Congratulations to Class of 2007

More than 1,000 Flathead Valley high-school seniors are waking up today with a new title - they're graduates.

There's an unbridled energy that comes with commencement. For some it's the sense of freedom after 12 long years of homework and tests. For others it's the anticipation of a life that's just beginning in many ways. It's the feeling that at this point in their young lives, anything is possible.

The Daily Inter Lake last week published a series of front-page stories about area seniors who didn't wait for graduation to start up a variety of entrepreneurial businesses. If these ambitious, self-disciplined teens are indicative of their generation, the future is in good hands.

Their business ventures range from making custom skateboards to baking and selling cookies on eBay. One graduate is already designing Web pages for local writers and artists; another has a thriving sod business. Their ability to see opportunities and niche markets and fearlessly capitalize on them is impressive.

Congratulations to all of our Flathead Valley graduates. There are a million quotes about commencement, but this one by Ed Koch seems applicable for the Class of 2007: "The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match, each one of you is a fuse."

WE MAY be seeing more of our friends from the north in the months to come. The Canadian dollar breached 94 cents for the first time in 30 years last week and analysts speculate it will be worth as much as the U.S. dollar by the end of the year.

While the news isn't great for Americans who've gotten used to their money going a long way in Canada, it's good news for Montana tourism. As the exchange rate improves, so do visitor numbers. The May issue of the Flathead Business Journal noted that local tourism officials already have noticed a rebound in Canadian traffic.

A better exchange rate isn't the only thing driving Canadians southward. A booming economy in places such as Calgary and new laws that let Canadians bring more U.S. goods home with them are other factors. Canadians are using their beefed-up purchasing power to buy big-ticket items such as cars, furniture and electronics both at home and across the border.

Canadians have long enjoyed the beauty and recreational opportunities of Northwest Montana. Now they can do so without breaking the bank.