Initiative in Golden

The business community in Golden, B.C., is demonstrating faith in an improving economic climate

1 of 3Spirit Square in Golden, B.C., is a centrally located site used for summer markets, open-air concerts and other public events. — Kirsten Armleder photo

2 of 3Spirit Square in Golden, B.C., is used as a site for concerts, markets and other open-air events. — Kirsten Armleder photo

3 of 3The pretty downtown core in Golden, B.C., lies just a short distance from the commercial strip along the Trans-Canada Highway. — Kirsten Armleder photo

‹ ›

…

Lori Baxendale, the interim manager for Kicking Horse Country Chamber of Commerce during the summer of 2014, talked with us about some of the initiatives being undertaken to make downtown Golden more accessible and attractive to visitors and residents.

“We’re working really hard to animate our downtown, to create more vibrancy and a sense of place,” she said. “With a grant from Columbia Basin Trust, we hired musicians to busk between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. downtown, because studies have shown that people want to be shopping later. The mayor and council are being very supportive of our requests.”

Everyone on board

Downtown merchants have also been encouraged to place their displays out on the sidewalks and provide more public seating. Baxendale said that a number of businesses and building owners have invested in upgrades to improve and beautify their places of business. Those include Kicking Horse Ford, Jita’s Café, Bizarre Entertainment, Whitetooth Bistro, Brent’s Board Shop and the Golden Dollar Store, among others, and there’s now a second Tim Hortons in Golden.

Phil Armstrong, planning technician for the Town of Golden, commented on several other additions and improvements.

“Boston Pizza just came to town, buying an existing restaurant and renovating it to the tune of a half-million dollars,” he said. “Kicking Horse Interiors has relocated from a quasi-industrial commercial area right into our downtown, and it’s redone the building beautifully with cedar panelling and siding.”

Golden will soon be welcoming a microbrewery to the downtown core.

“The developer, Kent Donaldson, now has full approval to manufacture beer, and has approval in principle to sell it through retail sales and to have a lounge,” said Armstrong. “He hasn’t started construction yet, but it’s a great emerging business and the whole community is really excited to get a craft brewery like most of the other resort towns.”

Jordan Petrovics, manager of recreation services for Golden, said that the first few upgrades had something of a domino effect on local businesses, resulting in generalized improvement to a number of facades and frontages, and some interiors as well.

Driving the trend

Baxendale said that three corporate entities in Golden are driving a positive trend in the local economy. All three—Louisiana-Pacific Wood Products, Canadian Timberframes and Canadian Pacific Railway—are increasing their activity locally, providing significant employment opportunities.

Golden continues to be a charming small town in spite of its enlarged presence in the tourism market.

“Life in Golden hasn’t changed very much in the 11 years I’ve been here, and that’s a really good thing,” said local resident Paul Quanstrom. “In spite of the increase in tourism, we’ve managed to retain the small-town feel and friendliness.”