May 2023 - Community Futures North Okanagan

‘Shortage of workers’: Housing crisis fuels labour scarcity

May 30, 2023/in News

Lack of attainable housing a barrier for hiring and retention, employers say

VERNON, BC—As private clinics close their doors and businesses across the North Okanagan are scrambling for staff, some of the region’s largest employers are calling for more and diverse housing to attract skilled workers.

Malcolm Reid, director of human resources at School District 22, says the lack of attainable housing has led to several job offers falling through in recent years.

“For the first time, we’ve had a number of people who we’ve offered positions to who had to let go of the offer or not accept it because they were unable to find housing in the North Okanagan,” says Reid. “Vernon is the greatest place to raise a family, but you have to be able to find housing to do so.”

School District 22 isn’t the only employer that’s felt the sting of the housing crisis.

Last year, BC Family Doctors announced that one in five British Columbians do not have and cannot get a family doctor. In the North Okanagan, more than 15 per cent of regular full and part-time healthcare positions are vacant, according to Interior Health.

“Like many industries, the health-care sector is facing a shortage of workers. We know that it can be a challenge for people to find housing, and this can be a barrier to attracting new professionals to the region,” says Richard Harding, executive director of clinical operations, North Okanagan and Interior Health Emergency Services Network. “Interior Health supports all efforts to provide affordable housing options in our area, especially housing that supports healthcare professionals’ ability to live in our community.”

Region relies on new and returning residents

With fewer elementary-aged children than people ready to retire, the North Okanagan needs migration and returning residents to sustain its workforce.

According to Community Futures’ Rural BC Economic Bulletin, the North Okanagan’s prime working age population—those aged 25-54—is below the rural BC average at only 33 per cent. Growth in this key demographic is also below average at only five per cent.

“As a principal, I saw lots of kids graduate from high school and move away for university or other post-secondary training and get a job. Eventually, they would want to move back to Vernon to raise a family,” says Reid. “What they’re finding is they’re challenged to do that. They’re not able to come back and find that house and live the life they had growing up, and they’re looking at other parts of the province to do so.”

Diversity, density the solution to housing crisis

To meet projected demands in the region, half of the new builds in the North Okanagan should be either two-bedroom apartments or small ranchers, according to the Regional District’s housing strategy. The remaining half is split between studio suites or one-bedroom apartments and multi-bedroom single-family homes.

“Diverse housing helps our economy thrive through the development of options,” says Leigha Horsfield, executive director, Community Futures North Okanagan. “In order for us to able to attract the nurse, the tile setter, the tech worker and the specialized teacher, we need to have a diverse landscape of housing so that these folks are able to secure a home and get settled in our community.”

To learn more about the Regional District’s housing strategy and the benefits of more housing and a diverse housing supply, visit the Regional District of North Okanagan online at www.rdno.ca/housing.

‘Absolutely amazing’: Fieldnotes Market crowned 2023 Enterprize Challenge victor

May 19, 2023/in News

Top 3 take home more than $50,000 in prizes; PV BLVD Coffee named People’s Choice Award Winner

VERNON, BC—The house lights dim as the spotlight illuminates the centre stage. Nearly 200 people sit silently on the edges of their seats. Suddenly, the crowd erupts in applause as Hannah and Pamela Janek walk into the spotlight, hand-in-hand, smiles stretched across their faces.

After months of preparation and a night of nerve-inducing pitches in front of friends, family and a panel of volunteer judges, they’ve done it. They’ve won the 2023 Enterprize Challenge and more than $35,000 in prizes.

“We’re running on adrenaline right now, because we open our store next Saturday, May 27,” says Pamela Janek, owner of Fieldnotes Market alongside her daughter, Hannah. “It’s been super crazy busy, but such a great experience and a great team both at Community Futures and with all of the other contestants.”

Presented by VantageOne Credit Union and Community Futures North Okanagan, the 2023 Enterprize Challenge culminated in a night of live, Dragon’s Den-style pitching as finalists vied for the podium.

Fieldnotes Market is Armstrong’s newest general store founded on a love of nature and provides a curation of quality European-inspired home goods, local arts and crafts, unique pre-loved housewares and specialty local and European pantry food. The Janeks took home start-up capital, one year of free business banking, a free radio and print campaign, business consulting and mentoring, a chamber of commerce voucher, tuition credits and legal, accounting, video, graphics, marketing and web packages.

“We’re just really thankful for Community Futures for this amazing experience. Because it was so aligned with our store opening, we were really able to hone our business idea and what we could really do to serve the Armstrong community,” Hannah adds. “We’re working with local artisans and we can just feel that there’s a lot of room for growth.”

