Program boosts tourism The Kootenay Country Tourist Association was formed if March 1985 and replaced the Kootenay Boundary Visitor's Association, As one of the nine tourist associations, KCTA’s mandate is essentially the marketing of exisiting ‘*front line’’ tourism products in the West Kootenay. The association is responsible for the delivery of the Partners in Tourism program to KCTA members on behalf of the ministry. Through conversion studies, the association has con- cluded that this very innovative program is not only enjoying an ex- tremely high rate of success, but was pivotal in terms of re-addressing the needs in short-haul markets. Five years ago, the B.C. Ministry of Tourism introduced the Partners in Tourism program to the province. It was designed to be private-sector driven and to assist the front-line operators to effectively market their tourism product. Flexibility was built into the program so as not to miss opportunities as they present them- selves. As the program matured, guidelines were adjusted and/or clarified to the benefit of the operators. The program has met with resounding success here in the Kootenays. Never before has the area had such a focus on how best to market its tourism product. The figures speak for themselves. > ‘According to statistics compiled by the Ministry of Finance, based on accommodation room-tax expen- ditures, the West Kootenay has done very well. Kootenay Country has the third-largest increase in the province relative to the other tourism regions. Since the introduction of Partners in Tourism in 1985, the KCTA has en- joyed an increase in room rental ex- penditures of 56 per cent. Neighbors to the east, using comparative per- centages, were up 16 per cent and the Okanagan to the west is up 42 per cent. The responsibility for the success of Partners in Tourism must be equally shared by the private sector, provincial government and regional tourism associations. The key player in this essential trio is the private sec- tor. “By now I am sure that everyone realizes that Partners in Tourism is not a government grant program,” KCTA regional manager Roy Shields said. ‘‘It is a vehicle for our tourism operators to effectively double their marketing budgets. A good example of the effectiveness of cooperative marketing is our golf product. Five years ago, when the KCTA first developed golf packages, | will take a guess and say we sold 1,500. room nights. This past season we sold an excess of 8,000 room nights right off the packages. It all starts with private sector placing a dollar in the pot. “From a creative standpoint, we have been able to reduce substan- tially the identity crisis in the marketplace. Using Kootenay Coun- Machine and Chrome Ltd. Castlegar Machine and Chrome Ltd> started out with two employees in February 1988 and now employs six full-time employees and one part-time worker. Last year, the company added to and renovated its building at 920 Columbia Ave. to increase the working area to $,500 square feet and to accommodate more stock and steel supplies. Castlegar Machine and Brent Campeau works one of the machin Expansion marks company’s growth it Castlegar Chrome provides _ general machining, hard chrome plating, portable line boring, automatic tracing torch, municipal welding and fabricating, water pump repair and installation, hydraulic rod and cylinder repair and man- ufacturing, drive-shaft repair and steel sales. The company’s qualified per- sonnel offer 24-hour service and quality workmanship with a pleasant attitude at competitive rates. Hospital new faci One quick glance at the Castlegar and District Hospital is all that’s needed to see what progress it’s made over the past year. Taking up half a block on 10th Street next to the hospital is the newly constructed long-term care facility, created to help meet Castlegar’s growing need for inter- mediate and extended care. The $6.65 million project will house 60 beds, 35 for intermediate- care residents and 25 for extended- care residentsg This facility is expec- ted to oven Ms The enti facility will staff 50 to 55 full-time equivalent employees, he said. Some will be transferring from the extended health care unit at the hospital, which will close once the new facility opens. However, there will be new jobs as a result of the opening. “In a net gain situation, we would be looking at 35 to 40 positions,” Talarico -said, adding that these positions are part of ongoing iatis with Victoria over the try as the umbrella has increased our "s and ge of our various attractions and even- ts’? Research clearly shows that residents of key near-in markets such