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Town Hall meeting to respond to HFP closure

The District of Houston is hosting a Town Hall Meeting Saturday, Dec. 7 to connect, update and discuss the pending closure of HFP.
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Houston Forest Products is closing in May.

The District of Houston is hosting a Town Hall Meeting Saturday, Dec. 7 to connect, update and discuss the future of Houston in light of the pending closure of Houston Forest Products (HFP).

Everyone is welcome to the meeting, which is 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Houston Secondary School.

Marni Larocque, Houston Corporate Services Officer, says the meeting will open with guest speakers for roughly an hour, and then the floor will be open to the public for questions.

Service providers will be setting up information booths in the lobby, she added.

Larocque says both HFP and Canfor have been invited to speak, and so far confirmed speakers include: MLA John Rustad, West Fraser Operations Manager John Vander Ende, First Nations Chief Russell Tiljoe to give a welcome and Sarah Fraser from the B.C. Transition Team.

Mayor Bill Holmberg, Councillor Michalle Jolly and Councillor Dawn Potvin will also give updates on the three pillar groups and what they've been working on.

The three pillar groups and council representatives are as follows:

(1) Economic Development Pillar Group, with representatives Mayor Bill Holmberg, Deputy Mayor Shane Brienen and Councillor Dawn Potvin.

(2) Community Services Pillar Group, with representatives Councillor Michalle Jolly and Councillor Jonathan Van Barneveld.

(3) Worker Transition Pillar Group, with representatives Councillor Potvin and Councillor Jolly.

The groups are made up of community members and service providers who together make up a community transition team.

"The community transition team is a collaborative effort between the District of Houston, provincial government staff, businesses and other representatives.

"We are continuing to build our community transition team at this time," said Larocque.

"The purpose of the town hall meeting will be to provide an update and put those requiring assistance in touch with agencies that can help, such as employment and training opportunities, completing applications and resumes, etc." council said in a recent public newsletter.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.