Williams Lake celebrated the life of Monty Exton this week. Monty was an amazing man who was well respected in our community. His true love of life, which he demonstrated by his daily actions, is a great reminder for all of us!
He will definitely be missed.
I want to highlight two very large and very important projects that are in the beginning stages: the Highway 97 four-laning between Carson Drive and Fox Mountain and a renovated or replacement pool.
The Ministry of Transportation recently held an open house on the four-laning options, which involves improving the intersections at Carson Drive and Broadway Avenue North. This is a huge investment in Williams Lake, and benefits will include safety and mobility improvements, and improved pedestrian, cyclist community connectivity. This stretch of the Cariboo Connector is one of nine segments identified to be upgraded in the next five years, part of $200 million investment by the province.
The Central Cariboo/City of Williams Lake Joint Committee’s Pool Task Force has also been gathering public input on concepts to renovate or replace the Sam Ketcham Pool, another big project for the community.
After the great public feedback on concepts for a new or improved facility, the task force’s consultants are doing more detailed analysis and are expected to present it to the task force at the end of August. It is expected a draft report on moving forward on a pool option would be presented to the public sometime in September. One of the ways the City can attract investment, businesses, and families is to offer amenities such as world class recreation facilities. These make up one part of the whole picture of an attractive and vibrant city, and I look forward to moving through this process with the whole community in the months ahead.
I’m off for a few weeks enjoying time with family and friends.
Kerry Cook is the mayor of Williams Lake.