as Alberta, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, respond much more effectively with regional collec- tive marketing initiatives than they do with stand-alone ads. Other programs include land usage policies, attending trade and travel shows, hosting FAM tours and the general distribution and fulfilment of inquiries with tourism literature. new operating budget. Public support has helped the facility with items not covered by the Ministry of Health or the Regional District of Central Kootenay which funded 60 per cent and 40 per cent of the new facility respectively. The Castlegar Legion, Selkirk Lions, the Castlegar Hospital Ladies’ Auxiliary and the Kinnaird Women’s Institute are just a few of the con- tributors to non-funded items such as televisions, patio furniture and transportation. to open ity soon Helping to put the whole project into gear is Linda Moorlag, director of the new facility. She stepped into her position in January of this year, bringing with her many years of ex- perience and a compassionate philosophy about geriatric care. Overall, the hospital had a suc- cessful year, operating closer to its 1990-91 budget than it did the previous year. “At the moment we're close to being on budget, but we are forecasting a small deficit in the $30,000 to $35,000 range,’’ Talarico said. The deficit for the 1989-90 year was $56,500. The hospital's fiscal year ends March 31, and~the ad- ministrator expects to see the 1990-91 financial reports sometime in late . May. And while the extended-care facility created most of the activity at the hospital this past year, Talarico predicts increased activity everywhere at the hospital this year. “We're predicting an increase in activity at the hospital with Celgar going through, simply because there are more people,’’ he said. ‘‘We're predicting an increase in outpatient and diagnostic patients . . . and in inpatient activity as well.’’ On the flip side of increased ac- tivity is an increased workload on the staff, and Talarico expects that will be adjusted accordingly. “Our facilities are adequate to cope with an increased workload, but staffing on the other hand may have to be adjusted.” MARTE CH ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS LIMITED ~ THE POWER BEHIND THE PROJECT PROUD PARTICIPANTS OF THE PULP MILL EXPANSION Castlegar 365-2115 1700 Woodland Drive Nelson 352-5422 Box 3403, Castlegar, B.C. VIN 3N8 Fax 365-2102 will now be called Selkirk Paving Ltd. (604) 359-7281 Main (604) 352-4002 Mobile *DRIVEWAYS * PARKING LOTS *¢ GRAVEL * GRADING ¢ PAVING FREE ESTIMATES 17 Years of Service Westwood Electric Serving the Wood Products Industry in Castlegar Since 1978 * Comptete Sawmill Design and Installation Engineer ring Programs Manufacturing * On-Site installation 3k Borden, President avian’ ‘Svenson, Branch Menager javin Bert, Marketing 887 Fairweather Place, Vernon, B.C. V1T 8T8 Phone 542-5481 » Fax 542-8586 Wizard’s Palace Arcade * ARCADE ¢ BILLIARD & SNOOKER TABLES « MR. POP HARRY ZAITSOFF Phone 365-3237 1005 Second St., Castlegar 1 CLEAN-SCENE CARPET CLEANERS Trail 368-6333 Free Estimates 969 ALSO SPECIALIZING IN Water & Fire Damage Restoration” 2906 Columbia Ave. Castlegar, B.C. ViN 2X9 MILEN PIEZEATRICH Owner 5 Years of Service Selkirk Remanufacturing ¢ Cedar r Siding Panelling & * Custom Planing an a * Bevel and ar emenel come and G veomnter ° “Fini ing Pine & g Gedar Products * Dimensional Lumber Roneieg * Posts « Beams nane.rewrenners i VIN oHT 18 Years of Service Regional ctronic Patrol Services Ltd. West Kootenay’s oldest security co. ° allt oad gf alarm systems urglai — Intru: on © 24 Hour Call * Private Investigation Services DAVID CUMMI 359-7492 /352-6012 (Pager 46) R.R. No. 1, Site 4, C 12 Crescent Valley, B.C. VOG 1HO 15 Years of Service Brakes - Exhaust - Electrical Paint Supplies 365-7248 Ez) 707-13th St., Castlegar VIN 2K6 12 Years of Service NERIDGe a) PAVING LTD. Commercial, Industrial and Residential Paving © Grading « Trucking * Filling * Compacting * Portable Drum Mix Plant © Gravel Supplies * Backhoe Service Nelson 352-7333 Trail 693-2244 » Castlegar 365-2544 RR. No. 2 Taghum Frontage Rd., Nelson, B.C. V1L 5P5 7 Years of Service WYLLIE & OKROS BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS Ken Wyllie David Okros Offices in Castlegar & Nelson Suite 100 1444 Columbia Avenue, CastlegarV1N 3K3 Phone 365-8451 5 Years of Service INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL “Saengs esATNS ¥ * CUSTOM SHEET METAL WORK CELGAR report in December recommending approval of the Celgar project. As Update 91 went to press, Celgar’s contractors were busy with