Vernon Among Growth Leaders

Vernon was the second fastest growing community in the Thompson- Okanagan last year.

The latest estimates from the province (BC Statistics: as of July 1, 2016) show population growth in the city of 1.6% to 41,671, second to West Kelowna’s 2.7%.

Vernon’s Economic development manager Kevin Poole says it was a different story for surrounding communities.

“The communities around Vernon, a lot of them shrunk. Besides Coldstream, they all did,” says Poole.

Poole says Vernon was at 3.4% growth last year.

“So it was down from last year, but it’s still strong numbers.”

Lake Country — which was the fastest growing two years running –slowed a bit, with growth of 0.9 percent.

Coldstream was up 0.6% to 10,938.

Spallumcheen was down 0.3%, Armstrong by 2.1%, Enderby 1.3% and Lumby by 0.3%.

“The North Okanagan as a whole is up by 0.4%, driven by Vernon and Coldstream while the rest suffered declines,” adds Poole.

BC grew by 1.2% to 4,751, 612.

Photo: City of Vernon Economic Development and Tourism manager Kevin Poole.