While the northwest region continues to reel from the impending closure of Kitimat’s pulp and paper mill, community leaders are working hard to find responses to the serious challenges ahead.

There have been many meetings of the minds since the Eurocan announcement was made October 28, as the community attempts to put on a brave face as it heads into the future.

After industry stakeholders put everything on the table at a closed-door meeting facilitated by local MP Nathan Cullen Saturday, Nov. 7 in Kitimat, district officials gathered at the Child Development Centre Monday, Nov. 9 to discuss the challenges before Kitimat.

Around 30 people gathered for the round table discussion of both fears and possible positive action.

“Kitimat was here long before Eurocan,” summarized Donna McMenamon, Employee and Family Assistance representative and union councillor for the Local 1127. “People need to realize it’s not the end.”

“There is life after Eurocan.”

Kitimat is “a community undergoing change,” said McMenamon post-meeting. “Eurocan is not the only challenge we have. But challenges can be labeled opportunities.”

The initial shock has worn off on the majority of Eurocan’s employee base, she added, with many beginning to wonder what comes next. With over 60 affected employees living in Terrace, it is important that northwest communities begin to work together. “We need to work together with them,” said McMenamon.

She pointed to the district’s community resources as a guiding light for these times, explaining that individual job skills may be discovered using resources for transitions, child development and resume-building.

“We have the best resources in the province for what’s going on here,” said McMenamon. “Don’t hesitate to use these services.”

Margaret Warcup, chairman of the five-year-old Kitimat Interagency Committee, said the meeting was called to discuss a “community under change.”

“The community does want to work together to move forward,” Warcup said. “We are a community that works together and we really want to get the message of positive change out to the community.”

She said there are two streams of people who will be hardest hit by the pulp and paper mill’s impending closure – the employees as well as other community members. A long list of resources are available within Kitimat, she noted, and she also encouraged people to use them. A list of resources offered by the community can be found at: http://www.kitimatcommunityservices.ca/resource.

Meanwhile, Kitimat mayor Joanne Monaghan read a statement of reassurance to the community at a November council meeting, stating the district is doing its best to alleviate the difficult situation.

“Although we face a major challenge today, it is important to remember that Kitimat has many assets to help us create a positive future,” she said, such as economic development potential, small-town atmosphere and an excellent quality of life.

“Municipal services, recreation services and other government services will continue to be provided at a high standard,” she added.

At the Cullen-led meeting in the Tamitik meeting room earlier this month, the NDP politician invited local leaders and businesses to “get everything on the table to try and find out what the next steps are to steer Kitimat through this process.”

There was representation from stakeholders like West Fraser, union workers, Terrace and Kitimat city councils, the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce, economic development, Kitimat Industrial Development Society, the school board, Northwest Community College, the RCMP and Northern Health.

Terrace mayor Dave Pernarowski said the meeting’s purpose was to bring all the different groups affected by the closure together and hear specific issues.

“We wanted to hear from each of those groups individually to say: here’s the impacts, here’s what we think needs to happen to mitigate those impacts, and then now we need to come back together with a little bit more specific information instead of just a general overview, and then try to work it into a document...so we can go to the government with some really well thought out strategies around what we need to do,” he said. “Overall it was a very good meeting.”

Monaghan said she came out of the meeting with optimistic thoughts. “Everybody was ready to work together,” she said. “To me that’s really important.”

As a result of decisions made during the meeting, Monaghan and Pernarowski will co-chair a number of committees formed in the areas of health, education, social services and economic development. These groups will identify the issues the Eurocan closure presents, as well as potential solutions.

“There’s a lot of things that need to be looked at,” said Monaghan, including funding applications. “There’s a lot of things we have to work through. We’re still kind of in shock but we’re going to get there.”

“This is such a big blow to our economy,” Cullen told reporters prior to the meeting.

His intent was to host the stakeholders meeting with a focus on what’s next. “The hope is that all the right people are willing to get together and put our backs into this thing and try to figure out a path forward,” Cullen said.

Although the clock is ticking on the mill’s January 31, 2010 close date, Cullen noted it will take some time to sort through the aftermath.

“While there is a certain sense of panic going on within some, its not good to make any kind of plans feeling that panic,” said the MP. “A little bit of sober thought is needed.”

He also said that a letter has been sent to the federal government, requesting recovery money. “We’re scrambling right now in the northwest,” he said. “We’ll be fighting for every dollar we can.”

“I’m very optimistic about the community working together,” Cullen concluded. “People understand how serious this is and are willing to put aside many other differences in order to accomplish something positive.”