REGINA – Recognizing potential economic development in a community could be as easy as taking a walk through its back yard.
That’s what happened in Nipawin, Sask., in the 1980s.
With the Saskatchewan River and a lake literally in their backyard, Nipawin residents were watching as tourists drove through the town on their way to Tobin Lake.
There they camped, fished, golfed and played water sports.
Wayne Tebbutt was the economic development officer in Nipawin then.
“We were benefiting,” he said of the drive-through traffic, “but there obviously was more potential.”
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Strategic plan needed
The first thing the community did was develop a strategic plan, which involved drawing attention to the river and developing services in the river area.
Tebbutt said they were concerned about hurting the economy of neighboring Tobin Lake, but discovered the market was so large that bringing new people in could benefit both communities.
He said special events were used to attract tourists.
The inaugural Saskatchewan Premier’s Cup walleye derby was organized with the help of Americans who had experience planning world-class fishing tournaments.
Tebbutt said there were some surprises.
“We thought 200 people would come but we didn’t understand the spinoffs, like 1,200 dozen leeches,” he said. That’s how many leeches were needed by the 200 anglers.
There are now three new local cottage industries providing leeches, nightcrawlers, spinners and bait.
“This wasn’t in the plan.”
Tebbutt said aside from special events, it works just to ask people to come.
There are now five bus tours a year making the 24- to 26-hour direct trip from Denver, Colo. for three days of fishing.
Fishing season near Nipawin runs from May 24 to Oct. 10, and during the first and last six weeks, nearly all the people fishing are American, he said.
Tebbutt said many communities have the same opportunities as Nipawin did and should look at familiar things from different perspectives.
“As a kid I was always told not to go to the river,” he said. “We had changed the thought.”
Look for potential
Tebbutt said later that even communities without an obvious potential tourist attraction need to take a close look at what they can do to bring people in and keep their town viable.
“Just go to St. Brieux,” he said, where implement manufacturer Bourgault Industries employs more people than the village’s population of about 440.
Tebbutt said strong leadership is important, and if a community doesn’t have a strong leader it should search for one.
There also needs to be an investment from within, and not necessarily a monetary one.
Residents have to “buy into the plan,” Tebbutt said.
