Van Dolah seeks re-election to Vanderhoof council, highlights forestry and economic diversification

Now seeking re-election, van Dolah said there is still important work underway that he hopes to see through during another term on council.

One of the projects he has been heavily involved with is an application to expand Vanderhoof’s community forest. He said the initiative is aimed at supporting the region’s forestry sector while keeping more local control over forest management.

“I’d like to finish up on one of the main things that I was pretty influential in putting forward, and that’s our application to expand our community forest,” van Dolah said.

He said an expanded community forest could help provide additional fibre supply for Nechako Lumber, the community’s remaining sawmill, while also ensuring more forestry decisions are made locally rather than by large corporations headquartered elsewhere.

“We’d like to maintain that here in Vanderhoof and within the region,” he said.

Van Dolah also pointed to broader economic challenges facing the community as a major reason for seeking another term. Like many forestry-dependent communities in northern British Columbia, Vanderhoof has been navigating changes in the forest sector and declining timber availability.

“Our economy is in transition here,” he said.

To help address that transition, van Dolah said council has been working to support and strengthen the region’s agricultural sector, particularly the beef cattle industry.

He noted the significant role agriculture already plays in the local economy, pointing to the strong sales volume generated through the community’s livestock auction market.

“Vanderhoof has always been fortunate to have that secondary industry in addition to the forest industry,” he said.

Van Dolah believes agriculture will continue to be a critical part of the community’s economic future as Vanderhoof looks to diversify beyond its traditional reliance on forestry.

“With the decline in the industry, we’re going to have to diversify our economy,” he said.

He added that council is exploring a number of opportunities to help support economic growth and create a more resilient local economy in the years ahead.

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Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com

by Adam Berls

Van Dolah seeks re-election to Vanderhoof council, highlights forestry and economic diversification

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