site preparations. Celgar general manager Jim Browne has estimated the site preparations will take about six weeks to complete after which people will see some of the structures for the new mill going up. The workforce will peak at about 1,000. in December 1990. The approvals came in the wake of the Celgar Expansion Review Panel's final recommendations which set a number of stringent conditions Celgar is expected to meet with the project. The three-member panel, appointed in June 1990 under the Federal | in principle Construction of the new mill will generate 2,300 employee-years of work in the Castlegar area over the next two years. The new mill is expected to begin operation in the second quarter of 1993 and will provide for the continued employment of some 400 mill workers. expansion project. and Review and the provincial Major Project Review Process, held public’ hearings in Castlegar and surrounding communities last fall. The panel issued an interim: Lorne Parnell of Stone-Consolidated Inc., one of Ceigar’s parent companies, speaks at a sod turning ceremony marking the official start of construction of the The current mill will remain in production during construction. As noted in its interim report, the review panel found the proposal acceptable in principle, subject to measures to manage traffic and highway improvements. Pivotal considerations in the panel’s recommendation for approval were: © The manageability of environmental impacts of the modernized mill on air and water quality, through the adoption and performance of best available control technology incorporated in the design of the mill and the company's commitment to monitoring environmental effects and solving problems. © The scientific judgment that current accumulations of organochlorines, particularly dioxins and furans, in fish and other living organisms in the Columbia River valley, could be reduced over the long term by Celgar’s modernization. © The commitments of Celgar, Cominco, B.C. Hydro and the British Columbia government to an integrated monitoring program, with the potential involvement of the Canadian government and United States federal and state agencies. © The substantial decreases in total reduced sulphur emissions, with the resulting sharp reduction of typical pulp mill odor. © The likely closure of Celgar, if modernization does not proceed, with severe consequences to the communities and to those whose livelihood depends on Celgar, as well as the area's sawmilling, and forestry © The availability of transportation alternatives to avoid trucking of wood chips through the Slocan Valley, with possible total-public and private costs comparable to the cost of highway and traffic improvement measures which otherwise are necessary Retired Celgar Pulp Co. employees (from left) Merv Rush, Herb Woods, Jack Dunn and Ed Flynn look over oon ot the company’ 8 reports on the expansion ject at Celgar’s int hi Mill expansion, cleanup provides secure future The news nearly everybody in the West Kootenay was waiting for was finally announced Feb. 8 when the owners of Celgar Pulp Co. gave the green light to the $700 million expansion and environmental cleanup of the company’s 30-year-old Castlegar mill. The go-ahead came three days after the federal government granted approval in principle for the Project, first announced in October 190, The gave its app’ Covtinger News Wt gl mt Proj d the office to help of keep the public riaeohy pled the eg to mitigate the transportation impact of the project. © The substantial margin of wood chips and. pulp logs available, beyond the projected.requirement to support Celgar’s expansion, and the opportunity to process them into pulp in the region rather than to export or waste chips. The new mill is expected to guarantee the long- term economic stability of Castlegar and its surrounding area. “The Celgar pulp mill has provided a long-term for our stable source of Ceigar Castlegar. induced effects. yfor $0 more than 30 years,”” area,” Castlegar Chamber of Commerce president Jim Craig said. ‘‘More importantly, the modernization promises to prepare the mill for another 30 years of employment, along with state-of-the-art environmental control technology. We believe that we can have both a clean mill and a healthy economy to help sustain this new direct jobs.) The chamber of commerce commissioned a study of the expected economic impacts of the Celgar project. The study identified the following benefits to Castlegar expected from Celgar’s modernization © An additional $3.3 million a year in wages and benefits earned by Celgar employees who live in © An additional $1.4 