WestJet one step closer to Castlegar?
By Kyra Hoggan
WestJet has asked representatives of the West Kootenay Regional Airport Advisory Committee to meet with airline staff later this month to discuss why WestJet should come to Castlegar (see also: http://castlegarsource.com/news/westjet-clarifies-invitation-19383).
Castlegar mayor Lawrence Chernoff, Nelson mayor John Dooley, city manager John Malcolm and former MP (and air traffic controller) Jim Gouk will be among the delegates heading to Calgary to meet with WestJet June 27 and 28, although Chernoff said they’re hoping to round out the delegates with a representative from the business community.
“It’s all about economic development – for the whole region,” he said. “For the smaller communities of B.C., I think it would be a great asset to have WestJet flying here.”
Chernoff said he has no idea how many communities were offered similar invitations, but he’s pretty sure the timeline WestJet is looking at is fairly compact.
“They want to be operational in the second half of 2013, so it’s not long,” he said.
To aid WestJet in their decision, Chernoff said the airport advisory committee is asking for the endorsement of other communities in the region.
“We are sending requests for support to all of the region’s cities and towns and we are hoping that they give overwhelming support to having an additional airline service provider in our region,” Chernoff said.
Trail has not yet responded, but Nelson mayor John Dooley said he’s very much on board, “Clearly our region’s businesses and our residents will benefit from having WestJet serve the Kootenay/Boundary region and help our economy continue to grow and diversify.”
A city press release also encouraged local businesses and residents who wish to send letters of support to send them to Castlegar@castlegar.ca or via regular mail to Castlegar Administrative Assistant, 460 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, BC, V1N 1G7. You can also drop them off at City Hall downtown, or fax to 250-365-4810.
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