Jim Rushton did not come to British Columbia to sit in a factory. Like many who migrated from Ontario, he sought the grit and scale of the West. His journey began in a Northwest Territories mine. It eventually led him to a bar on Vancouver Island. He ordered a beer and asked the locals how to find work.
That simple question sparked a lifelong career in the province’s most vital sectors. Rushton spent decades immersed in the natural resource story. He mined, logged, and fished across the region. To him, these industries are more than just line items on a budget. They represent the literal backbone of the province.
Life on the water
Rushton’s experience on the Pacific coast is vast and varied. He spent 20 years as a commercial fisherman. His work took him from the sheltered waters of Howe Sound to the rugged Dixon Entrance. He chased salmon, herring, shrimp, and crab.
“My fishing was pretty broad,” Rushton says, reflecting on those decades at sea. He also spent time harvesting rockfish in various coastal pockets. This deep connection to the land and water shaped his perspective. He saw the industry thrive and then watched it crash in the early 2000s. Now, even in retirement, he remains committed to helping the sector rebuild.
Focusing on the people who do the heavy lifting
While many experts debate numbers and technicalities, Rushton focuses on the human element. He spent his career as a trade union activist and employee. His primary interest lies with the working class. He now spends his time writing about how policy decisions impact local families.
“I want to talk about how that policy impacts people,” he explains. He believes the “natural resource story” is actually a story about communities. For Rushton, the discussion must move beyond high-level strategy. It needs to address the men and women who do the heavy lifting. His heart remains firmly with the people who keep these industries running.
A collective effort for the province’s future
Rushton identifies a major hurdle for the province’s future projects. He believes British Columbians cannot rely solely on the government or corporations. These entities need the public’s vocal support to succeed. Without it, vital projects often stall or face cancellation.
“The public need to back the government up,” Rushton asserts. He wants to see the legislature and industry work in tandem with the people. This unity prevents projects from being “side-railed” by those who oppose development. For him, the path forward requires a shared provincial vision. Only then can British Columbia secure its economic future.
Ian Biana writes for the Resource Works Accelerate team and can be reached at [email protected].
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