Williams Lake Indian Band (WLIB) announced Thursday the public opening of its downtown Williams Lake Government Offices.
“We’re pleased to announce that WLIB has now opened a downtown Williams Lake Office to house our Natural Resource Management, Economic Development, and Lands Departments, as well as a number of our wholly-owned corporate entities,” said Chief Ann Louie.
“The Williams Lake Indian Band is growing very rapidly. We are in the process of planning for the construction of a new administration facility on reserve lands, but this downtown office gives us additional room to grow until that project is complete. It also allows us to have a presence in the downtown core, which is in the heart of our traditional territory.”
The 8000 square foot WLIB downtown office is located at #301- 172 North Second Avenue, in the space formerly occupied by Taseko Mines. Initially, there will be ten staff at the downtown location, but it is likely that contingent will grow within a few months.
“WLIB owned businesses are growing rapidly,” said Councillor Willie Sellars.
“Sugar Cane Archaeology is now performing a significant percentage of the archaeological contracts awarded within our traditional territory. Our forestry operation, Borland Creek Logging Ltd., has a core workforce of more than 35, and we employ dozens more on a contract basis. Soon WLIB will be going to market on our Coyote Rock real estate development, and this new office will provide a headquarters for our marketing efforts and for our lands records.”
“We’d love to have people who are interested in buying or building a home come by our new office to talk about our subdivision. We also hope to have more regular engagement with realtors, lawyers, and others to give them information about our lands management structure.”
The WLIB downtown office will also serve as a gallery for local artists and craftspeople.
“We hope to add more art as we go,” Sellars adds.
“We’ve got lots of space and we really want to support the local arts community.”
The WLIB office features two boardrooms, which WLIB will be renting to the public for meetings and other functions.
Office hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday, and staff at the downtown office can be reached by phoning the main office line at (778) 417-0190.
(Files from Williams Lake Indian Band)