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Columbia Valley Update

Invermere on the Lake, a lakeside resort community with a population of 3,000, is the economic centre of the Columbia Valley. The Columbia Valley includes Canal Flats, Fairmont Hot Springs, Windermere, Radium Hot Springs and Edgewater. Located in a unique setting, nestled between the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Purcell's to the west, Invermere BC is host to an extensive palette of four-season recreational activities and business services.

BC Stats estimates Invermere's 2006 permanent population at 3,002, with an area population of 9,702. The Columbia Valley however has a large "shadow" population that explodes up to 30,000.

Employment in the valley has been predominately in the construction industry as investors have aggressively developed housing for recreational owners.  Other employment exists to support the large increase in the seasonal population and includes retail, accommodation and food services, health services and arts and entertainment.   Jobs are seasonal, frequently part time and permanent citizens find it difficult to maintain full time sustainable employment. 

April 2010

HST discussions are a hot item in the community.  In Early April, former Premier of BC Bill Vander Zalm spoke to a group of local residents at Gerry's Gelati in Invermere - he was here as part of a cross-province tour to gain support against the upcoming new HST. The campaign in our region has been very successful as 20% of eligible voters have signed the petition against the new tax. The consensus: Small business owners, in a tourist driven seasonal economy believe that this tax is detrimental and will have a real impact when our Alta tourists cross the border and find themselves paying an additional 7% for a cup of coffee or ice cream cone.

With an aim to encourage businesses to provide employment opportunities this summer, Columbia Basin Trust launched a 2010 Summer Works Program, a Basin wide wage subsidy for small business and social enterprise to create up to 100 summer student jobs in the region. At this point, we have connected with one successful business owner who is receiving the subsidy and already had a summer student on tap!!! We are hopeful that we will hear more of these success stories in the coming weeks.

The Windermere Fire Hall project is now complete.

This news is a boost for the valley - The Valley Shine Shop has expanded and taken on a new partner. This auto body shop has been restoring vehicles for nine years and just recently, the decision was made to expand the services to include bodywork. The Shine Shop doesn't just stick to cars and trucks. Boats can also be polished and have fibreglass work done on them.

Several local restaurant owners have indicated that business has been very slow over the winter months, down considerably from last year, and they are on "Stand By"   for hiring summer staff because of the uncertainty.  They are hoping the turnaround will come May long weekend and that the summer will bring the tourists in for business. With the Canfor Mill being closed, a significant number of locals are not eating out as much as they have in the past. Even so, a pair of local restaurant veterans is taking a stab at the industry and has joined forces to bring some home-style fare to the valley. The new owners are taking over the Skookum Inn Restaurant on Highway 93/95 and are extremely optimistic about their future. They say they have new ideas and will offer prices aimed to entice local diners.

Several local realtors have indicated that real estate business is moving forward in terms of inquiries and there are a number of new for sale signs visible in the community. Actual transactions are still few in number at this point.  Although the Kootenay Real Estate Board released information that multiple listing service in the Kootenay region has risen 71% in the first quarter of 2010 compared to last year, the local information for the Columbia Valley supports the fact that the movement in sales in due to "forced sells."

From the developer's perspective, an Invermere auction that was called a success last October is going forward for another go round in mid May.  Lake Windermere Point is auctioning off 40 condos via the auction block. The developers feel that some of the economic fundamentals are coming back together again. And they are hoping to duplicate the success story of last October.

The District of Invermere has advised that they have certainly seen a slowdown in construction, with less discussion and progress on existing developments. In the new developments, low end units are the featured items for sale.

In mid April, after a less than stellar year for the economy, some local businesses still managed to come out on top as the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce held their Business Excellence Awards and honoured various individuals and businesses in the various categories.

The Valley's golf season is in full swing - all 15 courses are open for business and reports are in that there are golfers hitting the links  and taking advantage of the hit and miss nice weather.

In Radium, the expanded Sinclair Creel Trails were opened this month. The 2.4 trail system, around the village and along Sinclair Canyon, received an upgrade in 2009 thanks to funding from the federal Economic Action Plan, the Nation Trails Coalition and Rotary Club of Radium Hot Springs. This project created 90 days of employment for local contractors during the economic slowdown.

In Canal Flats - bad news......the Home Hardware store officially closed its doors this month. It was a necessary move, according to owner Al Miller, because operating costs were higher than profits. The 1800 square foot store opened in 2001 and was staffed with two employees year round, who have now lost their jobs. During the busiest times, four people were employed but the overhead costs simply proved to be too much. Canal Flats Mayor Woodbury said he is sorry to see the store close and the community of 750 will feel the loss.

JDL Construction, the contractors hired by the new owners - Rohit group - of Copper Point, report that they are making progress and are looking forward to a completion date in December 2010. They have hired approximately ten labourers and carpenters to complete their preliminary short term work - now completed - but have now contracted the specialty work to various contractors, several of them being local. They are trying very hard to put dollars back into the community but best business practices prevail and outside contractors have won the bid in some cases.

March 2010

It has been a tough winter for many people in the Columbia Valley but HOPE is in the air for a successful summer season. This is the message I have consistently heard from the employers in the valley!!! Some employers have shared that they are waiting for the right signs of "tourist traffic" before hiring additional staff while others - particularly the Golf Courses and Resorts - have had to move full steam ahead in preparation for the summer activity.

Eagle Ranch Golf Course, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, Riverside Golf Course, the Springs Golf Resort, Radium Hot Springs - our larger resort employers across the valley have indicated that they have virtually hired all staff in anticipation for the summer season.

Panorama Mountain Village has successfully completed the acquisition from Intra west and is ready to begin developing Panorama into one of the best family focused mountains resorts in Canada. Cranbrook based President and Chief Executive Officer, Rick Jensen says that the new owners have vast experience in resort and property development and will work with all stakeholders to bring renewed energy to the mountain resort.  Panorama is one of the largest employers in the EK region and we are delighted to have local ownership and look forward to the possibilities and passion that new local ownership will bring to the resort. The Human Resource department is busy recruiting for the 3 month summer season which has a start date of June.

It appears that there are several new developments on deck in the valley which will be a great lift for the community by providing construction jobs. One of these is the Instautor Group.  Officials of the group met with Radium Hot Springs council to discuss the possibility of a new development on the north east corner of the Springs Golf Course. This group is well known in Radium Hot Springs and is responsible for the construction of the 425 condominiums in the past seven years.

More than $80,000 will be allocated to projects this year after the RDEK board approved the first round of funding by the newly established Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund. The Columbia Valley became the first community in Canada to adopt a comprehensive conservation fund tax, $20 per parcel dedicated to support conservation projects in the valley. The project shows eight important initiatives won green light approval, demonstrating the community conservation spirit, vision and commitment.

The Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena has closed its door this month as a major upgrade project gets underway. The arena is a central activity centre and fills such an important role in the community and is utilized by many groups. We look forward to seeing the finished product!