News Leader News for January 9, 2007
McLAUGHLIN REVIEWS SVPS IN '06
The publisher at the News Leader invited me to review the work of the Similkameen Valley Planning Society and the economic picture during the past year. I am grateful for the invitation.
The SVPS turned three in October '06. I would like to thank residents of the Valley, our Chambers of Commerce, our municipalities and Indian Bands for leading the way in improving our economy. It took some time for the SVPS to work out what its role should be. Economic development is the job of local government, Indian Bands, business community and EDO. In 2006, I worked more closely with these key players in economic development.
Princeton has moved ahead dynamically since the election of the new Mayor and Council. The Princeton airport has a development plan that has been implemented. We might see a fuel facility there soon. That will be the start of making the airport an important economic asset. The Town has taken big steps toward recruiting investment to the industrial park.
It is wise to develop the airport and industrial park together. I believe that Princeton has many advantages that will draw outside investment. A tourism website is near completion. It looks like we may soon have a new town square. That will enhance the community for residents and visitors. The SVPS is pleased to have contributed to most of these accomplishments.
Keremeos saw a lot of residential development in 2006. A new dentist set up office. Some of the empty store fronts are active again. I worked closely with Similkameen Country (Chamber of Commerce). Those hard-working people organized their wineries and agri-tourism businesses into an association and created a guide that has won praise everywhere.
Community events hit new attendance records and brought in many visitors. The winery sector is growing and is drawing many visitors to our valley.
The Upper Similkameen Indian Band continued development of the Mascot Gold Mine and Snaza'ist Discovery Centre and continued to be active in forestry. The Lower Similkameen Indian Band's new Chief and Council have made sound business management decisions and are becoming more active in forestry and tourism.
Similkameen farmers and ranchers are mainly doing quite well. That is because they are smart at business. The ranchers survived the beef boycotts and many of our farmers grow niche products and so are not hurt by low commodity food prices.
The tourism product in the Similkameen is improved over what it was three years ago. It is important that industry work together. As a valley we have enough attractions to lure people here; divided we don't. Visitors often stay in Princeton motels, sample the attractions around Princeton and also visit the wineries, fruit stands, Mascot Gold Mine and Keremeos Grist Mill.
The Princeton Museum attracted more visitors than ever before. We have some interesting shopping in Princeton now and some great restaurants. The Mascot Gold Mine Tours are becoming famous.
On the dimmer side, the Keremeos Grist Mill lost its private sector manager. The SVPS received a grant from the BC Heritage Branch and wrote a business case analysis. It shows that the Grist Mill is a vital part of the economy and worth saving. We will know soon if the Province will assist it to get back on its feet until it can pay for itself.
This project brought $18,750 into the SVPS budget, some of which will pay for administration costs and enable us to use core funding for projects.
Across the valley housing prices continued to go up in leaps and bounds. By now I am sure most residents realize that one of our largest growth opportunities is attracting new residents to our clean and safe communities. New residents spend money and they create jobs. The benefits are not as obvious as when a new store or industry opens, but the benefits are huge according to surveys. Cawston, Olalla, Bankier, and Tulameen - everywhere you look - new residents are investing in our valley.
2006 saw the completion of projects for which the SVPS had a hand in fund-raising. The Princeton Arena addition is complete.
The KVR trailhead is paved and the roundhouse is coming along. The Youth Park in Keremeos is ready to open in the Spring.
Everywhere I look volunteer organizations are making things happen. I will not name names for fear of forgetting someone. Because I work with them, I know how tireless, how immune to frustration, are the volunteers who make our valley a better place to live.
Attracting new business investment is a priority of the SVPS. We developed a strategy for business attraction and are beginning its implementation in cooperation with our members. Much of our work in 2007 will be in business attraction.
It is not a simple task. We compete with every community in British Columbia.
I have a few concerns about the growth and development of the valley. The influx of new residents can be a good thing. It can also lead to inflated property prices, higher residential taxes and over-development of the countryside. Area H is developing a new Official Community Plan.
Areas B and G still have no land use regulations. Many communities are struggling with development problems caused by new residents.
