August-September 2014 | BusinessWorld | 179
Otherpotential enticements include
convenient access to the Kelowna
International Airport, post-secondary
educational opportunities at either the
University of BritishColumbia's Okanagan
campus or the two campuses of Okanagan
College, and shopping and cultural
offerings in adjacent towns.
About 60 percent of the migration to the
district is from within British Columbia,
Roycroft said, while the remaining 40
percent is arriving from elsewhere in
Canada – typically Alberta. The oil and gas
industry has contributed to population
growth as well, with as many as 500 district
residents – and 10,000 in the valley region
as a whole – making their homes locally in
betweenwork stints near FortMcMurray.
“When it's at 8 percent growth, it's a bit
hairy,”Roycroft said.
“We're at a more stable level now. It's very
exciting, because one of the big areas we're
looking at is economic development. We
like taking a partnership approach with our
developers, so it allows us to advance the
infrastructure that benefits both the
development and the existing residents. If
done right, it can help with our tax base, as
long as we're being careful to avoid sprawl
and these types of things.
“It comes with challenges. But like anything
else, you just have tomanage them.”
