Page 4 THE EXPRESS June 30, 1999 opinion GUEST COMMENTARY EXPRESS Tourists target Nelson PHONE: (250) 354-3910 EDITORIAL 354-1118 FAX 352-5075 554 WARD STREEf, NELSON, B.C. VIL IS9 E-MAIL: express@netideacom By Howard Dirks number of articles about Nelson that have appeared in OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. When the city of Nelson entered its second century in magazines and newspapers across North America. I 997, tourism activity also entered a new phase. New Articles on our community such as the one published in Where are all hotel, motel, bed and breakfast and camping facilities came into being. Nelson has now become a destination of Equity magazine create more interest than any amount of paid advertising. Each time a write-up appears such as the our heroes? choice to an ever-increasing travelling public. The city is now attracting conventions on a regular basis. Each of these conventions expose people to our community who one about the Whitewater Ski Resort in a major Calgary newspaper last year, our community profile is increased and more people look at the possibility of including us on Tomorrow is Canada Day, an annual celebra- have never beeen here before and now consider returning their holiday schedule. The publicity our community ~as tion of who and what we are, carefully crafted for a holiday. The conventions generally occur in the received from the movie industry, starting with Roxanne, by Ottawa to foster an appreciation for our tourism "shoulder season" when accommodations are has certainly assisted in getting Nelson on the list of nation's roots and coveted status in the world more readily available. places that should be visited. The TV publicity of the While there was a steady growth of tourists to our area Better Than Fair monetary exchange program penetrated community. Indeed, 1998 marked the fourth prior to 1997, the increase that occurred in that year was the American market in a way that could not be bought. consecutive year in which Canada topped the quite remarkable. With 31,090 tourism inquiries as com- Each of these factors have played a role in increasing poll of all members of the United Nations pared to 24,114 in 1996, Nelson's centennial year result- tourism in our area. when it came to picking the most desirable ed in a 28.9% increase in inquiries! But this increase did Based on projected visits, tourists will spend in excess country on the planet in which to live. not end in 1997. The following year saw a further of $ 1.5 million in Nelson and area this year. Those are increase of 11.6%! Why the sudden jump? new dollars that are coming into the community and will Sadly, our international reputation for toler- be spent for accommodations, meals, fuel, souvenirs, There are a number of reasons for the sudden increase in ance, fairness and quality of life doesn't neces- inquiries. Cenainly the work of the Centennial clothing, entertainment, etc. sarily translate into a more informed popula- Committee and Nelson residents inviting former resi- tion when it comes to self-awareness. Fully 70 dents, friends and family to return for a variety of cele- Howard Dirks is the ge,v!ral manager of the Nelson & percent of respondents under the age of 30 brations played a large role. Another key factor is the District Chamber of Commerce. failed a recent national history test consisting of questions like: "Who was Canada's first prime minister?" and "Who won the battle at GUEST COMMENTARY Mining is our lifeblood the Plains of Abraham?" A common response was that "Canada doesn't have any history worth remembering." Perhaps that's because Canadian history hasn't manufactured any mythical heroes, the By Fred Critchlow crate approximately $20 million dollars in exploration After our recent presentation to Nelson City Council, we expenditures in the Kootenays each year. The very same way our British and American cousins have. realized that perhaps we have failed to communicate with year that the movie Roxanne was shot here in Nelson Personalities as diverse as Thomas Jefferson, the city and the general public as a whole. We feel that it (spending approximately $700,000 in our community), Richard the Lion-Hearted and Jesse James is imperative that council and the public become aware of some $17 million was spent on mineral exploration in the have all reached legendary status in the U.S. the important role the Chamber of Mines of Eastern B.C. Salmo, Slocan and Nelson areas alone. and Britain, but for what? Jefferson was an plays in the Nelson community and the local economy. Even though the current downturn in mining exploration The Chamber was formed in 1921 with its primary func- activity is severe, our industry is still able to generate unrepentant slave-owner. King Richard was an tion to look after the interest of prospectors and the min- approximately $4 million in exploration spending annual- iron-fisted