Sarrah Storey does not separate community from industry. As mayor of Fraser Lake, she sees them as the same story, where collaboration is the foundation of what comes next.
“Fraser Lake is just west of Prince George by about an hour and a half,” she said. It sits between the Nadleh Whut’en and Stellat’en First Nations, where collaboration is part of daily governance.
Storey has led the northern B.C. community through both loss and opportunity. She points to mill closures and stalled projects, but also to new mining activity and population growth. The mix shapes how she talks about the future.
Growth, loss and what comes next
Fraser Lake is in transition. Storey describes her community as one navigating change with cautious optimism.
“There’s been a lot going on in our community with industry loss and growth,” she said.
She points to projects linked to FPX Nickel, Artemis Gold and Centerra Gold’s expansions at Mount Milligan. At the same time, the loss of West Fraser sawmills still lingers. The Endako mine remains a question mark.
The result is a town balancing uncertainty with ambition.
Storey says the community is planning for population growth. Housing, waterfront development and recreation are all priorities, aimed at attracting investment and workers.
“It’s not just about Fraser Lake,” she said. “What happens in one community impacts the next.”
That regional mindset reflects a broader northern reality. Communities rise and fall together. Storey believes policy should reflect that.
Why people stay
Storey did not always plan to stay in Fraser Lake. She moved there in 2007 for what she thought would be a year.
Nearly two decades later, she’s still there.
“It’s because the people are great. It’s a safe place to raise your kids.”
Her story mirrors a wider trend. During the COVID-19 years, more people moved north from the Lower Mainland. Remote work helped, along with local investments in fibre-optic infrastructure.
That shift changed the community.
New residents bring different skills and expectations. Some work in nearby resource camps. Others work remotely. Many get involved locally.
Storey sees that as a strength. Growth is about community participation, as well as jobs.
Balance and the bigger picture
Storey returns often to one idea: balance.
“We really need to find a balance between what we’re extracting and what we do with those resources.”
For Fraser Lake, that means recognizing the role of mining and forestry in daily life. Copper, steel and other critical minerals are the inputs for modern living. They’re in the things we use every day, from car batteries to laptops and cell phones. And Northern BC has those materials in abundance.
Storey connects that local reality to global demand. The metals produced near Fraser Lake support everything from construction to clean energy systems.
But she is clear that extraction must be done responsibly.
“We have to find that balance of what people are looking for and what communities need.”
That balance also applies to government. Storey advocates for stronger alignment between local governments, First Nations and provincial decision-makers.
“Making sure that they’re working with us and listening to local governments first,” she said, is critical.
Her message is consistent. Collaboration must come before conflict.
Open for business
As Fraser Lake’s Mayor for nearly 11 years, Storey has a unique perspective on the challenges of the last decade, and current events British Columbians are facing. Her takeaway: British Columbia has an opportunity, but it must act with clarity.
“It’s really a collaborative moment,” she said. “We show that B.C. is open and ready for business.”
For Fraser Lake, that message is more thana slogan. It’ss a practical goal tied to jobs, housing and long-term stability.
Storey believes small communities can lead that conversation. They understand the stakes. They live the outcomes.
And in places like Fraser Lake, the future is not debated in theory. It is built, one project at a time.
Ian Biana writes for the Resource Works Accelerate team and can be reached at [email protected].
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