Cranbrook is the sunniest city in British Columbia, with Kimberley right on its heels. Both communities enjoy over 300 days of sunshine per year.
Tourism & Ecotourism
We love our location and we think you will too, especially when entrepreneurs/outdoor enthusiasts like you are in high demand. Tourism is a booming business in B.C., with an annual revenue stream of $15.7 billion in 2015.
But why our region?
The work is already done for you. Situated in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, our region boasts an impressive array of outdoor activities:
- Hiking
- Mountain biking
- Fly-fishing
- Golfing
- Whitewater rafting and kayaking
- Wildlife sightseeing
- Horseback riding
- Cross-country skiing
- Downhill skiing and snowboarding
- ATVing and snowmobiling
And people know it. With the Canadian Rockies International Airport, not to mention Southern Alberta and the U.S border, just minutes away, we welcome visitors from around the globe. Whether it’s hiking Fisher Peak, fly-fishing on the St. Mary’s or tackling one of 80 downhill ski runs, our outdoor pursuits always leave visitors with a smile. Some never leave and we’re positive that will be you, because like us, you love the outdoors and want to make it your office.
Ted Funston, area manager of Kimberley Alpine Resort and Trickle Creek Golf Resort
Support for your work
Sharing your passion with others is what you do best and you’ll find that our people feel much the same way. Thanks to College of the Rockies, based in Cranbrook, we have a workforce with industry certification in the fields of adventure tourism business operations, mountain skills and recreation management. Most of our workforce grew up here, which means as an employer, you will have access to knowledge and skills that can’t be taught. We are the economic hub of southeastern B.C., but we’re a bit of an anomaly since we have the infrastructure, government and support services of a bigger municipality with the laid-back lifestyle of a small town. In other words, there is everything you need to live, work and play, with none of the rat race.
Ecotourism
If ecotourism is your niche, then you’ve come to the right place. Our region is big on sustainable practices and you’ll find a number of local businesses and farmers, as well as our ʔaq̓am First Nations Community, already striving to raise cultural awareness and do what’s right for the environment. Venture into our backcountry and you’ll see everything from elk, moose and deer to wolves, bears and eagles. Half of the work is already done for you as infrastructure in nearby provincial parks and nature conservancies make it easy to share this pristine part of the world with eco-conscious visitors.
Outdoor recreation is our thing but we also have several other attractions:
- St. Eugene Mission Resort
- Fort Steele Heritage Town
- Canadian Museum of Rail Travel
- Kimberley’s Underground Mining Railway
- Cominco Gardens
- Kimberley Heritage Museum
News in this Sector
Save On Foods investing $12 million in new Kimberley store
Save On Foods investing $12 million in new Kimberley store A ground-breaking ceremony was held on May 31, 2019, for the construction of Kimberley’s new Save On Foods store. Mayor Don McCormick and Save On President Darrell Jones break ground on the new …
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Teamed up for growth
Teamed up for growth In seeking business investors, the Cranbrook-Kimberley Development Initiative (CKDI) faces a competitive market. Most of small-town British Columbia can boast exceptional recreation, affordable living and significantly lower real e …
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Success story: Cranbrook’s Domino’s Pizza
Success story: Cranbrook’s Domino’s Pizza When Louis Nelson first came to Cranbrook in 2016, he didn’t intend to stay longer than the summer. But the self-proclaimed foodie and fan of such things as skiing, golfing and hiking quickly became attached to …
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