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The StarPhoenix
Auust 12 2005
By Herve Langlois
The following is the viewpoint of the writer, a resident of Waskesiu Lake and vice-chair of the Waskesiu Community Council.
The article Waskesiu trees thrive after spraying program (SP, Aug. 6), tells an important story, but only the beginning.
The budworm spray program was born out of a controversy in which the Waskesiu community refused to accept “no” as an answer to a request for action to reduce spruce tree defoliation.
After months of rancorous debate, Parks Canada decided to approve the program — a decision that, given the benefit of hindsight, proved to be the right one.
Waskesiu residents and businesses raised more than $90,000 for that three-year program, but things didn’t stop there! Many of the individuals involved in the debate realized that, if the Waskesiu community continued on a path of confrontation with Parks Canada, the end result would be lose-lose for everyone.
For its part, Parks Canada undertook a management review resulting in the installation of a new superintendent and other senior management with a mandate to enhance communications with the Waskesiu community.
In turn, the Waskesiu Community Council convened a meeting of major stakeholders to begin developing a strategic plan. The stakeholders urged that council to develop a communications strategy in order to better inform its constituents, to work more closely with Parks Canada, and to explore means whereby more local control would be exercised in the management of the townsite.
The results have been most gratifying, including a list of achievement such as:
--*A new heritage museum was established, which now houses some 370 items. It is busting at the seams with artifacts and is staffed daily for six hours by volunteers;
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A vegetation management plan was established, with an Arbor Day community tree planting program expected to plant 100 trees on Sept. 4;
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The Grey Owl Beaver Lodge was developed by the Friends of the Park;
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The Waskesiu Foundation received extensive community support, as evidenced by a sellout of its inaugural $100-a-plate dinner;
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A website (Waskesiu.org) was established, posting Parks Canada and community information daily. The site received 834,000 hits in July alone;
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A new boat launch was built at the marina to accommodate boaters throughout the summer;
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A centennial-festival weekend was held and included activities for all ages. It promises to be the annual Waskesiu Summer Festival;
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A new heritage walking tour brochure was produced to inform visitors and residents about Waskesiu’s past and present;
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The group Concerned Park Supporters (CPS) has been renamed the Coalition of Park Supporters (CPS) — a subtle but important change;
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and Prince Albert National Park and Elk Ridge Resorts have been recognized as a tourist destination by SaskTourism.
These things didn’t just happen. Park officials supported community organizations in their applications for provincial and federal grant support that made most of those activities possible.
Community groups responded by marshalling volunteers, residents and visitors alike, to execute these activities. And park visitors attended the events, supporting them financially.
Challenges still lie ahead. The Waskesiu community council is working with Parks Canada to examine how to best govern the townsite in the future, and is looking at major infrastructure issues — primarily streets and roads — that must be addressed. Cabin owners are also looking at major changes in their relationship with the park, and increased stability in park senior management postings is a goal not yet achieved.
But, for the most part, Waskesiu, like its spruce trees, is thriving. Working together really does work.
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