The mill could’ve been the iceberg that sunk Canal Flats.

After always being an industry town, tied to the mill for ups and downs, the village could have drowned when the mill shut down. Instead, Council has opted to grab some life preservers, hop in a rescue boat steered by people who have done this before in other communities, and find a safe shore in a promising future.

Economic big-picture man Chris Fields came to Council to give a taste of what could be accomplished if changes are made. He spoke a lot of the push to drive millenials to the valley: people looking for lifestyle opportunities alongside business ventures.

He mentioned the need for quality first impressions both physically and digitally for the community. In this day and age, he said, first impressions are vital for people making decisions about where they might want to set up their lives.

One thing Fields said was that a community does not have to offer everything to everyone. Instead, it should look at the two or three things it does well and run with them. It’s a time to assess in-depth what the community has to offer. A few ideas come to mind readily: affordable housing, an operational elementary school, stunning landscapes, and recreational opportunities at the Flat’s doorstep.

Field’s next step is to get the community on board the same boat headed in the same direction. If the majority of Canal Flats residents can agree on a plan, it will make the rowing of said boat much easier.

The key for Canal Flats now is to listen to the wise advice, to speak up, and to take a deep, introspective look at what Canal Flats has to offer and what the community as a whole wants to see in the future.

Now is the time to hop in that boat, grab an oar, and start rowing Canal Flats to a new future. As Fields said, to do nothing is not an option. To simply sit still would be a titanic mistake.