Provincial officials talk aquaculture park and trails

Provincial government officials visited Powell River last week to find out more about the community and proposed economic development projects.

Shanna Mason, assistant deputy minister, and Nygil Goggins, regional manager, from the ministry of jobs, tourism and skills training, met with City of Powell

River Mayor Dave Formosa and Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation Chief Clint Williams, as well as other community representatives, on Tuesday, November 12.

Formosa said Mason was in a meeting with Shirley Bond, minister of jobs, tourism and skills training, and city officials at the annual UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) conference in September. Powell River representatives were explaining about PRSC Ltd. lands, the city’s partnership with Tla’amin, the proposed aquaculture project and other projects for the lands, Formosa said. Mason expressed an interest and said she would like to visit Powell River.

The city is exploring establishing an aquatic industries park in conjunction with Tla’amin. The proposal centres on about 40 hectares (100 acres) of undeveloped waterfront land owned by PRSC next to Catalyst Paper Corporation’s Powell River division.

Mason and Goggins viewed the property and discussed the project with Formosa and Scott Randolph, Powell River Regional Economic Development Society manager.

Later in the afternoon, Mason and Goggins met with Eagle Walz, president of Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society and vice-president of Tourism Powell River, Bob Timms, Tourism Powell River president, Paul Kamon, Tourism Powell River marketing director, and Councillor Russell Brewer, as well as Formosa and Randolph, to talk about the impact logging plans have on trails in the community, particularly the Sunshine Coast Trail.

Trails are part of economic development within the community, Formosa said, as is tourism. “We just spent the last hour or more talking about issues on the trails and the value of that asset, versus also the great values of logging that we tend to respect here in this community,” he said. “We’re in the process of setting up some kind of integration of industry and government.”

Local officials from the ministry of forests, lands and natural resource operations will be involved in the conversation, Formosa said. “We’ll start having a discussion about this issue and hopefully working towards some kind of compromise,” he said.

Mason said it was inspiring to see the partnership between the community and first nations, as well as the vision and passion for growing the community and supporting development in a way that is respectful and balances the interests of first nations and other key stakeholders. “You have a ton of great assets, the location, the industry that you already have established, the focus on international education and growing that side of it, as well as the growth in tourism,” she said. “It’s fantastic and I think the future is bright for Powell River.”

Walz told Mason he was pleased with the meeting. “We’re totally delighted that you are here in Powell River and shown us opportunities to work together that will lead to mutually beneficial results and will help Powell River grow.”