With Stampede weekend coming up, I want to personally thank the many volunteers and businesses that have worked so hard to ensure the event will be a great success. The Williams Lake Stampede combines the fun of a festival with the excitement of sport, and is an event everyone enjoys. I have fond memories of travelling throughout the province attending rodeos with my family and I am very proud that the pinnacle of rodeo success is celebrated right here in the Cariboo. Not only is this a wonderful community event, it also brings great economic benefits to our region.
The Stampede attracts many tourists to our region, but there are many other exciting destinations as well. This past week I attended Barkerville’s AGM, and Barkerville is definitely a wonderful place to visit. If you have friends or family visiting this summer, Barkerville is a great choice!
It was a busy week this week, with a lot of meetings and events to attend. I met with the CRD and discussed projects such as the Quesnel Multi-Centre, Mount view water and sewer, Gateway Water, Esler Sports Complex, Anahim Lake Airport obstacle tree removal, and a major swimming pool upgrade and renovation. I also met with some of the organizers of the 2015 Canada Winter Games to be held in Prince George, which will be the largest event ever held in the North with more than 15,000 visitors.
I was sworn in as MLA on June 11, and now that it’s official, it’s time to begin the task of setting up offices, ordering phones, training staff, and everything else we need to do to set up shop. I’ve already had the chance to meet with several constituents to try to support them and resolve the challenges they are facing, and I look forward to continuing to do so. With the House called back for a summer session beginning this week, I will be spending a lot of time in Victoria but will be home on weekends and am available for appointments.
Coralee Oakes is the MLA for Cariboo North and is the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.