Editor:
I just wanted to update everyone and say how much I appreciated everyone for your care and support. I would also like to apologize to our community band members and residents of the Lakes District for the behaviour of a few people, for any inconvenience, or stress this may have caused you, your families.
I'm deeply saddened by the actions of a few people who keep us from doing the work that will not only help our community members, our band as a whole, but everyone in the Lakes District. Over the past year we've been working very hard on a new project to create a camp manufacturing facility here in Burns Lake.
The plan is to situate the facility beside Babine Forest Products, as this would be ideal to access building materials and provides rail access as well.
Last October we hired Myers Norris Penny (MNP) from Vancouver to conduct a feasibility study for us. I've received that study and it came back very positive. As a result we have authorized MNP to begin developing a business plan, marketing and human resources strategy, and labour market assessment.
We have also presented the proposed business concept to two camp manufacturing facilities already in operation to determine their level of interest in forming a partnership and work to date has again been very positive.
This project would create minimally 100 new jobs, building worker accommodations camps for the oil, gas, mining and other exploration industries.
We are also getting closer to the launch of our hotel project with concept drawings completed and working on finalizing those costs.
We completed phase one of the reconstruction of our gas bar and convenience store, phase two will be adding new pumps and additional tanks for capacity and a new canopy over the pumps. We expanded to full serve at self serve prices, employing 10 people through this venture.
The daycare in our office when I arrived had four children and five staff and due to a significant deficit, we had to close the daycare temporarily.
We have the finances back on track and since re opening, our daycare is the facility of choice in Burns Lake, full to capacity with 23 children and creating 12 full and part time jobs.
The very small group of people who are opposing us put all this in jeopardy. Parents are very concerned for their children's safety, staffs are concerned as well.
I am deeply disturbed by this type of activity, when every action we are focused on is geared to helping everyone, including those who oppose us.
I have worked tirelessly to be inclusive, get the band finances back in order, and build a solid economic and social foundation for this and future generations. I have reached out to all in our band and the broader community to build partnerships to benefit all.
We hold weekly staff meetings, monthly open community band meetings, and give regular updates on all our work. Some, for their own reasons, choose not to participate.
I will continue as chief to reach out to them and all our members to improve the lives of all.
With all respect,
Chief Albert L. Gerow
Burns Lake Band