As a new committee is being chosen to help diversify the local economy, councillor Michael Riis-Christianson shared his enthusiasm about this project.
“We are excited to begin this project, and we believe local residents, once they learn more about it, will be too,” he said.
Earlier this year the Village of Burns Lake secured over $115,000 from grants and its own funds to develop the economic diversification project. However, Riis-Christianson said this initiative isn’t designed to create another study that will sit on a shelf.
“We’ve already got enough of those; instead, we are committed to engaging and mobilizing the community,” he explained. “Unlike traditional economic development initiatives, which are top-down and generally focus on problems, this project is designed to be citizen-driven and focus on what works in Burns Lake and how to get more of it.”
“We’ll be asking citizens to work with us to identify, plan and complete concrete, tangible community and economic development projects that are important to them.”
“Every person has gifts and talents, and we want to give citizens the opportunity to use those gifts to improve their lives and community,” he added.
Riis-Christianson said that, historically in Burns Lake, the projects that have contributed most to the community – economically, socially and culturally – have been completed by volunteers or individual businesses.
“Think about it; so many of the developments that have enriched our community and created new opportunities here – the community-owned Beacon Theatre, the Lakes District Fall Fair, the mountain bike trails, the Burns Lake Community Garden, the Lakes District Arts Council, the Burns Lake and District Community Foundation – were built by dedicated volunteers, not by government committees or agencies,” he said.
“Our vibrant forest industry wasn’t built by government either, but by individuals who saw potential in the forests and took it upon themselves to develop it,” he continued. “That’s what happens when citizens care enough to act, and that’s the power we want to harness in the year ahead.”
So far, only three members have been appointed to the committee - Riis-Christianson; Bill Miller, Chair of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako; and Burns Lake Mayor Chris Beach. Eight other members are expected to be selected in the next few weeks.
“Summer is traditionally a difficult time to organize meetings or get initiatives off the ground, given that so many people are on holidays,” explained Riis-Christianson. “We’ll be finalizing the committee’s membership soon.”
Committee meetings will be open to the general public; however, given that the committee’s membership has not been finalized, a first meeting has not yet been set.