Williams Lake, B.C. – One year after the Mount Polley tailings pond breach, and the mood today in Williams Lake is a positive one.

“One year later, the approval has been given to do at least a partial opening ( of the mine) so we decided we were going to do a rally in support of the workers” says Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb. “We’re going to get them back to work , we’re going to get the mine reopened.”

The rally this afternoon at 5 at Boitanio park has been organized by the United Steelworkers, which represents the workers at the mine.(see previous story)  It will be a celebration says Cobb “We want to celebrate the work that’s been done, the Ministry, the mine’s been involved in making sure all the ‘i’s’ are dotted and t’s crossed to make sure that when they do open, it will be safe and secure.”

The closure of the mine threw 400 out of work, and the partial start up will see about half that workforce heading back to the job.

Just last week, the Ministry of the Environment released a report on phase one of the remediation of the damage from the tailings pond breach that sent millions of cubic meters of water and tailings thundering down Hazeltine Creek into Quesnel Lake.   Mayor Cobb says he is satisfied with all the work that has been done in the wake of that disaster “I think it’s been an extensive process, it took a little longer than we had hoped because of the work of course, but I’m understanding it’s done, everything is up to standard and we can safely reopen the mine on a half production level until they can get the rest of the work done to ensure the tailings pond is more secure.”

He says long term concerns are being addressed by the water management plan for the site, “I have full confidence that the Ministry of Environment and the people involved are going to do what’s necessary to make sure, and I’m sure the mine is too, they don’t wnt things like this to happen again, so I’m sure there will be more precautions put in place than there ever was before which is not a bad thing.”

So the community is invited to gather at the park at 5, have a burger, and as Mayor Cobb says “champion the cause”  to make sure the workers know the community will continue to support them,  celebrate the return to work, but at the same time, recognize there are still about 200 who are off the job.   He says the rally should give the mine a little encouragement “To get on with it now, and get these guys back to work.”   He says the mood in the community right now is upbeat “And we need to keep the momentum going to ensure this ( return to work) actually does take place.”