Why Spuzzum's Chief thinks a resort would improve a remote valley's environment

There are plenty of plans for mountain resorts in BC. But most such dreams never turn into reality.

Spuzzum Chief James Hobart knows this. He remembers a meeting with a group of resort-planning experts who pulled out plans for a half-dozen different projects.

“I said, ‘Wow those are nice,’” Hobart remembers, “And they said, ‘Yeah, none of these ever made it. They died on the drawing board.’”

Hobart obviously hopes his First Nation’s goals to build a resort in a remote mountain valley near the Coquihalla Summit might be different—in part because Spuzzum is a different kind of applicant. Instead of a resort builder having to prove themselves to locals and win support from local First Nations, Hobart and his community are the locals. And that, he thinks, will make it a lot easier to get to “yes.”

For in-depth details of the proposal, see our story from Tuesday here.

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