Powell River has earned national recognition for working cooperatively with Catalyst Paper Corporation.
The Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) has presented the City of Powell River with its 2011 Willis Award for Innovation for the city’s agreement in principle and business plan with Catalyst. The award was presented on June 1 at CAMA’s national conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. CAMA is a national network and voice of senior municipal administrators.
The award recognizes how the city worked cooperatively with Catalyst to amicably negotiate an agreement over taxation concerns, to keep a major employer in operation and to identify new revenue streams to replace lost taxes, all in the face of a steady decline in the pulp and paper industry, according to a CAMA release.
“CAMA is pleased to recognize the innovation and administrative excellence demonstrated by the City of Powell River in this regard,” said Jacques Des Ormeaux, CAMA president, director-at-large and general manager of the City of Bromont, Quebec. “Congratulations to both parties for thinking outside the box in matters of economic survival and making a sustainable future their priority.”
A total of 45 award submissions were received from communities across Canada.
The Willis Award for innovation, awarded in recognition of Jack Willis for his contribution to CAMA, is presented for programs, projects or services that demonstrate exceptional innovation or meritorious initiative.
