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Socio-Economic
Montage
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Kimberly in Transition:
A case study of sociocultural change in a mining community
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Authored by: Agnes
Koch
1996
Location of Publication:
"Columbia Basin Trust Collection"
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Kimberly originated as a company
town to house the workforce needed to extract the riches from the
Sullivan orebody, which is owned by Cominco Metals Incorporated.
Now Kimberly is preparing for the time when the mine will close
permanently, predicted to be at the turn of the century. Although
the town is unique in many aspects, it is not unique in the fact
that it is a community attempting to remain viable in spite of the
economic challenges posed by globalization and the loss of a resource.
This research was undertaken to
achieve two interdependent goals: i) to utilize a case study of
a particular community to increase our understanding of the relationship
between economic change initiated from outside a community and the
local processes of adaptation to it; and ii) to study the process
of adaptation to mine closure over time. The author felt these were
important questions that have not been adequately addressed in previous
studies of mining communities, and has utilized a methodology which
involves ethnographic methods and reliance upon extensive participant
observation in the community.
The report provides an analysis
of Kimberly in detail (present day economic, demographic, and social
characteristics; resident perceptions of the town; and economic,
demographic, social and cultural changes over time), an examination
of the Kimberly-Cominco relationship, a discussion of recent events
in the transition process and an outlook of Kimberly in the future.
The key results of the research contained in the report are as follows:
i) The community has changed substantially
in economic, social and cultural terms since its inception as a
company town. Changes include:
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a decline in resource based
employment and an increase in service industry employment;
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a significant decline in Cominco's
share of Kimberly's labour force;
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retail businesses have become
more tourist oriented (as opposed to providing basic services
to the resident population);
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a significant increase in
the number of retirees in the population;
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an increase in the proportion
of females to males;
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smaller family size and higher
divorce rates;
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increased educational levels;
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a likely decline in prosperity
relative to the rest of the province;
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the culture of dependency
(on Cominco) has decreased over time;
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a decrease in the working
class/union local culture; and,
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a loss of its mining town
identity. |
ii) An important part of the transition
process has been the extrication of the community from Cominco.
The process began with Kimberly incorporating as a town and, over
the years, the City has taken over services that were once provided
by Cominco.
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there is increasing evidence
that the interests of the City are different, if not opposite,
of those of Cominco;
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there is widespread perception
that Cominco no longer contributes to the community the way
it had in the past; and,
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there is recognition on the
part of both the City and Cominco that there are mutual benefits
in having Kimberley succeed in its transition from a mining
community. |
iii) Some recent events have played
significant roles in the adaptation process:
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the Bavarianization project;
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the 1990 indefinite closure
of the mine;
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the local ski hill development;
and,
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the City's strategy to develop
Kimberly a four season resort destination. |
iv) There are common perceptions
of the changes that have taken place in the community (on the part
of Kimberly residents):
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Kimberly residents are on
the whole optimistic about the future of Kimberly;
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very few feel they will be
personally affected by job loss when the mine closes, however,
they feel job prospects in general may decline;
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they feel Kimberly will survive
because of its community spirit and the lifestyle that characterizes
the community;
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they are concerned about the
tax base of the City in the future;
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they are concerned about relying
on tourism; and,
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they are concerned that their
children will not have the choice to stay in Kimberly. |
v) A number of important factors
have facilitated the adaptation process in Kimberly:
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it is part of a regional economic
system, which has allowed it to become, in part, a bedroom
community;
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its numerous and affordable
recreational pursuits have encouraged tourism;
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its affordable housing has
encouraged retirees;
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the process of winding down
the mine has been slow allowing time for planning and adaptation;
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population has been stable;
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new residents have contributed
to new attitudes and have played a key role shifting away
from the culture of dependency; and,
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there is a strong sense of
community attachment. |
vi) Significant challenges still
to be faced in the transition process include:
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the loss of the Cominco tax
base;
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the declining relative prosperity
and/or the increasing gap between high and low income groups;
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the erosion of services for
young people and families, with the aging of the population;
and
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the residual culture of dependency. |
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