And just like that, it’s September! This is the time when schedules shift and rhythms renew. At the Trust, we’ve packed as much as we could into summer and we’re not slowing down this month. The team has been travelling throughout the region, connecting with people and projects. In August alone, we had members from our team travel to:
the Peace Region to visit Ag Fund and community projects
all over our service region to connect with our 2026 intern cohort in their workplace, from Masset to Fort St. John, Bella Coola to Prince George
Prince Rupert to participate in a provincial announcement for the opening of Phase 2 of the RREIF program and a roundtable hosted by Minister Tamara Davidson and facilitated by Minister Sheila Malcolmson
As I write this, Margo Wagner, Chair, is representing the Trust on Haida Gwaii, alongside Vice-Chair Barry Pages. It’s been a summer of connection and convening, and we look forward to future conversations (including next week at UBCM) and work, building a stronger north together.
Northern Development was in Prince Rupert August 28 as the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty announced $2.7 million in new funding to help Northern B.C. businesses and First Nations development corporations adapt to changing economic conditions and pursue new opportunities.
Northern Development CEO Ben Campbell, Director of Communications, Planning and Engagement Anna Duff and vice chair Barry Pages attended the announcement, which also included a roundtable discussion with local business and community representatives about economic challenges, tariffs and opportunities for growth in the region.
Right photo, from left: Anna Duff, Northern Development; Honourable Sheila Malcolmson, SDPR; Kodi Anaka, Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce; Bess Leeson, TRICORP; Honourable Tamara Davidson, MLA for North Coast-Haida Gwaii.
The funding will be delivered through two new initiatives under Phase 2 of the Rural and Remote Employment Initiatives Fund, funded by the Province of British Columbia and Government of Canada and administered by Northern Development.
The Business Diversification and Sustainability program has $1.8 million available to help eligible small and medium-sized businesses invest in machinery, equipment and technology. Businesses can apply for up to $200,000 until October 15, 2026.
The First Nation Business Development Capacity Building program provides up to $75,000 to help First Nation development corporations access specialized expertise to pursue large-scale economic development opportunities. Applications are open until June 30, 2027, or until available funding is fully allocated.
Both programs opened September 2, with applications now being accepted through Northern Development’s website.
From left: Barry Pages, vice chair; Matthew Kloepper, partner programs coordinator; Ben Campbell, CEO; and Anna Duff, director of communications and planning.
Five site visits, two intern check-ins, a few thousand cattle and professional chuck wagon races made for a busy few days in the Peace Region.
Northern Development team members Wendy, Jordan and Kaylee recently hit the road for Fort St. John and Dawson Creek, trading their desks for pastures, greenhouses and farm equipment to see first-hand how funding is being put to work across the region. The trip included visits with agricultural producers supported through the BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund (Ag Fund), two internship check-ins and an evening at one of Dawson Creek’s biggest summer traditions.
Photos: Northern Development
First up was Sunset Prairie Livestock Association, where a roughly 13,500-acre community pasture has provided summer grazing for local ranching families since the 1950s. Today, over 3,000 cattle spend their summers on the land. Since 2022, the association has received $183,257 through the Ag Fund for fencing, corral improvements and dugout maintenance.
A tour through the pasture put those investments into perspective. Upgraded cattle-handling equipment is replacing infrastructure dating back to the 1980s, while work on the dugouts is increasing water storage following several dry years in the Peace.
Back from cattle country, the next stop added considerably more colour.
Franklin & Co. Flower Farm, recognizable by its bright pink roadside branding, is only in its second year of business but has already created a destination around locally grown flowers. Owners Cory and Peter Franklin sell bouquets and ice cream from their hand-built flower shack, offer u-pick flowers later in the season and host events ranging from yoga among the blooms to an In-Bloom Market featuring more than 65 vendors.
A $46,940 grant is supporting new hoophouses, a heated greenhouse and improvements to irrigation and water storage, helping the farm navigate the Peace Region’s short growing season and unpredictable weather while expanding flower production.
Day two began in Buick Creek at Optimum Grains. Owner Jared toured the team through the locally owned agricultural retailer and seed cleaning facility, where a $230,000 Impact and Opportunities grant is supporting fertilizer facility upgrades and expansion. The new system will increase blending capacity and allow orders to be prepared in advance, potentially cutting loading times from as much as an hour to just minutes during the region’s critical seeding window.
Later in the day, the team headed to Dawson Creek, but on the way came one of the trip’s more hands-on stops.
At Windy Valley Farm, Rachel demonstrated how her equipment cleans, picks and cards wool and other animal fibres for producers in the area. From there, the processed fibre can head to spinners before eventually reaching knitters, weavers and other makers.
