We’re excited to share the Final Report for the West Kootenay Recruitment Agency (WKRA) Pilot Project, a locally driven initiative exploring new ways to support recruitment and human resource capacity across the West Kootenay and Boundary region.

Why this project matters

Attracting and retaining employees continues to be a top challenge for employers throughout the Kootenays. In response, the WKRA Pilot brought together employers, human resources professionals, community partners, and service providers to test a new model for regional recruitment support and collaboration. The goal was to develop practical solutions grounded in local context, relationships, and shared understanding of workforce realities.

What the pilot did

Over the course of the project, the team:

• Completed three recruitment projects with successful placements, validating the model’s effectiveness.
• Engaged more than 600 candidates, building a strong regional talent pipeline.
• Laid the foundation for a regional Human Resources (HR) Network, connecting HR professionals across communities.
• Established recruitment infrastructure tailored to rural labour market conditions.

Throughout the pilot, partners emphasized the importance of relationship-driven, place-based approaches that reflect the realities of the Kootenay workforce – including factors like housing availability, relocation dynamics, and local economic pressures.

What’s next

One of the pilot’s key outcomes is a strengthened regional HR Network, now positioned as an ongoing forum for shared learning, peer support, and coordinated workforce development efforts. Quarterly meetings are planned through 2026 to continue building capacity and collaboration.

The experience and insights from the pilot also directly informed the launch of Kootenay Talent + Recruitment, a locally rooted recruitment service designed to support employers with hiring strategy, talent attraction, and human resource planning.

Read the full report

The WKRA Final Report offers a detailed look at the project’s findings, lessons learned, and recommendations for strengthening recruitment supports in rural regions. It is a valuable resource for employers, community leaders, HR professionals, and policymakers interested in the future of regional workforce development.

Thanks to our partners

This project would not have been possible without the leadership and guidance of the WKRA Steering Committee. The Committee included representatives from Kootenay Career Development Society, Kootenay Employment Services, Selkirk Innovates, Castlegar & District Chamber of Commerce, Destination Castlegar, Community Futures South Kootenay, Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society, Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce, and Community Futures Central Kootenay.

We also gratefully acknowledge the financial support of ETSI-BC (Economic Trust of the Southern Interior) and the Province of British Columbia.