Chetwynd The Echo in Chetwynd, British Columbia

Northern history as a new industry for old folks

With forestry and mining in trouble, northern communities could turn to senior citizens and their histories as a cultural attraction. Tourism profits rise when visitors experience local heritage, as Chemainus did by painting its past on downtown walls. Marilyn Quilley notes seniors can host and dress in period costumes to attract visitors, while Prince George launches an oral history project. Micro-publishers print local histories like Crazy Man's Creek by Jack Boudreau, preserving legends and pioneer tales. The north holds rich history and colorful characters that could sustain a faltering resource-based economy.