Since 2021, the Township of Spallumcheen has been exploring the development of a regional Agri-Hub to strengthen local food distribution and support agricultural growth. With support from ETSI-BC, the Township is developing a phased business plan to help build a resilient and profitable agricultural sector for the future.
2026 ETSI-BC Legislative Review
On March 27, the Board of ETSI-BC released the 2026 Report of its independent Legislative Review Committee, which recommends several important amendments to proposed changes in the Act that governs ETSI-BC. CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT.
The Committee, appointed by ETSI-BC’s Board of Directors, was made up of three leaders with deep experience in governance and public service, and strong connections to community:
- Steve Thomson (former MLA and Minister of both Agriculture and Forests),
- Roly Russell, PhD (former MLA, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development and Chair of Kootenay Boundary Regional District), and
- Rosalie Yazzie, KC (Senior Legal Counsel to Syilx Okanagan Nation) and former vice-chair of the First Nations Justice Council.
The Committee was supported by Allan Neilson of Neilson Strategies Inc., who has extensive experience in facilitation and policy development.
The Committee was asked to review recommended changes to the ETSI-BC enabling legislation that had been made in in the 2021 ETSI-BC Legislative Review, and by ETSI-BC itself in 2023 and 2025. The Committee was also asked to examine proposed changes put forward by the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth in its 2026 Draft Intentions Paper, written in support of the Province’s commitment to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).
Item 4.39 of the DRIPA Action Plan directs the Province to work with the three Trusts and First Nations to ensure First Nations inclusion in Trust governance. In addition to reflecting that goal, the confidential Intentions Paper also included changes that the Ministry considered helpful to modernize the legislation to better align with the current economic and legislative context.
In its work, the Committee was guided by the need for durable and self-determined First Nations representation in the Trust while also protecting the Trust’s independence and decision-making autonomy. First Nations inclusion in Trust governance is the main focus of the report’s recommendations and findings. In particular, the Committee gave careful consideration to First Nations representation on the ETSI-BC RACs and Board. The Committee also considered the approach to selecting and appointing First Nations representatives.
The Report speaks to the importance of:
- embedding inclusion in a way that strengthens, rather than weakens, the nature of the Trust as an independent statutory body, focused on and empowered to make decisions in support of regional economic development
- enduring, meaningful and self-determined First Nations representation, which allows for structural models for Board and RAC composition that do not mandate parity in numbers but rather ensure meaningful, material presence for First Nations. Parity, while useful in some instances, does not recognize the structural diversity of First Nations governance across the Trust area. This view is consistent with the findings of ETSI-BC’s 2024 and 2025 First Nations engagement.
- First Nations themselves having the authority, embedded in the Act, to determine the process for selecting and appointing First Nations representatives to the RACs
- protecting the independence of the Trust from efforts to centralize and consolidate control under the Province
- additional opportunities for affected parties to provide input on the Draft Intentions Paper, given the presence of several proposed changes unrelated to DRIPA Action Item 4.39.
ETSI-BC has been told that there will be opportunities for public consultation and input on the proposed changes to our Act. We realize that our past, current and prospective RAC members and other stakeholders will be committed to providing input to ensure that our Act is updated in a way that ensures our continued ability to serve our region most effectively. We will keep you posted on those consultation opportunities as soon as they are made public. Thanks in advance for speaking up on behalf of your region and its needs!
More News & Stories
New Tourism Strategy Transforms Grand Forks from a Highway Stop to a Destination
The Southern Interior community of Grand Forks has completed a major rebuild and relaunch of its original tourism strategy, shifting the community from being a quick stopping point on Highway 3 to a tourism destination. With support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), the strategy served to develop new tourism assets attracting more visitors and generating increased revenue for local businesses.
Sicamous Tourism Strategy Builds a Path for Sustainable Growth
From houseboating to sledding, hiking, biking, and birding, Sicamous is the tourism hub of the Shuswap region. While summer visitors fill Sicamous with activity, off-season visitations drop sharply, prompting the community to pursue a more diversified and sustainable year-round tourism future. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) supported the District of Sicamous Development Corporation in revitalizing the community’s tourism sector with a dynamic, five-year tourism strategy to 2030.
Forestry Strategy Positions ?aq’am First Nation for New Opportunities
Increased timber harvest allocations for BC’s First Nations are opening the door to new business opportunities for enterprising First Nations communities such as ?aq’am in the East Kootenays. With funding support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), ?aq’am developed a forestry business scan, a strategy to build capacity for projects made possible by the expanded forest tenure. The scan is guiding ?aq’am to increase its role in forestry as it pursues a resilient and sustainable future.
ETSI-BC Welcomes Krista Mallory as Regional Project and Strategic Initiatives Manager
July 29, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC)) is pleased to announce that Krista Mallory will be joining the organization as its new Regional Project and Strategic Initiatives Manager effective October 1, 2026.
Wayfinding in Barriere for Economic Resilience and Growth
When a major fire destroyed the Tolko sawmill in the North Thompson region near Barriere in 2003, residents and stakeholders rallied to rebuild and redefine the community’s economic future. As the community has evolved, so have the systems that help residents and visitors navigate in and around Barriere, including a multi-phase Wayfinding Strategy launched in 2024. The project, supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is aimed at boosting visitor traffic and attracting more business investment, ensuring a strong and resilient future.
Five-Year Plan Strengthens ?aq’am Community Enterprises
?aq’am Community Enterprises (ACE) is the economic development arm of the ?aq’am First Nation, the largest member of Ktunaxa Nation. Known for its progressive business development goals, ACE undertook a comprehensive review of its strategic priorities. The result is a dynamic new five-year strategic plan that will guide more efficient, tactical, and resilient delivery of ACE’s programs and services. The project was supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).
Thompson-Okanagan Launches New Economic Development Practitioners Network
After a year of work connecting economic development practitioners across the Thompson-Okanagan, the region’s first Economic Development Practitioners Network (EDPN) is now in place. Modelled after the Kootenay Boundary EDPN created in 2014, the Thompson Okanagan EDPN includes community and municipal and First Nations economic development practitioners, Chambers of Commerce, Community Futures and other stakeholders. The group came together for the first time on April 8, 2026, where they learned, shared ideas and information, and further planned future activities. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is committed to supporting both the Kootenay Boundary and Thompson-Okanagan networks of economic development practitioners.
2027-30 Strategic Planning and DAAP 4.39 Updates
June 25, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is grateful for the input from partners, funding recipients, committee members and other regional stakeholders who have taken the time to help inform our next three-year Strategic Plan for 2027-30. We are also pleased to provide an update on the status of the DAAP 4.39 action item.
ETSI-BC Fall 2026 Funding Intake: Up to $1M Available for Projects
June 18, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is pleased to announce that its next Funding Intake will launch on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 and close on Thursday, October 1, 2026.