Green Lake Hoping For Tourism-Based Revitalization

Green Lake Hoping For Tourism-Based Revitalization

Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 14:48

 

 

Community leaders in Green Lake are welcoming a $1.5 million grant from the province announced yesterday.

 

The money will be used to build a 25-unit RV park at the eastern edge of the village.

 

Green Lake Mayor Fred McCallum says the funds will be used to provide roads, sewer and water services, and electricity for the park.

 

A boat launch will also be fixed up.

 

Enterprise Saskatchewan spokesman Tony Baumgartner says Green Lake is the perfect place for the funding, because it’s been devastated since its sawmill burnt down in 2000.

 

McCallum says the project is sorely needed to create jobs in the village.

 

He says over the past 20 years or so, the village’s population has fallen from roughly 1,500 people to about 500, and residents are desperate for jobs.

 

In fact, McCallum says a couple of men attending yesterday’s news conference asked him for jobs before the money was even announced.

 

He says “getting a welfare cheque is not the answer” — creating jobs “is where the future has to be” in order to keep children from leaving the community.

 

McCallum says tenders for the work will be put out over the winter.