Thanks to the Kootenay Mountaineer for the Jumbo Resort article.
Elaine has called the Regional District of East Kootenay and has asked the head planner at what stage the decision-making is resting. He assured her that letters are still being accepted and recorded and that the formal decision making process has not started yet.
Anyone wishing to write should do so now so as to keep reinforcing the strength of the community objection to any changes to the present by-laws.
The failure of the Jumbo Resort proposal will set a precedent and convince our provincial government that this type of wilderness land use is totally unacceptable in British Columbia
SAY "NO" TO JUMBO RESORT
We have arrived at what might be the ultimate moment when the Regional District is being given the responsibility to say yes or no to this mega-resort among the grizzly bears and in what still survives as a remote,lonely wilderness setting in an increasingly crowded southern British Columbia.
The information is all below including a sample letter you can draw from. We have essentially until the end of February to get our letters in as the~ 6O-day comment period is already underway. If you can spare some time in your full lives, please send letter (with the
important ccs) to the addresses below. The political players (i)may(/i) well be in our favor this time round. but we will still need yet another huge outcry to stop Ihis big mistake. Thanks.
What to put in your letter? You can use the infomation below or go to www.jumbowild.com and go onto the Take Action page to send a letter.
- Ask Regional and Provincial politician to keep the Jumbo Valley for public recreation and wildlife. not speculative private profits and real estate.
- Ask the directors of the Regionta1 District of East Kootenay to stand strong in opposing permanent development in the Jumbo Valley.
- Two key nunisters who are new to the issue. the Hon. Olga llich (Tourism, Sport and the ArtS) and the Hon. Pat Ben (Agriculture and Lands) need to hear that after nearly 15 years, the public still says NO to Jumbo Glacier Resort. Also on our list of people who need to hear your opposition is a Manager of Major Projects, Psyche Brown, from the Tourism and Resort Development
Division of the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. the Provincial Ministry reviewing the Master Plan for the proposed resort.
Addresses:
1. Board of Directors. RDEK, 19-24th A venue South.Cranbrook, BC. V1C 3H8 rdek@rdek.bc.ca
2. Psyche Brown, Tourism & Resort Development Division. 3rd floor. 145 Third Avt:nue. Kamloops. BC. V2C 3M1 Psyche.Brown@gov.bc.ca
3. Honourable Olga Ilich. Minister of Tourism, Sports and the Arts, Room 342, Government of British Columbia, Victoria. BC. V8V lX4 olga.ilich.mla@leg.bc.ca
CC: Honourable Pat Bell. Minister of Agriculture and Lands. Government of British Columbia. Victoria. BC. V8V 1X4 pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca
Sample letter to sennd to Regional District of East Kootenay Directors- feel free to expand, contract or othenwise modify:
Dear RDEK Directors.
I am writing to ask you to retain the current zoning for the Jumbo Valley that supports public recreation and wildlife and rejects permanent infrastructure such as the Jumbo Glacier Resort. When it comes before you., I ask you to reject the application to rezone the area to develop a 6000 ha. resort and a real estate project in the heart of the Purcell Mountains.
Industrial tourism development such as the Jumbo Resort proposal is out of balance with local. regional and international values. Thousands of people who live and recreate in British Columbia's Kootenay region continue to oppose the Jumbo reson for economic, environmental and social reasons. Though the proponent continues to advance this rcsort, these reasons have not changed.
The development compromises regional opportunities for responsible, well-planned tourism. I encourage you to heed the RDEK's regional grow1h strategy and ensure that future tourism development is concentrated in and around existing communities, thus preserving
the wilderness and wildlife habitat on which BC's growing sustainable tourism economy is based.
Wildlife and remaining wild places are BC's marketing niche and eco-tourism advantage. International tourists come to BC precisely to enjoy this precious wilderness and wildlife. both of which are scarce commodities worldwide.
I understand that the Regional District will have to make a decision regarding the controversial Jumbo Glacier Resort. As a member of me Regional District of the West Kootenay community. I would like to state my opposition to the developement.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on an issue of global interest and immense local significance.
Sincerely.
PLEASE WRITE NOW THIS IS NOT A DONE DEAL
