MLA Morissette Newsletter, Legacy fund grants available in Rossland, Trail, Castlegar
By MLA Steve Morissette
I rose in the House this week to recognize B.C. Museums Week, from May 17 to 23 this week. B.C.’s arts, culture and creative sector is a vital part of our province. It employs more than 122,000 people and contributes approximately $10.5 billion to our economy. Workers and volunteers in this sector preserve and share our history through stories, artifacts and historic sites, helping connect us to our past and to each other.
From the Squamish Líl̓wat cultural centre, Kootenay museum, Rossland museum, Trail museum, Doukhobor Discovery Centre in Castlegar, to the Burnaby Village Museum, Barkerville Historic Town and so many more throughout British Columbia, museums reflect the diversity and resilience of the people who call B.C. home. The British Columbia Museums Association also plays an important role supporting these organizations and promoting awareness of our shared history.
That is why we continue to support cultural spaces such as the Chinese Canadian Museum, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Royal B.C. Museum, including the new Provincial Archives research and collections campus. We are working closely with affected communities to advance new museum programs and proposals, including the Canadians of South Asian Heritages vision for a provincial museum and a provincial Filipino cultural centre. B.C. Museums Week is a time to celebrate the people and places that keep B.C.’s stories alive. Please join me in recognizing B.C. Museums Week this week.
May 17th-23rd, 2026 Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre open by donation from 10-6 pm all week for BC Museums Week 2026! 2026 theme is “Museums Matter – From Awareness to Action”
British Columbia, like much of the world, is facing new challenges. The war in Iran and the threat of tariffs from the U.S. are having a real financial impact on people, businesses, and our economy. This is why our government is working hard to continuing building for B.C.’s future.
Despite hardships, recent Labour Force Survey data shows that British Columbia’s construction and manufacturing sectors continue to grow, with a nearly 12,000 jobs added in the last two months. This week, we announced that we are building on this momentum by doubling the annual funding to SkilledTradesBC from $107 million to $214 million by 2028-29. This means that we are able to create as many as 5,000 new trades training seats in 2026 at public post-secondary institutions, including 162 seats in the Kootenays, helping more people enter training and move onto job sites sooner right here in Kootenay Monashee.
This investment will reinforce our LookWest plan. We are focused on ensuring people in British Columbia are ready to fill the trade positions that are needed in B.C., while supporting a stronger and more resilient economy and positioning B.C. as Canada’s leading economic engine.
Minister’s statement on April Labour Force Survey results
While many provinces lost jobs last month, this Labour Force Survey data shows that British Columbia’s construction and manufacturing sectors continue to grow, with a nearly 12,000 jobs added in the last two months. In April, BC had the highest monthly increase in youth employment among provinces, up 4,000. Through our Look West strategy, we’re laser focused on working together with businesses to help them grow, reach new international markets, and create more good jobs for people.
Make More in B.C. project will protect, create forestry jobs
A $2-million grant from the Province to FP Innovations will lay the groundwork to help support the development of economic hubs intended to support and grow the forestry sector. On the ground in forest-dependent communities, we’ve heard it loud and clear: Forestry needs predictable access to fibre, more local logs going to local mills, to create more jobs. The Make More in B.C. project is about building a stronger, more resilient forest sector that is never again dependent on a single trading partner like the United States.
Forging powerful partnerships to compete in global markets
British Columbia is growing stronger roots in global wood markets, investing more than $12 million to expand demand for made-in-B.C. forest products, support workers, and open new opportunities for communities throughout the province. As the forest sector continues facing punitive U.S. trade actions, we’re looking to new trade avenues and partnerships. Through Forestry Innovation Investment (FII), the provincial Crown agency for wood product market development, this funding will support projects that diversify markets and increase the use of B.C. wood, to help maintain competitiveness in the global wood economy.
Site C dam receives official name: The John Horgan Dam and Generating Station
Our government and BC Hydro have announced that the Site C dam will officially be known as The John Horgan Dam and Generating Station. The official name honours former premier John Horgan and recognizes his leadership and commitment to serving the people of British Columbia. We’re proud to name the Site C dam and generating station in honour of former premier John Horgan, whose leadership and his decision to complete Site C through tough challenges helped secure B.C.’s clean-energy future. Its reservoir will be known as Nááchę mege (Dreamer Lake), a name selected with guidance from local First Nations. “In our culture, Dreamers hold a place of the highest respect and play a vital role as cultural leaders and knowledge holders,” said Chief Sherry Dominic of Blueberry River First Nations. “Our members continue to carry their teachings and songs forward to this day. The name Nááchę mege reflects our history and our enduring connection to this land. It honours the cultural legacy of our people and ensures it will be recognized for generations to come.”
