A new economy for Cranbrook

My name is Wayne Stetski and I want to work full time for you as Mayor of Cranbrook.

One of my priorities is to work collaboratively with you to build a new economy for Cranbrook. Why – because we cannot continue to base our economic growth on gated subdivisions designed to be retirement villages and secondary recreational homes. These are an important part of the mix, and we need to see Shadow Mountain and Wildstone/Boulder Creek successful, but we need a diversified 21st Century economy to move our community forward. How do we do that? By capitalizing on our considerable assets, and we are truly blessed!

We live in a world-class environment rich with scenery and wildlife – in many ways we’re Better Than Banff! People come from all over the world to see what we get to enjoy every day. The Rockies, and to a lesser extent the Purcell Mountains, are well known world-class attractions for tourists.

We are the sunniest city in British Columbia! Let me say that again – we are the sunniest city in British Columbia!

We have a rich First Nation’s culture and European settlement history, which is of great interest particularly in Europe.

We can ship products anywhere by air, rail or highway or electronically over the Internet right from Cranbrook.

We have an excellent, and growing, regional college and hospital.

Recreational opportunities abound in the East Kootenay – golfing, Nordic and alpine and helicopter skiing, mountain biking, hiking, the North Star Rails to Trails linking Kimberley and Cranbrook and bringing us together, motorized recreation in the form of snowmobiling and quading, fishing and hunting, river rafting, climbing Fisher Peak, camping – the list goes on!

We have a forest industry that provides fine quality pulp and paper and, along with grassland ecosystem restoration projects, provides wood waste.

We are fortunate to have a community full of talented musicians and artists.

Cranbrook is growing in cultural diversity and richness – worth celebrating for sure!

So what can we do with these assets? Here are some strategies I’d like to work on collaboratively to move Cranbrook forward.

Tourism

Summer and winter packages that combine our incredible outdoor recreation activities, our First Nation’s culture, Ft. Steele, and wildlife viewing, featuring B.C.’s Rocky Mountains. We can test market these world-class products on the families and friends of our international students attending Mount Baker Secondary and the College of the Rockies, and then firm them up through Tourism Rockies. In many ways we are better than Banff! This also fits with Premier Clark’s recent announcement that the province wants to increase tourism revenues by 5% per year focusing on ecotourism, skiing and snowboarding, aboriginal tourism and outdoor adventure.

“New” energy

Capitalize on the fact that we are the sunniest city in British Columbia by investing in solar energy technology and working towards becoming a Centre for Excellence in Solar Energy for B.C.

Utilize wood waste by-products from our excellent forest industry and from grassland ecosystem restoration projects to produce bio-energy. The province’s grant to the Ktunaxa last week to explore this opportunity is a great start. Recent trade trips to Asia by city staff could also be helpful in the future.

College of the Rockies

Work with the province and the college to encourage the development of courses and expertise in new forms of clean energy, which will “generate” new employment opportunities in future.

Work towards the college becoming a more comprehensive educational institution offering additional university level degrees, keeping our kids here longer.

Increase the number of international students at the college and Mt. Baker – they enrich our lives as well as our economy (another provincially supported initiative).

Attracting new businesses

Collaborate with other East Kootenay communities in a marketing program directed at businesses in Calgary, Kelowna and Vancouver to get them to relocate to our region. Many of them would choose Cranbrook because of our airport, hospital, college, rail and road opportunities. Use tax breaks and other incentives along with lifestyle.

More…(short on space, not ideas!)

Cultural, art and music festivals; downtown revitalization and condo development; new welcoming entrances to Cranbrook; replacing Mt. Baker School with a neighborhood learning centre; Tax breaks for new businesses that locate here and hire youth at a Livable Wage.

For more information on what I’d like to achieve for Cranbrook with your help please go to: www.stetski.com

Wayne Stetski

Cranbrook / www.stetski.com

Article Share