B.C. resource communities: assessing restructuring processes and local responses

This thesis investigates how the effects of restructuring are influencing rural British Columbia communities. A principal component of a communities potential to positively manage restructuring is economic diversification. This analysis employs a mixed-method methodology to better understand the comparative influences of key factors in the economic diversification of rural B.C. Quantitatively, linear regressions are used to correlate three measures of diversification to eleven independent variables. Qualitatively, municipal economic development officers (EDOs) in eight B.C. communities are interviewed. This thesis suggests that EDOs will continue to play a vital role in the diversification of communities. The future success of diversification, however, is dependent on several factors: a greater understanding of the complex interactions between municipal development officers and other entities involved in diversification; increasing the leadership of rural citizens; educating rural citizens to the benefits of diversification; and securing stable, long-term funding from all levels of government.