Energy Sector Draws Northern Mayors Together
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November 2012 Energy sector draws northern mayors together We want to hear from you! Send us your email address at: [email protected] Pipeline, processing plants and natural gas export to receive our digital newsletter and join projects are creating new regional linkages across northern B.C. the discussion via social media Join Us On Facebook facebook.com/northerndevelopment Follow Us On Twitter twitter.com/northerndevelop Northern Development at a glance Spectra Energy’s McMahon gas plant in Fort Nelson flight Taylor, B.C. has for decades processed sour numbers soar The millions of dollars $111 in funding the Trust The natural gas sector has helped committed to 1,043 gas into a number of saleable products, projects since its inception including natural gas, butane and sulfur the Northern Rockies Regional Airport become one of the busiest The number of jobs that have been created new era of political helps dispel the myths around the airports in the country. 5,154 collaboration is underway industry.” The number of funding A as communities across Prince Rupert Mayor Jack partners the Trust has northern B.C. prepare for a thrust Mussallem joined Dave MacDonald, 1,831 teamed up with to attract of investment activity in the natural Mayor of Port Edward, and Shari more than $1 billion in gas sector. Last month, mayors and Green, Mayor of Prince George, new funding to the region community representatives from among other officials, on the tour. Prince Rupert, Port Edward and Mussallem said a big take away The percentage of Prince George crossed the Rocky from the trip for him was the 73% investments in Mountains into the Peace Region high level of safety standards that communities with less on a fact-finding mission focused natural gas companies rely on than 5,000 people on the province’s natural gas every day to ensure their products Gas patch workers from the Horn River The millions invested in sector. are extracted, processed and Basin account for a significant volume new capital and training Although the northwest, north transported in a safe and efficient $199 of the traffic in and out of Fort Nelson by supported companies central and northeast regions of manner. these days. the province have traditionally He also said the tour was an The number of grant differed both economically and opportunity to build closer ties ort Nelson is home to one of the 3,000 writers trained to date, politically, investment in new busiest airports in the country thanks including 124 First Nations pipelines, processing facilities and “Having other mayors up to Fto the ongoing boom in the natural liquefied natural gas (LNG) export the northeast really helps gas sector. terminals has created a need for dispel the myths around The Northern Rockies Regional Airport more inter-regional collaboration, the industry” had the busiest month on record in July, said Fort St. John Mayor Lori Lori Ackerman, reporting 4,053 total aircraft movements Ackerman. Mayor, compared with the previous record of “We have a commodity in northeast Fort St. John 2,732 in August 2011. IN THIS ISSUE British Columbia that we need to That number placed the airport first get to market,” said Ackerman. nationally among all tier two airports, The Nechako Lakes School District’s business “LNG plants out in the northwest between B.C.’s differing northern a group that includes Ottawa, Grande development arm has opened its first school are very important. Having other communities. “It pulls us closer Prairie, Prince George and Red Deer, in China, helping Chinese students to earn mayors up to the northeast really together,” said Mussallem. among others. B.C.-certified diplomas Energy sector draws northern mayors together - continued on page 3 Fort Nelson - continued on page 3 The province’s official gemstone is driving a mining boom in northwest B.C. thanks to insatiable demand from China Do you have a photo that showcases Enter To Win An community members enjoying an event or North Central and Northeast B.C. are the facility that’s been supported by Northern latest regions to collaborate and launch Apple iPad! Development, people working who are groundbreaking investment portals to employed as a result of a project, or the attract new business construction phase of a project? Terrace’s Magnum Road Builders has laid the ground work to land big-ticket contracts with major projects, in part thanks to Enter our photo contest and you could win a new Apple iPad! Northern Development’s Competitiveness www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/photo-contest/ Consulting Rebate program The frontier of the new Nechako Lakes 3 British Columbia school district opens first school orthern B.C. is quickly shedding its reputation as in China Nthe province’s backwater for a fresh status as a region where anyone can successfully carve out a Exchange program designed to help vision for their career and lifestyle. We in the north already knew that, Chinese students qualify for North but people from the ‘great clear American universities, and stimulate School District 91’s first offshore school in Xianghe, cut in the south’, otherwise known economic growth in northern B.C. China opened its doors this fall as Metro Vancouver, are just waking up to it. This is the frontier echako Lakes School District 91 has opened its The schools operate under School District 91’s new of the new British Columbia, first offshore school in China to help students business company, which collects tuition fees from a landscape of plenty where Nthere earn B.C.