Way of life and affordability serving to drive development in Penticton, B.C.

Nestled between two lakes within the southern Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Penticton has traditionally been a tourism hotspot and a well-liked place to retire. While that is still true, town is more and more changing into a everlasting dwelling for younger professionals, households and entrepreneurs. Penticton is rising, experiencing strong improvement and changing into extra numerous.

Penticton was ranked No. 9 in The Globe and Mail rankings of Canada’s 100 most livable cities in 2024. The evaluation of essentially the most fascinating locations to reside within the nation additionally ranked town the No. 1 most livable metropolis for younger professionals and No. 1 for midlife transitions.

In addition, Penticton ranked the third most livable metropolis for newcomers, fifth for retirement and seventh for elevating youngsters.

“It’s wonderful to see our community recognized as a top destination for young professionals,” says Mayor Julius Bloomfield. “All the work we’ve been doing to attract and welcome skilled workers and business leaders is paying off, and it’s exciting to see Penticton celebrated among the country’s top cities.”

Mild temperatures, a mean of two,100 hours of sunshine per yr and entry to high-quality outside actions by 4 seasons – these are a few of the attributes of town that appeal to vacationers and residents alike.

“People want to live in Penticton because of the lifestyle it offers, and the true crown jewel of that lifestyle is the outdoors,” Mr. Bloomfield says. “We hear from the younger families moving here that they want to give that quality of life to their kids. They want to see their children spending their summers on the beaches alongside the Okanagan and Skaha Lakes and their winters on the hills of the Apex Mountain Ski Resort.”

Other points of interest embrace the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, used year-round for strolling, climbing and mountain biking; almost 90 wineries inside a 20-minute drive of town; a vibrant craft beer and cider scene; the Nickel Plate Nordic Centre; and world-class mountaineering.

More than 100 festivals and occasions are held yearly in Penticton, together with the showcase Peach Festival, which affords 5 days of free actions every August.

Affordability and the compact nature of Penticton

Shelby Alexander moved to Penticton from Metro Vancouver in 2017 for a brand new job. She and her husband are actually elevating two younger sons and are thrilled with many elements of their life in a smaller metropolis.

Among the promoting factors are affordability and the tip of lengthy commutes to work.

“Last year, we were able to buy a spacious single-family home, something that would be far out of reach for us in Vancouver,” says Ms. Alexander. “That kind of affordability takes so much financial pressure off families and allows you to actually enjoy life.”

At one level whereas residing within the Vancouver space, each she and her husband had been driving over an hour to and from work every weekday. “Everything in Penticton is within a 10-minute drive – work, child care, groceries and recreation. We’ve gained back about two hours a day, and I can’t overstate how much that impacts your mental health, relationships and overall well-being.”

Her household’s expertise is a standard one. According to information collected by town, the most important group of residents who moved to Penticton in 2024 got here from Metro Vancouver, with the vast majority of them shopping for a home. Among this group, 80 per cent moved to town for a extra reasonably priced life-style. Penticton can be seeing extra new residents coming from Alberta.

The metropolis additionally has unbelievable assets for younger households, Ms. Alexander provides. She highlights the supply of wonderful prenatal and postnatal care, rising baby care choices, the robust native mother and child group, and the abundance of family-friendly actions.

Entrepreneurship and distant working

As extra individuals transfer to Penticton, they’re beginning new companies and enriching the native economic system. More than 3,600 companies are serving town and the bigger area, and infrastructure improvement is intensifying – with current main initiatives together with upgrades to Penticton Hospital, Penticton Airport and all through the downtown core. Housing development is strong, with the five-year common for brand new housing begins at roughly 330 models per yr.

“Businesses want to be located here because there are great workers, engineers and other professionals,” says Blake Laven, director of improvement companies for Penticton. “And we have a strong entrepreneurial spirit here, with people drawn to the lifestyle and community excited to contribute their skills to starting businesses that will further strengthen the city.”

A class that continues to develop within the metropolis is distant employees. “We have invested in top-quality infrastructure to support remote workers including creating co-working spaces, allowing people to get out of their homes and expand their networks,” says Mr. Laven.

Advertising function produced by Randall Anthony Communications. The Globe’s editorial division was not concerned.