The 17th Annual BC Natural Resources Forum is happening here in Prince George from Jan. 28 to 30.
The forum has the usual slate of dignitaries speaking to the various issues of the day. These folks work (in a manner of speaking) behind-the-scenes as supports to our local natural resource industries.
The forum website states that the forum produces over $2.5 million in economic benefits to Northern B.C. This is very nice, but what's in it for the average person who is frustrated by the lineups at downtown coffee shops?
A free event is happening the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 29 - the second annual Resource Roll-in and Rally! Show up at the Civic Centre to cheer on those men and women who have worked tirelessly in the snow and cold.
Come cheer on the resource workers who work outside to extract, process, and deliver raw materials like logs and minerals for production to their destinations, almost no matter what the weather is. These men and women left their cozy homes not only to provide their families with food and shelter, but also to provide raw materials for manufacturing and export so that our mills, manufacturing, and mining processes, could continue. Others braved the cold to deliver fuel, to repair broken-down vehicles, or to deliver supplies to make manufacturing possible.
Then there is the farmer or rancher who simply does what they need to do to keep their animals warm. Unlike city snow removal crews, there is no such thing as shutting the machine off and doing only indoor work. Tiger torches and tarps, or more modern oil-heating devices, are utilized to heat engines to starting point, and off they go to feed their animals, no matter that the mercury has dipped below visibility.
Come cheer on the men and women who keep us warm, fed, and deliver the jet fuel so some can occasionally escape our long winters. The mobile phone, the laptop, the electricity, the chair, the couch, Netflix, everything around you that keeps you informed, fed, and comfortable, is owed to these hard-working men and women.
Any and all truck owners and operators are invited to participate in the Roll-In. It begins on Boundary Road at 9 a.m. Then at 10 a.m., they will "Roll-In" to downtown to the Civic Centre. They expect to arrive at the Civic Centre before 11:30 a.m.
The rally speeches are taking place just before the Natural Resource Forum keynote speech is delivered (inside) by Premier John Horgan, so our honks and cheers of support for resources may be heard by him. It would be great if he would show his support by coming out to say a few words of thanks to the men and women who keep us, and everyone in Vancouver and Victoria, warm, but even if he doesn't, it is a great opportunity to acknowledge our resource workers.
Hope to see you Wednesday, Jan. 29, either on Boundary Road at 9 a.m. for the Roll-In, or at 11:30 AM for the rally!
