Mackenzie Battling For Its Survival

By Michelle Cyr-Whiting

Mackenzie Mayor Stephanie Killam says the community has rallied together and "hit the ground running" in a bid for its very survival, in light of Canfor’s announcement last month that it was closing its sawmill in the community indefinitely in August.

Prince George-North MLA Pat Bell has been meeting with Canfor to discuss ways of keeping the mill open and earlier this month, residents turned out in force to an information session on the proposed closure. (click here, for previous story)

Speaking to her colleagues at yesterday’s meeting of the Fraser Fort George Regional District’s Board of Directors, Killam says the small community of 4500 is not standing idly by.  "We had a meeting down here in Prince George with members of the Community Development Institute of UNBC, the Geography faculty, Ministry of Community Services and the Ministry of Forests."

Killam says, while here, her group also met with 16 different agencies organizations to see if they could provide any assistance. 

"The three key messages we gave were:  that Mackenzie is taking ownership and moving forward;  that we have a solid and diverse forest basket and resource base, which will support us in the long-term for growth;  and, finally, that our strength is in the resilience of our people."

The Mayor says short-, medium-, and long-term goals were discussed and she listed the projects currently being pursued:

• a level-market partnership with Service Canada
• tourism development and marketing strategies
• economic development and marketing strategies
• partnerships to generate more mineral exploration in the area
• efforts to attract more trades training in the community
• increased partnerships with local First Nations

"We’re also researching ways to upgrade the road linking Fort St. James and ourselves for future development in tourism and we’ve hired a four-month grant writer through the NDI Trust."

Killam closed her remarks by saying, "There are other things that are happening, as well, but we are going and we’re going strong, and we will continue."

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