Fieldnote Markets was one of seven finalists and 28 challenge participants showcasing the remarkable innovation of entrepreneurs from across the North Okanagan.

“We have such a wide variety of businesses here, and we applaud you all for stepping up and taking on this challenge,” says Michele Hill, chair of Community Futures’ board of directors. “Best of luck to each of you today and in the future.”

PV BLVD Coffee–Armstrong’s newest coffee shop that blends the comfort of a local hangout with weekly arts and yoga classes–claimed second place and Chef Lauren Vincent–a Red Seal chef creating custom meal prep for her clients–scored third.

“The Enterprize Challenge gave me the opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs, talk to other people and learn how to grow my business,” says PV BLVD Coffee’s Kristy McLennan. “I’m super happy about the opportunity and excited for the future.”

McLennan and Vincent each ended the night with one year of free business banking, a chamber voucher and several great business packages.

“I can imagine how difficult it was to be a judge for this competition. The innovation we have seen this evening both at the showcase and in the final pitches is very impressive,” says Dianne Grebinski, VP of commercial banking at VantageOne Credit Union. “The display of entrepreneurship in the program is to be commended and we congratulate all of those who participated as well as all seven of our finalists.”

As the judges deliberated, the public cast their votes and awarded PV BLVD Coffee as this year’s People’s Choice Award-winner. In addition to her second-place prize, claimed a $750 advertising package from Castanet Media.

“Thank you to all who came through the challenge for having the ambition and courage to put yourselves forward for this competition,” says Beach Radio’s Brian Martin, emcee. “We wish you great success in all your future businesses.”

Workforce housing project helps bring more doctors to North Okanagan

May 4, 2023/in News

Project provides purpose-built housing for first-ever family residency program in the community

VERNON, B.C.—More than 20,000 people in the North Okanagan don’t have a family doctor. A North Okanagan medical residency program launching in 2024, supported by a new workforce housing development, hopes to change that.

Put forward by Community Futures North Okanagan and local home developer AIM Development and Management, the workforce housing project will provide housing for four family medicine residents in 2024, with plans to welcome four more residents the following year.

“This new economic development project will support a critically challenged sector of our economy that affects thousands of residents,” says Leigha Horsfield, Executive Director, Community Futures. “Access to medical care and childcare are significant factors skilled workers take into account when deciding to reside in a community.”

With persistent physician shortages, family practices and walk-in clinics have growing waitlists that put additional pressure on emergency departments and all healthcare services.

“The residency program is a great thing for our community. Other sites across the province continue to see residency programs as one of the strongest recruitment tools to get family doctors trained and practicing in their region,” says Dr. Travis Allen, site director of the family residency program. “Creating this pool of resources makes family medicine more sustainable for our community and directly benefits the patients.”

Ultimately, Horsfield says, the project hopes to retain family doctors through outreach and incentives and improve access to health care for thousands of North Okanagan residents.

“Given the extreme housing shortage, the goal of this project is to create housing that supports the health sector and provides a ready-made landing place for medical residents,” says Horsfield.

Community rallies in support of project

AIM Development purchased the single-family home on 25^th Street and subdivided the property into three lots. Founder and owner Ian Murphy says that the current home will remain on the property and the development will see two new homes each with a suite to provide housing for six residents.

Connected through the City of Vernon’s economic development office, Murphy agreed to sell the already subdivided lots to Community Futures at a discounted price and manage the construction of the new workforce housing development.

“This project aligns with our goal of creating attainable housing for our community,” says Murphy, whose company has successfully created housing for 32 families from five single-family properties in the past eight years. “It’s great to have Community Futures pushing this development forward.”

While construction has yet to begin, Murphy says the trades, contractors and suppliers have also shown their support for the project and even offered free upgrades and to reinvest a portion of their proceeds.

“Access to healthcare affects us all,” says Murphy. “We hope everybody sees this project the way we do: a development with a real purpose and benefit to our community.”

Construction on the project is scheduled to be completed in May 2024.

“I’ve lived in resident housing and finding an affordable place to live during residency is a huge stress point for a lot of people,” says Dr. Allen. “This workforce housing development helps us welcome residents from medical schools across Canada and provide a safety net and roof over their heads. They get to stay right in the community, see what it has to offer, and hopefully continue their practice in the North Okanagan.”

Nicole Cullen, program expansion manager with the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine, says the family medicine residency program is the first of its kind in the North Okanagan.

“This is a great way to support medical residents and encourage them to stay and work as physicians in the region,” says Cullen.

But, before the residents arrive in July 2024, Horsfield says Community Futures is looking for additional partners and sponsors. Whether it’s by donating services or materials, organizations and community groups that are able to support the workforce housing project are encouraged to contact Community Futures at 250-545-2215.