Elected officials in Pemberton are debating priorities as growth pressures continue in the village—namely, the balance between housing and recreation.
While many community members would like to see more in the way of recreation, the Village of Pemberton’s (VOP) immediate top priority must be housing locals, according to Councillor Katrina Nightingale.
Her comments came during a discussion about VOP priorities at the Jan. 23 council meeting.
But a recreation master plan could help the VOP plan for a decade or more into the future, noted Coun. Laura Ramsden, who stressed there is a shortage of amenities in the village during the winter.
“[A recreation master plan] gives us an idea of what 10, 15 years down the line looks like,” she said. “If we have to choose between what amenities we are going to develop next, our priority would be something like a skating rink. We are lacking that option in the winter. There are other options in the summer.”
Ramsden said now is the time to start planning for the future, as Pemberton is currently undergoing a period of great change. ”
I think from a planning and prioritizing perspective, it would provide staff with more opportunities when grants come up,” she said. “We have a couple of really big developments coming in, maybe some of the most significant developments that this area is going to see. This would be the time for us to think about it. Is there any way in 2024 we can move forward with actioning with this, whether it means getting a grant or master planning it?”
But in Nightingale’s view, all the amenities in the world won’t solve Pemberton’s housing crisis.
“I find it hard to have these conversations, because the No. 1 priority we have in this community is housing for our essential workers,” she said. ”It has to go on the top. The school is suffering. The library is suffering. It’s real time now in a way that it almost hasn’t been.
“We can have as many services and amenities as we want, but if we don’t have the workers to keep our schools and libraries running, then it doesn’t matter.”
However, Nightingale agreed more rec options are needed.
“On the lines of a recreation plan, I hear more and more from people who have moved to this community that their kid doesn’t like basketball or skiing,” she said. “There is absolutely nothing for them to do at this time of year. For me, an art and culture piece which could be really important in authentic reconciliation should have a high priority.”
