Over the past three years, the Kitimat Bound business and resident attraction initiative has exceeded its targets and expectations, generating strong national interest in Kitimat as an affordable and desirable place to live and work. The community is now seeing real results, with at least 25 new residents having moved to Kitimat since 2023, and over 400 prospective residents reaching out for more information about relocating. As this three-year marketing project moves into its final phase, project partners are excited to share the success and momentum it has created.
“Through website traffic, social media engagement, video views and direct inquiries, we are seeing strong and measurable interaction with the resources we’ve developed,” said Walsham Tenshak, Director of Economic Development, District of Kitimat. “The interest we’re tracking represents real individuals who are considering relocation to Kitimat. At the same time, many more people explore our website and relocation tools independently without reaching out, and that impact extends beyond what can be captured in the numbers. But when someone does connect with us online, District staff respond directly by phone or email, answering their questions and helping them understand what a move could look like.”
“This project has always been about strengthening Kitimat for the long term,” said Phil Germuth, Mayor of Kitimat. “It’s not just about short-term marketing campaigns. It’s about building a stronger future for our community. Attracting even one new health professional can have a ripple effect that goes far beyond a single position. That person may move here with their partner and children, enroll their kids in local schools, and begin building a life here. When families choose to put down roots in Kitimat, the benefits are felt across our community, from local services and employers to neighbourhoods and schools.”
Kitimat’s competitive wages and housing affordability continue to be key advantages for the community. As of 2024, Kitimat households reported a median income of $111,500, and about 78% of residents own their own home (2022). In 2025, the average price of a detached home in Kitimat was $426,082, lower than the average housing prices in Kitimat’s neighbouring communities, and well below prices in Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. With major industrial development underway in the region and more than $19.5 million announced in 2024 through the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance (RBA) to support infrastructure priorities in Kitimat, the community continues to see growing opportunities in sectors such as health care, education, and childcare. To support these opportunities, the District now offers up to $20,000 in healthcare recruitment incentives, helping professionals build meaningful careers where they’re needed most. Wages in Kitimat are also highly competitive, with the median household income currently 21% higher than the provincial average.
In addition to external promotion, the initiative has focused on ensuring local residents feel proud of how the community is portrayed in marketing efforts and that Kitimat is represented accurately. More than a dozen Kitimatians have been profiled and featured in various video productions and written stories over the years.
“There is a strong connection between how we position Kitimat for visitors and potential new residents and business owners,” said Laurel D’Andrea, Executive Director, Kitimat Chamber of Commerce. “Kitimat Bound helps ensure that those people considering a move have accessible, current information about what the community offers and the opportunities available once they arrive. In 2025 alone, 63 welcome kits were distributed to new residents choosing to call Kitimat home.”
“This initiative has established a lasting foundation of marketing assets, resources, and tools that the community and stakeholders can continue to use to support attraction and retention efforts for years to come,” said Ms. Tenshak. “That foundation has generated real momentum, and we are excited about the continued growth ahead.”
The Kitimat Bound business and resident attraction initiative was started in 2020 by the District of Kitimat and the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce. This three-year project (2023-2026) was funded by the Government of BC’s Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) and Northern Development Initiative Trust’s Northern Healthy Communities Fund.
