Mayor Dee Conklin recently returned from a trade mission to France to learn about the French ski industry and to discuss opportunities for investment in our region. The delegation, which included local business and First Nation’s representatives, was at the invitation of French Neige International (FNI), one of the world’s premier mountain development companies.

Here is Dee’s initial report:

France – February 5 – 12, 2012

We stayed in Chambery, France, a city of 100,000 which is a two hour drive from Geneva. Each day we went to a different ski resort (6 visited out of 360) to meet with the operators and local politicians to discuss how their towns and resorts are managed, and what tenure, operational and marketing issues they have. The ski resort industry in France is very different from ours in that municipalities often own the resorts. All of the land is private. In the 1990's the ski industry went for a tail spin in France. The government became involved, buying many of the resorts and creating the current structure. All levels of government are involved financially and they are passionate about tourism and the economic spin offs that are created. For example, in St. Maurice, the Beaufort Cheese factory was faltering until tourism picked up. They soon became an international player in the world of cheese production. Many other industries tell the same tale. Over the years, France has built both winter and summer tourism industries knowing they needed both to be sustainable. Now summer sightseeing and mountain biking revenues almost equal the winter season!

On the second night of our visit we met with senior management representatives who drove down from Paris. The President of France Neige International (FNI) explained how their operation works. They are 80% owned by the French Government and they manage dozens of ski resorts in the French Alps. Caisse des Depots is the primary financial institution involved in the industry and the French government is a shareholder. Companie des Alpes is the operating company. Representatives of these key players provided us with information about their interrelationships and we also met with local owners and engineering firms. The purpose of the trip was for France Neige International to showcase their operations and express their interest in investing in British Columbia, specifically the Jumbo Glacier Resort project. Their focus is on environmentally sustainable resorts that work closely with surrounding communities and provide employment and economic development. Other than Sochi in Russia, they believe that there are few opportunities like this in the world. Starting a ski resort from the ground up is a dream they have and they want to be involved!

FNI representatives toured and skied the Jumbo and Farnham area glaciers back in the 90’s and it was their opinion then that the area was the most exciting location in the world for a new ski resort. Rainer Giersch, who is BC's trade representative in Europe and who works for the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, has been closely involved in France and helped coordinate our visit.

The Jumbo Glacier Resort project has had an Environmental Certificate since 2004, and subsequently, an approved Master Plan. The final step required for the development to proceed is the endorsement, by the Province, of the Master Development Agreement. Although the Agreement has been complete for quite a while, the Province has been consulting with the Ktunuxa First Nation, who see this issue as one part of their larger Treaty negotiations. There is nothing stopping government from making a decision.

Every project has its opponents. If governments refused to take action simply because a project had opponents, governments would never allow anything to be built and we wouldn't have the standard of living we have in Canada. This project has been studied and analyzed for 21 years. It has the most comprehensive Environmental Certificate of any ski resort in BC and an approved Master Plan. All manner of environmental studies have been done to show the resort can be built with manageable impacts on an old sawmill site near the former Mineral King Mine. Once the project is approved it can be built in an environmentally responsible manner and it will be our responsibility to be cognizant of the historic and cultural aspects of the land and build a place that strengthens our mountain heritage. It is why we are all here - to share our beauty with the world using the highest standards of care and attention. This is our opportunity to attract the world’s best skiers and many sight seers.

I was questioned as to my involvement in this tour. As a business person I have supported the process all along and feel that the proponent has met every obstacle thrown at them, and more. I also believe we need something “dramatic” if we are going to stand out as an international tourist destination competing with thousands around the world. We have Farnham Glacier on our side of the Jumbo mountain group. JRG has the tenure rights there and will be starting many activities this summer. We were able to get some great ideas and information that will help with the summer operations to be run out of Radium Hot Springs.

This investment mission was all about jobs and our positioning as an international tourist destination. The Columbia Valley needs jobs. My mandate to be involved comes from our Official Community Plan consultations and community concerns raised during the most recent municipal election. The primary issue, clearly stated, was the need for economic development. The proposed Jumbo Glacier resort is, in my opinion, a green industry that will have low impact on the land, while providing hundreds of good jobs during construction and operation. It is my belief that the silent majority is looking to us as leaders to provide the opportunity for this type of economic development to occur. We should be honored to know that investors want to put money into our area. I am hoping that the BC Government shows the leadership we need and that we are able to welcome investors who “know how to do it” into our Valley.

Dee Conklin