by Jessica Lunn

photo by T 'n' T Photography, Slocan BC

The Village of Slocan sits nestled below the towering peaks of Valhalla Provincial Park, right where the waters of the pristine Slocan Lake enter the narrow and winding Slocan River. Like most of the West Kootenay region, our population holds a special affinity to our natural surroundings and we boast world class recreational opportunities minutes from our doorsteps. We are a mountain people – with some of our families having roots in the area that stretch back to the Silver mining boom-days. The local knowledge of some of these ”Slocan Valley Sherpas” has been cultivated through generations of families working, playing and living in the area. Many others have just landed in Slocan, capitalizing on our affordable housing prices, and bringing with them a new energy and fresh passion for the area.

So what do people ”do” in Slocan, a small village of 350-something, for employment? If you head out of town and into the media, the common perception would be that everybody in the Village is employed by Springer Creek Forest Products. The saw mill, when working at full capacity, employs upwards of 170 people – and at least that many are employed by contract to carry out logging and forestry activities. In reality, although some of these employees and contractors live within the Village of Slocan, the majority reside outside the Village and come from Winlaw, Slocan Park, Crescent Valley, Nelson and Castlegar to the south, and from Silverton, New Denver, Nakusp and Kaslo to the north. Springer Creek Forest Products is a major economic driver for the entire region, and contributes hearty revenue to the municipality as our only industrial tax base. As of June, 2010, the mill has started up again, after nearly two years of closure blamed on poor market conditions.

photo by T 'n' T Photography, Slocan BC

A deeper and intimate understanding of the Slocan community reveals that the villagers are a humble and eclectic group of passionate and community minded people who participate in a diverse labour market – both locally and regionally. In my neighbourhood, a family of five is supported by Interior Health (one partner employed as a care aide in New Denver, the other on-call casual maintenance). Another family brings in income through Canada Post at our local post office and from Selkirk Paving down the Valley. Moving further down the street you’ll find a young family of four self employed through Sustainable Roots Contracting, and another family of five supported by a full time nurse and a semi-retired contractor who has plans to start an oven-fired pizza and bread delivery business. Farther along, there’s a logging truck driver, an administrative assistant, and social service worker, a snow cat ski operator, a retired wilderness photographer, and a back country ski guide.

There are  several businesses that provide jobs locally. The Slocan Village Market employs a number of people, as does Slocan Lake Home Hardware Store, the Harold Street Cafe, Fulla Beans Coffee and Mountain Valley Gas Station. The Lakelore Gallery provides a new venue for our arts community to showcase their work – as well as gather together for open-mic nights, pottery classes and more. Smiling Otter offers kayak and canoe rentals, training, and tours. The W.E. Graham Community Services Society provides employment in youth and social services and the School District provides opportunities for locals to work in secretarial, teacher assistant, janitorial, bus-driving, and teaching occupations at W.E. Graham Community School. The Village Office provides a handful of administrative and public works jobs.

Technology has opened the doors for home based business and telecommuting opportunities. There are residents who sustain themselves providing web-site and graphic design services, and others who have worked in film editing or administration. My husband and I are both based from home, nurturing a growing sales and marketing agency that manages sales and customer services for major clothing brands across Western Canada.

photo by T 'n' T Photography, Slocan BC

Recently the Village of Slocan has been working on a sustainability plan – looking for strategies to strengthen and diversify our economy and build on our tourism potential. Through a series of well attended public forums facilitated by Sustainable Solutions Group, villagers participated in a process of identifying where we are now, our values, and our vision for a prosperous future. Attending these events was extremely inspiring and it was clear by those in attendance that there are lots of things that this community can celebrate – now and into the future.  Our number one capital, it seems, is that people who live and care about the community. Many of our assets were mapped and it became clear that the people of Slocan, along with our pristine natural environment, new technology, recreational activities, growing tourism market, lower housing costs, public transportation links and proximity to Nelson, Castlegar, New Denver and Nakusp – along with many other assets – continue to make the Village of Slocan an attractive and viable place to live, work and play both now and into the future.