360 building permits obvious sign of growth

Twenty-five years ago, Castlegar was little more than a bedroom community for the larger population centres such as Trail, Ross- land and Nelson, The econ- omic base at that time con- sisted mainly of Cominco, the CPR, the logging industry, and moderate farming.

But things have changed, and Castlegar now proclaims itself “the crossroads of the Kootenays.”

The construction of the Blueberry-Paulson highway, up-grading of the Castlegar

airport, and construction of the Canadian Cellulose pulp and sawmill complex (in 1960) marked - Castlegar’s first steps down the long road to achieving economic autonomy.

Further development, such as the construction of the Hugh Keenlyside Dam (in 1968) and Selkirk College, and increasing amounts of logging in the fringe slowly established Castlegar as it now

The recently completed highway link to Salmo, situ:

Seni

MAYOR AUDREY MOORE

ated Castlegar on the southern trans-Canada route, equidistant from Vancouver and Calgary. The West Koot- ensy transport network now emanates from Castlegar.

The local council sees Trail as the heavy industrial cen- tre for this region, Nelson as the tourism and adminis- trative centre, and Castlegar as the service centre. Each municipality. has a part to play, in the councillors’ eyes.

An obvious sign of growth in the city can be seen in municipal figures showing $60 building permits isaued during 1980, with ‘the total construction value estimated at almost $7,800,000.

Tho types of companies at- tracted to Castlegar are warehousing, distribution

stores, department stores, equipment and light ma- chinery sales, busiriess ma- ‘chines, general retail stores, auction rooms, hardware/ building supply stores, and car dealerships and heavy truck sales.

Local City ‘Council

Sees Castlegar as the régio

“during the past several years

Labatt's Brewery has opened a distribution centre here, B.C. Tel built a $1 million service centre for its: ve hicles, Public Freightways, Williams Moving, and Clark Reefer Van Lines have re- located or expanded here, as has Gulf O11.

The list of industrial de- velopments planned in the city in the immediate future {1981-82} includes:

—a 45-acre industrial park being developed by the City of Castlegar, and scheduled for completion in October;

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The list of commercial de- velopments includes: . - ”

— two shopping centre proposals, one to be. de- veloped by First City Invest- ments, and the other by Boel and Sons; :

a 115-room motor hotel, tobe developed by Northland Properites (Sandman Inns);

— a @0room’ motor inn opening in March, developed by the Fireside Place;

— a 60room motor inn

proposal, to be developed by

P.J. Soberlak.

Press, ALMON ARM — clad in betght

El re crore an 5 L FSS KEEP FOREST FIRES “2, we a

‘The lint of residential de-

velopments includes: — a M4lot subdivision be- ing developed by M. Scott; — a. l4lot subdivision being developed by P. O'Con- nell; :

— a 85-unit apartment building, to be developed by

-Bor-Dew Development;

— a 19¢-apartment com- plex proposal, to . be: de- veloped by Number 10 Hold- ings. +

In addition, there will be spinoffs from the CanCel pansion, and from Cominco’s expansion of its facilities in ‘Trail.

There is also interest in developing more hotels and attracting conventions here. Lodging shortages in the past meant convention busi- ness was not feasible, but the hotel expansions should change that.

As energy costs increase, private and government ser- vices for the West Kootenays are expected to gravitate to. Castlegar so that the region can be serviced more effi- ciently. .

Castlegar has the amen-

ities to attract new residents. golf

Land is available and zoned

ALD. CARL HENNE

i \ ? sh e | t ns service ce tre

for all types of development: for commercial and industrial uses, for multi-family resi- dential use, and 300 to 400 acres inside the city boun- daries that can be developed for residential use. It has an excellent water supply. The airport, with the rapid trans-

port links it offers, is another.

drawing card.

A variety of recreation *

opportunities can be found in the. surrounding areas. Camping, boating, fishing, and water sports are avail- able. One of the best 18-hole courses in the West Kootenays is located here,

‘ALD. CARL LOEBLICH

FIRE SEASON OPENS APRIL 15

Adin.

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fed = oo ‘OTTAWA (UPC)

Cansds ea or dune, Be

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OUT OF THE NEWS

- dial “O’and ask for ZENITH 5555

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~ as.advertising agency -

The Castlegar Chamber of Commerce was incorporated

under the British’ Columbia.

