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Community urged to back Shames bid

An Open Letter to: The Community of Terrace Recently the City of Terrace was approached by My Mountain Co-Op (MMC) to provide financial assistance to buy Shames Mountain. I feel it a great importance to relay my disappointment with our municipal representatives for defeating this motion.

An Open Letter to:

The Community of Terrace

Recently the City of Terrace was approached by My Mountain Co-Op (MMC) to provide financial assistance to buy Shames Mountain. I feel it a great importance to relay my disappointment with our municipal representatives for defeating this motion.

There has been much conversation in the community surrounding the responsibility of spending taxpayer money. There were quotations from the mayor stating that he did not see a large group of people “walking in the street” standing behind MMC; it prompted a large group supporters, members and their families to get together for Monday night’s council meeting.

We walked in the streets and used our taxpaying voices to respectfully say “I do want my dollars spent on this initiative”.

There was not a group of people walking in the street supporting the opposite, unless you count four elected representatives.

I understand that city council make many decisions on behalf of the taxpayers of Terrace with judgements that can have far reaching implication. I respect that often those are decisions of great difficulty.

However, I find it shameful this motion was defeated and think the arguments provided by council were weak. Many recreational tax dollars are spent here to maintain amenities that not everyone can or does use.

Shames can be successful and self-sustaining as a not for profit community service cooperative facility. I recognize that the city has lent a hand by providing office space and buying a membership and thank you for that support, but I maintain that we should be showing leadership with a larger financial contribution.

This will send a message to other potential investors and owners that we believe in keeping our residents healthy and happy and that we value our assets and community members.

My family is young and my children are small, but my spouse and I have seriously talked about our futures in Terrace if Shames were to close.

Not only does it provide us opportunity to connect as a family, it is our main source of recreation and socializing throughout our long winter months.

We are only a family of four, but that is four of us who may not be contribute to Terrace’s economy in years to come and I know that our family isn’t the only one having this conversation.

If you support in keeping Shames open through My Mountain Co-Op, it’s time to get involved in any way you can. Lend a hand or lend a buck, every little bit will help.

I believe in our community and have seen us come together to support our passions. There have been many fantastic ideas regarding fundraising efforts posted on online sites.

Recently I have become more active as a member and through that I have gained a sense of ownership within the cooperative which we as a community (skier/boarder or not) need to do.

I understand that Shames is not within the City of Terrace, but without it, I believe that Terrace would feel an economical and sociological blow the most in our region.

After all, it is patrons of our brilliant snow conditions that spend money in restaurants, retail and hotels when staying or passing through Terrace for Shames. Residents of Terrace and Thornhill have moved here and stay here for Shames.

Council members who have failed to fully recognize the asset that Shames is to our community have lost support from me in the upcoming municipal election.

I know that I am only one vote, but I intend to use my voice to motivate those who share my feelings in this matter to consider it an issue of utmost importance and get to the polls.

I truly believe that it is at the municipal level where most change and action is felt. For those of you like me, who do not feel represented on council, I encourage you to get out and vote for someone who will be your voice next time.

Jessica Hogg, Terrace, BC