July 2026 - Newsletter

The entire team at Northern Development celebrates Ben Campbell, Northern Development’s CEO, as he earned a spot on Business in Vancouver’s BC500 once again! Ben is fittingly honoured in the list’s “Prosperity” section, which features leaders who are directly contributing to economic well-being in B.C.

“Sincere congratulations to Ben for earning this distinguished recognition for the second consecutive year!” said Margo Wagner, chair, Northern Development. “Ben’s leadership and dedication to Northern Development and its service region are admirable and the entire Board is proud of all he has accomplished during his years at the Trust. My warm congratulations also go to all those throughout our vast province who are committed to investing their time and energy into making B.C. stronger and more vibrant.”

A significant part of B.C.’s charismatic appeal is the people, and Northern Development extends our sincere appreciation and encouragement to all those who are committed to using their skills and resources to collectively support our province and all the people in it.

Northern Development is excited to launch the new Canada-B.C. Workforce Tariff Response Forestry Grant – Forestry Training Fund, a new funding program for all of B.C. designed to help forestry employers across British Columbia recruit, train and retain workers while responding to tariff-related impacts and broader economic transition. The program supports workforce retention, rapid upskilling and re-skilling, and new opportunities that help businesses remain competitive while strengthening communities throughout the province.

Funding available:

• Up to 85% of eligible staff wages and training costs
• Up to $50,000 per employee
• Up to $1 million per organization

Funding supports training initiatives that help prevent layoffs, build new skills, redeploy workers into in-demand occupations and support forestry contractors and small operators looking to diversify into emerging opportunities, including larger-scale and local infrastructure projects.

Applications open July 14, 2026 and will be accepted through the online application portal. Visit the Forestry Training Fund webpage for full program details, eligibility requirements and application information.

Questions about the funding program? Reach out to Amy Beyer, Manager, Partner Programs, at amy@northerndevelopment.bc.ca.

Funding is provided by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

Reaching Klemtu isn’t easy. Tucked away on the Central Coast and accessible only boat, float plane or helicopter, the remote community is surrounded by breathtaking scenery, abundant waters and the Great Bear Rainforest. For Northern Development’s Director of Communications, Planning and Engagement, Anna Duff, the journey to attend the grand opening of the new Kitasoo Xai’xais Community Store was a reminder that some of the most meaningful projects are found in the places that take the most effort to reach.

The new community store replaces a building that had served Klemtu since 1985. Expanded from 5,500 to more than 8,000 square feet, the new facility features a larger retail space and a welcoming café, creating an essential service for a community where the next nearest grocery store is hours away by boat or ferry. The project also increases the selection available locally while creating a modern space designed to serve residents for decades to come.

What stood out most during the celebration, however, wasn’t the building itself. It was the people.

“The sense of warm, intentional hospitality was immediate,” Anna reflected. “Everywhere I went, people were incredibly welcoming, and this welcome began before I even stepped foot in the community. One of the joys of being invited to meet with people is the opportunity to better understand who the people that Northern Development serves are and the significance of the place that they call home. Being welcomed to celebrations is invigorating and motivating.”

That sense of purpose was witnessed throughout the day. The store’s name was intentionally changed from the Kitasoo Band Store to the Kitasoo Xai’xais Community Store, reflecting a shared vision that the community’s first major development in more than two decades should belong to everyone. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the oldest and youngest members of the community officially opened the building together, a meaningful symbol of honouring the past while looking toward the future.

The project also reflects years of investment by the Kitasoo Xai’xais Development Corporation, which contributed the majority of the construction funding through revenues generated by its locally owned businesses, including forestry, seafood, tourism, construction and fuel operations. Northern Development was proud to contribute $300,000 to the project, strengthening community infrastructure while supporting economic development.

The morning after the celebration, Anna stopped by the café before heading home. Community members were already gathering over coffee, talking with neighbours and enjoying the new space together.

For a community where gathering spaces are especially meaningful, the Kitasoo Xai’xais Community Store is more than a new building. It is a place built by the community, for the community, and a powerful example of local investment creating lasting impact.

For more than 30 years, the playground at Steelhead Park has been a place where Houston families have gathered, children have made lasting memories and travellers have stopped to stretch their legs. Now, one of the community’s most loved gathering places has been refreshed.

