While the economy of Powell River has stabilized in 2012, somewhat with the success of Catalyst Paper Corporation’s movement out of creditor protection, on a wider scale there appears to be growing concern about the United States and its so-called fiscal cliff.
In April, while Catalyst was working on a restructuring plan, the company reached a century of producing paper. Celebrations were muted because of the pending obstacles to the company’s future. Once everything had worked out, there was a happier celebration in September.
At one time, Catalyst employed 2,600 people compared to 420 today. However, those jobs remain an important economic driver, as do the taxes that the company pays to the City of Powell River, albeit at a reduced amount.
The company has been hiring both management and union employees, which is a positive change.
For more than 100 years, the path of the company and the community has wound through ups and downs. Looking back on 2012, we expect the most dramatic down has disappeared and the two entities are now travelling on a long-term upward journey.
Another constant in the lives of citizens and businesses of Powell River and Texada Island is BC Ferries. It continues to affect one of the largest of the most ferry-dependent communities in BC. Since the 1950s, when people finally were able to travel to Vancouver by road via two ferries and later, when a route opened to Vancouver Island, life has revolved around when the next ferry leaves or arrives. Businesses depend on shipping and receiving goods, people use ferries for pleasure or medical purposes, teams host or travel for games, visitors come to enjoy what the area has to offer. All have been affected by rising fares. Now they are being faced with the prospect of reduced service levels.
Getting the attention of people who make decisions regarding ferries’ operations remains difficult. Having them understand concerns, even more so. Ferry advisory committees along the coast press on with their message, none more vocal than Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee, that ferries are an extension of highways. It is a battle that will continue into next year and beyond.
Living in Powell River means accepting that we have some advantages and disadvantages, not unlike other communities. Nowhere is access more critical to daily living for such a large number of people.
Most important is that we work together to accomplish our common goals. We recognize that we are a collection of different human beings and we need to be tolerant of our differences. We don’t all have the same opinions on many things but we need to express those opinions in a way that is respectful of our neighbours.
