We have a proud 120-year history: Kimberley was started in 1896 and Cranbrook in 1898.
What BC Business reveals about Cranbrook
BC Business magazine recently featured Cranbrook in its BC City Guide 2018. Here’s an excerpt:
“As for opportunity, Cranbrook is constantly hunting to bring in new talent. Its sales pitch, like that from other smaller B.C. communities with an abundance of natural charm, focuses on showcasing its affinity for the outdoors. Although it seems unfair, Cranbrook sees more sunshine than any other city in the province while also being one of its top skiing and snowboarding destinations. The place has been described as an island in a sea of golf courses, too, so whatever your sporting fancy, you can probably find it here.
But there’s also a business angle to the pitch. For example, Cranbrook recently changed its development and permitting processes to expedite approvals. It also reformed procedures for capital construction projects, mandating local competitive bidding instead of automatically handing contracts to bigger companies elsewhere. That’s an important development, given that construction is one of Cranbrook’s biggest employers after the public sector and the College of the Rockies’ main campus. Mining, tourism and agriculture are also key economic drivers.
Then there’s the cost of living. More than half of the city’s residents live in detached houses. No wonder: last year, Cranbrook homes were about $380,000 cheaper than the provincial average.”