Regional economic development in British Columbia is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. For decades, the strategy for small towns was simple and singular. Shannon Stange, an advocate for regional growth, calls it the era of the “smokestack chasers.”
Moving beyond the smokestack
In the past, municipalities hired economic development officers to hunt for massive industrial players. The goal was to plant a factory or a mill in town to solve employment for a generation. Stange notes that this top-down approach is no longer the primary play for sustainable growth.
Instead, the focus has shifted toward a more organic, ground-up model. “We nurture innovators, and out of that nurturing, we then give them the resources, the coaching, the mentoring, the training,” Stange says. This method ensures that local talent does not feel forced to “pick up shop, go to Alberta or go somewhere else” to find success. By providing access to federal funding and private equity at home, these communities keep their brightest minds within city limits.
Innovation from the inside out
A significant ideological divide exists regarding who should lead the charge on sustainability. Stange argues that the most effective solutions do not come from outside observers. Rather, “the best people to innovate and create sustainable, long-term solutions for energy are the ones who are working in that industry.”
He points to Forefront Energy in Pouce Coupe as a prime example. This tiny village near Dawson Creek is an unlikely tech hub. Yet, a local team there developed a zero-emission method to generate electricity. They did not use solar panels or diesel backups. Instead, they harnessed the pressure differential of a wellhead. It is a highly technical solution that meets strict government flare stack regulations.
The power of local context
This type of breakthrough requires deep, specialized knowledge of the field. “Nobody else is going to be able to develop that technology except someone who’s embedded in the industry,” Stange explains. This expertise allows small-town innovators to solve complex legal and environmental compliance issues.
When regional innovators receive proper coaching, they turn local challenges into global opportunities. This shift from chasing big industry to supporting local creators is redefining the provincial landscape. It proves that significant energy solutions can start in a small village just as easily as in a Vancouver boardroom.
Ian Biana writes for the Resource Works Accelerate team and can be reached at [email protected].
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