Blue Heron future is topic of college forum

Blue Heron Future

Oregon City is re-imagining the site of the former Blue Heron Paper Mill for the future. Thousands of area residents have taken part in discussions and surveys about the future of the site, which served for many years as the industrial center of the region.

Clackamas Community College (CCC), a key resource for education and training in the community, is an important voice in shaping the future of the college district. CCC and the mill have been linked through decades of history and will continue as the site is re-imagined for future generations.

CCC will present a forum and discussion on the Willamette Falls Legacy Project (WFLP) on Tuesday, April 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the McLoughlin Auditorium. The WFLP will be the featured topic in the college’s spring Inservice gathering. The presentation was originally scheduled for February but was canceled due to a snowstorm.

CCC President Joanne Truesdell will make opening remarks, followed by an overview of the WFLP by Tony Konkol of the city of Oregon City. Mark Garber, president of by the Portland Tribune and Community Newspapers, will facilitate a panel discussion about the project.

Participants in the panel include Oregon City Mayor Doug Neeley, Jim Desmond of Metro, Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader, Executive Director Amber Holveck of the Oregon City Chamber of Commerce, and Sandy Carter of the Willamette Falls Heritage Foundation. CCC instructors Jackie Flowers and Andy Mingo will talk about their work documenting the stories of the Blue Heron Paper Mill.

When Blue Heron closed in 2011, CCC played a prominent role in assisting the mill workers who lost their jobs, many of whom spent their entire working lives at the mill. CCC responded with workforce advising, emergency vehicle repairs, transportation assistance, emergency medical assistance and child care. Workforce Services at CCC provided support and training to prepare the former mill workers for new careers in fields that include health care, manufacturing, automotive and production.

The program is open to the public. For more information, contact Janet Paulson at 503-594-3162.