The $6,539 Agricultural Fund grant helped create a dedicated space for fibre processing equipment serving sheep, goat, alpaca and llama producers. With no comparable processing facility nearby, small producers have historically faced the choice of processing fibre by hand, transporting it to Alberta or Ontario, or simply disposing of it. Having this service closer to home gives locally produced fibre a better chance of being put to use.
After seeing the equipment in action, the tour continued to the rest of the farm to meet some of the animals behind the fibre, including sheep, llamas, chicken and Patches the donkey.
By evening, Kaylee and Jordan were at opening night of the Dawson Creek Exhibition & Stampede, a longtime recipient of Fabulous Festivals and Events funding. Northern Development has also invested more than $360,000 in infrastructure at the grounds, including a 20-stall horse barn, 4-H pavilion and heritage building.
After a night of professional chuckwagon racing, the final morning brought one more trip into the field. While Wendy met with an intern and Jordan took part in an Ag Fund board member’s orientation, Kaylee joined Lary from the Bear Mountain Grazing Association for a side-by-side tour south of Dawson Creek.
Established in 1955, the community pasture stretches approximately 45 kilometers and provides summer grazing for cattle from ranches throughout the South Peace. More than $77,000 through three Agricultural Fund projects has supported perimeter fencing and dugout maintenance, helping address aging infrastructure and the effects of prolonged drought.
The agricultural stops were only part of the trip. Wendy, manager for Northern Development’s Internship program, also met with interns Duncan (Fort St. John) and Justin (Pouce Coupe). The visits offered a chance to hear how their placements are progressing and connect with their mentors outside the regular calls and emails that happen throughout the year (read more about these visits in a later article).
By the time the team pointed the vehicle back south for Prince George, they had travelled from community pastures to flower fields, fertilizer bins to fibre processing equipment, with plenty of conversations in between.
Site visits offer something applications and reports can’t quite capture. They put a scale to 13,500 acres, show what faster fertilizer loading means during seeding season and demonstrate how even a relatively small investment can fill a gap for producers across a region. Most importantly, they provide a chance to meet the people behind the projects and see what funding looks like once it leaves the page and gets to work.
Years of planning, partnership and community vision came together in Houston on August 19 as Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society celebrated the grand opening of its new Friendship Centre and Cub House childcare centre.
Together, the new spaces create a purpose-built home for culturally-centred programs and services in Houston, with room to support community members from early childhood through to their elder years. The development replaces the Society’s aging Friendship Centre with a modern, accessible space while adding dedicated childcare designed around culture, connection and belonging.
Photo: Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society
Northern Development contributed $500,000 toward the $5.49 million project through the Northern Healthy Communities Fund, a grant program funded by the Province of BC and administered by the Trust. Now fully allocated, the fund supports communities experiencing increased social service needs associated with rapid, large-scale economic development.
For the Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society, which is based in Smithers and has served Houston for many years, the project was an opportunity to create spaces specifically designed around the people and programs they welcome. The new Friendship Centre provides room for services to grow, while the 3,600-square-foot Cub House adds 37 childcare spaces for children from infancy to age five.
“When people walk through these doors, we want them to see themselves reflected in the space and know that it is here for them,” said Annette Morgan, executive director, Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society. “We now have a place in Houston where children can begin their life surrounded by culture, families can find support and generations can continue learning from one another.”
That connection to culture and place is reflected throughout the development. The Friendship Centre’s exterior draws inspiration from a traditional fishing weir and the relationship between the Wet’suwet’en people, the river and the land. Indigenous artwork brings culture, history and community identity into the interior spaces.
The project also kept connections close to home during construction. Houston-based Westwind Enterprises Ltd. led the build, with major sub-trades sourced from throughout the Bulkley Valley, extending the project’s impact to local businesses and skilled trades.
From a child’s earliest years to the programs and connections that support families, youth and Elders, the new development creates space for Houston to continue growing for generations to come.
Summer means internship visit season at Northern Development, and Wendy Okoye, manager, economic development (internships) has once again been hitting the road to connect with this year’s Local and First Nation Government Interns in their host communities.
The 2026 cohort is spread across northern and central B.C., with Local Government Interns gaining hands-on experience with the Central Coast Regional District, cities of Fort St. John, Quesnel and Williams Lake, District of Lillooet and villages of Masset and Pouce Coupe.
First Nation Government Interns are building their experience with Binche Whut’en, Kwadacha First Nation, Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, Takla Nation and Yekooche First Nation.
Throughout the summer, Wendy has been visiting interns and their host organizations to hear about the work they have taken on, see how their placements are progressing and connect with the teams supporting them.
These visits give interns a chance to reflect on their first few months and provide Northern Development with valuable insight into their experiences and contributions within their host organizations.
