36 action items to stimulate and support regional economy generated by regional table over two years of conversation – Regional transit, supporting local business and practicing two-eyed seeing among top priorities. The Pemberton and Area Economic Development Collaborative is a collective featuring invited participation from the Pemberton and District Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Pemberton, the Village of Pemberton, Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, the Líl̓wat Business Group, the Líl̓wat Nation, N’Quatqua Nation, Xa’xtsa Nation (Douglas), Samahquam, Skatin Nation, and the Lower Stl’atl’imx Tribal Council. They have met quarterly since 2018 with a view to bringing together all the Nations and communities who cohabit the unceded territory of the Líl̓wat and Lower St’at’imc Nations, to share information, build relationships and collaboratively explore and facilitate economic development opportunities.

Notes from the 12th quarterly gathering of the Economic Development Collaborative, held at the Lower Stl’atl’imx Tribal Council office. Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan consultants, EcoPlan International and ClearCourse Consulting explain the process underway and present the Project Overview for the Pemberton Regional Economic Development Strategy, inviting input on the best way to get the information needed to engage the community and inform a regional strategy.  Discussion from stakeholders provides a baseline of issues and expectations.

The survey was conducted online with 1,555 British Columbia business leaders, from October 8th to November 4th, 2019. Business members were invited to participate through email by local chambers of commerce and from those who are members of BC MindReader.com.

A 27-page assessment conducted by SparcBC for the Village of Pemberton, Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and Sea to Sky Community Services Society, April 11 2019, into the childcare needs for the community, reports that. Unfortunately, the report only relied on population data for the Village of Pemberton and did not include population data for Area C – which suggests that the childcare crisis is even direr than reported in these facts, as there are no more spaces available in Area C, but an additional population base of 1606 people, (not including Lil’wat and N’Quatqua First Nations,) who also rely on Pemberton-based childcare spaces and services. Key findings revealed that the Village of Pemberton has only 12.5 spaces available for every 100 children aged 0-12 years – below the provincial average of 18.4 spaces per 100 children and below the ratio of 20 spaces per 100 children enjoyed in Squamish, of 24 per 100 in North Vancouver and 25.6 per 100 in West Vancouver. There are 73 licensed child care spaces in Pemberton to serve a community with 245 children aged 0-4 and 300 children aged 5-12. 90% of survey respondents think the availability of childcare is inadequate. Population growth estimates and specific targets are explored with 19 recommendations made, in order to improve the situation within 5 years.

An economic impact study, dated April 24 2019, commissioned by Tourism Pemberton, to quantify the economic benefit of tourism for Pemberton and Area C of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, indicates the total impact to be $31.2 million, with over 2/3 of the benefits staying in the region.

Notes from the 11th quarterly gathering of the Economic Development Collaborative, held at the Village of Pemberton office, at which new Pemberton Area Economic Strategy and Plan Project Manager, Veronica Woodruff presented her outline for the project and recommended the selection of a contractor to help develop the strategy which will be completed for August 2020. Also discussed were the roles and responsibility of all the parties involved. Other updates shared include the official opening of the new Lil’wat Gas Station, completion of downtown revitalization and roadworks in the Village of Pemberton, Orange Shirt Day, SLRD’s alternative approach process for a new Arts Culture and Recreation Service and an Economic Development Service, suspension of the Rural Dividend Fund. Results of the Economic Impact on Tourism are now public. Discussion regarding the Village of Pemberton’s RFP for an Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan and how it relates to this process led by the Collaborative now underway.