BC's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 62
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BC’S TOP EMPLOYERS (2026)
Prince Rupert Port Authority people are at the centre
P
rince Rupert, known as
the City of Rainbows, is
having a big moment in
the sun. One of Canada’s
busiest seaports is
getting a lot of national attention
because it has been tagged as
central to Prime Minister Mark
Carney’s nation-building strategy
to expand and diversify trade
globally.
At the working centre of all
this is the Prince Rupert Port
Authority (PRPA), which manages
commercial port facilities within
the Port of Prince Rupert. Based in
the northwest coast city, PRPA is
a small operation employing just
135 people. Yet it anchors more
than $60 billion in trade through
the port, generating $1.4 billion in
economic activity across northern
British Columbia annually and
supporting 7,500 jobs in the
gateway industry.
Natalie Allen, community relations specialist, at Prince Rupert Port Authority.
Seeing the impact we
have on the country,
the region and the local
community is inspiring
for employees. It drives
excitement and pride in
our work.
— Shelby O’Brien
Vice-President, Commercial
and Regulatory Affairs, and
General Counsel
“Seeing the impact we have on
the country, the region and the
local community is inspiring for
employees,” says Shelby O’Brien,
vice-president, commercial and
regulatory affairs, and general
counsel. “It drives excitement and
pride in our work.”
The federal government’s trade
expansion strategy includes a
leading role for Prince Rupert,
which boasts the continent’s
deepest natural harbour and
port capacity comparable with
Vancouver’s. The federal plan
aims to leverage Prince Rupert
as a critical export hub for
increasing Canadian trade,
particularly with Asia. This comes
with a focus on infrastructure
development, expansion of
the existing port capacity, and
streamlining of project approvals
— along with significant
investments to make these things
happen.
The Port Authority is already
at the centre of multiple, related
major expansion projects that are
currently underway, including
a $1.35-billion terminal to
export energy products such as
propane to Asia, a $750-million
export logistics project called
CANXPORT, and a $117-million
import logistics and warehousing
complex led by the Metlakatla
First Nation.
A PRPA anchor statement is
“we build a better Canada by
growing trade,” which is inspiring
for employees and resonates with
them, O’Brien notes. “It allows
people to sustain themselves well
and means employees want to stay
with PRPA.”
The pride of working for the
Port Authority also comes from
its impact on the community,
O’Brien adds. “PRPA is a catalyst
for community growth. As a major
employer in Prince Rupert, PRPA’s
successful growth strategy has
in turn contributed to creating
a stable economy in the region,”
she says. “The better we do, the
more we have to invest in the
community.”
Prince Rupert is a small
community of just under 13,000,
notes Natalie Allen, community
relations specialist with PRPA.
“We make a difference in this
community and contribute to the
health of its bottom line. PRPA is
so committed to the town in which
we operate,” she says.
PRPA is also committed to its
staff, Allen adds, saying that she
is especially appreciative of the
flexibility available to staff in their