With support from the Community Places program, the District of Houston has replaced the original 1995 wooden playground with a modern, inclusive play space designed for children of all ages and abilities. The new playground features CSA-compliant equipment and poured-in-place recycled rubber surfacing, making it easier for children using mobility devices and families with strollers to enjoy the space together.

For the District, accessibility was about more than meeting a standard. It was about creating a place where everyone feels welcome. “Steelhead Park is at the heart of our community, and we wanted to ensure the new playground reflects that,” said Rebecca Tait, director of leisure services, District of Houston. “Community members told us they wanted a safer, more accessible space with creative play opportunities for children of all abilities. This project brings that vision to life while ensuring Steelhead Park continues to be a place where families can gather, play and create memories for years to come.”

Following funding approval earlier this year, the project moved quickly from planning to completion. Thanks to the District’s quick delivery, the new playground was ready to welcome children and families in time for the busy summer season, ensuring the community could begin enjoying the upgraded space right away.

As Houston’s most visited park and a popular stop along Highway 16, Steelhead Park continues to play an important role for both residents and visitors. The completed playground enhances safety, encourages active play and strengthens one of the community’s most valued public spaces, ensuring it remains a welcoming destination for years to come.

Every great trail starts with a vision. For Quesnel’s Gold Rush Cycling Club, that vision is creating a trail network with something for everyone. Their latest project brings that vision one step closer with the development of a new signature intermediate downhill trail at Dragon Mountain.

With support from the Recreation Infrastructure program, the club is building nearly two kilometres of purpose-built trail that will connect with the recently revitalized 7 Dwarves trail. Together, the two routes will create Dragon Mountain Provincial Park’s first continuous, blue-rated technical descent from the summit, offering more than 300 metres of elevation over 3.5 kilometres of flow, technical features and scenic riding.

“The vision has always been to build a trail network that welcomes more riders,” said Ian van Leusden, director, Gold Rush Cycling Club and contracted trails coordinator for the City of Quesnel and Cariboo Regional District. “When we spoke with trail users during the community engagement sessions for the Dragon Mountain Trails Master Plan, one message came through loud and clear. Riders wanted an intermediate downhill trail that would help bridge the gap between the beginner/intermediate climb and our advanced descents. This project is about giving the users the confidence to progress while still delivering the fun and excitement Dragon Mountain is known for.”

Developed in collaboration with the Lhtako Dene Nation, BC Parks, City of Quesnel, Cariboo Regional District and the local riding community, the project directly responds to that feedback. By creating a true, blue-rated descent from the summit, the new trail will support rider progression, encourage more youth and families to get involved in the sport and continue growing Dragon Mountain’s reputation as a destination for mountain biking and outdoor recreation.

This isn’t the first time Northern Development has supported trail development at Dragon Mountain. Previous investments helped expand the park’s growing network, and this latest addition continues that momentum, creating even more opportunities for riders of all skill levels to experience.

Our next staff spotlight introduces Jordan Hammond, Manager, Economic Development. He has spent nearly a decade helping communities and businesses bring their ideas to life through Northern Development’s funding programs. After beginning his journey with the Trust as a Local Government Intern with the Village of Valemount, Jordan has grown into his current role where he supports projects across the Cariboo-Chilcotin/Lillooet and Northwest service regions. Based in Quesnel, he works within the region he serves, allowing him to build strong relationships with local governments, First Nations, businesses and non-profit organizations while gaining firsthand insight into the priorities and opportunities shaping Northern B.C. His experience living and working in communities across the North has only strengthened that connection, bringing valuable perspective to every project he supports.

What does a typical week in your role look like, and what do you enjoy most about it?

Through my role, I work closely with project leads from local and First Nations governments, private businesses and non-profit societies. I provide guidance on our community and business development grant programs, assess project submissions, and prepare information for our decision-making bodies to assist them in making sound funding decisions that support the Trust’s mandate.

Part of what keeps me interested and engaged in my role is the variety and diversity of people that I connect with. Business owners, community volunteers, economic development professionals – all help me to better understand the needs, priorities and challenges ‘on the ground’ in communities. This information then helps the Trust to better align its funding opportunities to the meet these needs.