Upcoming recruitment events
Recruitment for the next internship cohort is just around the corner. Find Northern Development at:
September 9 – UNBC Community Expo September 15 – CNC Student Life Expo September 18 – VIU Career Fair
We’ll also be connecting with students at the UNBC Faculty of Business and Economics Student Orientation.
Musfiq came to Northern B.C. from Bangladesh to continue his education, but over the years, his connection to the region has grown well beyond the classroom. From working with northern communities and volunteering locally to exploring the outdoors and researching the region in his spare time, he has made a point of getting to know the place he now calls home. As a Partner Programs Coordinator, that curiosity and care for community continue to shape his work at Northern Development.
Can you share a bit about your background and what brought you to the Trust?
I came to Northern B.C. from Bangladesh as an international student to pursue my second master’s degree in international studies at UNBC, which I completed back in 2024. Since graduating, I have had the opportunity to work at UNBC and Tsay Keh Dene First Nation, supporting northern communities, students pursuing post-secondary education, and broader economic and community development initiatives across the region.
Prior to coming to Canada, I worked with the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Bangladesh, where I developed a strong interest in community development through economic empowerment programs. My professional passion for supporting communities through economic development ultimately led me to Northern Development Initiative Trust. I am thrilled to join the Trust and continue applying my experience and passion in support of the region that I have been fortunate to call home over the past several years.
How have you grown professionally since joining Northern Development?
Since joining Northern Development, I have grown significantly in both my professional perspective and my understanding of the region I serve. In my current role, I support the Canada–B.C. Workforce Tariff Response – Forestry Grant, which supports forestry workers and companies navigating the impacts of recent tariffs and broader changes within the industry.
Working closely with forestry companies and northern communities has given me a deeper appreciation for the resilience, adaptability, and determination that define the North. Seeing communities respond to uncertainty with a continued commitment to growth has been both humbling and inspiring.
This experience has reinforced something I strongly believe: “Northern B.C. is a region of opportunity, where communities have achieved remarkable things despite challenges and will continue to do so”. Professionally, I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to that continued growth and to be part of the region’s future.
What hobbies or interests help you unwind outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with family, time outdoors and making the most of what Northern B.C. has to offer. Camping, hiking, exploring new places, spending time at the lakes, and fishing are among my favourite ways to unwind. I am particularly passionate about fishing although my wife consistently out-fishes me, so I often joke that I handle the logistics while she handles the fishing.
I value staying connected to the community and enjoy supporting a local volunteer-led food bank program. Alongside these interests, I have a strong passion for research. The current research project I am focusing on outside of work is exploring the socio-economic impacts of hydroelectric development on local communities and the importance of pursuing sustainable infrastructure projects that minimize environmental harm, support local communities, and respect First Nations’ rights and treaty relationships. Learning about topics like this helps to satisfy my curiosity and better understand the province I now call home.
What do you appreciate most about the culture at Northern Development? How does it support your work and what advice or message would you share with someone who wants to make a difference through economic development work?
What I appreciate most about Northern Development is the culture of learning, openness, and collaboration. The organization’s transparent operations and open-door approach have given me the opportunity to learn about programs beyond my immediate responsibilities, which encourages cross-functional learning, the exchange of ideas, and a strong sense of mutual respect.
I also value the organization’s emphasis on maintaining a healthy work life balance. It allows me to remain engaged not only in my professional responsibilities, but also in the areas of community development, research, and volunteerism that I am passionate about.
As someone who came to Northern B.C. from outside the region, entering the economic and non-profit development sector initially required patience and persistence. My experience has taught me that meaningful opportunities often begin simply by starting a conversation, attending an open house, joining a community event, or reaching out for a coffee chat. For anyone hoping to contribute to economic development, I would encourage them to be curious, build relationships, and remain patient; opportunities often emerge through those connections.
Ultimately, what motivates me most is seeing the impact of the work we do at the Trust. It is meaningful to know that the time and effort we contribute here can create positive outcomes for northern communities and the people who call this region home. That sense of purpose is what continues to motivate me each day.
Whether you’re planning ahead for 2027 or looking to take advantage of a current funding opportunity, there are several important dates coming up. Here’s a look at what’s open now and what’s on the horizon.
Business Façade Improvement Applications open: October 1 – October 312026
Community Development tri-annual programs The 2026 intake cycles are complete. Applications received now will be considered as part of the first 2027 intake, which closes January 31, 2027.
Business Development programs Applications are accepted annually until the available funding for that year is fully allocated. The Northern Industries Innovation Fund is fully allocated for 2026.
Visit our calendar to stay up to date with all upcoming deadlines.
