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Should Burns Lake become a town?

Find out what would be the advantages and disadvantages of Burns Lake becoming a town.
Should Burns Lake become a town?
The population demarcation between a village and a town is 2500. The total population used to determine municipal classification in Burns Lake is 2385

The Village of Burns Lake could soon be meeting the requirements to become a town.

According to the 2011 census, the total population of Burns Lake is 2029. However, this number excludes First Nations living within the village’s boundaries.

According to the provincial government, the population used to determine municipal classification for the Village of Burns Lake includes residents of three subdivisions - Burns Lake, Woyenne and Sheraton Creek Indian reserves; since 356 individuals reside on these reserves, the total population used to determine municipal classification is 2385.

The population demarcation between a village and a town is 2500, and the next census is taking place this month, with results reported in the spring of 2017.

Burns Lake councillor John Illes said he would be “softly in favour of a change.”

“I think being a town would have some advantages for economic development and tourism,” he said. “People are often attracted to larger centres that have an immediate wilderness surrounding them.”

Illes said a disadvantage would be the cost to replace any signage, as well as the cost of staff time involved in the municipality’s name change on legal documents.

“For costs we would have to think of any signage that has ‘village of…’ on it and cost that out,” he explained.

Illes added that he didn’t think the change from village to town would make it easier for the municipality to acquire grants and other sources of funding.

Burns Lake Mayor Luke Strimbold said becoming a town could help attract more businesses.

“Sometimes there is a perception by investors that the term ‘village’ means too small to do business,” he said.

On the other hand, Strimbold pointed out that the Village of Burns Lake has been incorporated for 93 years, which means the name of the community has a lot of history.

“Locals may see the title ‘Village of Burns Lake’ as part of our history,” he said.

Strimbold also explained that if Burns Lake became a town, there would be no change in the number of councillors.

“Villages and towns are required to have councils of a minimum of five [people] - four councillors and one mayor -,” explained Strimbold. “This [number] only changes if the community applies to be a district or city, then additional councillors may be required.”

Although this topic has been discussed by village council, there has been no formal requests from council or the public to complete a review of the process.

In order to submit a request for reclassification, village council first needs to obtain approval from its electors, which can be obtained through a public referendum.

B.C.’s cabinet may approve a change in classification despite insufficient population if the change is determined to be in the public interest.

Changing from a village to a town is largely symbolic, as there are no meaningful differences in municipal powers or oversight between villages and towns.

The last village to be reclassified as a town in B.C. was Oliver in 1990.