With a mission to inform, empower, celebrate and advocate for British Columbia's current and aspiring business leaders, BCBusiness go behind the headlines and bring readers face to face with the key issues and people driving business in B.C.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1498118
INVEST in BC 2 0 2 3 7 Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association. In special partnership with BCBusiness. L E T T E R F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T A N D C E O , B C E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T A S S O C I AT I O N L E T T E R F R O M T H E C H A I R , B C E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T A S S O C I AT I O N Our Momentum Remains Intact BCEDA Supports Communities W elcome to the official publication of the British Columbia Economic Development Association, Invest in BC 2023. Our aim is to provide you with a brief but informative overview of British Columbia, and to encourage you to invest in our diverse province. Our magazine strives to offer valuable insights into the economic regions of British Columbia, as well as the latest trends in our ever-evolving economy. We urge you to not solely rely on the information provided in this publication, but to reach out and discover more for yourself. Having had the privilege of travelling to various areas of the province and witnessing the great work being done by local and Indigenous governments, I feel proud to say that British Columbia is a strong and diverse economy offering unparalleled opportunities. Despite global issues, our economic momentum remains intact, thanks to our talented workforce, high quality of life, openness to newcomers and our ability to be resilient in times of crisis. Our association has grown to include over 500 members representing a range of communities, Indigenous groups, businesses, chambers of commerce, Crown corporations, tourism groups, financial institutions, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and educa- tional institutions, all committed to building a prosperous British Columbia. We strive to bring together the right people at the right time to cre- ate valuable partnerships and promote growth. As the leading provincial association of economic development practitioners in B.C., we offer services that help member communities expand and attract new businesses and work to- wards strategic infrastructure investment, land- use planning and community enhancement. We are proud to work alongside the Province of B.C. in supporting existing businesses and highlighting B.C.'s opportunities to investors abroad. Investing in B.C. is an opportunity not to be missed. Please do not hesitate to contact me, my staff or any of our members to discuss anything related to economic development in British Columbia. Dale Wheeldon President and CEO, British Columbia Economic Development Association W elcome to the 2023 edition of Invest in BC. The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) is pleased to renew our partnership with Canada Wide Media to produce this magazine, showcasing our communities. BCEDA represents over 500 economic development professionals in every region of the province. Municipalities, regional districts, and Indigenous communities spend over $80 million per year on economic development and tourism programming in British Columbia. BCEDA leverages that investment by supporting economic development professionals in communities across the province with marketing tools, professional development programs and resource materials. Like other organizations, BCEDA adapted over the course of the COVID -19 pandemic to continue to support our members. We delivered our annual summit remotely, worked with partners to support shop local programs, and held webinars to share best practices and innovative approaches to economic development activities in a changed world. BCEDA also continues to support communities through our Economic Disaster Recovery Program. Following wildfires and floods, BCEDA volunteers have provided outreach, identified immediate business needs, connected business owners with resources and helped communities to plan their economic recovery. Economic development officers are experts on their communities. As you browse through this magazine, when a community or opportunity catches your attention, I encourage you to reach out to the person responsible for economic development in that location. The British Columbia Economic Development Association is here to assist economic developers, local, regional, Indigenous and provincial governments, and businesses working together to build a robust and sustainable economy through education, collaboration and partnerships. Amy Reid Chair, British Columbia Economic Development Association