Back in July of last year, the Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark received a grant from Heritage BC to hire a consultant and facilitator to create a terms of reference and a process design to explore the concept of combining the museum and the geopark into one organization.
The Hatlie Group was engaged to help facilitate the discussion. They estimated that the process would take two to three years to implement if amalgamation is even the eventual desired result of both organizations.
On July 28, a visioning session was held with staff and board members from both the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation and Global Geopark, as well as other community stakeholders. In that meeting, as well as a series of follow-up meetings, the two groups have explored and documented “the shared and unique community partnerships, values, goals, purpose, and strengths of both organizations, creating a map of overlaps and gaps that illustrated what an amalgamated organization might look like in theory,” according to a letter provided by the Amalgamation Task Force Committee.
Together, the groups created a comprehensive list of benefits and challenges of amalgamation, as well as a framework to create the action plan later on.
“Both TRGGS and TRMF boards voted to accept the terms of reference created by Hatlie group,” says the Task Force letter, “formally recognizing representatives from each organization to sit on the joint task force committee. The purpose of the joint task force committee is to research and address solutions to the specific topics itemized in the action plan. This detailed exploration will provide both organizations with the information they need to reasonably and responsibly decide if amalgamation would be in the best interest of their memberships and the communities they serve.”
The action plan should take anywhere from eight months to a year to complete and is currently in its initial stages. “The amalgamation joint task force is reviewing potential facilitators to help us move through this next stage of the process and provide expertise on the topics that require legal or professional considerations.”
According to the Hatlie Group, wholesale change like the proposed blending of the two groups, “requires patience, thoughtfulness, and flexible systems to keep the process on track. It is not easy, or simple work. To support success, TRGGS and TRMF should be aware of the impacts of change on an organization and its individuals, and consider a change management process that takes into account the stages of change.”
The move comes on the heels of the Geopark losing its funding from the regional District.
According to Mayor Keith Bertrand, the Geopark was funded under the PRRD’s Economic Development Function. “When PRRD staff went to investigate the policies and letters of patents, they realized the letters of patents didn’t support what that function was being used for as far as giving out grants,” he says. “It was described in a much more limiting way than what we were using it for. Staff realized that what we were doing was illegal.”
Bertrand says that function has stopped and the surplus funds have been re-distributed. “That funding stream has stopped until a new bylaw takes its place.”
Indeed, he says, that function was quite old and out of date. “Reading through that letter of patent, it was written in 1977 and Tumbler Ridge wasn’t even named on it, so my first order of business was to ask that Tumbler Ridge be added.”
The motion to establish a new, more secure funding stream for the museum will be put to a referendum by the PRRD, most likely in fall. The idea was not without its detractors at the PRRD level. Coming on the heels of another funding motion for the Hockey Canada events in Dawson Creek, some board members are worried voters might be experiencing referendum fatigue. “I’m in favour of doing this, but I am not in favour of doing this by putting it out for a vote,” says board chair Brad Sperling.
Fort St. John mayor Lori Ackerman put it more bluntly. “I’m experiencing tax fatigue. I would be able to support this if we were sticking to what we are supposed to be sticking to.”
Area E Director Dan Rose says that now might not be the best time. “It might be prudent to just wait until after the decision whether the two amalgamate,” he says. “We all have communities with people who want support. I think this is a terrific initiative, but I’m not sure I want to add it to the tax bill.”
But despite some hesitation, most of the PRRD board was in favour of the motion, some passionately. “God bless the volunteers in Tumbler Ridge who have built this amenity that is enjoyed by all, that improves the quality of life,” says Dawson Creek mayor Dale Bumstead. He says he’s not worried that there will be referendum fatigue on the part of the voters: “Only about twenty percent of the population show up to vote; they’re passionate about exercising their democratic rights, or they are passionate about the issue. If we put it out to a vote, those people will come. The great part of a democracy is we give them a choice. I am completely in support of this.”
Taylor Mayor Rob Fraser agrees. “I am a big supporter of both those organizations. I don’t think we are giving enough credit to our electorate. If we put this forward, it will stand on its own merits, and it’s up to us to inform the voters as to how this will be funded and why it should be a regional function. I think there is no harm to bring this forward.”
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.