The City of Estevan is seeking the public鈥檚 input regarding the transition away from conventional coal-fired power.
In a post on the city鈥檚 website, Rick Sadick, the coal transition co-ordinator, noted the community is facing challenges with the pending closure of Units 4 and 5 at the Boundary Dam Power Station. Power production jobs and coal mining jobs will be affected.
鈥淚t鈥檚 our community responsibility to ensure we come out of this in a positive way, and although we continue to advocate for the use of clean coal, we need to pull together and solve the uncertainty of our future,鈥� Sadick wrote.
During his first few weeks as coal transition co-ordinator in Estevan, Sadick said he has heard from folks who have some really good ideas.
鈥淚 have also been reviewing lists of community-generated opportunities that have been provided to me by colleagues,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese ideas and opportunities are aimed at moving our community forward through this transition, but more approaches are needed.鈥�
He has been working closely with the economic development department, city staff, the Estevan Chamber of Commerce and both federal and provincial governments in an attempt to secure new business opportunities that will strengthen the city鈥檚 ability to grow and attract new business ventures.
At the same time, the city wants to keep citizens shopping at local businesses while they find new ways to draw shoppers and families from outside the community into Estevan.
鈥淲e need to ask ourselves, 鈥榃hat do we have in Estevan that makes our city great?鈥� and 鈥榃hat things in our community need to be fixed?鈥欌��
If people have any suggestions that could possibly help the city鈥檚 cause, they want to hear from them. Sadick stressed there are no bad ideas. All submissions will be held in the strictest confidence. In the coming months, the city will also be talking to local businesses, but most importantly, the city wants to hear from you.
鈥淲e all want to remain positive and keep Estevan moving forward聽 鈥撀� and together, we will succeed.鈥�
