Northeast, British Columbia
This region is bordered by the Yukon and Northwest Territories in the north, the Rocky Mountains to the west and Alberta to the east. It is a vast and remote area of mountains, foothills, forests, lakes, and the Peace River valley. Affordable housing and unlimited recreational opportunities attract and retain an active and exciting community of entrepreneurs, tradespeople, clean energy, and resource professionals.
The Northeast region holds the province’s highest rate of employment and has a high demand for skilled and level entry workers. The Northeast’s economy is based on natural resources, particularly natural gas production, agriculture, forestry, and coal mining. Rapid development of the energy sector contributes to the Northeast region’s growth. Power-generating projects, planned and in progress, include hydroelectric dams and wind farms.
Regional Advantages
MILE ZERO CITY
The 2,000km stretch, from Dawson Creek to Alaska, services the communities and mining operations in the northern region of the province, as well as Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories and the state of Alaska.
LOW COST & HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING
Families in Fort St. John have the highest average household income in B.C. and the fifth highest in all of Canada.
THE ENERGETIC CITY
The largest city in B.C. along the Alaska Highway, Fort St. John, is called The Energetic City due to its wealth resources, as well as a younger population than the rest of the province.
NORTHERN INDUSTRIES INNOVATION FUND
Provides funding for SME’s in eligible industries for applied research and development, new or improved products, and services and testing of innovative technologies.
COMMUNITIES
The Northeast has a population of 72,300 people. Main population centres such as Fort St. John and Dawson Creek and smaller communities such as Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, Fort Nelson, Pouce Coupe and Taylor all contribute to the region’s growing natural resource-based economy. Find out more about economic opportunities in this region:
Economic Development Organizations
FIRST NATIONS
There are nine First Nations communities in the Northeast region of B.C., with a population of 4,712; approximately 7% of the region’s population. The region shares a border with Alberta and the Yukon and is part of the Peace River Basin. First Nations economic development corporations, owned by aligned Nations or individual First Nations, are working towards sustainable development.
Economic Development Associations
Regional Profile
Educational Institutions
The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is a research-intensive public university with a campus in Fort St. John.
Northern Lights College empowers and enhances the local workforce through a wide range of professional programs, including business management, oil and gas field operations, and trades.
Connect With A Regional Expert
Regional experts can help familiarize you with the amenities, infrastructure, and opportunities in each region. They can introduce you to the economic development offices and industry associations that will support the integration of your business into the province.