Strong response to 2025 call for power, delivering clean, affordable energy
BC Hydro is advancing four new renewable energy projects that will strengthen B.C.’ clean-energy supply, support economic growth and deliver lasting benefits to communities and First Nations throughout the province. Clean, affordable electricity is essential to strengthening B.C.’s ability to power itself, grow the economy and attract private-sector investment that creates good jobs across the province, and that’s why we’re taking transformative action now to build out BC Hydro’s system. These projects significantly expand our electricity supply, supporting long-term growth while keeping power reliable and affordable for people and businesses.
Electrifying the economy, building energy resilience
We’re investing in clean-energy technology projects that will help to make the use of clean electricity in B.C. more efficient and affordable, while managing and optimizing electricity use to reduce energy costs. It’s important that we support homegrown innovations to strengthen our leadership in clean energy technology. These clean-technology solutions will make using clean electricity easier for people and businesses, increase reliability and efficiency of our grid and help build our energy resilience.
Province to showcase key B.C. industry sectors during FIFA World Cup 2026
Government is capturing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to attract international investment and support good jobs in B.C. by launching BC Business House, a business networking venue that will put a global spotlight on B.C. and its key industries during FIFA World Cup 2026. Major global events, like the World Cup, create valuable opportunities to showcase everything British Columbia has to offer and create new connections to the global economy. This event will bring people and cultures from around the world, and we are working to bring together B.C.’s key business sectors to host customers, investors, and partners to make sure that the jobs created and economic benefits of these games far outlast the final goal.
Supporting outdoor recreation, communities, local economies
Participation in outdoor recreation contributes $4.8 billion annually to B.C.’s economy and supports more than 1,400 businesses and communities provincewide. Through the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program, nearly $1.5 million is being invested to support the outdoor recreation sector. B.C. has so much to offer and explore – we know that outdoor recreation is not just something we do; it’s part of how we live, work and build our communities.
Call for Expressions of Interest: – Legacy Fund Grants Now Open!
The Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games Legacy Fund is now accepting Expressions of Interest from youth-focussed organizations in Trail, Rossland, Castlegar, Warfield, and Beaver Valley can apply for grants of up to $10,000 to support projects benefiting local youth. Grants of up to $10,000 are available (average ~$2,500) for projects that make a lasting community impact.
Priority will be given to programs that support:
Sport participation
Coaching, officiating & mentoring
Retention of girls in sport
Inclusion of under-represented groups
Youth & community service initiatives
Arts & culture
Submit your Expression of Interest by June 15, 2026
Visit Call for Expressions of Interest: Trail-Rossland 2026 BC Winter Games Legacy Fund – BC Games to learn more and apply
Making attendance at routine court hearings easier
More people living in B.C. can attend routine civil and family matters in the Supreme Court of British Columbia by videoconferencing, making it easier to participate in court proceedings without long commutes, time off work or added travel costs. Letting people join routine court matters by video means fewer long drives, fewer days off work and one less reason to scramble for childcare. It is a practical step, led by the B.C. Supreme Court, that makes B.C.’s courts work for the realities of people’s lives.
Helping survivors of family violence navigate legal system
An innovative family law program is supporting people experiencing family violence in British Columbia with free legal support to help to resolve family law issues. Survivors of family violence often suffer in silence and without the safety they deserve, which is why we’re working across government to remove barriers to justice. I’m proud to see the Family Law Centre working as intended by successfully supporting people who cannot afford legal services to get the help, they need to leave dangerous situations when they need it.
Supporting families with free services during separation, conflict
Families going through separation or divorce can access a wide range of free provincial services designed to reduce conflict during challenging transitions and help people make informed decisions. Going through separation or divorce is already difficult for couples and children. Our government is working to provide innovative and free family justice programs to help make this transition easier. We’re proud to invest in a wide variety of accessible services that families need to make informed decisions and protect the best interests of children.
Stay informed and safe this season:
Visit PreparedBC.ca/SevereWeather for tips and resources
Check road conditions before heading out at https://www.drivebc.ca/
For weather alerts, visit https://weather.gc.ca/
For emergency updates, visit https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/
If you have any questions or concerns about a provincial issue or need assistance with a provincial body, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help. My office can be reached online at Steve.Morissette.MLA@leg.bc.ca or at (250) 304-2783.
Helpful resources:
- Visit the BC Benefits Connector at gov.bc.ca/BCBenefitsConnector to find benefits and savings for things like energy bills, transportation, education and training, and health care.
- Find mental health and substance-use supports: Helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca
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