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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1490198
38 BCBUSINESS.CA JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 are in the process of opening a dedicated tourism centre on the property, as well as introducing overnight tourist accommoda- tions and a tasting room at Garnet Valley Ranch. "We've put some campsites in spots and we have an Airstream that we'll be able to offer to people," Coletta notes. As owners of a longstanding wine tour- ism destination, the pair is hopeful about the industry's future in the area after a few rocky years of navigating through the pandemic. "It was fraught with anxiety for the last couple of years as people were either very, very sensitive or a little brazen in terms of public health—we had all sorts of people and had to balance out the needs and attitudes of many," says Coletta. But, she adds, Summerland's caring resi- dents have helped carry local businesses— and each other—through the tough times. "The level of generosity and polite- ness that prevails in Summerland really shined through," Coletta explains. "People were sharing, and giving elderly people their place in line to get them through lengthy checkouts, and just all of the social kindness that small towns are famous for." While a rebound in tourism is a safe long-term bet following the lows of the pan- demic, housing and labour remain areas of concern in Summerland—repeating an all-too-common refrain that is being heard across the province. According to Parsons, the two issues are directly linked, and both are becoming a particularly acute issue in smaller com- munities like Summerland, where COVID- induced demand and an already limited housing stock have led to rapidly rising costs and few options for prospec- tive residents and employees. "We have a lot of employees that are going to bigger communities where there's more housing stock availability and lower rent," Parsons says. She further notes that it's easier for people to find housing in nearby Penticton, where they also tend to make more money and can commute a shorter distance, providing additional sav- ings on gas costs. Given that most of the Summerland area is protected from development within the ALR, the municipality is facing a much more daunting undertaking to build its way out of this housing supply crisis. Crush Pad's Coletta says there have been some recent moves to help address the issue, such as the Agricultural Land Commission allow- ing secondary residences within the ALR, 2022 RANK 2021 RANK COMMUNITY FIVE-YEAR POPULATION GROWTH (10% WEIGHT) HOUSEHOLD FINANCIAL VULNERABILITY (15%) RESIDENT SENSE OF BELONGING (5%) RESIDENTIAL GHG EMISSIONS PER 10,000 POPULATION (5%) 35 42 NELSON 4.8% 99 82 16,771 36 11 DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER 3.5% 94 103 13,949 37 40 CRANBROOK 2.5% 104 88 17,896 38 21 RICHMOND 6.3% 101 90 10,110 39 28 KAMLOOPS 8.2% 100 86 13,966 40 41 POWELL RIVER 5.1% 100 90 13,331 41 45 WILLIAMS LAKE 1.8% 106 85 19,851 42 34 PITT MEADOWS 3.4% 98 93 11,971 43 33 SURREY 8.4% 108 92 11,961 44 43 PRINCE GEORGE 4.0% 107 83 18,859 45 48 FORT ST. JOHN 5.4% 98 76 18,963 46 44 TERRACE 3.2% 97 87 12,798 47 47 PRINCE RUPERT 1.0% 112 84 10,338 48 46 PORT ALBERNI 3.7% 117 85 15,384 49 50 DAWSON CREEK 0.8% 104 81 23,622 50 49 QUESNEL 0.3% 112 83 23,187 BEST CITIES FOR WORK IN B.C.