I remember a story about a small logging
town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
The major employer decided to pull out of the town. The town’s people were
devastated! However, instead of giving up, they rallied together to see how
they could save their community. They developed a survival plan and strategy.
With the help of a small government development grant, they hired artists to
paint murals on side of several town buildings. Each mural depicted the town’s
heritage. They needed to attract people to visit the town and see the murals,
so they asked the artists to paint one anomaly in each mural. They offered a
prize to the first person to identify all of the anomalies. The promotion and
murals worked! As a result visitors from all over the world came to the small
town! The town is now one of the most successful tourist areas in Canada.
It continues to grow and prosper. So much so that when the logging company
wanted to come back, the town’s people said no! Now the town not only attracts
visitors but it attracts investment and wealth, all because there were a few
farsighted individuals who wouldn’t give up! It’s a great story and one that
should inspire any community facing hardships! Your community does not have to
wither up and die! It just needs a few individuals with spirit, determination
and imagination to lead the way, to make a difference!
By the way, if
you want to find out more about the “Little Town That Did –Chemainus” go to http://cullin.org/cbt/index.cfm?section=chapter&number=4.
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