Community Transition Services

Community transition services are available to help communities when there is a significant economic disruption like a closure or curtailment of a major employer as well as natural disasters. Services are tailored to the unique circumstances and capacity of a community. 

On this page

• About community transition services
• Three phases of transition support
• When to reach out for community transition support
• Supports for workers, communities, First Nations and businesses
• Community transition contacts 
• Smaller-scale economic impact guidance

About community transition services 

Specialized provincial staff, located across British Columbia, work alongside communities to identify their needs and challenges after the loss of a major employer. Resources are mobilized for impacted workers, employers and communities by engaging across all levels of government, service providers, and others to address the impacts. Similar services are also available to communities experiencing economic shocks caused by natural disasters.

There are three steps in a transition process: Initiation, Implementation, and Monitoring.

Step 1: Initiation

Within 24 hours of a permanent curtailment or closure event, provincial staff reach out to local and Indigenous governments and offer supports. If invited by the community, they begin organizing a community transition response.

Step 2: Implementation

A community transition team is created, bringing together government, employers, unions, community organizations, and local partners. This team manages supports and resources and determines a coordinated, tailored response to support the entire community.

Supports may include:

• Worker needs assessments
• Job and career fairs
• Worker information sessions
• Townhall meetings
• Skills training

Step 3: Monitoring 

The community transition team remains active as long as the community needs. This depends on the nature of the transition. Throughout the process, monitoring and assessment of impacts on existing community support services is ongoing. 

Communities continue to receive long-term support through the province's economic development services working with their regional manager.

Three phases of transition support

Worker transition support

In this first phase, the priority is the impacted workers. The community transition team will focus on the workers’ needs, concerns, and any complexities that affect their access to support. This support involves coordinating timely information and access to resources like employment services, career counselling, new job opportunities, and skills training. Key partners include WorkBC Centres, Service Canada, unions, post-secondary institutions, and the Ministries of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

Business and contractor support

Communities are often concerned about the rippling effects of the event on the rest of the community. A layoff event can affect local businesses in many ways, including through supply chain disruptions or a dip in projected revenue, and contractors are also often impacted. The productivity and success of small and medium-sized businesses and contractors are vital for the overall economic health and sustainability of these areas.

Businesses and contractors are connected to available resources to help manage the stress and uncertainty associated with economic disruption.

Economic development and community support

Once the community transition team has addressed the immediate needs of the workers and the business community, the team can shift its focus to the long-term economic development priorities for the community. Continued assistance is provided to communities to develop and implement economic development and diversification plans. The approach builds on the community’s existing economic development work, assets and partnerships.

Local support often includes Community Futures, local business leaders, Chambers of Commerce, and other organizations such as the regional economic trusts.

When to reach out for community transition support

Provincial support for community transition (CT) is available to rural communities that experience a major economic shock that negatively impacts community viability. Maintain contact with your regional manager as information from your major employers and/or community partners is shared regarding potential economic disruptions. Your regional manager works closely with the community transition staff to continuously monitor and evaluate this information to determine the best approach to supporting your community.

Supports for workers, communities, First Nations and businesses

View a list of supports for workers, communities, First Nations and businesses to help offset economic impacts. These supports apply to all sectors.

Community transition contacts

For more information about the community transition process and the services offered, community transition staff are available to help.

Smaller-scale economic impact guidance

The Local Community Transition Guide supports communities, businesses and residents impacted during an economic disruption. It follows a model similar to the Provincial community transition (CT) services and is tailored for smaller-scale implementation.