This January, Northern B.C. played host to two pivotal gatherings that showcased the strength of face-to-face connection and highlighted the region’s essential role in British Columbia’s economic future.
This year, the NDIT team had a booth at the BC Natural Resources Forum, a meaningful, annual conference that brings together leaders from Indigenous communities, government, industry and the service and supply sectors for three days of dialogue, insight and collaboration. As Western Canada’s largest multi-sector resource conference, the Forum provides an invaluable platform for relationship building and meaningful exchange across sectors that are foundational to the province’s economy. Delegates from all levels of government joined resource developers and community voices to share perspectives on sustainable growth, inclusive partnerships and opportunities across the natural resource landscape.
Alongside this multi-sector forum, the NDIT team attended the TrueNorth Business Development Forum, which offered a focused space for early-career professionals and regional leaders to connect, network and learn from one another. NDIT staff Felicia Magee, Senior Director of Economic Development and Programming and Jordan Hammond, Manager of Economic Development, also had the opportunity to lead a session at this year’s forum and share the Trust’s impact on the North, while also connecting with young professionals and established leaders across industry, education and community development.
Both events reinforced a central truth: strong personal connections and open dialogue are key to building economic resilience in Northern BC. Quality face-to-face meetings like these help to bridge perspectives, strengthen partnerships and create the conditions for investment and innovation that benefit communities across the region.
At Northern Development, we’re proud to support this kind of engagement. Whether we’re attending, participating or connecting delegates with funding programs that strengthen local capacity, our role is to help people and communities translate conversation into action, bolstering economic resiliency and supporting a future where Northern BC continues to thrive.
