Golden BC’s History: Reprinted from our archives, Golden Gazette, Vol. 4, No. 16, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 1974:
“After a vote on the resolution to secede to the province of Alberta at the Chamber of Commerce meeting last Thursday night, the feeling of electric excitement and conviction in the belief of doing what was right, was in the air.
A convincing majority of 46 in favour and 2 against the move to secede showed that at least the Chamber was set to go.
The only chamber member abstaining from voting who was present at this meeting was Chairman Mel McMillan.
After the regular chamber business had been dealt with, Mrs. Davene Dunn, chairman of the group for secession to Alberta, read the resolution that had been prepared for presentation to the chamber.
The complete resolution is as follows:
“WHEREAS the economic climate of this area has deteriorated seriously due to the various pieces of legislation enacted:
AND WHEREAS much of this legislation is thoughtless and ill-prepared and of such character that it has resulted in the loss of basic freedoms which affect the quality of life and undermine the job security of the workforce;
AND WHEREAS, due to our geographical location, we already have strong interdependent ties with Alberta economically, culturally, and through communication, recreation and general trade patterns;
AND WHEREAS the quality of life and the opportunity for an individual to succeed exist in Alberta in an environment more conducive to a rewarding family lifestyle and less depressing to youth;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT we institute action to join with the Province of Alberta.
Mr. Syd Feuz seconded the motion, and discussion on the motion was called by Chairman McMillan.
The first speaker was Dr. Gordon Lapp, who spoke on the geographical advantages of belonging to Alberta. The 2 1/2 hour drive to Calgary made trade and business transactions a relatively simple matter, and he suggested that we were already closely integrated with that province through the media of television. He also stated that Alberta was still a free-enterprise province.
“We have to look at not only what is happening today, but what will happen tomorrow, the year after and ten years after,” were the words of John Balcars, as he spoke to the resolution.
It is up to us and individuals to make up our minds.
Dr. B Lundberg felt that “we must take the emotion out of this and think logically.” Boundaries, he said, are laid out by major rivers, mountain ranges, etc. Now we have a valley that is inhabited, and it tends towards Alberta. Everything has its time, he continued, “Perhaps this is the time” to start making changes. “This is not all I have to say,” said Lundberg, “but it is the least controversial.”
Mr. Cal Desrosiers, a local logging contractor, stressed that he felt we all worked for Evans Products “directly or indirectly.”
In the years that he has been here, Golden has been a pretty stable town, he went on: “The basic industry is logging here and the way I feel right now, my way of life is threatened by the present government.”
Hopefully, he said, we can come up with a free enterprise party again.
“The things that are happening today, especially in the logging business, and all the rest of you will talk about the things that will hit you, and what hits you best is money.”
“I can’t wait three years – for the simple bloody reason that if this carries on, I’m not going to be in business in three years.”
“Our way of life is going out the window. The instability today is making everyone uncertain,” he went on.
“I’ll take my lumps,” said Desrosiers, “and I’ll fight the weather and the whole thing because that’s my choice of life and if I want to put my bucks on the line, I’m darn well gonna do it,” he continued “and Barrett or nobody else is going to stop me from doing it.”
“They’ve got timber sitting at point A and we’re at point B and we can’t build a road from A to B.”
Multi-million dollar corporations must be able to plan ahead.
“There has to be some stability – there has to be some government policy,” he ended.
Mrs. Fern Simonson, owner of the Golden Tastee Freeze, agreed that under the present regulations and laws that she “won’t be in business in another few years.” The small businesses are the “meat and potatoes” of this town, she added. “If the loggers aren’t working, we don’t exist.”
She also quipped, “I’m also scared of that police force he’s starting.”
“I’m a transplanted Albertan,” were the words of Mrs. Larsen, “And I’m very proud of being a citizen of BC.”
She said she did not want the older citizens getting the impression that we have turned on BC.
The government’s present policies, she continued, are hurting the smaller businesses even more than the big corporations.
She wondered if we could afford to wait for another election.
Mr. Leo Klafki, a local farmer, said although farmers did not represent the largest population in this area he felt the farmers here were very closely associated with Alberta. “We trade all our commodities with Alberta,” he said, “livestock, feed, etc, all comes from there.”
The investment climate in BC today is very uncertain, said semi-retired businessman Joe Walsh. “The forest industry in particular must create havoc in the Board of Directors meetings.”
“Having to be in competition against the government is not fair,” he said.
He further stated that he was astounded when attending the recent Court of Revision at the assessments of small businesses.
“I’m too young to quit working, and I’m very uncertain about my future,” he said.
Mr. John Anderson, owner of the Rondo Motel, stated that it seemed as if everyone was fleeing BC and felt that socialism hadn’t hurt in other countries.
Nick Misisko of Golden Cleaners had one short statement to make: “My sentiments are with BC – Alberta or BC – what the hell, we’re still Canadians, and that’s what counts.”
James Doyle stated, “everybody is political and acting like spoiled kids by running away.”
An unidentified individual from Cranbrook who represents the labourers said he was very much interested in the question of employment. He said he would very much like to sit down and delve into the base of the problems by talking to some of the people here.
He was thanked for his comment by Joe Walsh who added that the woodworkers “Very basis of employment is being underminded at this time.”
Dale Drown’s comments were that he thought the idea behind secession was to gain publicity for the area and suggested that a delegation be sent to Victoria.” You are possibly challenging the whole democratic system that we’re based on – other places along boundaries may try secession also.” He suggested we wait until the next election and fight against the present government.
Mr. Randy Thompson, a member of the local industrial development commission said that inquiries have dropped off about 90% in the past year becuase of the uncertain economic future of BC.
“Have you a standby state or province somewhere in case Alberta refuses you,” was the question of Mr. Terry Wilson.
Fred Demmon said that after the vote tonight, we should still send a delegation down to Vitoria and if they still won’t listen, “there is something drastically wrong.”
A steering committee, chaired by Mrs. Davene Dunn, will continue to research all the involvements which may arise with the move.”
