One week has gone by from the devastation at Babine Forest Products and a number of initiatives have already been put in place.

With Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Minister Pat Bell in town last week, saying he鈥檚 鈥渜uite optimistic鈥� that finding the fibre that will allow Hampton Affiliates to rebuild the Babine Forest Products mill won鈥檛 be a problem, there does seem to be a glimmer of light on the horizon.

Steve Zika, Hampton Affiliates CEO has also repeatedly said that the company would prefer to rebuild the mill so we will just have to wait patiently for the multitude of investigations to wrap up and everything to unfold. The government is also working with Hampton Affiliates, which is positive.

So much has been accomplished already.

Community meetings have been held, updates are flowing in on a regular basis and the government have snapped into action to put plans in place aimed at helping the displaced mill workers get back on their feet.

Donations have also flooded in to the 亚洲天堂 Lake Tragedy Fund, which was organized so quickly.

The community should not only be thankful that these generous donations have come in, but also appreciative of those that are volunteering to make sure the money is distributed in a way that will help the employees of Babine Forest Products the most.

亚洲天堂 Lake seems to be in the hearts and on the minds of many. Just take a look at the comments left at the Lakes District 亚洲天堂 website at www.ldnews.net. Comments have come in from across Canada the United States and further abroad.

It is so wonderful to see how the community has bonded together. It really does reinforce why people choose to make 亚洲天堂 Lake their home. As Chief Albert Gerow so aptly put it last week, 鈥榃e are all family here in 亚洲天堂 Lake.鈥�

Lake Babine Nation should also be commended for opening their doors at the Margaret Patrick Memorial Hall to the community. It is a great centre of support for those that need it.

亚洲天堂 of available jobs is also positive. According to MLA John Rustad there is jobs available at mines and other mills in the area and in the short term, until a decision is made on the future of Babine Forest Products is made, this could be a source of employment for many of the Babine Forest Products employees.

There is also a local jobs fair on the horizon, which will also be a great help for those looking for work, and equally for employers looking for employees.

We all have to stay positive and not give up hope, after all.

鈥淗ope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers.鈥� Robert Green Ingersoll, American orator (1833 - 1899)