The town is abuzz with numerous ideas to help those that have been effected by the tragedy at Babine Forest Products on Jan. 20, 2012.

So many people have stepped up to help with various initiatives including a jobs fair to be held this week.

I think Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad was correct when he said that the community should combine their efforts and focus on just one jobs fair.

It is great that everyone is pitching in to help, especially because everyone has a common goal, but it may be more successful if everyone could harness all the positive energy, combine their efforts and work together.

The last two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, so much has happened so quickly.

It is only natural to want to know all the answers and have solutions in place, but you have to remember that ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’.

A little cliche, yes, but it is a cliche for very good reason.

The investigation is going to take months. If Hampton Affiliates  decide to rebuild, it is going to take up to two years - and that’s after the investigation has wrapped up.

To put it more in perspective on the length of time it takes to rebuild and recover after a disaster ... the town of Slave Lake in Alberta was decimated by wildfire in May 2011.

Nearly one year later the town is still recovering.

Many in the community of Slave Lake are still living in temporary trailer style housing, which many were still waiting to arrive in the community as late as September 2011.

As of November the municipality had issued only 155 development permits, while some are still waiting on insurance claims to be processed.

In August 2003,  the Tolko Mill in Barriere was a casualty of a wildfire that ripped through the town.

The loss of the mill left more than 180  employees out of work. Eight years later, in July 2011 the former Tolko Mill site was developed into an industrial park by the municipality.

I know the business sector is worried about what the impact this disaster is going to have on them.

At a chamber meeting the other night they said the impact of this disaster on local business may not be felt for a couple months.

So let’s start now by giving the best service ever and let’s be competitive with our prices ... that will be one step in a positive direction.

Not only that, when you give good service you feel good and you make the customer feel good too.

All things take time. It also helps to stay positive and the biggest thing is to work together.