About 10 years ago, we got in contact with a number
of Lake Superior residents to predict what life around the Big Lake would
be like … like now. Well, they all took a stab at it, and as might be expected,
some were right on and some were a little off the mark. But by and large,
everyone knew that we were poised for great growth and awareness, and that’s
really what happened over the past 10 years.
This being the turn of the century (and we’ll delay any debate as to whether
or not it is actually the turn of the millennium), we decided it was time
to talk with more folks about what the next 10 years will bring us. “Ah,”
you say. “This is an easy bit of journalism.” Well it is and it isn’t.
We’ve found that not everyone will go out on a limb to conjure up our future,
let alone have a magazine put it out in front of everyone to see. Those
who would take the chance, however, found it wasn’t all that easy (see
page 32). We thank them for their courage and their predictions.
It doesn’t take a soothsayer to see that the Lake Superior region is “on
a roll.” Our tourism has never been better and promises only to improve.
The contentious attitudes about the environment we experienced a decade
ago have been calmed, somewhat, and today we see folks working together
in almost all areas of our natural heritage. Our population seems to be
increasing, but not in threatening proportions. That’s not to say that
everything is rosy pink, but we are “movin’ right along.”
There are a few “unmeasured” yardsticks that I might use to predict our
Lake Superior future. The magazine continues to get glowing reports from
individuals who just love it up here. They think the region is beautiful,
that the people are wonderful and the experience is just outstanding. We
hardly ever hear a complaint, and if we do it’s more of a helpful criticism
than bad karma. This really makes us feel good, and I have to turn it around
and heap the praise back on our own residents who continue to demonstrate
that Lake Superior is one special place. The people who live here love
it here and hope that everyone who visits does, too. They want folks to
enjoy the lake. They know that there is nowhere as special as this piece
of the rock.
So, now here come the next 10 years and what’s going to happen? Where will
we be? Can you see into your crystal ball to guess what’s up next? My (safe)
prediction is that there will be more of the same good people and improved
prosperity. My wish is that we will continue to protect our region to keep
it as special as it is today. I know that this will happen only if all
will commit to respect what we have going, participating in its preservation
and supporting efforts to let the world know how special the lake region
is. I don’t need to be more specific, because, after all, it’s Lake Superior
we’re talking about.
Paul L. Hayden
Editor
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