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EMERGING
INDUSTRIES
Advanced Technology
The advanced technology industry sector is growing rapidly throughout
the Okanagan Valley. According to a 2003 High Tech
Study through the Economic Development Commission of the Central Okanagan and the Okanagan Science & Technology
Council, there is more high tech business start up activity now
than in the past few years.
In addition, the 2003 study stated there are over 200 high-technology
firms in the Okanagan
Valley with
a total estimated revenue of $203 million. The major high-technology
sectors represented are: information technology, engineering services,
aerospace, biotechnology, and technology support services. In
addition there is an established R&D community. The technology
sector in the Okanagan Valley is relatively young with most
firms less than seven years old, and the businesses are predominantly
smaller companies.
The outlook for the high-technology industry sector is extremely
positive. A major advantage for the technology industry is the
availability of the infrastructure and resources to assist in
the start-up and growth of businesses.
The British Columbia government is assisting the advanced technology
industry sector by providing:
The concentration of high-technology firms in
the Okanagan
Valley has reached a stage that fosters
the development of advanced infrastructure, financing and capital,
programs for research, ongoing education, and networking opportunities.
In response to this growth, the Silicon Vineyard and Okanagan
Science and Technology Council were established to encourage
future growth, support the development of advanced technology
infrastructure, and provide a forum for high-technology businesses
to network.
It is the quality of life associated with the Okanagan Valley
that plays a significant factor in attracting and retaining skilled
workers. In addition, Agriculture Canada
and Agri-Food Canada
operate a research station in Summerland (just south of the North Okanagan region) which houses extensive lab capabilities,
biotechnology skills, and food processing pilot facilities, and
offers companies significant services.
Thompson Rivers University/University College of the Cariboo (UCC)
located in Kamloops, BC
(approximately one-hour drive north of the North
Okanagan), also supports an Advanced Technology Centre.
This Advanced Technology Centre is an innovative business centre
providing programs that will assist people in areas of business
such as the start-up of small companies, assisting existing businesses
with technological information and market competitiveness, and
providing advice on technological upgrades or technology transfers
over industries.
The BC government has revamped labour regulations to aid high-tech
growth, and new standards will assist to improve workplace flexibility.
Specific changes include exemptions from requirements regarding
hours of work, overtime and statutory holidays.
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Film
The film industry in British
Columbia has experienced exceptional growth
over the past years. In 1998, $808 million was spent in BC by
film production companies on 171 productions.
In 2003, the film and television industry spend over $1.4
billion on 169 productions in BC.
Over 30,000 BC residents rely on the industry for their
livelihood.
During this time the Okanagan Valley
has become known as an established film production location. Movies
such as "Snow Falling On Cedars", "Touched",
"By Dawn's First Light", scenes from "The Pledge",
as well as Spielberg produced mini-series like "Taken"
and dozens of commercials have shot in this sunny valley. Once
a guarded secret, the region's stunning scenery and fabulous weather
have been discovered and shot by filmmakers from around the globe.
Deserts, mountain lakes, lush orchards and vineyards, stark canyons,
quaint small towns, pastoral countryside, ski villages and more,
are available as locations for filming.
The North Okanagan community
supports the film industry through the Okanagan
Film Commission. The Okanagan Film Commission provides valuable
resources and connections to the film industry, including a locations
library with over 750 locations, and a crew membership database.
The region has tremendous potential for the film industry, and
growth in this sector is expected to be continuous throughout
the next five years. The film industry offers the region many
advantages besides the direct dollars expended by film companies.
The spin-off economy from film productions in the region generates
demand for new service industries and provides an increase in
business for existing services and products.
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Aviation
In recent years significant changes have occurred, both in the
aviation industry and in the North Okanagan
community. Examples of changing standards and trends in the aviation
industry include major modifications of Transport Canada Aviation
airport design criteria, a national increase in the number of
personal-use general aviation aircraft owners, an increase in
the number of maintenance facilities, and growth in corporate
charters and air cargo operations. The structure of the commercial
industry has changed with the transition of major airline hub-and-spoke
operations and code-sharing regional carriers, and the growth
of no-frills operators such as West-Jet and its imitators.
In the North Okanagan, the Vernon Regional Airport
is located on approximately 90 acres at an elevation of 1,149'
above sea level. The Vernon
Regional Airport
is a commercial airport that houses industrial-based businesses
that focus on aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, as well
as a base for corporate, commercial and general aviation.
The Vernon
Regional Airport
has developed a Master Plan to encourage economic development
of businesses at the airport. The facilities are divided into
two groups: airfield and land-side. The airfield facilities include
runways, taxiways, airport lighting, hazard beacon and navigational
aid. The land-side facilities consist of buildings, aircraft parking
aprons, hangars, and auto parking spaces. The site provides a
prime area for small aviation industries seeking an environment
that supports development in the aerospace industry.
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Manufacturing
In 2002 there were close to 300 firms reporting in 2002 that covered
over 100 different types of products.
The largest manufacturers in the North Okanagan include: Tolko
Industries and Riverside Forest Products (large integrated sawmills),
Owens - Illinois (glass container
plant), Kal Tire Ltd. (retreading), and Maax Westco Ltd. (fibreglassing).
