast and your editor was there, religiously recording everything of note.
As Manson said, the Community Development Institute at UNBC has rooms full of reports that have been done for various communities over the years, most of which he (Manson) likely was the only person to have read them.
Governments seem to like funding reports. They’re a lot cheaper than actually doing something and they’re a good way to postpone having to make a decision.
Manson’s report could be different. He’s certainly seems to have put a great deal of effort into making it so. It has clearly defined action items, timelines and who should do what.
We who live in resource-dependent communities like to talk about economic diversification and development but the cold reality is most of the important decisions about our future are being made somewhere else - whether Victoria, Vancouver, New York or wherever.
Manson’s report serves to remind us that there are still levers we can work to have some control over our own destinies. We can have a vision of what we want our community to look like in the future. Given enough time, we can get there if we work at it consistently and collaboratively. If Canfor re-opens its Vavenby sawmill as indicated, then that vision can be achieved that much more quickly. If Yellowhead goes ahead with its proposed Harper Creek mine, then that vision could happen very soon indeed.
Although it’s about 60 pages long, Manson’s report is well organized and easy to read. There’s no fat, as he said. Go online and check it out at District of Clearwater’s website: www.districtofclearwater.com. Alternatively, drop by the municipal office and pick up a paper copy.
Let Manson know what you like and don’t like. Deadline for comments is April 1.