By Williams Lake mayor Surinderpal Rathor
As I reflect on the last year, I am happy to provide an overview of some of the successes the city of Williams Lake has seen over 2023.
Our community continues to be a bustling business hub for our region, In 2023, the city processed 87 building permits and 111 new business licenses, for a total of 1098 business licences. We are thankful for the ongoing investment in our community.
The city was happy to host a number of events in 2023. It was wonderful to see so many community participants. We were also excited to see the completion of the Boitanio Disc Golf course this summer. Plans are underway for more great events in 2024.
In June, the city of Williams Lake hosted the premier for a discussion, which tied into an announcement of provincial funding for Massive Canada’s construction of a new mass timber manufacturing facility at the former Jackpine mill site. We are pleased to see this investment in Williams Lake and look forward to seeing employment opportunities and economic benefits from this new operation.
The city is pleased to support School District 27’s plans for the redevelopment of Marie Sharpe Elementary. We look forward to seeing this important project progress in 2024. As well, we envision the Columneetza Daycare project to be completed and occupied by the end of 2024.
The 95th Annual Williams Lake Stampede was an immense success again this year, and we were honoured to welcome Rick Hansen back to his hometown as honourary parade marshal. As always, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the many volunteers and organizations who make the Stampede, parade, street party, and other community events such a success year after year.
We welcomed hundreds of visitors during the Provincial Mine Rescue Competition this year. The mining sector is a strong contributor to Williams Lake’s economy, and I would also like to thank our local host mines Taseko/Gibraltar and Mount Polley for their contributions to this event.
July saw a ground breaking ceremony for the Cariboo Memorial Hospital redevelopment. We are extremely fortunate to be receiving these significant upgrades. Council continues to advocate for physician recruitment in Williams Lake, and has ongoing discussions with Interior Health and other related organizations.
This September 30th marked the 10th anniversary of the Orange Shirt Society, and the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The City of Williams Lake was pleased to present Phyllis Webstad with a Certificate of Merit for the significant contributions she continues to make through the Orange Shirt Society and her key role in establishing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The Williams Lake Daybreak Rotary Club held a grand opening for the boulder park in October, and I am thankful to the many sponsors and volunteers who worked together ot make this wonderful climbing feature a reality.
This year, all city-owned streetlights were upgraded to LED, with LED installs going forward. The Cariboo Memorial Complex also saw HVAC upgrades and a major solar panel installation project, which support the city’s commitment to climate stewardship.
Last but certainly not least, the city received significant grant funding from the government of Canada and the province of B.C. for a water treatment plant for Williams Lake. We have been focused on this project for a number of years and are pleased that this partnership funding will support the city’s water management strategy and help ensure a potable water supply that meets health requirements.
I look forward to continuing to build on the good relationships we have with local First Nations and other levels of government as we continue to serve our community. As we head toward the holiday season, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Please remember to give your neighbours a hand with shovelling during the winter months. I look forward to continued growth and prosperity for Williams Lake in 2024.
