Building Resilient Communities

There were many area municipal representatives and elected representatives, past and present at the Building Resilient Communities Conference this last week in the beautiful new pavilion at the St Eugene Resort.  Much inspiration was provided by such speakers as Glen Ewan, Q.C from Golden who spoke of the project to restore their Civic Centre - a model for Cranbrook's Armond Theatre!  Former Mayor Geoff Battersby of Revelstoke spoke passionately about his community and how Revelstoke took resilience into their own hands by developing the Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation and Revelstoke Community Energy Corporation.  Mayor Christina Benty from Golden informed the audience of Golden's recycling, water conservation and community garden projects.  Cranbrook's own Mayor Stetski, Ktunaxa Councillor Joe Pierre and RDEK director Gerry Wilkie were in turn on different panels discussing such topics as Sustainability, Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture.  Former MLAs Ann Edwards and Corky Evans were part of a panel discussing the history and early formation of Columbia Basin Trust.