City growth
New developments are moving Castlegar forward
Castlegar’s EDO, Phil Markin, is pleased by the city’s growth. —Doug Pyper
According to Castlegar’s EDO, Phil Markin, Castlegar’s prospects are better than they’ve ever been. “I would think that we’re going in a very positive direction,” said Markin. “We’ve got a number of subdivisions in the works—some of which the infrastructure is already complete. The one I’m speaking about is Grandview Heights seniors housing development; it will be done over three phases with ultimately 257 units. (There is) the Twin River Estates development as well: Phase 1 infrastructure is proceeding and the ultimate development out of that will be 110 lots.” Markin said other real estate developments are currently in the planning and early construction phases; as well, new retail developments are occuring in the city. And while Castlegar showed a slight decrease in population in the latest census, Markin believes that trend is changing. “We’re certainly seeing an increase in the number of building permits,” said Markin. “The Grandview Heights have already applied for 34 single-family dwelling permits. We normally average around 25 housing starts around here, so something’s happening.” Markin said the number of business licences issued has increased over the last year as well. Castlegar’s greatest appeal may be its geographical location and available recreational opportunities, according to Markin. “I think we’re being looked at more as a central municipality between Calgary and Vancouve,” said Markin. “We’re 3 1/2 hours away from Kelowna, we’re three hours from Spokane, so we’re quite central. We’ve got the Selkirk College here, which is a good draw. We’ve got the regional airport. I’ve been here all of my life and I just love it. I’m quite positive about the direction Castlegar is going.”
Key Castlegar contacts
Castlegar, BC
Save power, reap rewards
FortisBC is committed to providing safe, reliable electrical service at the lowest reasonable cost. The company serves approximately 110,000 customers directly in communities throughout south central British Columbia, including Kelowna, Osoyoos, Trail, Castlegar, Princeton and Rossland—and approximately 47,500 customers through the wholesale supply of power to municipal distributors in the communities of Summerland, Penticton, Kelowna, Grand Forks and Nelson.
FortisBC provides services such as:
• Generating and distributing electricity to homes and businesses in the southern interior of British Columbia
• 24-hour outage repair and emergency response
• Building, maintaining and upgrading power lines and facilities
• Installing and reading meters
• Providing electrical safety education in the community
Castlegar, BC
A legacy for the people
Created by the people, for the people, Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) serves the residents of the Canadian portion of the Columbia River Basin. Working closely with people who live in the Basin, CBT assists communities in addressing their needs by: providing resources and funding; focusing on local priorities and issues; bringing people together around key issues; providing useful, credible, accessible information; encouraging collaboration and partnerships; and seeking ongoing input from Basin residents. CBT provides funding and grants through a variety of programs including Arts, Culture and Heritage, Business Advocacy, Environment, Scholarships and Community Development. In addition, CBT supports regional initiatives such as Climate Change Adaptation, Water Stewardship, Literacy, Youth Engagement, and Land Conservation.
Castlegar, BC
ConCreate USL Ltd.: Doing it better
At ConCreate USL Ltd., we complete projects in a timely fashion, and we always deliver high quality results. ConCreate’s project managers and supervisors are trained to adjust to all types of working conditions. They adapt to these situations so that you don’t have to. When we take on a project, we make every effort to ensure that it’s an ongoing positive experience for our clients. Our fine work and reputation speak for themselves, whether the project includes the repair or new construction of a bridge in Alberta, rehabilitation of a parking structure in Ontario, or one of our most recent successes: the construction of a luge track in BC for use in the 2010 Olympics.
Castlegar, BC
Fernie, BC
Castlegar, BC
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Castlegar, BC
Castlegar, BC
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Castlegar, BC
Vital Statistics
- Population :: 7,259
- Number of businesses :: 679
- Supporting industries :: Mining, manufacturing (wood products), education
Vital Contacts
- City of Castlegar :: www.castlegar.ca
- Mayor :: Lawrence Chernoff
- Castlegar Chamber of Commerce :: www.castlegar.com
- Manager :: Matthew King
- Phone :: 250-365-6513
Biz Blog :: Keith Powell
A regular report on newsworthy business developments in the Kootenays.
Kootenay Insights :: Tanya Laing Gahr
An inside look at the initiatives and developments that help shape Kootenay communities.
At Work :: Sandra Albers
One-on-one with some of the Kootenay’s business leaders.
Biz Edge :: Danielle Cameron
The faces behind Kootenay businesses.
