(Submitted photo/Town of Wakaw)

By Cam Lee

Wakaw meeting

Town of Wakaw hosting economic and community development meeting

Feb 23, 2024 | 1:00 PM

Residents, business owners, and others in Wakaw get a chance to have their say on the town’s economic future.

The Town of Wakaw is hosting a meeting about economic development in the community Feb. 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Rec Centre.

Recreation & Community Development Manager Dwane Burke told northeastNOW the meeting will present to council economic and community development goals and strategies. That presentation will be followed up by breakout stations where people can meet in groups and discuss the various topics.

That will “give them an opportunity for them to connect, to meet each other, to network, to have conversations around shared common interests in either the economic side specifically or the community development side,” explained Burke.

The meeting will allow people a chance to get to know each other better, according to Burke. There are times when they may cross paths on a fairly regular basis, or they may not have met before.

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Burke said the goal is for increased community economic growth while bringing partners in with that.

“We’re obviously going to be working on these things together, so that’s kind of the ultimate goal,” said Burke.

The meeting will also bring forward some of the challenges faced by Wakaw and other communities, including housing, daycare, and labour shortages.

Burke said council also wanted to outline their short and long-term goals to the community.

Mayor Michael Markowski told northeastNOW council has been taking initiatives to get involved with the community.

“From everything from local economics, local groups, and of course to retain and attract businesses and residents to Wakaw,” Markowski explained.

He said the town has seen a lot of new families and businesses make Wakaw home. Those newcomers may not know what types of groups, organizations, and businesses are in town, and what types of businesses the town is looking to attract.

Burke said one of the projects the town is undertaking is the revitalization project for 1st Street South, which is their business district. A block of that street will be worked on in the future.

Anyone is welcome to attend the meeting, and the town has also invited surrounding rural municipalities, other local communities, and a variety of other stakeholders.

While there’s no formal registration for the event, Burke said you can email him to let him know so they have an idea of what numbers they can expect at the meeting.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW-SK