On April 9, 1981, Bill Vander Zalm helped shepherd the town of Tumbler Ridge into existence.
These days, Vander Zalm still has the same energy he brought to his role as Municipal Affairs Minister. “I was one of the youngest people in government at the time,” says Vander Zalm.
“It was a big deal, because it was going to impact the whole of coal and gas, the North. The creation of Tumbler Ridge was going to impact the whole of the province and the country for a long time to come, so it was a big deal.”
“The incorporation took place in 1981, but the decision took a little while to get to that point. There were a number of meetings at the time in Municipal Affairs, with respect to what might happen or how it would happen. It started to take a life of its own.”
“Some ministers had concerns about what the impact of Tumbler Ridge would be on their particular ministry. They could see things changing or about to change. So, there were numerous discussions about Tumbler Ridge, and the impact on the different ministry: health, education, social services, those ministries, particularly. The premier at the time were certainly very supportive of proceeding with it. He saw the enormous future for the area because of coal and gas, and Municipal Affairs was very supportive, because a planned community would be a great service to the people, the area, and it all came together very nicely.”
Vander Zalm still has a high opinion of Tumbler Ridge. “I think you live in one of the most scenic, and most community oriented areas in the province. Yeah, there are places, bigger places that have things to offer that you possibly could miss in tumbler Ridge, but you have all these natural amenities. And that’s probably being recognized more and more all the time.”
He says that at the time, it wasn’t really a big deal. “It wasn’t a big event in Victoria. Nothing is, unless it concerns Victoria. People certainly celebrated within Municipal Affairs, because a number of people had worked hard on making it all happen. They had to plan for the services that would be required, and within the Ministry, there was a feeling of… what should I say? They were very pleased and very happy and proud of how it all come together. The ministry took some responsibility and fairly so in that regard. But then they had a celebration in tumbler Ridge itself in 1984. Unfortunately, I missed that, as I was no longer in politics in 84. But I had come up two or three times in 1981 and 1982.”
In the end, Vander Zalm is proud of his contribution to the Tumbler Ridge Story. “I think creating Tumbler Ridge was a very good idea, but I don’t think anyone in Victoria can take a whole lot of credit for it. The council members the community generally has done a super job. Thanks to them, the town came out the way it did. The people in government can take credit—as I do—for having been part of being incorporated and seeing it happen, but it’s the people there that really has made it a success.”
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
