Thompson-Okanagan, British Columbia
The Thompson-Okanagan region spans British Columbia’s southern interior and serves as a strategic economic hub with strong transportation links to Metro Vancouver, Northern B.C., and Alberta. Its diverse geography—ranging from desert landscapes to mountain ranges, lakes, and rivers—includes agricultural valleys that support livestock, tree fruit, vegetable, grain, flower, and premium wine grape production. This fertile environment fuels both domestic and international markets, making the region a key contributor to B.C.’s food production and export economy.
The region’s economy is highly diversified, anchored by health care and social services, manufacturing, tourism, accommodation, technology, agriculture, ranching, mining, and forestry. It offers a balanced mix of export driven industries, service-based sectors, and knowledge focused enterprises, enabling scalable investment across primary, secondary, and tertiary markets. Fast-growing industries—including ICT, film and digital media, clean energy, viticulture, aviation, and health care—create opportunities for investors in advanced manufacturing, agritech, cleantech, and specialized professional services.
Regional Advantages
Tech & Innovation Ecosystem
With over 700 tech companies employing over 12,000 people, and annual revenues surpassing $1.7 billion, technology thrives in the Thompson-Okanagan. The region’s tech ecosystem is anchored by world-class post-secondary institutions, incubators, and accelerators that support software development, digital media, cleantech, and applied research, creating a competitive environment for startups, scale-ups, and corporate innovation centres.
Viticulture, Agri-Tech & Value-Added Food Processing
The Thompson-Okanagan, its sub-regions, climates, and soil conditions are suited to growing a range of grape varietals and supports a thriving viticulture and oenology industry with over 240 wineries and 10,300 related jobs. This established cluster provides a powerful base for investment in value-added food and beverage processing, agri-tech, cold-chain logistics, and export-oriented premium food and beverage products.
Talent Attraction & Quality of Life
With over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually, the region features four distinct seasons to enjoy everything from skiing, snowmobiling, golfing, cycling, hiking, camping, and boating. The region’s climate and four-season recreational amenities support talent attraction and retention, helping employers recruit and retain skilled workers in all sectors and services.
Regional Growth & Air Connectivity
Kelowna is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada, the third largest census metropolitan area in B.C., with the 10th busiest airport in Canada facilitating connections both domestic and internationally. Kelowna International Airport (YLW) provides direct air links that support executive travel, cargo movement, just-in-time supply chains, and YLW features sophisticated aviation Maintenance, Repair, and Operation services, positioning the region as a competitive base for export-focused and multi-market operations.
Key Sectors
Economic Advantages
Kamloops
It is the third largest city in British Columbia outside the Lower Mainland and the transportation hub of BC’s southern interior. The City and surrounding area offers an abundance of economic, social and lifestyle assets.
Vernon
A casual lifestyle matched with spectacular outdoor recreation opportunities has led Vernon to become one of the most diversified communities in BC. Serving a regional population of over 100,000, the community is surrounded by three lakes and is well known for its hot summers and mild winters, which has attracted businesses and residents from across the globe. As one of the fastest growing communities in BC, Vernon is seeing strong employment growth in our professional services sector, the traditional resource sectors of forestry and agriculture, as well as the tourism, technology, manufacturing and service sectors.
Kelowna
Kelowna and the Central Okanagan is the largest trading centre between greater Vancouver and Alberta. The Okanagan has a diverse economy with prime industry sectors including agriculture, tourism, retail trade, manufacturing, forestry and construction. Key growth industries for the Valley include information and high technology, film, viticulture and wine production as well as aviation and health care. With much in the way of available business resources, the Valley is an ideal destination for business start-ups, expansion and relocation. The Okanagan has become a prime destination for residential and small business relocations due to the exceptionally moderate climate, strong transportation, trained labour force and availability of diverse recreational opportunities.
Penticton
With opportunities across industries as diverse as construction, winemaking, custom manufacturing, precision agriculture, tech and tourism, Penticton offers something for everyone. The City is continually recognized as one of the most entrepreneurial cities in Canada, with low municipal taxes and a business-friendly climate. Our residents and bussiness community value our local regional airport flying daily to Calgary & Vancouver, the robust reliable infrastructure, the high speed of fibre internet connections and of course the lifestyle of living in a small centre in the heart of wine country.
Communities
Kelowna, Vernon, and Kamloops are all key cities that contribute to the region’s population of 666,712 people. Well serviced by multiple transportation networks to the Lower Mainland, northern B.C. and Alberta, the Thompson-Okanagan is well located for investment in any sector. Highway, air, and marine transportation networks enable efficient access to local, Western Canadian, the Pacific Northwest, and international markets.
The CNR railways boasts its “Three Coast Network” and the CPKC railway links Canada, the US and Mexico. The Thompson-Okanagan’s warm climate, rich soils, and generous sunshine make it an important agricultural centre for the province and a major producer of livestock and high-value crops, supporting food processing, logistics, and agri-tech investment.
Regional Labour Force ProfileEconomic Development Organizations
- City of Penticton
- City of Vernon
- Venture Kamloops
- Central Okanagan Economic Development
- Village of Ashcroft
- Town of Osoyoos
- Salmon Arm Economic Development Society
- City of West Kelowna
- District of Clearwater
- City of Merritt
- Shuswap Economic Development
- District of Sicamous Development Corporation
- Town of Princeton
First Nations
Indigenous Peoples created and managed the first trade networks and economies in what would one day become British Columbia. Today, First Nations Development Corporations—whether run collectively by aligned First Nations, or by individual First Nations—are the primary vehicles by which First Nations pursue and advocate for sustainable economic development in the region.
These Development Corporations provide structured, experienced, long-term partners for investors looking to develop joint ventures, make impactful investments, or develop projects aligned with Indigenous rights, community employment, and environmental stewardship. Emerging opportunities include Indigenous-led partnerships in natural resources (forestry and mining), clean energy (wind, solar and hydrogen), tourism (resort development), infrastructure, and real estate development (residential, commercial, industrial).
Learn more about First Nations in BCEconomic Development Organizations
Logistics & Accessibility
Educational Institutions
The University of British Columbia has a campus located in Kelowna, providing science, grad studies, engineering and applied science, and other valuable programs to the local community.
Okanagan College is the region’s largest higher education institution. Offerings range from bachelor’s degrees to diplomas, trades, vocational training, professional development, corporate training and adult basic education.
Located in Kamloops, Thompson Rivers University’s main campus offers over 140 on-campus programs and 60-plus Open Learning programs, from traditional academics to trades, from certificates to graduate degrees.
Connect With a Regional Expert
Regional experts can help familiarize you with the amenities, infrastructure, and opportunities in each region. They can introduce you to the economic development offices and industry associations that will support the integration of your business into the province.