million a year in wages and benefits to the Castlegar area from indirect and * An additional 50-55 jobs at Celgar, and about 1 jobs in the Castlegar area through indirect and induced effects. (Fhe company has estimated the new mill will create an additional 30 * An additional $300,000 in sales to Celgar by Castlegar businesses a year. * An additional $32 million a year in increased purchases of fibre from area sawmills, including $3 million in extra purchases from Castlegar mills. [|] Community poised for era of great change Mike Espenhain (right), president of Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada Local 1, and Dwayne Command work in the testing lab at Celgar pulp mill’s bleach plant. Pulp union key factor in local economy The Celgar pulp mill was first manned by members of the United Papermakers and Paperworkers, who received certification to represent the mill employees on Sept. 15, 1960. One year later, many workers were with the had requested certification under the name of the Canadian Pulp and Paper Workers, Local No. 1. The application for certification was rejected by the Industrial Relations Board of B.C. on a technicality: The local union they were receiving from this union. The union: was decertified and the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers was invited to certify Celgar employees, receiving certification on Feb. 13, 1962, for Local 842. initiated the appropriate procedures for another request and on Nov, 8, 1962, Canadian Pulp and Paper Workers, Local No. 1. Castlegar, B.C,, was certified as the bargaining agent for the employees of this wee The successful luded on Dec. commenced and a _ contract agreement was reached on April 19, 1962. On June 10, 1962, the AFL-CIO ruled that the union had raided the was lifted, leaving the Celgar em- ployees without a union. Officials of the International } 10, 1962, fort their first contract. On Aug. 8, 1963, the Canadian Pulp and Paper Workers voted to amalgamate with the Pulp and Paper Workers of Canada, with the Labor i Board i this bers, raising the standard of living using every honorable method, and to promote friendly relations bet- ween labor and government, and labor and industry. The 280 members of PP'WC Local No. | are your friends and neigh- bors. Some economists have suggested that every dollar earned in wages turns over in a local com- munity as much as seven times. The approximately $17.9 million in wages earned by the members of PPWC Local No. 1 is a significant factor in the local economy. While the primary focus of Local No. 1 is.to improve the conditions of its members, the union does not exist in vacuum outside the community. The union gives two bursaries an- nually to graduating children of its agreement. In 1974, the union became the Pulp, Paper and Wood- The PPWC has supported other community activities such as the Dry Grad in 1990, and the Legion Hamper fund. The PPWC is now starting a new phase in its relationship with Celgar ae ed Be iv of Conicow om the surrounding area. The moder- nization of the mill will ensure that the new mill will be a clean, world class pulp facility which is what everyone has been striving for this past year, By KEN WYLLIE Director, Area J Regional District of Central Kootenay As a community, we stand on the threshold of an era of great change and advancement. I believe we must dedicate greater attention to securing the long-term stabilization of this ~region — social, economic and en- vironmental. In this task, we must focus community attention to establish proper planning and set goals to achieve and improve the quality of life for everyone. We must not look just to the next 10 years, but also the next 30 to 50 years. I believe we must more actively pursue and assert local management and local production of our regional fesources. The Columbia River and Arrow Lakes must be better protec- ted. For example, did you know that the United States authorities are Preparing to spend mega-millions of dollars in restoring the Columbia River fish run? Pause and reflect upon the immense reservoir of clean, fresh water that lies behind the Keenleyside dam. Also consider how it came to pass that hundreds of acres of residential and farm land were flooded, our fish habitat destroyed, and-we are left with a reservoir that is annually scarred with debris. I do not think that this is a legacy which my parents and grandparents intended to leave to our generation and it certainly isn’t the legacy which I desire to leave to our children Over the period of the past two years, B.C. Hydro has embarked upon an intensive project of the in- tended