On Nov. 19, the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce will host a dinner event, Prince Rupert’s Propane & LNG Moment. The headliners are the “Unleashing Canadian Potential” experts who have been touring Canada over the past year and a half to share the latest information about growth and prosperity.
Featuring Stewart Muir, Gerry Protti and Dr. Lyn Anglin, the panel will provide context for Prince Rupert’s emergence as a global gateway for energy export growth, spotlighting how the city’s location at the intersection of major propane and liquefied natural gas (LNG) developments are connecting local resources to international markets while driving job creation, innovation, and sustainability.
There will also be project updates from AltaGas, Pembina Pipeline, CN Railways and Trigon BC. Attendees can expect dynamic discussions on the region’s energy future, reflecting the Chamber’s commitment to fostering resilient and inclusive economic development.
Stewart Muir on Prince Rupert’s energy future
Prince Rupert’s energy story starts far inland in the Montney shale, one of North America’s richest natural gas formations and British Columbia’s economic crown jewel. The Montney’s liquids-rich gas underpins both propane and LNG exports, linking upstream production success with Prince Rupert’s strategic deep-water port advantage.
This synergy positions Prince Rupert as a northern counterpart to Vancouver’s resource-driven metropolitan economy — a vital service and logistics hub for the clean-energy century.
Economic opportunities stretch well beyond exports. Prince Rupert’s expanding regional service economy includes logistics, shipping, maintenance, housing, and supply-chain management supporting LNG, hydrogen, and renewable energy projects.
Indigenous-affiliated businesses have been central to this growth, contributing over $830 million in goods and services across British Columbia between 2022 and 2024, a testament to meaningful partnerships driving local prosperity.
The road ahead: a call for regional unity
Muir emphasizes the role that a regional strategy could play in Prince Rupert, Kitimat, and Terrace to present a single, compelling narrative to investors and global partners. Muir notes that by aligning regional strengths and telling one story to the world, it will be possible to position the Northwest as an energy export powerhouse.
Muir encourages local businesses to focus on service industries supporting the energy sector — such as crew operations, logistics, maintenance, and housing — which offer long-term, compounding opportunities.
He further proposes that the region redefine itself not just as a port, but as a hub — a Northwest Economic Corridor that drives innovation and collaboration across industries.
To achieve this, he suggests launching a Northwest Economic Summit, uniting industry leaders, Indigenous organizations, government representatives and workers, to align ambitions, share strategies, and build confidence in a shared future.
Such collaboration, he says, will position the “Northern Tri-Cities” — Prince Rupert, Kitimat, and Terrace — as leaders in Canada’s clean energy future, delivering lasting prosperity rooted in partnership, sustainability, and innovation.
Do not forget to register for “Unleashing Prosperity” in Prince Rupert on November 19.
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