Darrel Holland is running for a position on council in Fraser Lake.
He has never held political office but has worked in the sawmill as an industrial electrician for 15 years and believes his inside perspective on the village’s largest industry would be of value.
Within the community, Holland has volunteered as a coach for Fraser Lake Youth Soccer and has helped out as a member of the local council for Ducks Unlimited for three years.
He has raised his three kids within the village and will raise his fourth, who is on the way. Holland’s father was an RCMP officer, so he lived in many areas across B.C., but his wife has deep roots in Fraser Lake.
Holland has a few ideas on things he would like to see change if he is voted in.
“I will try to continue to get Fraser Lake to embrace tourism more instead of it just being an employment destination,” he says. “Not a lot of communities along the highway have access to the lake the way that we do. The sawmill is doing fine but it’s in the forestry industry and you can never rely too heavily on it even though it’s been a stalwart.”
Holland says the village’s infrastructure is overdue for a re-haul too. “We need to make a list of what’s important for the future and go after that, whether it’s our aging sewer system or our aging roads. It would take a lot of money so it would be important to seek federal and provincial assistance.”
He is also concerned about health care within the city. “My parents aren’t elderly but they’re getting older, and I’ll have four kids in town, so one of the issues we have is consistent access to medical care.
“The clinic’s hours have been cut back ... so anyone with an issue has to go to Vanderhoof, which is a 45-minute drive, to go to a hospital.
“We need someone speaking to Northern Health to see what we can do about bringing doctors and nurses and support staff back to Fraser Lake and make it attractive to live here long term.”
Holland says he is invested in Fraser Lake and plans to be here for a long time. “I’m looking to make Fraser Lake a vibrant community. It’s important to me. ”