The Athabasca District Chamber of Commerce is in support of promoting Athabasca in the Wabasca area.
ìThe chamber is very interested in doing something. I think if we want to make a change, we need to take a town person, a chamber person, and a county person to meet with people from Wabasca,î chamber president Penny Semashkewich said. ìWe need to show them that we are there as a group of people.î
Semashkewich thinks that in order for the Town of Athabasca and area to benefit, the town, county and chamber must work together.
Athabasca town councillor George Hawryluk presented the chamber with his ideas on Wabasca and cashing in on the areaís growth.
Hawryluk said he hears there will be thousands of people relocating to the area.
ìWord is that there is a new development of extracting the oil in the area of Wabasca that will make Fort McMurray look like a baby,î he said. ìThese people have to go somewhere and we are the perfect location for those guys to move and live here.î
Hawryluk thinks the chamber is the perfect group to promote the area.
ìAs I look at the objectives of the chamber for this area, the five points that are outlined are right within the mandate to promote this town, not just in a local area, but outside of it,î he said. ìI feel and think that with the new development and new industry that is growing in Wabasca, and the number of people that are going to be working there, I hear there will be thousands of workers in camps.î
Hawryluk referenced Athabasca as a bedroom community.
ìIt would benefit this town, if you believe in my vision, which is to make this town grow. As businesses, everyone will benefit from services, to already existing businesses,î he said. ìYou have the support of most of the council from what I gather in the discussions. Outside of council, talking to people in town, there is great support.î
The location of Athabasca makes it a prime location for workers and their families.
ìIt is only two hours away, and the highway is well traveled and paved,î he said. ìRather than people going somewhere else, I would rather see people come and use the services and the businesses in this town, rather than going to Slave Lake.î
However, Hawryluk said the chamber needs to be out there promoting the town and area.
ìBelieve it or not, people that I talk to outside of town, think I am from the Lake of Athabasca,î he said. ìI have to explain that itís 100 miles north of Edmonton. There is a town other than the lake.î
