Regional District of North Okanagan, British Columbia

A regional growth strategy is vital for a District with 11 municipalities and electoral areas under its purview. The RDNO was allotted provincial funding six years ago for the strategy process and brought it together very quickly. Because the region is based so highly on community, it was easy to come to a consensus on how to use agricultural land, how to use business land, and how to use commercial land. Top priorities for the future were identified in the areas of economics, the environment, and agriculture, and the rail trail and paddling trail fit in well with that strategy for growth. The current population of the RDNO is roughly 89,000, split about 20% living in electoral areas and 80% living in municipalities. The City of Vernon is the largest with about 40,000 people. In terms of overall future growth, Acton explains, “At this point, protecting farmland and helping young farmers in this region create a more sustainable and food-rich economy is what we’ve been working towards; how small farms can make a go of it financially by having agri-tourism on their properties, and we’re working through that process with the provincial government. We’re always looking for clean developments and green initiatives. The City of Vernon has an economic development office that works with entrepreneurs, and they have international programs bringing in people from other countries with expertise and unique ideas with regard to farming. We always want to grow those sectors. As Mayor of Lumby, we are working with the province on forming an Economic Development Corporation. And we are partners with the Splatsin First Nation on a community forest that does well for both of our communities.” The RDNO is located on the traditional territories of the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) and the Splatsin First Nations. “We look for ways to partner with our neighbours and help each other out,” says Acton. “When we built the new boardroom for the Regional District, we added two chairs at the table for the First Nations, so we can include them at the table in the Courtesy of Steve Austin Courtesy of Sandy Edwards