Wildwood residents rally to save themselves - October 12 Edition

Courtney Taylor

Cariboo Advisor

The determination of a mother should never be underestimated, or in this story, a mother who is also a Wildwood resident.

“One way or another, even if I have to dig the dirt myself, that rink is going in this year,” said Denise Thompson, showcasing the community’s commitment to building an ice rink in the rural community for this coming winter.

Thompson has been a Wildwood resident on and off for the past 18 years and her two children went to the local elementary school to Grade 7. Thompson is now the Treasurer of the Wildwood Community Association and she is determined to get things done and revitalize the community in the process.

Residents were alerted to fragile state of small, rural communities last spring when the School Board considered closing the local elementary school. The school was partially saved; it lost Grades 4-7 due to declining enrollment and now functions as a K to Grade 3 school.

Spurred on by the Wildwood School being scaled back, Thompson and Wildwood residents have begun to fight back. 

“Children and families, that’s what keeps a community together,” said Thompson, who lives behind the Wildwood School and can’t imagine what the community would be like without the school.

And what better way to bring and hold the community together than with a good old-fashioned hockey rink.

The rink has been in the works for the past six or seven years, and it has been with Thompson’s drive and determination that it is finally coming to life.

CRD Area ‘D’ director, Deb Bishoff echoes Thompson’s feeling on having kids in the community. 

“Kids make a community,” she says. “If the school closes, the community will survive but it won’t be the same.’

“It’s phenomenal, what (Thompson) has done in less than a year, what the community has been working on for years,” said Bishoff.

The rink is being built on the Wildwood School field this year, and the project for next year is a disc golf course to be put beside the fire hall according to Thompson.

“We want to bring affordable, fun, and safe family activities to the community,” said Thompson.

According to Thompson, the school is the centre of the community and if it ever closes it would be devastating to the community.

She knows first-hand the difficulty of working in town, and having kids in school out in Wildwood, so she understands why a lot of kids are bussed into town.

“Next I think we need to encourage an after school program and daycare at the school,” said Thompson.

Bishoff agrees with Thompson saying that having daycare is one of the reasons the 150 Mile Elementary school is doing so well. 

Bishoff said Thompson and the rest of the people working with her have all worked hard to bring this rink to the community.

Concrete Fitness requests a review of City rec services - September 21

Courtney Taylor

Cariboo Advisor

A topic that is on the minds of many Williams Lake residents was a hot topic at last week’s Joint Committee meeting.

The owners of Concrete Fitness made a request to the committee to complete a review of the services offered at Cariboo Memorial Complex. The purpose of the review would be to make a decision whether taxpayers dollars could be better spent than on an expanded gym or specialized fitness classes like yoga currently offered through Leisure Services.

Stefan Hoelzler, who represented Concrete Fitness but also held a letter of support signed by other private Williams Lake businesses as well as the BIA and Chamber of Commerce, presented on why he thinks the services at the complex need to be reviewed.

His main argument was that the City should not provide services that are directly in competition with local businesses.

At the meeting he gave a very well thought out presentation to the committee in regards to the reasons why CMC says they need to offer these services.

Hoelzler said he respects the other views on the topic, but feels taxpayers dollars could be better spent on other services, and the complex should review current services to decide if all of the current programs offered are needed.

Most councilors and CRD directors who commented did start off by saying they were impressed with the presentation, but were concerned with splitting the community, and openly wondered what limiting fitness services offered will do to lower income families.

Councilor Laurie Walters was very concerned for low income families stressing that the services available at the complex are in place in order to provide services for all sectors of the community.

“There is always going to be competition for any business,” said Walters.

She expressed her serious concern over how having these services are vital to low income families having a healthy lifestyle.

After listening to the presentation, Mayor Kerry Cook thanked the delegate, and said the decision would be made at the next meeting.

Concrete Fitness representatives wanted to make it very clear that they are not trying to shut down classes at the complex. They want a review of services to determine whether the city really needs to offer several variations of the same classes offered by other private businesses at a more competitive rate due to tax subsidies.

According to the City, a report from CMC will be brought before the October Joint Committee meeting. At that time the Joint Committee will vote on whether to review services provided by Leisure Services.