Investing in BC's Thompson/Okanagan Region

Located in the interior of B.C., the Thompson-Okanagan region is a popular tourist destination. This area is renowned for its sunny climate, beautiful landscapes and relaxed lifestyle. Its diverse economy is based on agriculture, the service sector, logging and manufacturing.

The region stretches from Princeton in the west to the Alberta border in the east, and from the Washington state border in the south up to Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains in the north.

This is an area of remarkable geographical diversity. Towards the south, you will find Canada's only desert. The area is also home to mountains, lakes and rivers. Its many fertile valleys grow fruit, vegetables and the grapes used to make the region's award-winning wines. Thompson-Okanagan often receives more than 2,000 hours of sunshine each year, making it one of the sunniest areas in the province.

The region's economy was initially built on the gold rush and the fur trade, and it has always been a significant trade route. Agriculture, ranching, mining, logging and manufacturing are also important industries.

The B.C. government forecasts an annual employment growth rate of 0.7 percent in Thompson-Okanagan to 2022. It is expected that there will be 98,300 job openings over the 10-year period. The top employment growth industry is Health-related Occupations.