The manufacturing sector generally consists of small and medium
firms and covers areas such as soft drinks, bakeries, metal fabricating,
concrete products, fibreglass, glass products, food processing,
value-added wood products, and textiles.
The decline in traditional forest industries has required that
the North Okanagan Region encourage and support the development
of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in value-added products,
including log house building, specialized milling, furniture production,
etc. The Interior Value-Added Wood Association provides services
to assist businesses in product development, accessing capital,
accessing fibre and generally lobbying for the industry. The Association
has a listing of companies involved in value-added at www.woodinfo.net/sites/ivawa/members.htm.
While there is not a large amount of heavy industrial land available
in the North Okanagan, there
are considerable resources available for smaller light industrial
activity. Small manufacturers have considerable success in the
North Okanagan due to low lease
costs, access to transportation infrastructure, and low labour
costs.
View the Business Database from the Home Page for a complete listing
of the manufacturers in the North Okanagan.
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Tourism
Tourism plays a significant role in the economy of British
Columbia and in the North Okanagan.
For all of BC, approximately 22.4 million tourists visited the
province and added $9.2 billion to the BC economy according to
the most recent census. The tragic events of September 11th,
2001 had a significant impact on BC’s tourism industry creating
a decline in the annual visitation and revenue for the first time
in decade.
The North Okanagan region attracts visitors from all parts of
BC, Canada, as well as internationally, and tourism
generates approximately $835 million in the Okanagan Valley
annually. Accommodations and other facilities and services have
multiplied rapidly over the past ten years to meet the needs of
tourists and to offer unique and special tourist services. The
North Okanagan's assets are those common to the entire Okanagan
Valley: warm
dry climate, stunning lakes, world-class golf courses, excellent
fishing lakes, developed ski resorts, and beautiful scenery.
Eco-tourism, adventure tourism and agri-tourism have shown major
growth in the tourism industry. New ventures in outdoor recreation,
nature excursions, winery tours, and many other innovative and
exciting ventures have started in the North
Okanagan. The region's climate, scenery and culture
offer many developmental opportunities for new and exciting adventure/eco-/agri-tourist
businesses. Contact Vernon
Tourism for more information.
In the accommodation, food and beverage sector there are approximately
222 businesses. Competition in this sector is intense for both
customers and staff, however, demand for services continues to
increase.
| Tourist Room Revenue - North Okanagan |
| 1998 |
$13,226,000 |
| 1999 |
$15,232,000 |
| 2000 |
$16,452,000 |
| 2001 |
$16,269,000 |
| 2002 |
$18,805,000 |
Source:
BC Stats Census
| Room Revenue by Accommodation
2001 |
| Hotel |
$10,792,000 |
|
| Motel |
$3,545,000 |
|
| Vacation rental |
$3,545,000 |
|
Source:
BC Stats Census, 2001
- The Okanagan is currently
ranked third in the province in terms of the value of tourism
revenue generated annually.
- 53% of visitors come in
the summertime, 20% in the autumn, 18% in the spring and 10%
in the winter.
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Health
As the population ages and the "prevention" concept
expands there will be an increasing need for health services.
However, how the work is done and who will do it will change.
The changing economic climate, rapid technological advances, and
restructuring efforts will all contribute to this different way
of doing business. Besides typical public sector jobs associated
with health, there are many opportunities in the private sector
part of the BC health care industry. This area is made up of companies
that make and sell medical devices, equipment and supplies, health
informatics, tele-health, pharmaceuticals and other bio-technology
health products.
The industry is made up of public sector organizations, specialized
private sector companies and industry associations. In addition,
between the public and private sectors there are many organizations
that provide a service to the industry such as coordination, promotion,
training and education, research and other related services. Like
so many other parts of the economy, the health sector is undergoing
major changes in its structure. Overall, total employment is expected
to increase faster than the rest of the economy, although there
will be variations by occupation.
The nature of work done in health and social services will continue
to change as new methods are used to deliver care. A demonstration
of this change is hospitals, which have had the slowest growth
rate of any part of the health industry. They are still growing,
but their share of the total is decreasing.
According to the Statistics Canada Census information,
5.8 % of the experienced labour force in the North
Okanagan is working in health related employment.
Controlling health care spending is a top priority in BC. With
the prospect of explosive growth in the older population needing
care, how will costs be held down? The answer to that question
suggests which health occupations offer the best prospects in
the years ahead. The emphasis on outpatient care has already spurred
demand for home health and rehabilitation personnel, especially
in the private sector.
Self-employment is most common among physicians, dentists, psychologists
and other professionals - but this is changing. Growth of self-employment
is expanding to almost all occupational areas in this field. Innovative,
creative niche markets are developing throughout the Okanagan.
Those that can serve the home-care market are doing well. Registered
nurses are finding that almost everything they do can be done
on a contract basis. Other examples are dental hygienists, any
"alternative" therapy, and sales - such as "Home
Orthopedic Services".
The scope of Health Technology is not yet known. An extensive
telecommunications network and excellent research and development
capabilities are advancing the province's technology, delivery
and software applications. With these changes it is reasonable
to expect that some new methods will be used to deliver health
services.
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