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Mayor Lilia Hansen advocates for a unified voice to secure the future of resource-dependent communities
By Ian Biana
Lilia Hansen, Mayor, City of Port St. John
By Resource Works
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Lilia Hansen does not just lead Fort St. John; she champions a way of life. As the mayor of British Columbia’s “energetic city,” she oversees a hub where oil, gas, forestry, and agriculture intersect. To Hansen, these industries represent more than just statistics. They are the bedrock of local stability.
“These jobs provide family-supporting incomes,” Hansen says. She believes this prosperity is the only way to keep the next generation home. For her, the goal is simple. She wants children to stay in their communities and raise their own families.
Strength in a collective voice
Hansen recently joined the Alliance of Resource Communities to amplify her message. She knows that small municipalities often struggle to be heard in distant capital cities. By joining forces with other regional districts, she hopes to create a “collective voice” across the province.
The mayor is calling for a permanent seat at the table. She wants Victoria and Ottawa to include municipalities, First Nation governments, and industry in every major talk.
“It’s important that we’re all there together collectively,” she notes. She believes this group can find the solutions the province desperately needs.
From resources to results
At the BC Natural Resources Forum, Hansen is a fixture. She treats the event as a vital scouting mission for her community. She uses the time to track industry trends and meet with provincial ministers. This year, she also prioritized face-to-face meetings with Northern Health to discuss local concerns.
Hansen is pushing for a faster, more efficient government. She wants to see a streamlined permitting system that gets people to work quickly.
“Resources belong to the people of the province of B.C.,” she asserts. To her, the government must move faster on projects to keep the economy moving.
A vision for the future
As 2026 unfolds, Hansen remains confident in the northern spirit. She predicts that resource communities and industry will “carry our province forward.” She links these sectors directly to the public services that Canadians value most.
According to Hansen, a healthy economy provides the tax base for health care and education. She views the connection between raw resources and everyday life as a fundamental truth.
“A healthy community and a healthy economy is going to build us stronger nationwide,” she says. For this mayor, the path to a better future starts in the field and the forest.
Ian Biana writes for the Resource Works Accelerate team and can be reached at [email protected].
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