Local construction still going strong, despite pandemic

Jun 26, 2020 | 5:50 AM

Local political leaders say the Covid pandemic has had a negative impact on many things, but construction is not one of them.

Speaking at a state of the region online forum put on by the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce, Regional District of North Okanagan chair Kevin Acton said their building permits are up 18 per cent over last year at this point.

“So whether it’s just people staying home and getting more projects done around their houses, or whether — and we see this especially in the Vernon area — there is a lot of new housing starts,” said Acton.

Vernon mayor Victor Cumming says they are seeing no drop-off.

“We have business permits going out the door at pace with last year, and last year was one of the top five years ever for Vernon,” said Cumming.

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Coldstream mayor Jim Garlick says their permit staff have also been busy.

“Our building permits have exceeded last year’s in value. We have a significant amount of building near Kalamalka Lake.”

The chief of the Okanagan Indian Band says one of the biggest impacts of the pandemic on his community has been fewer people using the recreational lots on the reserve.

Byron Louis told the online forum, they have 37 kilometres of lakefront property, and band members have seen the revenue generated by those affected.

He says the restrictions on travel have led to fewer visitors to the leased properties.

“So its been tough,” said Louis, who admitted being holed up at home, has kept him busy taking calls.

“Everybody knows where I am now, and it seems now I’m more busy than I’ve ever been,” Louis said with a laugh.

Louis says the pandemic has also made the band think about how they operate and how important their relationship is with the rest of the region.

by Pete McIntyre

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