Listen Live
Listen Live
Listen Live

Four Major Themes Captured in New Economic Development Strategy for Williams Lake

A new economic development strategy has been approved for the City of Williams Lake.

“The City decided that post-2017 wildfires it was in our best interest to get down on paper what we really think our economic priorities as we transition what we were doing before fires to post fires,” said economic development officer, Beth Veenkamp.

Focus groups and an online survey in which more than 300 people responded to helped capture four major themes in the strategy:

  • Enhanced Liveability and Quality of Life: includes housing diversification and rental development, increasing investments, and partnerships in mountain biking development, which repeatedly emerged as a community asset worth investing in.
  • Investment Attraction and Business Development: includes opportunities such as airport development, tourism product development and agriculture diversification.
  • Skill Development and Labour Force Attraction: includes attracting skilled workers and expanding education opportunities.
  • Partnership Development: includes collaborating on projects with neighbouring First Nations communities, leveraging opportunities with the Cariboo Regional District, and focused work with the Province to tap into its programs and initiatives.

With the strategy approved, Veenkamp adds that it is now a matter of getting to work.

“The great thing about this strategy is that there was nothing that was particularly new information that came out of it,” she said.

“It just really helped to find what our priorities are based on what the community said their priorities are.”

“Some of the work that is already underway is partnership development with different organizations so that we can leverage our opportunities as a community, we’re really focusing as a city on residential development because housing is one of the areas that really need some attention, and we’re looking at diversifying the economy through international investment opportunities that are becoming available through the province as well as supporting our existing businesses to keep their doors open, maybe create succession plans for the future so that people who are retired can take over their businesses.”

The survey results showed that most residents were happy living in Williams Lake, due in large part to the small town feel and sense of community. Most respondents indicated that they would like to see Williams Lake grow a little, but not too much.

Something going on in the Cariboo you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].

Rebecca Dyok
Rebecca Dyok
News Reporter/Anchor who loves the Cariboo and coffee (lots of it).If you have any news tips or story ideas you would like to share I can be reached at [email protected]

Continue Reading

ckbx Now playing play

cffm Now playing play

ckcq Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Rain and cooler temperatures to start the first week of Fall in parts of the Cariboo

It's the first full day of Fall in the Cariboo.

Indigenous romantic comedy film playing soon in Williams Lake

A very special film will be showing in Williams Lake ahead of National Indigenous Peoples Day.

John Rustad survives B.C. Conservative leadership review

John Rustad has survived a leadership review by the B.C. Conservatives. 

BCGEU workers strike at B.C. liquor and cannabis distribution sites

The union representing roughly 34,000 public service workers in British Columbia said it is ramping up job action at liquor and cannabis warehouses as a strike enters its fourth week. 

Targeted investigation led to drug & cash seizure in Williams Lake

The Cariboo-Chilcotin Crime Reduction Unit (CC-CRU) began an investigation on Thursday, September 18, 2025, aimed at drug trafficking in the city.
- Advertisement -