The current board of the Corporation

Greg Andrews, Vice Chair
Owner/Operator
Greg Andrews Insurance Services

Tony Bensted
Owner
Cariboo Forest Consultants

Brian Black, Chair
Retired
Formerly Mill Manager Quesnel River Pulp

Peter Brand, Treasurer/Secretary
VP Marketing and Business Development
Pinnacle Pellet

Geoff Garland
Owner
Cariboo Ford

Bob Graham
Owner
Bob Graham Ltd.

Camae Lynn
Co-owner
Quesnel Info Book
Past President Quesnel & District Chamber of Commerce

Mayor Nate Bello
2008 City of Quesnel Liaison

Board members are appointed by the City of Quesnel.  

 

Purpose

The purpose of the Corporation (QCEDC) is to:

Sustain an organization that is responsible for all aspects of community economic development, which pursues development that reflects the goals and values of the residents of Quesnel and District and which acts in accordance with the policy and planning directives given by the City of Quesnel.

Mission and mandate

QCEDC will facilitate development of the local economy by working with existing businesses to grow, expand and develop, and by attracting new businesses, entrepreneurs and investment to the area in pursuit of the following key objectives:

1. Diversification of the economy into new and growing sectors, as well as through the development of new opportunities within existing sectors;
2. The creation of new, long-term jobs that provide opportunities for the regional labour force;
3. Maintenance of the region’s average incomes, which have allowed residents to enjoy a relatively high standard of living;
4. Maintenance of the region’s Quality of Life, which is an important consideration for many residents and businesses;
5. Encouragement of entrepreneurship and learning in all its forms as a way of ensuring the future economic vitality of the region; and,
6. Development of a stable economic base that is able to avert the boom-bust economic cycles that plague many communities.

Community economic vision

Planning starts with vision: what kind of community do we want? If we know what we want, we can figure out how to get there, and act on the things that are within the community's control. Based on community consultations the following vision was created.

Quesnel in 2020 is "connected, green and active." Its prosperous economy is diverse. Environmental and social well-being is paramount; for example, excellent air quality is achieved. It is a multicultural, learning community with a high quality of life and good incomes.

• Investments in recreation, culture, technology, infrastructure, environmental and social quality, and basic infrastructure make Quesnel the most beautiful and livable city in BC, retaining retirees and attracting people from around the world who could live and do business anywhere.
  
• Wood product firms are diverse and competitive.
• Many new farms grow and process diverse products.
• First Nations have a greatly expanded role in economic and community development.
• Tourism is vibrant, based on Rocky Mountaineer Vacations train and powerful regional tourism assets like Barkerville.
• Quesnel has an energy industry, including "renewables" and, if they can be cleanly extracted oil, gas and coal.
• Mineral operations thrive.
• Education "magnet" programs, and innovative health care and housing for seniors, increase employment and quality of life.
• The retail sector is diverse and vibrant due to all of the above.