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30 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 0 Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association. In special partnership with BCBusiness. THOMPSON-OKANAGAN ▷ Barriere ▷ Cache Creek ▷ Clearwater ▷ Clinton ▷ Golden ▷ Kamloops ▷ Kelowna ▷ Lytton ▷ Merritt ▷ Oliver ▷ Osoyoos ▷ Peachland ▷ Penticton ▷ Revelstoke ▷ Salmon Arm ▷ Summerland ▷ Vernon SHARE OF B.C. POPULATION 12% Diversity and Momentum SUNNY FORECAST: Quails' Gate Estate Winery (above); Kelowna's lakefront (below left) C ombining well-connected cities and a resource-based hinterland, the Thompson- Okanagan has one of the most balanced and diverse economies in B.C. As the Chartered Professional Accountants of B.C. put it in their Regional Check-Up 2019, "Historically, Thompson- Okanagan's economy has been based on forestry, mining, and agriculture. While these industries remain important, they are now part of a highly diverse economy dominated by service industries that have expanded with the region's population and tourism growth." The construction of the four-lane Coquihalla and Okanagan Connector freeways, along with improved air travel links, in the 1980s and 1990s greatly improved the region's accessibility and trade with surrounding urban centres Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Seattle. This sparked a long-term boom in tourism, population growth and industrial development, as incoming holidaymakers, migrants and companies took advantage of the region's relatively affordable real estate, moderate cost of living, picturesque orchards and wine country and reliably warm, sunny summer weather. Provincial government statistics show that the value of building permits issued for both residential and non-residential projects in this region has tripled since 1995. CITIES RISING That secular trend continues to this day—on a relative basis, the Thompson-0Okanagan enjoyed the strongest employment growth of all B.C. development regions in 2019, with job rolls rising 6.9 percent, Central 1 Credit Union noted in its year-end labour market report. The transformation is especially evident in the region's largest urban centre, Kelowna. The southern Interior continues to attract people, companies and economic activity from a variety of sources TOP: TOURISMKELOWNA .COM/WINES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA & SHAWN TALBOT PHOTOGRAPHY; BOT TOM LEF T: TOURISMKELOWNA .COM