The aptly named Community Corner at Third and Oliver has been official for a year.
On Saturday, the consortium of three organizations that share building space — the Cariboo Growers, Community Policing and the Williams Lake Central Business Improvement Area Association— will celebrate that fact.
“This is our one-year anniversary of the community corner building … so we’re really excited to bring some more life to downtown Williams Lake,” says Tatjana Bates, a board director for Cariboo Growers. The three organizations will host celebrations on Saturday. Cariboo Growers will have local farmers demonstrating seed saving, composting and gardening. As well, there will be children’s activities, live music and cake cutting at the Community Corner, and Mayor Kerry Cook will be in attendance. “We encourage everyone to come out and get to know what our Community Corner is all about,” says WLCBIA president Sue Benton. “I invite everyone to come and celebrate with us. We’ve worked hard this year.”
Community Corner evolved from a strategic partnership between the WLCBIA, Community Policing, and Cariboo Growers. Several years ago the three organizations made a proposal to the City to acquire joint occupancy of the abandoned Petro Canada building on the corner of Third and Oliver. As a result of that, the Cariboo Growers has a five-year lease with the City.
Bates is enthusiastic about the benefits the corner has brought to downtown.
“We’ve taken that corner that was lifeless and turned it into life and welcoming people to the downtown core and businesses and beautifying the space. That’s gigantic.”
Seedy Saturday runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16.