PROFILE: Jocelyn Cowie, Grand Forks Council

 

We have many challenges facing us both locally and around the world.  My name is Jocelyn W. Cowie, my goal as a city councillor would be to implement a local sustainability plan. Many townships have developed successful theme villages that not only increase tourist traffic but also boost local economies create new jobs and bring exciting new businesses to the area.  Based upon historical Doukhobor business activities, I would encourage new and support local business and especially invite those who have theme concepts that would boost local economies.

 

Before moving to Grand Forks in 1991, I was interested in living sustainably and whole-heartedly embrace this historical Doukhobor culture. Here in Grand Forks the Doukhobors are already known for their homemade borscht.  Using looms, they manufactured linen from flax stocks. There is still an active flour mill, here they pressed hemp oils and made bread in outdoor brick ovens. They had a jam and brick factory. They practiced bone-setting and bloodletting some of these old methods are coming back.  

 

Old practices have historical value to visitors to our area.  This is just a beginning of a long list of cultural and historical interest.  Local products can be stamped with a common logo symbolizing grown, home-spun and produced here in Grand Forks - our eco-tourism model.  Common branding and labelling of locally produced products, especially in farming for our food, would attract tourism to Grand Forks.

 

With an enthusiastic city council this common goal could be implemented. This plan supports our local business, tax base and encourages new sustainable business to move to our area.  Please watch the video Food Matter and Food Inc to see how we treat animals to have a cheap food supply.

 

 

I am a 26-year registered massage therapist (RMT) who owns and operates Ponderosa Pine Mountain Spa, Massage, Sport, Pain and Injury Clinic. I am also a director and the chief executive officer of ASSESSx Technology Ltd. (ATL).  In a true entrepreneurial spirit, I applied my knowledge of massage physiology to design and developed a breakthrough medical technology. 

 

In 1978, I organized a seven day televised event filmed in Vancouver called the World Symposium on Humanities. In 1981, I stated my first company called "Sprouting Cottage Industries" a sprouted foods factory.  My business success inspired the first Community Futures program in which they offered a training program for single moms. 

 

In 1985, I graduating from massage training and opened a medical practice.  In 1991, I bought 475 acres and moved here to Grand Forks to start Ponderosa Pines Spa. In 1996, I obtained patents for a novel medical device. In 1998, I raised capital and began the development and testing of prototypes. We are now nearing completion of the market ready version.

 

As a self made entrepreneur I have always concerned myself with the greater problems in the world and have made it my goal in life to help others.  I’ve also raised three fantastic children; have steadfastly perused my dreams.  I now own 400 acres on Spencer Hill where I continue to operate Ponderosa Pine, a 10 bedroom spa retreat.  My papers on pain and pain measurement are published, I have obtained patents, raised capital and am developing novel medical innovations for pain and pressure points. 

 

I believe if you want to get a job done ask a busy person, I have focussed my whole life on reaching my goals and have fought tenaciously to attain my dreams.

 

3. What do you think are the top three challenges facing the city in the upcoming term?

Youth, tourism based on local sustainable cottage industry, budget and spending. In the past I have submitted my plans to the city for a youth center and tourist plan based on local sustainable cottage industries and have never even had a return phone call from my effort. It is time to act on these goals and get the job done.

 

 

Many townships have developed successful theme villages that increase traffic to boost the local economy.  Grand Forks products could be co-marketed with a local theme logo, labelling our products in such a way as to attract tourists to come and experience the Boundary area and our sustainable community.  

 

I will work enthusiastically with entrepreneurs, local farmers and cottage industries.  I would encourage industries that could help create a sustainable future as the Doukhobors once did.  Clothing made from linen and hemp, food products, jams, borsch, breads etc.  Freeze and dehydrated foods that can be sold locally and abroad, wood working, brick  and furniture and other related products can be marketed with the joint  purpose in attracting tourism back to our area.

 

People can apply to community futures for small business loans to get their theme-related manufacturing operation started. These products would bring in the tourist and, in turn, greatly stimulate a better local economy.  

 

Taxes that presently are used for vandalism to be redirected towards the teen youth center. We parents all remember what our teen years were like. The youth need to have things to do or out of boredom and peer influence they create their own idea of fun.  We know that teens have endless amounts of energy and huge needs to gather and belong to a group of friends. The choices they make now will shape their lives, and not always for the best.  

 

Here in our valley we have many very talented individuals, students and parents alike, who would love to share their talents, skills and knowledge.  What we would like to create is a place for the leaders in their various fields to exchange their gifts freely with each other. We want to give our teens a place to be creative and a place to gather in short - a youth center.

 

If we want our teens to have directions we need the youth leaders and parent volunteers that will draw various interest. Sports and recreation clubs, music arts and theatre groups, skills, crafts and the art of bicycle repair clinics, etc. Such activities, once volunteers step forward, can be published and can go out through the high school to all the teens and parents every week. We would like to see activities available after school and on their free weekend nights as volunteers come forward.

 

On the weekends they can have dances, play sports, there are many DJ’s and record spinners, local or out of town bands, coffee house jamming and theatre performances.  To this end, we would ask parent and community members to volunteer amongst themselves to a youth program and ask for parent involvement.  

Really it’s up to the imagination as to what we can use for all the activities they can do. Let us know what you have to offer in talent, donations, and time.

 

 

Inspired,determined, think globally and act locally.

 

 

I want to encourage direct communication between council and the taxpayers they represent.  Taxpayers have a right to know where their taxes are being spent and where previous revenues have gone, what are we investing in, and does it make common sense.  Do our current strategies consider sustainable future growth plan? And is that the desire of taxpayers? 

 

David Suzuki, environmentalist and host of the CBC's The Nature of Things, said that scientists have done their part and the burden has now shifted to politicians. He directs Canadians to reconsider spending priorities. Ecovillages, by endeavouring for lifestyles which are "successfully continual into the indefinite future," are living models of sustainability, and examples of how action can be taken immediately.

 

They represent an effective, accessible way to combat the degradation of our social, ecological and spiritual environments. They show us how we can move toward sustainability in the 21st century.