Burns Lake councillors Michael Riis-Christianson and John Illes say they felt energized after a rural development conference held earlier this summer in Kelowna.
They are now hoping to apply some of the empowering lessons they learned during the conference to Burns Lake’s diversification project, which has been underway since the start of the year.
“For me, this conference reinforced the belief that the keys to our future prosperity can be found here at home,” said Riis-Christianson.
During the conference, Riis-Christianson said he learned that instead of asking, “What’s wrong and how do we fix it?” municipalities should ask, “What’s worked and how do we get more of it?”
The ‘keeping it rural 2017’ conference gave attendees access to small-town economic development specialists from across North America and Australia. Peter Kenyon of Australia, who has facilitated economic renewal in more than 1000 communities around the world, opened the conference and provided the keynote address.
Kenyon is a strong proponent of ‘asset based community economic development’ (ABCD), an approach to economic renewal based on community-driven initiatives.
“Where traditional community development has taken a ‘top-down, outside-in’ approach to address community needs, ABCD focuses on community strengths, capacities, assets and opportunities,” explained Riis-Christianson. “At the heart of this philosophy are community pride and the importance and power of collaboration, networking and relationships.”
“I feel that the ABCD approach to community/economic development holds the key to our success,” he added.
Following Riis-Christianson’s recommendation, the Village of Burns Lake sought consultants that use ABCD principals for its economic diversification project.
In addition, Riis-Christianson stressed that small communities need to be constantly adapting.
“Burns Lake is an incredible community, and currently a prosperous one; however, communities that don’t adapt to change likely won’t be successful in the long-term,” he said.
“Kenyon firmly believes that the keys to transformational change can always be found within citizens,” he added. “Every single person has capabilities, abilities, gifts and ideas, and living the good life depends on whether those capacities can be used, abilities expressed, gifts given and ideals shared.”
The committee that will drive the new ideas forward - made up of local business owners, community members, First Nations representatives and village council members - still hasn’t been chosen. The 11 committee members are expected to be chosen and hold their first meeting by September 2017.
Earlier this year the village secured over $115,000 from grants and its own funds to develop this project.