Skip to content

Powell River mayor scheduled to meet with Paper Excellence executive

Dave Formosa will receive a mill update
Powell River mayor Dave Formosa
GETTING INFORMATION: Mayor Dave Formosa will be meeting with a Catalyst Paper Corporation executive to receive an update on the company’s direction. Paul Galinski photo

Mayor Dave Formosa will be meeting with an executive from Paper Excellence to receive an update.

Speaking at the City of Powell River Council meeting on June 24, Formosa said he had an appointment to meet with the new vice president of Paper Excellence responsible for Catalyst Paper Corporation.

“He and I are going to touch base and talk about the future of Powell River and the mill here,” said Formosa. “That will be interesting, and after I have that meeting, I’m sure I’ll report out what we discuss and what his ideas are for Powell River coming down the line.”

Also during his community engagement report, Formosa said the province has moved into phase three of its COVID-19 plan, whereby non-essential travel is allowed to occur within the province. He said Tourism Powell River, local businesses, restaurants, convenience stores and shops are trying to service the community and make a living.

He said in phase three of opening up the province, staycations are opening up in BC.

“At first we were staying to staycation within the city, within Powell River,” Formosa said. “We were camping in our own campgrounds and such locally. It’s now within our own province.

“We would encourage people to come visit us and remember social distancing, washing of our hands and when you’re too close, masks; no groups more than 50.”

Formosa said he was asked to provide a grad speech on behalf of himself and council and the residents of Powell River for the Class of 2020, in light of their graduation “being hijacked by COVID.”

He said with International Choral Kathaumixw, he was also asked for some words for the video presentation for Digital Kathaumixw 2020.

“They’re looking to 2021, possibly, having it come back into play,” said Formosa.

He added that he has been meeting with various developers and businesses about issues they are having in the community. He said as of late, the chief administrative officer, director of planning and senior staff in engineering have been assisting him in working with some of the projects in the community that are having problems.

“We’re reaching out,” said Formosa, “and in some cases, bringing in the councillors.”