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Residents decide on how to boost Nakusp

A Main Street Boost open house was held at the Nakusp Arena on May 30 and 31
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A view down Broadway Street in Nakusp on another hot and sunny day in the village.

Residents of Nakusp had the chance to make their voices heard at the Main Street Boost open house at the Nakusp Arena on May 30 and 31.

The open house was held to identify ideas and opportunities that would benefit the village.

About 30 people showed up to the event, not bad considering the meeting was taking place not only during the supper hour, but also during an NHL hockey game, something that was pointed out at the end of the meeting.

An all ages, all people approach was highlighted as a means to help improve the village.

For example, not only was there an open house at the arena, Jim Mountain, director of regeneration projects for the National Trust of Canada had also gone to Nakusp Elementary School that day to get input from the students.

During the meeting, those in attendance were split into groups to think up ideas, both short term and long, that would help improve Nakusp.

Some ideas included portable or removable sidewalks in the summer, giving incentives to businesses to keep up the appearance of buildings, measured walking paths,and a senior exercise park.

Attendants enjoyed the chance to exchange ideas.

“At our table, there were some people talking about three plans, or three ideas,” said Jan Dion. “Having a community meeting like this will help us make those decisions and say ‘The community has decided these things, so here are your choices’.”

While many ideas were brought up, some were happy just to hear what people were saying.

“I don’t have a personal preference,” said Laurie Page, one of the town’s two veterinarians. “I want to maintain that we have this walkable, vibrant downtown, and I want to add to that as much as possible, but I can see that we have lots of different things we can do, and I just want to do some of them.”

Mayor Karen Hamling agrees.

“I just want to find out what the public wants, and what the people want to see, and let’s do it.”

After the meetings, the National Trust will sort through the ideas to see what kind of patterns come up in terms of tangible projects which can then be put into some sort of a plan.

“We’re going to do a report that will come back to the community,” said Jim Mountain. “It’s going to be very graphically rich, and we’re going to reflect everyone’s ideas in this to the best of our ability.”

While many ideas are short term projects, many hope they will help improve Nakusp in the long term.

“I watched my children leave here, and my grandchildren leave here, because there wasn’t enough work, and there wasn’t enough for them to be able to stay here,” said Dion. “I want no one else to have that experience.”