expansion of the Keenleyside dam. Advisory groups were formed, many meetings were held, consultan- ts undertook interviews with most of the community agencies in my area, and promises were made that this Project would proceed in an orderly, planned fashion to, in effect, upgrade a number of existing dams, Starting with the K: ide project KEN WYLLIE . touts local management treatment and we certainly cannot afford it. If Hydro can’t get on with the project, then we shall. We can- not afford to wait at Hydro’s whim any longer. I wish to convey, in the strongest possible terms, my message to B.C. Hydro, that we must put some ‘flesh on the bones’’ of our regional economic prosperity rather than to sit back and take the scraps promised but not delivered. As a community, this is a legacy we are no longer prepared to accept With the Celgar modernization approval came the announcement of the Robson/Castlegar bridge con- struction and I have had one preliminary meeting with the Ministry of Transportation and Highways. I ruged that the proposed sitings be released as soon as possible so that the public may respond in an informed manner. Open houses and a public meeting were held earlier this month. While my Advisory Planning I cannot say precisely how many volunteer hours were surrendered by various members of this community im undertaking this process, but | estimate they would run into the several thousands. Nor’do | know the dollars which Hydro expended in this exercise, but 1 would suspect it would mumber in the several thousands. All of this effort, input. consultation, planning and com- munity cooperation was responded to by a brief press release shelving the project. 1 Say to B.C. Hydro, and | say to You, that we do not deserve this C supports a siting in as close proximity as possible to the existing railway bridge, it is clear that the new bridge must provide proper and safe pedestrian access. In this regard, | stated to the ministry my belief that even with this project being on the “fast track”’ it seemed unlikely that it could be completed in less than three years. In the meantime, the Celgar pulp mill modernization project will itself place great stress on @ road system which is already seriously overbur- dened. No matter how politically distasteful it might seem to some, the temporary restoration of the Rob- son/Castlegar ferry. will address a very significant transportation demand. Moreover, my planning com- mission has reviewed and supports the upper Arrow Lakes access by way of a highway connection on the southwest side of the valley as we believe that not only will this displace the greatest proportion of industrial traffic on Highway 6, but will in fact set the best route, linking with the north of the valley, and eventually with the Okanagan. The recent health survey, which was presented to the Central Kootenay Union Board of Health, identified the extreme community concern for air and water pollution: Unquestionably, Celgar’s commit- ment to modernization of its pulp mill received such overwhelming public support representing a com- mitted effort to address some of these concerns. While the project approval was met with a sigh of community relief, we must commit ourselves to working together, par- ticularly with the Ministry of En- vironment, to ensure that the project commitments, are, in fact, achieved Local governments have achieved great advances in providing for regionalized health and recreation The extended/intermediate long-term care project with the Castlegar and District Hospital and the Aquatic Centre have provided the community with wonderful facilities. But we must seek ever greater regional cooperation in a number of fun- ctions ranging from operation of our hospitals to recycling our waste Likewise, the seniors’ needs sur- vey, which was recently conducted in our area, clearly identified that-there is an ongoing need to better com- municate with our seniors and, Moreover, to enlist their guidance and expertise in addressing a wide range of community concerns. We cannot allow political boundaries, be they between regional districts or municipalities, to impede the im- plementation of programs which can be for the mutual benefit of everyone. My area of the Regional District of Central Kootenay has recently im- plemented bylaws to provide for temporary commercial use permits and allowing a regulation of un. sightly yards. In this sense, we recognize that we must try to ac- short-tenn while on the other hand endeavor to clean up some of the problems which blemish our community, Likewise, building inspection has - been please see WYLLIE page 30