A community vision and strategic plan is a document that is developed through a process that will help identify priorities and trade-offs to support better decision-making. The contents of this document will include:

• what matters to us in our community

• what challenges we face living here

• a vision statement for our future

• goals, and

• our ideas and priority projects to help us get there.

All information and ideas are gathered from the people who live in Tatla Lake and Area.

A community vision and strategic plan provide a long-term, recognized vision that reflects our community values. It will help us:

• Find ways to protect what we love and don’t want to change about our community.

• Make sure revenue from the Tatla Resource Association Community Trust is directed to our community’s needs.

• Make a clear plan to address the challenges we face.

• Help speak up for our community in the wider region.

• Work together with potential partners, such as neighbouring First Nations governments, the CRD, and other groups, such as tourism organizations, local business, etc.

You! The Plan covers Tatla Lake and Area. This includes Tatla Lake, Eagle Lake, Tatlayoko Valley, West Branch Valley, Kleena Kleene, Chilanko Forks, Pyper Lake, and Puntzi Lake. If you live or interact with these communities, operate a business here, provide programs and services to this area, or own property here, we want to hear from you!

No. This project will focus on identifying what matters to us in our community, what challenges we face living here, our vision for our future, and our ideas and priority projects to help us get there. Should land-related aspects (for example, ecologically sensitive areas, etc.) or projects that require lands be identified and prioritized, the next steps would involve working with our partners, such as the province, Cariboo Regional District, First Nations governments and other agencies who have jurisdiction to achieve any shared goals.

First Nations communities share a rich history and are deeply connected to Tatla Lake and Area. First Nations communities in our area are self-governing and lead their own planning initiatives. However, we all face shared challenges, values and opportunities. Embracing respect and collaboration around common values and goals is considered an essential part of the Tatla Lake and Area Community Strategic Plan, inviting everyone to contribute and thrive together.

The Tatla Resource Association (TRA) is a non-profit society with a volunteer board of five directors and approximately 70 members, most of whom are full-time residents of the area. The purposes of the society are:

• To act as a forum regarding natural resources in the Tatla area.

• To promote sustainable resource stewardship.

• To represent the resource interests of the Tatla community to government and industry.

• To ensure that the natural resources of the Tatla area benefit the Tatla community.

• To represent the interests of the Tatla community in the Tatla Resource Association Community Trust.

• To represent the interests of the Tatla community in the stewardship of the Tatla Resource Association Community Trust.

• To engage in community planning for the Tatla Resource Area of Interest.

The TRA is supporting residents to create the Tatla Lake and Area Community Vision and Strategic Plan. This is a community-led process that is supported and informed by the TRA. The Plan reflects the community’s voice and priorities and will be used to help guide the TRA’s future activities.

For more information on the Tatla Resource Association, see: https://tatlacommunities.ca/tra.

Funding for the planning process is provided through the TRA. The resulting plan belongs to the community and the vision, goals, and priority projects outlined will help guide the TRA’s future activities.Item description

No, the Tatla Lake and Area Community Vision and Strategic Plan is not a legally binding or regulatory document like an Official Community Plan. Rather, it serves as a guiding document that communicates community priorities and can inform decision-making by the Province, the Cariboo Regional District (CRD), and other partners.

This document will be helpful to:

• Find ways to protect what we love and don’t want to change about our community.

• Make sure revenue from the Tatla Resource Association Community Trust is directed to our community’s needs and priorities.

• Make a clear plan to address the challenges we face.

• Help speak up for our community in the wider region.

• Work together with potential partners, such as neighbouring First Nations governments, the CRD, and other groups, such as tourism organizations, local business, ect.

• Obtain future funding.

The contents of this Community Vision and Strategic Plan will include:

• General information about our community.

• What matters to us (our values).

• What kinds of challenges we face living here.

• A vision for our future.

• Goals (what we want to change or keep the same).

• Actions (to address challenges and get things done).

The Tatla Lake Community Vision and Strategic Plan will serve as a “living document” to guide the TRA in allocating funds from the Tatla Resource Association Community Trust. It will also act as a reference for potential partners, such as neighbouring First Nations governments, the CRD, and other groups, including tourism organizations and local businesses, etc. However, it will not legally compel the province, CRD, or others to undertake specific projects.

The Plan does not regulate residents, land, or buildings. Instead, it reflects community input and helps guide decisions, priorities, and investments that may affect services, infrastructure, and opportunities in the area over time.

No. This Plan is not a development proposal. It is a community-led process to identify shared priorities and guide future decisions. Any specific development proposals would be considered separately through appropriate regulatory and planning processes.

While the Plan is not an “Economic Development Plan,” it could help establish a framework to support economic development in the area, if residents identify this as a priority for Tatla Lake and its surroundings.

EcoPlan International Inc. is an external community planning consultant. These planners remain neutral throughout the process, bringing valuable experience and sharing ideas from other communities across the province. However, they are not experts on our community—we are!

The external consultants support the process and work for all of us. They will help spread the word, connect us, organize surveys and events, collect and process information, and arrange it in a way that best supports our community goals.

Key outcomes of the planning process will include:

• Strategic direction and alignment of efforts: a clear, agreed-upon vision for the future and a set of priorities to guide or influence decision-making (by the TRA, Disbursement Committee, CRD, etc.).

• An actionable roadmap with specific short-, medium-, and long-term actions and measurable targets.

Over the long term, we hope the planning process and its outcomes support the goals of residents, potentially leading to better resource allocation, enhanced economic and social development initiatives, and improved community infrastructure. Additionally, the planning process can help build partnerships, increase trust and collaboration, improve transparency in community funding, and facilitate progress tracking.

Specifically, the Vision and Strategic Plan document will include the following sections:

• General information about the community: A snapshot that highlights key facts and statistics to better identify challenges and assist in planning.

• Vision, goals, and priorities: developed through resident input to serve as a framework for planning.

• Implementation Plan: A roadmap to achieve our goals.

Yes, it is highly encouraged! The plan covers Tatla Lake and the surrounding area, including Tatla Lake, Eagle Lake, Tatlayoko Valley, West Branch Valley, Kleena Kleene, Chilanko Forks, Pyper Lake, and Puntzi Lake. If you live in or interact with these communities, operate a business here, provide programs and services in this area, or own property here, we want to hear from you!

No, the planning process is funded by the Tatla Resource Association. The TRA is supporting residents in creating the Tatla Lake and Area Community Vision and Strategic Plan. For more information about the Tatla Resource Association, visit https://tatlacommunities.ca/tra.

Tatla Lake and Area exist within a multi-layered governance and service structure, including the Province, the Cariboo Regional District, First Nations governments, and other agencies. The process will engage all these organizations to ensure they are informed about the planning process and to welcome their input. However, the Plan itself will reflect the community’s vision, goals, ideas, and priorities.