Community outlook 2013: Golden looks ahead

Golden's mayor, Christina Benty, outlined the community's successes in the past year and looks ahead to 2013

1 of 2Christina Benty, mayor of Golden, is excited about the coming year in her town. — Photo courtesy Town of Golden

2 of 2The renovations at the civic centre in Golden have really paid off with a successful year. — Photo courtesy Town of Golden

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Ask Mayor Christina Benty about the highlights of 2012 for the town of Golden and you get a long list. Among those, there are a couple of accomplishments that stand out.

The Columbia Valley Transmission Line project is a new 112-kilometre transmission line that is now providing reliable electrical service to Golden and area, said Benty.

“Council had lobbied the provincial government and BC Hydro for years asking them to deal with numerous power outages that regularly occurred,” she said. “This major upgrade gives us the opportunity to attract new businesses and industries.”

The Golden Civic Centre underwent a major renovation a year ago, and Benty said the facility continues to play a significant role as a hub for arts and culture in the community.

“We have had a number of sold-out events with big-name performers and local talent,” said Benty. “It has become a gathering place of monumental importance in the life of the community."

Not to be left out, the youth of Golden have something to be proud of too, and their dream of a central place to hang out has finally been realized. Benty said the downtown youth centre is the result of a youth-driven project funded mainly by Columbia Basin Trust and supported by a number of agencies.

On the 2013 agenda

Benty said there are many reasons to look forward to 2013 with optimism.

This summer, the town will host a national conference called Rural Resurgence: Innovative Solutions for the Attraction and Retention of Young Adults. Benty said that as well as young adults describing what attracts them to rural areas, there will be other stakeholder groups—such as government, researchers and other interested communities—attending the conference.

Economic initiatives

Benty said that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has chosen Golden to be one of the 22 municipalities participating in a new local economic development project starting in 2013.

"Golden Area Initiatives and the Town of Golden staff will share their advice and best practices to support an improved enabling environment for local economic development in 14 Caribbean CARICOM-member countries," said Benty.

In terms of the local economic outlook, Benty said she has met with various major employers in Golden. She said Louisiana Pacific is anticipating further improved North American markets in 2013, and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, which is in its first full year with Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, has reported increased pass sales. Benty added that a project to build 24 semi-detached homes is slated to begin in 2013.

Two new committees in Golden will help create an economic picture of the town and where it is headed.

"A Mayor’s Standing Finance Committee has been established to review and recommend financial objectives and policies during the deliberations over the five-year financial plan,” said Benty, "and an Economic Development Service Vision Committee has been created to examine the current vision and delivery model for economic development."

Benty is excited about the year ahead.

"As a community, we can look toward 2013, the future, with confidence and expectation,” she said.