?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).
Youth Mentorship Program Offers Golden Opportunities
Known for its authentic western mountain culture, the town of Golden in the Kootenay Rockies is rapidly approaching 5,000 residents, but lack of a local workers is challenging its continued growth and development.
While the town history is steeped in the forestry and rail industries, Golden has been a designated Resort Municipality since 2007. This designation brings support from the Province to build and diversify tourism infrastructure, deliver new visitor experiences and incorporate sustainable practices. Many new and varied businesses are opening in the community, including restaurants, businesses in adventure tourism, construction and media.
Golden is a small community, with a relatively high cost of living – often Resort Municipalities are very challenging places to make a living for residents and this can prove to be a barrier to attracting and retaining employees. The Kicking Horse Chamber of Commerce (KHCCC) is addressing these challenges with an innovative strategy that focuses on youth who already live in the community. The 2024 Workforce Innovation and Youth Mentorship Program was supported by a grant from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) through its Building Economic Development Capacity funding stream.
“This a community-based partnership that leverages municipal, commercial and education resources to identify how we can get our youth working here in Golden,” says Chamber Executive Director, Melanie Myers. “School District 6, the Town of Golden, College of the Rockies and local business owners have shown tremendous support and a willingness to mentor students. With 200 members, the KHCCC is perfectly suited to bridging the gap between an underutilized workforce that is not aware of their options with eager employers needing labour.”
Connecting With Local Youth
The project began with an invitation to the more than 300 students at Golden Secondary School to complete a survey to identify the top four industries they were interested in working in. Interest was greatest in the Trades, Food & Beverage, Film & Media, and Adventure Tourism sectors. “There are many job vacancies in the Trades sector as well as Food & Beverage. Many jobs in hospitality have been filled by temporary foreign workers (TFW) in the past – but new federal policies surrounding TFW’s is changing that very quickly.” says Myers.
The survey information was used to create a unique Youth Workforce video where people from local businesses in each of the four sectors provide insight into the skills needed to succeed in their industry.
One of the contributors was Garrett Anstey, owner of Kicking Horse Electrical, who explains in his segment that electricians don’t just need to be able to use tools. They also need math skills and perseverance, which are essential to becoming an electrician. “You’re not going to know everything all at once so asking questions is very important,” he adds.
“For someone to be successful in the food and beverage industry, a high level of attention to detail almost supersedes some of the technical skills required,” offers Joel Falardeau, co-owner of Golden’s Ethos Café.
Jan Welkerling is Operator and Manager of Golden Skybridge, Canada’s highest suspension bridge and part of a large adventure park. “In this industry, you need good social skills when dealing with guests,” he notes. “It starts with saying hello or good morning, then finding ways to have conversations with people who you may not have a lot in common with. Show up on time, work hard and always look for opportunities to improve your skills.”
Employer Messages Hit Home
“When the survey results about the video were presented to businesses and students, the overall vibe was that the video really spoke to them,” says Myers. “There were some great conversations about women in trades and some of the perceived barriers to entry. Students also had the opportunity to talk with local employers one-on-one.”
Myers adds that the knowledge gained about local youth will enable the Chamber to move forward with a more tailored approach to skills training and ongoing mentorship opportunities.
“This isn’t an instant fix,” she says, “but the momentum has started. The funding support from ETSI-BC has allowed us to provide an enriching, career-focused program for youth that will lead to more local employment, higher wages, and greater employee retention.”
More News & Stories
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).
Strong Demand for ETSI-BC Spring Funding Intake
April 15, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) closed its 2026 Spring Funding Intake, with a strong response from communities and organizations across the region. The intake closed on April 9, 2026, with 48 applications requesting nearly $1.7 million in funding, representing a combined project value of almost $4 million.
2026 ETSI-BC Legislative Review
March 30, 2026 – We are pleased to present the findings and recommendations of the 2026 ETSI-BC Legislative Review Committee. The Committee reviewed the Act that governs ETSI-BC and the proposed changes that the Province has put forward this year. A Legislative Review is conducted every 5 years by an independent committee. This year in particular, their report has several important recommendations of relevance to First Nations and local governments in the Southern Interior, and to the Province.