Event #1: Wednesday, September 11, 6:00-8:30 pm @ Community Centre Gym

This event will be drop-in style from 6:00-7:00 pm. During this time, you can browse information boards and speak to members of the project team and Study Committee. From 7:00-7:30 pm, there will be a short presentation from Allan Neilson, the technical project lead. After the presentation, there will be time for questions. The event will return to drop-in style until 8:30 pm. You can view the information boards and the presentation online if you cannot attend the event.

Event #2: Tuesday, October 8, 6:00 - 8:00 pm @ Community Centre Gym and online

Allan Neilson, lead consultant on the Incorporation Study, will facilitate a discussion with three senior leaders of communities that have recently considered incorporation. This event will be accessible remotely. Instructions for how to participate remotely are below:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86500105534?pwd=p65IN8wi3J6davTHZuW4V3xPrdgZVg.1

Meeting ID: 865 0010 5534

Passcode: 076163

Meet the panellists:

Mayor Merlin Blackwell has served four terms with the District of Clearwater. Mayor Blackwell also sits on the Thompson Nicola Regional District Board and is Vice Chair of the Reginal Hospital Board.

Before getting into politics, Mayor Blackwell worked in and managed Wells Gray Provincial Park for 30 years, worked as a writer in radio and magazines, and served on several volunteer boards, including a stint as the President of the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce.

John Edward Smith is the Alternate Director for Columbia Shuswap Regional District Area G – the newly created Electoral Area covering roughly the same area that was being considered for Incorporation.

John spent 16 years with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. Eight years as the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, followed by another eight years as the Chief Administrative Officer. He also served for approximately two and a half years as the Chair of the Sorrento/Blind Bay Incorporation Advisory Committee.

John holds a B.S. in Mathematics from UBC Vancouver and is a retired member of the Institutes of Chartered Accountants of BC and the Northwest Territories (NWT).

Jason Johnson has worked in local and regional government for 30 years. His experience ranges from human resources, land use and strategic planning, to economic development. His various roles included Planner of Economic Development for the City of Merritt, Manager of Planning for the Central Okanagan Regional District, Manager of Human Resources for the City of Kelowna, and Chief Administrative Officer for the City of West Kelowna (the first CAO post incorporation) and the City of Victoria.

Jason is a Program Leader at Camosun College teaching local government. He also works as a consultant to local governments for strategic planning and interim CAO work.