-certified diplomas and students that cover the program’s operating costs. the traditional resource-based stimulate economic development in northern B.C. The fees allow the students to earn a B.C. dogwood Janine North economy is celebrated, embraced The school, which is being operated under the name diploma and qualify for admission to North American and fused with the technological, Chief Executive Officer Canadian Pathways, opened its doors to students universities. Northern Development in Xianghe, China this fall, marking a significant Northern Development and Community Futures environmental and social values of Initiative Trust the 21st century. And professionals milestone for a project that’s been two years in the Development Corp. have provided seed funding for and working families from across Canada are fast learning the making. the program. opportunities are limitless. “That’s a major accomplishment to have achieved LeMoigne said the next focus of the initiative is Take Kam Ghuman, for example. Born and raised in the that in less than two years of working together,” said to market and promote the program to increase Lower Mainland, Ghuman packed up his family and moved Ray LeMoigne, president, School District 91 Business enrolment in the near future to 60 students. to Prince George a few years ago to work for 3Phase Power Company. “We’ve managed to do very well to get Systems, a high-tech industrial supply company. Now he’s the to the point where we have B.C. certified teachers president of that company, and has opened satellite offices and an administrator and ESL instructor working in in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg. But thanks that school.” to competitive operational costs and a first-class quality of LeMoigne said the plan is to open two more schools life, Ghuman and 3Phase still call Prince George home. Carla in China in the near future, with at least one located Johnston’s story is similar. The communications specialist in Beijing. had an excellent career in Vancouver, but said the Lower “That’s a major accomplishment to have Mainland’s oft-congested road system and lack of easily accessible wilderness getaways made her feel trapped. So she achieved that in less than two years of began to look for opportunities up north – and now she has working together” an equally fantastic career, a larger house and she’s only a half Ray LeMoigne, hour from world-class hiking and skiing trails. president, School District 91 Business Company “This is the frontier of the new British Columbia” Janine North, The schools have already been twinned with Lakes CEO, District Secondary School in Burns Lake, and Nechako Northern Development Initiative Trust Valley Secondary School in Vanderhoof to develop cooperative exchange programs. From Haida Gwaii to Dawson Creek, northern B.C.’s economy is diversifying across a broad spectrum of industries. In fact, the number of major projects proposed in northern 4 B.C. totals $70 billion, or approximately 52% of the total China driving jade capital investment proposed in the province. On the north coast, B.C.’s proximity to Asia is driving major investment in boom in northwest B.C. shipping, logistics and liquefied natural gas (LNG) sectors. From mining to cutting, polishing, carving Further inland, Terrace and Smithers are benefitting from new mining exploration and development and clean energy and eventually selling, B.C. businesses are projects along the Highway 37 corridor. leading the global trade for jade. In the northeast, communities such as Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Tumbler Ridge and Chetwynd are capitalizing on massive natural gas and coal resources. Prince George, B.C.’s northern capital, is leading the way in education and healthcare advancements. And the Cariboo is benefitting from the added economic kick that stems from major expansions at the Mount Polley and Gilbraltar mines. This widespread economic activity is creating jobs, boosting The former asbestos construction and driving growth in retail, service and supply mine in Cassiar, B.C. is businesses. It’s also having the added benefit of shedding long gone, but the local light on the north’s natural recreational gifts – from world- jade business has created class hunting and fishing, to hiking, mountain biking, skiing a global trade and sightseeing.