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INVEST IN BC 2018 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER
Thompson Okanagan
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS Tourism has always been important in the Thompson Okanagan but now more people are moving in to work and invest
10.2%
Share of B.C. land area
■Barriere ■Cache Creek ■Clearwater ■Clinton ■Golden ■Kamloops ■Kelowna ■Lytton ■Merritt ■Oliver ■Osoyoos ■Peachland ■Penticton ■Revelstoke ■Salmon Arm ■Summerland ■Vernon
Penticton and Naramata have
KATYA HOLLOWAY
44 wineries representing 16 per cent of the total grape wineries in B.C. The entire Okanagan Valley hosts a $200 million wine industry totalling more than 240 vineyards and attracting 500,000 wine tourists a year | SUBMITTED
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isionaries and virtual workers are moving in to Penticton, changing the face of this lakeside Okanagan city. Take a stroll through the downtown core today and its recent gentrification is evident, from the freshly painted facades to the bike racks, cafés, farmers market, restaurants and breweries – all within walking distance from the beach. From the vineyard tasting rooms to the packed hotel rooms, the economy is thriving. Real estate and construction is booming, with the total number of building permits jumping 36 per cent in 2017 over the previous year. It’s local entrepreneurs like Len and Marion Kozier who are making their mark across the province. When Len Kozier started planting grapevines in 2007, he had a vision to do things differently. Within a matter of years, Kozier Organic Vineyard became the first certified organic vineyard on Naramata Bench. While organic vineyards and wineries continue to be rare in B.C., a growing interest in clean eating and
sustainable farming is creating waves, as seen in the rise of new businesses such as Penticton’s Roche Wines. Older wineries are catching on too, with Kelowna’s Mission Hill recently revealing plans to transition its Okanagan vineyards to organic. “There has been more of a shift from conventional to organic grape growing in recent years,” explains David Kozier of Kozier Organic Vineyard, who moved from North Vancouver in 2015 to join the family business. “I was drawn to the vineyard, and it didn’t take long to realize what an amazing place Penticton is to raise a family.” Today, Penticton and Naramata have 44 publicly accessible wineries – up 10 per cent from last year. This represents 16 per cent of the total grape wineries in B.C., based on B.C. wine industry statistics. The entire Okanagan Valley is a $200 million industry totalling more than 240 vineyards, supporting 10,323 wine-related jobs and attracting 500,000 wine tourists a year. Within Penticton, commercial business licences increased by 525 from 2016 to 2017, more than 100 of which were home-based. David Kozier’s wife, Louise Kozier, who is a partner in
2018-04-25 9:29 AM