~Bocleties Act'in 1946. '°- “While the faces. have ehanged,:\our .organization | has steadfastly promoted and . extolled the virtues of ‘our. community. In 1946, the chamber was known as the Board of Trade. R.A.D. West was the first president and J.C, Scott was the firat sec-

retary: ‘ i

“At that time, Castlegar _- was a very small community but, in spite of. this, the chamber managed to get a group of 40 members who-

were interested in develop- °

ing a more aggressive com- munity. There was nothing to speak: of in. the way of services and: there .-was plenty of room to spread their efforts. 4 :

tively short period, thanks to the'work done by the Cham- ber of Commerte: The cham-

is Sa RR LINDA GREEN © * Office manager’ -

ber gave publicity to the idea

of having the district

aL this Toeation ana ft came to. -

~~ Around 1960, the Board of _ Trade: changed its-name: to

*“ beeome the Castlegar and: §

District. Chamber ‘ of: Com- meree, a5 most of the boards

of trade in British Columbia ~.

had: already: become® cham- bers of commerce in order to

the Associated. ‘!

Trade and Chambers of Com- *“merce of South Eastern B.C.

‘This: ’asscciation “started .in

the province/The south east-

ship was very

all was president luring which year ‘ the general meeting was held -

in Trall.

With: the coming of the idea ‘of the Celanese Corpor ation of New York City being

interested in creating a for- ©

est products industry in our community, the chamber im- mediately went to work. We - went on record as being fully in favor of: welcoming this industrial development.

: We co-operated completely .

with the company’s “early

efforts, and, in fact, several’ §

members . travelled : to. -Vic- toria at thelr own expense to assure the government that we'-desired to.see this in dustry ;located in our .com- munity... 4 ‘The chamber: worked dili- gently for about 10 years to get. the. souttiern transpro-:

vincial . Highway. . No. 3:

througt astlegar. The

chamber prodded the govern-:

ment for. many years to get.

the section from Brilliant: to.

Meadows completed and in: service... f

‘These are juat a few of the’

chamber's ‘accomplishments

and not the extent of the ’§

‘usefulness of your Chamber

of-Commerce. Here is what:

the chamber of today is doing

to help Castlegar. grow and"

develop: Retail eronioaaa

‘The Business Barometer of: our Community. Retailers, whether large or small, are an’ imortant factor’ in’ the: financial health of our city. As a. united. team in® th Chamber of Commerce,

common business interests: * Convention Promotion: We. are ‘in the . planning

stages of actively seeking,

new facilities for conventions for the City of Castlegar. urist

Tor Dollars: No matter how you look at

JOE STRELOFF:) nd vice-president’ - it, tourism is a vital factor in’

ft .{the-national economy and so

“derived ‘from "fishing, : +* ing, skiing and golf.:It ae ‘ be

feasible that guiding coul

-developed in this area. ¢...:

which improves: the Castlegar residents.

gnizing the value of a

‘new industry, the. Chamber

‘of Commerce takes a sensible approach to. industrial

+ paper and will be in;early: 1982

es

better: ‘without a doubt, been closely

associated with every major improvement: through i role as: an — A’ non-political spokes- man for the Community to the lal, re:

municipal, gional ‘and ‘federal

ful.’ development ‘: 0 Tefldcted

urism ‘in Castlegar’ to gov- 1m representatives from - Travel lustry

-velopment; Subsidiary’

it, for ut

me * mer student who successfully - completed the: Travel Coun:

sellor’s course». which... was held ‘in Nelson “

its’; es

- creased flow ‘of ; tourists ‘during ‘alt seasons’. Per ieeeane .. — Held ‘general meetings with “informative. speakers and other programs of inter-

be nA, BEER ponsored ‘an all-cal dates forum for the municipal ‘elections and: the election of school trustees 4...

programs

community,; provincial and federal agenciés and by pri: . vate, organizations,'://.9.7.. centre for the use of anyon

involved in, ‘or, interested In

- Pettitt Photo's 19 Lid.

come: Wagon’ in. their“ en- :

+ deavor to make.the newcom-

ers. fee). welcome | and ’/in- volved Saas

=< Made ‘available a Com-

‘prehensive Group Insurance

Plan to our members -

— Planned a new city bro- Be

chure that;.is -in’ the: pro-

duction stages at present and

will be in color’and on gloss} distributed

Assisted : tourism with: the :filming: of .

files: which’ will

Local 480 United Steelworkers "Working today for” _ a better tomorrow”

“It ig 'a‘ drop-in ‘or: phone-in ;

Pe SLE '

Each Business Information : Centre” offers ‘professional ‘

support ‘provided: by.) the

“Ministry «of )Industry:, and: Small. Business’ Develop-:

ment.’ Reaponaibility; for the overall program ‘rests with

the Ministry of Tadoatsy, and.

top- ment. | Sa A wide range, of business

POLE ELAINE APIS BLE EOOS Se

3 assistance programs a

vices are’ available to busl- ness organizations in British Colum! Unfortunately,

the ‘existence’ of ‘these ’

vices or do not have access to’,

them. In an effort:to correct: ,ta

the’ situation,’ which ‘is “es-

‘pecially’ acute -‘outside .

ie lower mainland, Business I eiiua ek ‘

_'1106-3rd St., Castlegar, 365-7663