Editor, The Gazette:
A recent article in the Christina Lake News highlighted the Christina Lake grant-in-aid disbursements from 2015 to, among others, Christina Gateway CDA. I’m writing this letter so residents can get a sense of what we do as a non-profit organization.
Before getting into the specifics, allow me to touch on Gateway’s vision for Christina Lake: an economically, socially and environmentally viable community into the future. Our mission is to mobilize the community to address strategic community issues.
Our main goals are to:
1. Increase intra community communication
2. Strengthen community organizations at Christina Lake
3. Strengthen existing businesses
4. Develop and attract new businesses
5. Strengthen marketing of Christina Lake and its attributes, events and business opportunities
A grant in January 2015 enabled us to advertise Christina Lake. This fits the broader marketing strategy of promoting our shoulder season activities, in this case, biking trails. As everyone at the Lake knows, we have about 10 weeks of high season followed by a fairly dramatic decrease in both residents and visitors.
If we can cooperate to expand the visiting season by even four weeks to May and October then we will strengthen our main industry and create a healthier local economy.
Homecoming started as a small celebration of seasonal residents returning for another summer. It has grown into an example of small town spirit right in the heart of the high season. Homecoming gives potential new residents a reason to keep coming back and to consider living here full-time.
The Community Newsletter started because we felt that residents didn’t know much about the work being done by the volunteers and non-profits at the Lake. Its purpose is to spread information about everyone who invests time and effort in this community. Submissions are gladly accepted to the below email address.
There is no individual membership to Gateway, only organizations committed to improving our community. At present membership includes the Christina Lake: Stewardship Society; Community Association; Firefighters Society; Fire Department; Arts and Artisans Society; Recreation Commission; Seniors’ Housing Society; and, Tourism Society. Those organizations send representatives to the Gateway Board of Directors.
These grants enable Christina Gateway CDA to pursue the vision of an economically, socially and environmentally viable community into the future. We increased intra-community communication with the newsletters. By helping the Seniors’ Housing Society we strengthened an organization at our community’s heart. The advertising and promotion through Homecoming and the community promotions broadcast Christina Lake to the world with the aim of attracting new visitors, businesses, and ultimately residents.
Thank you for the opportunity to share some of the work we do at Christina Gateway CDA.
– Cavan Gates, Community Coordinator
coordinator@christinalake.ca
250-447-6165