tyrant who spent most of his reign ing community, to monitor legislation affecting them, and ly in this area. This is possible only because of the dedi- outside of England, slaughtering "infidels" on to advise on the best handling of properties and of raising cation of the members of this Chamber. By far the major- the Holy Crusades. Jesse James was a coward- capital to develop them. ity of new discoveries come not from major mining com- Over the years our role has evolved. While we are still panies, but from individuals who generally have limited ly thief and cold-blooded murderer. Yet over advocates for the mining industry, we have taken on funding and cannot completely assess a mineral property the centuries each of these men has been ele- important new roles in education, tourism and as a muse- of their own. They depend on access to resources like the vated to the status of Mythical Hero, and suc- um and repository for mining related archives. In addition Chamber of Mines for the information they require. ceeding generations of American and English to prospector training we run courses on gold panning for We believe it is no coincidence that while exploration in both miners and tourists. B.C. is at record low levels, the Kootenays are currently schoolchildren have come to know every detail Each year we host many classes from our public the most active part of the province and in fact the level of their lives. schools, providing our children with an awareness of the of exploration is increasing in the region. We believe this We don't do that here. How many young rocks and minerals around them, and their importance in because of the support our Chamber is able to give to Canadians know anything about Louis Riel or our lives and in our history. local prospectors, and that the monies spent benefit the Our museum maintains an extensive library of reference whole community -- hotels, restaurants, equipment sup- Emily Carr or Dr. Frederick Banting? How materials dating from I 876. We also maintain a compre- pliers, food and clothing stores, bars, etc., as well as the many know what happened at Vimy Ridge or hensive mineral collection, mainly of samples represent- numerous local independent entrepreneurs who earn their Dieppe? Our heroes are almost always sports ing southeast B.C., but also from around the world. Our living in the industry. figures or, as the poll demonstrated, collection of ores is one of the best in B.C. In addition to Using the Chamber as a resource, our members are still the extensive library of publications and maps, the able to attract millions of dollars in exploration to our Americans. Nearly half the university-educated Chamber maintains a computerized database of all miner- area. respondents answered that Andy Warhol and al properties in B.C. and a microfiche library of Mining is not a "sunset" industry. The demand for min- Ernest Hemingway were Canadian! Assessment Reports on individual properties in our area. erals and mineral-based products will continue to grow. It might already be too late to reverse that We are well aware of the importance of the tourism The notion that society will somehow manage without mind-set in older Canadians, but for kids in industry in Nelson and work with the Chamber of mineral-based products -- from toothpaste to computers -- Commerce to enhance the tourism industry in our com- has no merit Mining provides the very foundation upon school there is still hope. A good start would munity. We find tourists are fascinated by the role mining which mod~ .. , society sits. be to revamp the bare-bones Canadian history has played in our history, and by the remnants of old Our doors are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each week- lessons in school curriculums to include some mines they pass in their travels. Many old mine sites have day. Please come and visit us, and see what we are all homegrown myths and heroes of our own, been reclaimed by new wilderness growth, but those that about. remain are valuable tourist attractions. Moreover, the old Fred Critchlow is president of the Nelson-based instead of celebrating everybody else's. roads to the minesites provide valuable access to scenic Chamber of Mines of Eastern B.C. Afterall, a generation with no appreciation of vistas for our tourists. the past doesn't bode well for the future. During the 1980s Chamber members were able to gen- OWNER and PUBLISHER: Nelson Becker EDITOR: Murray Greig Letters policy PRODUCTION: Julie Swenson We encourage our readers to write to us. Leners are a require some research, and should offer new infonnation as DISTRIBUTION: Eugene Schmunk (354-1100) way for you to speak to your community, to give new Infor- well as an opinion. June 30, 1999 Volume 11, Number 34 ISSN 1196-7471 mation, participate in a discussion or express an opink>n. 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