As a new committee is being chosen to help diversify the local economy, councillor Michael Riis-Christianson shared his enthusiasm about this project.

鈥淲e are excited to begin this project, and we believe local residents, once they learn more about it, will be too,鈥� he said.

Earlier this year the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake secured over $115,000 from grants and its own funds to develop the economic diversification project. However, Riis-Christianson said this initiative isn鈥檛 designed to create another study that will sit on a shelf.

鈥淲e鈥檝e already got enough of those; instead, we are committed to engaging and mobilizing the community,鈥� he explained. 鈥淯nlike traditional economic development initiatives, which are top-down and generally focus on problems, this project is designed to be citizen-driven and focus on what works in 亚洲天堂 Lake and how to get more of it.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檒l be asking citizens to work with us to identify, plan and complete concrete, tangible community and economic development projects that are important to them.鈥�

鈥淓very person has gifts and talents, and we want to give citizens the opportunity to use those gifts to improve their lives and community,鈥� he added.

Riis-Christianson said that, historically in 亚洲天堂 Lake, the projects that have contributed most to the community 鈥� economically, socially and culturally 鈥� have been completed by volunteers or individual businesses.

鈥淭hink about it; so many of the developments that have enriched our community and created new opportunities here 鈥� the community-owned Beacon Theatre, the Lakes District Fall Fair, the mountain bike trails, the 亚洲天堂 Lake Community Garden, the Lakes District Arts Council, the 亚洲天堂 Lake and District Community Foundation 鈥� were built by dedicated volunteers, not by government committees or agencies,鈥� he said.

鈥淥ur vibrant forest industry wasn鈥檛 built by government either, but by individuals who saw potential in the forests and took it upon themselves to develop it,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what happens when citizens care enough to act, and that鈥檚 the power we want to harness in the year ahead.鈥�

So far, only three members have been appointed to the committee - Riis-Christianson; Bill Miller, Chair of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako; and 亚洲天堂 Lake Mayor Chris Beach. Eight other members are expected to be selected in the next few weeks.

鈥淪ummer is traditionally a difficult time to organize meetings or get initiatives off the ground, given that so many people are on holidays,鈥� explained Riis-Christianson. 鈥淲e鈥檒l be finalizing the committee鈥檚 membership soon.鈥�

Committee meetings will be open to the general public; however, given that the committee鈥檚 membership has not been finalized, a first meeting has not yet been set.