The Village of Canal Flats held a town hall meeting on Friday to discuss the community’s future, including steps to foster a reputation as a technology centre.
Mayor Mark Doherty said the village discussed plans to expand the local tech hub.
“They’re asking for areas where they can grow and for us to be a pilot for them to use their technology and get it to market,” said Doherty.
CAO Richard Wayken said they want to grow on the success of their technology centre.
“Technology companies are looking for opportunities. In Canal Flats, we’re offering property rates that are reduced,” said Wayken. “We have our technology centre that offers some lease space.”
Wayken said affordable housing will come alongside economic development.
“We’ll work with the attainable housing projects, which kind of lends themselves to opportunity as we put the health tech centre together,” said Wayken.
Much of Canal Flats’ strategy focuses on health-based technology with 10 companies centring their efforts on mental health, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick was in attendance to speak on behalf of the Columbia Basin Trust.
He said a thorough plan will help the Village apply for grants.
“You get help when you help yourself first, and I’m so impressed with the strategy that Canal Flats has put in place,” said McCormick. “They’re starting to execute on it and I think it’s a model that a lot of small communities can follow.”
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