Community Transition Services
Community transition services are available to rural communities experiencing significant economic impacts, such as the closure or reduced operations of a major employer.
Coordinated by the Province, community transition services are tailored to the unique circumstances, strengths and capacity of a community. Specialized provincial staff located across B.C. work alongside communities to identify their needs and challenges following the loss of a major employer, then mobilize resources for impacted workers, employers and communities by engaging across provincial ministries, service providers, federal government, and others to address the impacts. There are typically three steps in a transition process, please visit Community Transition Steps.
Similar services are also available to communities experiencing economic shocks caused by natural disasters.
Three Pillars of Transition Support
Worker Transition
At the outset of any community economic impact, it is often most urgent to support affected workers and their families. 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, Service Canada, unions, post-secondary institutions, and the Ministries of Social Development and Poverty Reduction as well as Labour and Post Secondary Education and Future Skills.
Community Supports
Economic downturn can have ripple effects for impacted workers and their families, so additional social supports are often needed throughout a transition process. Communities are connected to available resources to help manage the stress and uncertainty associated with employment loss and economic transition.
Supports could include community services like food banks, financial services, and mental health support.
Economic Development
Once the shock of an economic loss has passed, continued assistance is provided to communities to develop and implement economic development and diversification plans, including wayfinding funding programs and finding new partnerships. The approach builds on the community’s existing economic development work, existing assets and partnerships.
Local support often includes Community Futures, local business leaders, Chambers of Commerce, and other organizations such as the Economic Trusts.
