Amenity migration and sustainable development in remote resource-based communities: lessons from northern British Columbia. (22nd August 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jackson, Tony; Illsley, Barbara; Curry, John; Rapaport, Eric
• Is Part Of: International journal of society systems science. Volume 1:Number 1(2008)
• Page Start: 26
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2008-08-22
• Subjects: remote settlements -- community governance -- amenity migration -- new regionalism -- Vancouver Declaration -- sustainable development -- remote communities -- resource-based communities -- British Columbia -- Canada -- skills-based employment -- social capital networks -- local development; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social systems -- Periodicals; Sociology -- Periodicals; System theory -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Sustainable development -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Social networks -- Periodicals; 301.072
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-2511

Abstract

Development in northern British Columbia (BC) has focused on resource-based exports, frustrating efforts to promote self-sustaining development. The paper reports on a pilot study testing the applicability of the 2006 Vancouver Declaration on a 'new governance paradigm for managing human settlements' to northern BC. Fieldwork focused on two small northern BC settlements. Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders offered insights into the composition of a 'new regionalism' pathway which exploits the appeal of place to amenity migration, allowing a shift from resource-based dependency towards high added-value professional skills-based employment. The paper explores the evidence for such a shift. Findings indicate that good social capital networks stimulated by pleasant surroundings have promoted more sustainable patterns of local development. Effective territorially-based community governance is seen as important in enabling these settlements to acquire greater ownership of their built and natural environments.