We still have time to control their impact. The South Okanagan and upper Fraser Valley are growing exponentially. It is only a short time until development pressures spill over into our valley.
There is no land available for industrial development in the Lower Valley. I believe that if there was serviceable land available, then Keremeos - Olalla - Cawston would attract business investment that is going into the South Okanagan.
The EDOs of the entire Okanagan have formed a Society that has attracted some large investment. The SVPS is not an active part of that Society because we do not have the money to contribute.
That brings me to another problem. Our economic development budget for the entire valley is $82,000 a year. Merritt spends four times that and anyone can see the results.
If we want economic growth, we have to be prepared to invest in it. An additional 40-50 thousand dollars would be leveraged with Provincial and private sector money to add enormously to our ability to do ED projects.
The Similkameen lags behind many rural areas in terms of high speed internet service. Many of the types of business we might hope to attract need the latest in internet technology.
Don't anyone get mad at me, but I am concerned about the unevenness in customer service in our retail sector. A closely related problem is the amount of out-of-valley shopping. I challenge our retail sector to work together to be innovative and to provide service that gives our communities a positive reputation and encourages our residents to spend more of their dollars at home.
The forest industry is the biggest sector in the Valley. Our Weyerhaeuser mill is one of the most efficient and continues to operate at full speed despite low lumber prices. Our value-added wood industry employs more than 150 workers and is well managed and entrepreneurial. But there are bugs in them thar hills that threaten the supply of fibre.
It might be a good idea for local governments to work with the forestry sector and prepare for any hardships that may lie ahead.
The biggest economic news in our valley is the proposed Compliance Energy power plant. I am staying out of the controversy because I see the issue actively debated in the press and among the public. A development as large and conspicuous as the Compliance plant will have far-reaching impacts on our economy, some positive and some negative.
I think it is good that many people are taking the time to look at both sides of the debate and I hope that whatever decision is made is based on facts and sound judgement.
I wish everyone a happy, prosperous new year.
EASTERN STAR STAMP PROGRAM CONTINUES
It has been some time since I have written an article on our Used Stamp activities. Although, the Cancer Dressing Station has closed in Princeton we are still operating in Keremeos where our Princeton members have affiliated.
As you are now aware the Princeton Light & Power office closed December 31, 2006 where the staff generously allowed people to drop off their Used Stamps for our programs. I have been advised that there will be some staff members working in the office for awhile and they will watch for your donations of stamps, but they will not be available for long.
It was with a sense of relief and gratitude when George Elliott of The Similkameen News Leader stepped forward with the offer of his office to act as a collection depot for us in place of Princeton Light & Power. He will deliver these stamps to me weekly and we can continue to count on the funds received from their sale for our cancer work.
For those readers who are unfamiliar with our collection of Used Stamps used in the fight against cancer, all stamps on your everyday mail are eligible to assist us in our efforts to "Stamp Out Cancer".
Since 1954 the Order of Eastern Star members have collected, trimmed, sorted and found purchasers for these stamps. The money realized from the sales go directly to the B.C. Cancer Agency. We then use the funds on deposit to purchase material to make dressings for all cancer patients who may require them and are supplied free-of-charge upon your doctor's orders. A percentage of the funds collected this way goes towards research.
Definitive stamps Queen's head, Flags, Parliament Buildings, etc are sold by the pound. Did you know that 7,000 of these stamps are required to make one pound? I have always wondered what dedicated Sister found the time to count out the stamps so that we could obtain the best possible monetary return for our cancer efforts,
With Christmas card season nearing an end, please take a few minutes to think of us and our work and cut the stamps from your envelopes leaving at least a 1Z2" of paper around the outside. Place them in an envelope, mark them "Used Stamps" and drop at The News Leader office. All stamps are welcome. Any post cards you care to donate are welcome also. For Keremeos and area donations, please call (250) 499-2702 for directions.
Season's Greetings to all of you and all the best for the New Year.
Many thanks to all the businesses, school children, and residents who have provided us with their stamps. A special thank you to the Staff of Princeton Light & Power for the use of their office over the years as a collection depot.
We shall miss you!!