Is there something about you that might surprise your colleagues or people in our region?

Throughout my adult life, I have lived and work in many different communities within the Trust’s service region. As a younger man, I spent time in Fort Nelson and Smithers, working seasonal silviculture and recreational trail construction jobs. Looking to take a different career path, I participated in Northern Development’s local government internship program through a placement with the Village of Valemount. Following this, I began my career in economic development with the Cariboo Regional District in Williams Lake.

These experiences have helped to shape my character, strengthen my knowledge of northern communities and build my affinity toward the practice of community economic development. I continue to carry this forward in my current work with communities.

What project or accomplishment are you most proud of? Why?

One project that is top of mind for me is the Northern Secwepemc Cultural Centre in 108 Mile Ranch, owned and operated by the Northern Secwepemc Cultural Society.

I was first introduced to this project when working at the Cariboo Regional District in 2016. At this time, the project was still in the early design stage and seeking grant funding support to eventually construct the museum. I was intrigued and impressed by the project team’s vision to develop a new museum in the south Cariboo designed to display the culture and heritage of the Northern Secwepemc peoples.

Several years later, in my role with the Trust, I was able to work with the Society to assist them in securing a grant of $300,000 from Northern Development toward facility construction. As of today, an incredible building now stands tucked into the hillside adjacent to the 108 Mile Heritage Site, awaiting its opening to the public. 

The tenacity and commitment of the project team to turn this initial vision into reality is nothing short of impressive and inspiring. I’m proud of the small role I was able to play to help the project reach this milestone.

What keeps you motivated in your daily work?

I try to embrace the seasons we have up here in the North and I like getting outside whenever possible. I appreciate time to explore and relax with friends or family, preferably on a lake or in the mountains. I particularly enjoy gravity-fed pastimes – skiing when there is snow on the ground and mountain biking the rest of the year. Northern BC provides many great opportunities for both!

Behind every successful business is a plan for what’s next. Whether it’s finding new customers, adapting to changing market conditions or strengthening day-to-day operations, access to the right expertise can make all the difference. Northern Development’s Business Advisory Supports program helps small and medium-sized businesses across rural and remote Northern B.C. do exactly that by offsetting the cost of professional advisory services.

With funding covering up to 85% of eligible project costs, businesses can access expert support in areas such as strategic planning, market development, management consulting, legal and accounting services, helping them respond to tariff-related impacts, create new employment opportunities and build long-term resilience. Here are three recent projects demonstrating the program in action.

Fort St. John’s Tiamat Solutions Ltd. is exploring a strategic shift that could strengthen its position in the oil and gas industry while filling a gap in the Canadian market. The company is evaluating the transition from its current service-based model to a rental-based model for specialized equipment currently sourced from a U.S.-based provider. Through strategic planning, the business will assess market demand, identify opportunities to expand its customer base and determine how the new model could support more stable, year-round employment for its field staff.

Gott Energy Ltd. is strengthening its commercial sales strategy to better navigate tariff-driven cost volatility affecting the clean energy sector. By enhancing its quoting process through developing a structured framework for pricing, the business will be better equipped to respond to fluctuating equipment costs while improving customer confidence and protecting project margins. The project also includes recommendations to enhance its digital presence and marketing strategy, helping connect with more commercial customers across Northern B.C.

Williams Lake’s J&P Machine Works Ltd. is repositioning its business following the closure of a local pellet plant, which resulted in the loss of one of its largest customers. Through strategic planning and market diversification, the company will identify new opportunities, expand into additional markets and develop a roadmap for long-term, sustainable growth. The project will help reduce reliance on a single customer base while positioning the business to better withstand future economic uncertainty.

While each business is responding to different tariff-related pressures, they share a common goal of building resilience for the future. By investing in professional expertise, the Business Advisory Supports funding program is helping Northern businesses make informed decisions, strengthen operations and seize new opportunities in an evolving economy.

Applications are accepted on a continuous, first-come, first-served basis until December 31, 2026, or until available funding has been fully allocated. Visit the Business Advisory Supports webpage for full program details, eligibility requirements and application information.

If you have questions about the funding program, please reach out to Jordan Barrett, manager of partner programs: jordanb@northerndevelopment.bc.ca or 250-561-2525.