Trails, waterways, boat launches and backcountry access are already part of the economic fabric of many rural B.C. communities.

A new project will work with a small number of regions to identify how those assets can support local businesses, workforce development and economic diversification.

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC), with support from Selkirk Innovates, invites rural B.C. communities and regions to take part in Trails, Towns, Talent: Building BC’s Rural Outdoor Economy.

The project comes as new provincial data provides the clearest picture yet of the scale of B.C.’s outdoor recreation economy. In 2024, outdoor recreation contributed $6.6 billion in real GDP and supported approximately 86,000 jobs across the province.

“We know outdoor recreation is already a big part of life and the economy in many rural communities,” said Louise Pedersen, Executive Director of ORCBC. “This project is about looking beyond the trailhead. Where can recreation help local businesses grow, attract and retain people, create new opportunities and strengthen rural economies?”

The project is looking for four to five case study regions that already have outdoor recreation assets and activity, such as trails, waterways, recreation sites, snowmobile areas or mountain biking networks, along with some level of community collaboration and a shared interest in using outdoor recreation as a way to support their local economy.

That could include a municipality or First Nation working with neighbouring communities or electoral areas around trails, waterways, recreation sites, ski areas, mountain biking networks, backcountry areas or other outdoor recreation opportunities.

Rather than focusing primarily on building more trails, campsites or other recreation infrastructure, the project will look at the economy around those assets.

What businesses could grow? Where are the gaps? What skills or workforce are needed? Which opportunities are realistic, and what would it take to move them forward?

ORCBC and Selkirk Innovates will work with participating regions to better understand their existing outdoor recreation economy, identify promising opportunities, assess their feasibility and potential benefits, and develop practical next steps.

“Outdoor recreation has great potential to be an economic engine in rural areas,” said Lauren Rethoreet, Faculty Researcher at Selkirk Innovates. “We’re looking forward to working with a diverse group of regions to help them identify opportunities that fit their communities and to share those lessons with other rural communities across B.C.”

The case studies will help build a stronger understanding of what rural communities need to turn their recreation assets and local strengths into lasting economic opportunities. Lessons from the project will also be shared more broadly so other communities can apply them.

Trails, Towns, Talent: Building BC’s Rural Outdoor Economy is funded through the Province of B.C.’s Rural Economic Development and Infrastructure Program (REDIP).

Rural B.C. communities and regions interested in participating are invited to learn more and submit an expression of interest.

e-KNOW file photo

Outdoor Recreation Council of BC

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