Kitimat is entering a new chapter in 2026 as British Columbia’s northern coastal community finds itself at the centre of one of Canada’s biggest energy developments while retaining the mountains, waterways and wilderness that have long shaped its identity.
On 28 September 2026, LNG Canada announced the final investment decision for Phase 2 at its Kitimat facility. The expansion will add two LNG processing units and double the facility’s production capacity from 14 million tonnes per annum to 28 million tonnes.
The development is primarily an energy story, but its wider significance reaches into the local economy and the way visitors encounter this remote part of British Columbia.
Kitimat Enters a New Energy Era
LNG Canada’s first export cargo departed Kitimat in June 2025, marking the beginning of operations at Canada’s first large-scale LNG export facility.
Phase 1 initially brought two processing units with a combined capacity of 14 million tonnes per year. Phase 2 will add two more trains, along with another storage tank, condensate tank, loading berth and expanded utility and process systems.
The scale of the next stage is considerable.
During peak construction, Phase 2 is expected to support up to 4,000 construction jobs in Kitimat, alongside around 2,100 positions associated with new compressor stations for the expanded Coastal GasLink pipeline.
That level of activity can have consequences far beyond the industrial site, particularly for accommodation, restaurants, transport and other local services.
A Remote Coastal Town With a Remarkable Landscape
Kitimat’s energy profile should not obscure what surrounds the community.
The town sits amid coastal mountains, rivers, forests and waterways, with the Douglas Channel providing access to an extraordinary marine environment. For visitors, this creates a very different British Columbia experience from the better-known destinations around Vancouver and Whistler.
Wildlife is one of the region’s major attractions.
The waters around the Douglas Channel can offer sightings of harbour porpoises, Pacific white-sided dolphins and marine mammals, while coastal excursions can also provide opportunities to see bald eagles and bears.
The Douglas Channel Opens the Door to Wilderness Travel
The marine landscape is particularly important to Kitimat’s tourism identity.
Boat-based experiences can take visitors into secluded coastal areas, where islands, mountains and waterways create the kind of scenery that has made British Columbia internationally famous.
The region also offers access to remote hot springs.
Bishop Bay, Shearwater and Weewanie are among the area’s marine hot springs, with several accessible only by boat. Their combination of wilderness, warm mineral-rich water and coastal surroundings offers a distinctly Northern British Columbia experience.
These attractions also highlight why Kitimat can appeal to travellers who want nature rather than conventional urban sightseeing.
Minette Bay Adds a Gentler Side of Kitimat
Not every outdoor experience requires a major expedition.
Minette Bay West Park provides a more accessible way to experience the Douglas Channel, with a leisurely trail, seating areas, toilets, fire pits and a floating dock for non-motorised boats.
The park is directly beside the Kitimat Arm and has been designed using Green Shores principles, creating a useful example of how recreation and coastal stewardship can sit alongside the community’s wider development.
For visitors, it offers an easy introduction to Kitimat’s landscape without requiring a full-day excursion.
Mountains, Forests and Viewpoints Shape the Experience
Kitimat’s surrounding terrain also creates opportunities for walking and photography.
Coghlin Park provides views towards the Douglas Channel and Minette Bay, while the Fire Mountain trail offers a more active outing. The 3.1-kilometre return route climbs towards a viewpoint at 541 metres, with the final section involving a short scramble.
The landscape changes dramatically with the seasons.
Summer brings long daylight hours and easier access to outdoor activities, while autumn adds colour to the forests. Winter shifts the experience towards snow-based recreation, including activities around the Hirsch Creek Golf & Winter Club.
Industrial Growth Could Strengthen the Local Visitor Economy
The relationship between energy investment and tourism is not necessarily direct.
The Phase 2 development will create construction and operational activity, increasing demand for accommodation, food services, transport and other local businesses. LNG Canada has also highlighted a business rebate programme intended to support local businesses and community resilience.
For tourism operators, a larger economic base can create opportunities to develop experiences for both workers and leisure travellers.
That could mean stronger hospitality capacity, more food options, improved services and greater awareness of Kitimat as a destination.
Indigenous Partnerships Are Part of the Next Chapter
The expansion is also taking place in the traditional territory of the Haisla Nation, making Indigenous participation an important part of the wider economic story.
In July 2026, LNG Canada announced an equity option agreement with MNT Investments LP, representing the economic development organisations of five First Nations neighbouring the project. The arrangement provides an opportunity to invest up to C$1 billion in a special-purpose entity connected to planned Phase 2 infrastructure.
For the region, Indigenous economic participation is becoming an increasingly visible part of the project’s development.
What Travellers Can Discover Around Kitimat
A visit to Kitimat can combine several very different experiences.
Travellers can explore coastal viewpoints, take marine excursions, walk through forests, seek wildlife, visit hot springs or simply experience the dramatic meeting point of mountains and water.
The industrial landscape is another part of the modern story.
Visitors should not treat the LNG facility itself as a conventional tourist attraction, but its presence helps explain why a relatively remote community has become strategically important to Canada’s international energy trade.
Kitimat’s New Chapter Is About More Than LNG
The Phase 2 decision places Kitimat firmly on Canada’s energy map, doubling LNG Canada’s planned production capacity and creating a new period of construction and economic activity.
Yet the destination’s tourism appeal rests on something much older and more enduring.
The Douglas Channel, coastal mountains, forests, wildlife and Indigenous cultural landscape give Kitimat a sense of place that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
As Northern British Columbia enters this next phase of economic development, Kitimat offers travellers an unusual opportunity to see two sides of the region at once: a rapidly expanding energy hub and a gateway to some of Canada’s most dramatic coastal wilderness.
