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.
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
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.
ETSI-BC Spring Funding Intake Invests Over $1 Million to Strengthen the Southern Interior Economy
June 8, 2026 – Communities across British Columbia’s Southern Interior are set to benefit from a new round of investment through the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior. On June 5, 2026, ETSI-BC approved $1,011,000 in funding for 33 projects, representing a combined project value of $3 million. The funded initiatives will help communities diversify their local economies, support innovation, and respond to regional opportunities
Helping Shape the Future of ETSI-BC Support in the Southern Interior
May 11, 2026 – ETSI-BC is inviting partners from across the Southern Interior to participate in a series of virtual focus groups as part of an Impact Assessment that will inform its next three-year Strategic Plan, covering the period from April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2030.
Similkameen Economic Vitality Plan Drives Growth and Resilience
Keremeos, one of the fastest growing rural communities in British Columbia, has evolved from its agricultural heritage to a business hub at the heart of the Similkameen region with a robust tourist sector and vast potential to develop new business opportunities. In 2024, the Similkameen Country Development Association initiated a comprehensive Economic Vitality Initiative to better address the pressing needs of local businesses. Collaboration by many stakeholders along with funding support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) drove the plan to completion, and the strategies it contains are now being implemented.
Ktunaxa Business Showcase Links Indigenous Businesses to Procurement Opportunities
The Ktunaxa Business Showcase, led by the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC), is expanding, improving and helping members secure new business contracts in southeastern BC. The success of the most recent 2025 Showcase event reflects strategic changes to the program’s timeline and format, and was supported by funding from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).