The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Dear Mr. Editor, Opportunity knocks! The effort to develop the Flin Flon/Creighton Community Plex presents an exciting and important opportunity for the communities and the surrounding area. In a past letter to your newspaper about the Flintoba Shopping Centre development I suggested that the mall, and other events being The Depression and the long-term labour agreement with HBMS, significantly affected the development of our communities. Perhaps the Community Plex project should be considered as a challenge to the citizens of the communities and the surrounding area to decide if an independent, vibrant, and progressive community for the future is desired. People are requested to answer a survey about the proposed Community Plex development by January 6/05 and a radio program about the project is organized for tomorrow (Jan. 4 at 9:15 a.m. on CFAR). Is the real question about the money or is it about the continuing cultural development of the community? The days of the old "company town," dependent upon the mining company for all social and recreational services, are thankfully long gone. The cost of maintaining obsolete facilities has surely become an undesirable burden. Many senior citizens are choosing to continue living here. There are younger people and families choosing to build a life here. Given the attraction of modern recreational facilities, together with the many other benefits of living in this area, perhaps there will be a stronger desire to improve the communities for the benefit and enjoyment of everyone. Yes, the question is about money, but it is also about what people want for the future of their community! Two essential requirements will determine the fate of this project (and perhaps the future cultural and recreational development of the communities). First, the people must support the project and all that it means for the future of the communities. Without this support the effort to continue the project will be wasted; the people may have decided to forego any opportunity for future cultural and recreational development of the communities. And secondly, there must be strong, aggressive leadership by elected representatives. So often the North does not receive a reasonable share of the "public purse" and there is no doubt that public funds must be contributed to the cost of the project. Therefore unrelenting and effective leadership and representation of the communities' interests by our elected representatives is very important; but to be effective such leadership requires most of all, the support of the people! Let's complete the survey by this January 6 and show overwhelming support for the Community Plex project! Yours truly, R.K. Black
