Featured News Archives

Study on Supply Chain and Community Benefits of the Forest Sector

A new economic study focusing on local communities across BC was released today by the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI). This study highlights the vital role of British Columbia’s forestry industry, as it touches so many communities across the province and employs British Columbians in a wide array of jobs. In 2022, the forestry…

Virtual Care on the Front Lines

How Real-Time Virtual Support is helping to save lives and transform healthcare for remote, rural and Indigenous communities across B.C. Dr. Dean Johnston was in his neurology clinic in downtown Vancouver when he received a worrying call from a colleague about a patient more than a thousand kilometres away in Fort Nelson, B.C. “There were…

Facing Fire: Building Resiliency to Wildfire | VIDEO

WILL WE MANAGE FIRE OR WILL FIRE MANAGE US? The question isn’t if fire will happen, but rather when it will strike. Fire is an intrinsic part of our ecosystem’s evolution. For over a century, we’ve believed we knew the best way to tackle wildfire in North America. The mindset that “the only good wildfire…

Leadership & Governance Resources

It’s been said: If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem will look like a nail. In my world, this phrase can mean: If the only tools you have are rules of order, every problem can look like something that requires a motion, an amendment, a point of order, or an appeal…

Rural Resident Retention and Attraction Guidebook

Introduction to Rural Resident Retention and Attraction What is Resident Retention and Attraction? Resident retention and attraction (RRA) initiatives position communities to address issues associated with population size (e.g., low or declining number of residents) or population composition (e.g., aging population) — whether that be a shortage of skilled workers, low school enrolment, or a…

Strategic Planning for Economic Development

Using the Strategic Planning Toolkit as a foundation, we’ll explore in-depth a handful of stages in the strategic planning process. You’ll hear from your peers in B.C. communities who have used the Strategic Planning Toolkit in different ways: Gold River’s community consultation process; 100 Mile House’s engagement with the municipal council; and the Regional District…

Wildfire Risk Reduction and Enhanced Fibre Utilization Project Funding

FESBC Welcomes Applications for Wildfire Risk Reduction and Enhanced Fibre Utilization Project Funding Kamloops, B.C. – The Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) continues to accept applications to fund forest enhancement projects, year-round. In the Provincial Government’s Budget 2024, FESBC was entrusted with $60 million in funding; $20 million to be allocated each year over…

Increasing Rental Housing in Rural Communities | Video

Watch the recording of the housing forum: Learn more about Cortes Housing Society

Supporting Rural and Remote Economies: What Canada Must Do Now

Rural, remote, and northern regions are important and should be supported, not just because of their economic contributions (they contribute to over a quarter of Canada’s GDP) but because people in all parts of Canada should have similar levels of well-being. This is fundamental to our nation’s territorial cohesion. Accordingly, there is a lot of…

Indigenous Education as the Impetus to Economic Resilience

Originally Written and Posted By Indigenous Prosperity Centre As we navigate the complex landscape of Indigenous procurement and economic development, a question that consistently occupies my thoughts is: What does economic resilience truly mean for Indigenous communities? Community development is at the heart of catalyzing economic resilience; the discussion today is mainly through the lens of…