Did You Know?

The East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook recently underwent a $20 million intensive care unit expansion and electrical system upgrade. Underway is the construction of a new $5.6-million MRI.

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.


"The Kimberley-Cranbrook area is amazing for tourism as we live in one of the most beautiful mountain valleys in the world! Amazing mountains, rivers, lakes, etc., make for endless recreation opportunities. We are in the middle of the Powder Highway, giving us unparalleled access to some of the best skiing in the world. And now it's easier to get here with the new WestJet connections."

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

COBS Bread opens first bakery in Cranbrook

COBS Bread opens first bakery in Cranbrook Canada’s largest bakery franchise, COBS Bread, opened March 28, 2019, on Cranbrook Street North in Cranbrook. This marks COBS Bread’s 113th bakery in Canada. photo courtesy Cranbrook Townsman COBS Bread is wel …

More Info

High levels of overall business satisfaction reported for Kimberley

High levels of overall business satisfaction reported for Kimberley Credit: Province of BC The results of a new Business Retention and Expansion Survey show that business is going well for many entrepreneurs in Kimberley, B.C. A total of 100 business o …

More Info

Experiencing the benefits of collaboration

Experiencing the benefits of collaboration   The Cranbrook-Kimberley Development Initiative (CKDI) is a non-profit society, formed by local business leaders, the mayors and key municipal staff to present the two cities as one economic zone. This i …

More Info