Williams Lake approves funding for worker attraction and retention program

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“By expanding the focus beyond healthcare to encompass a wider range of professional sectors, this project strengthens the region’s ability to attract and welcome new professionals. Leveraging the increased national awareness generated through ‘Make the Move,’ Williams Lake will be well-positioned to translate that visibility into tangible recruitment and retention outcomes.”

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While the funding comes from REDIP, the application for this specific program was denied, forcing the city to get creative with other grant funding.

“Provincial staff supported the project concept and worked with the City to transfer funds that were unspent from the previously approved Airport Café REDIP application to this Workforce Recruitment and Retention Project to support further development of the program,” said a City Council staff report

“This transfer was approved by the Province in June of 2026, providing approximately $40,000 in project funding to be spent by the end of March 2027. This is a tremendous opportunity for the community to have some start-up funding to establish a more formal program.”

The City of Williams Lake will provide an additional $39,000 per year over two years to establish the Workforce Recruitment and Retention Program.

Councilor Joan Flaspohler said the program will be beneficial to the local workforce.

“I think it’s a great example of the great work community stakeholders and staff are doing to make Williams Lake appealing to professionals who can support our community,” said Flaspohler.

“We want to keep people in Williams Lake, we want to encourage them to bring more professionals to Williams Lake.”

Councilor Michael Moses agrees that the funding is a good investment for the community.

“We have to continue the work on making sure that our city can attract the professionals that we need, and not only that, but also the ability to keep them here,” said Moses.

“We really need to continue these sorts of investments into our community and to attract other investments.”