CONSTRUCTION

Southeastern B.C. has seen an economic boom since 2001, with building permits, housing starts, and new developments on the rise. The flurry of activity was strong enough to result in a labour shortage. 

Some of the projects completed in the last few years include an expansion of the East Kootenay Regional Hospital, the College of the Rockies (new trades centre),  expansion of the Cranbrook airport into the Canadian Rockies International Airport, upgrades to Highway 3, and the eye-popping replacement of the Yoho Bridge on the Trans-Canada at Kicking Horse Canyon east of Golden.  The building of Kicking Horse Ski Resort in Golden begin in 2000, and is slated to wrap up in 2010. 

Other development underway includes:

• Aberfeldie Dam Redevelopment Project - Cranbrook area
• Bella Vista – Fairmont Hot Springs
• Bighorn Meadows Resort – Radium Hot Springs
• Borrego Ridge – Radium Hot Springs
• CastleRock – Invermere
• Columbia Ridge – (between Fairmont and Canal Flats)
• Copper Point Golf Resort – Invermere
• Creston and District Community Complex - Creston
• Eagle Ranch Golf Resort – Invermere
• Elk River Golf Resort – Fernie
• Lake Windermere Pointe – Invermere
• Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa – Kimberley
• Osprey Landing – Wardner
• Panorama Mountain Village (expansion) – Invermere
• Pedley Heights – Windermere
• Sandy Shores Resort - Newgate
• Shadow Mountain Development - Cranbrook
• Spirits Reach Development – Invermere
• Whiskey Jack Resort Development – Sparwood

   
With the recent global economic hiccup, the frenetic activity of development in the region has slowed somewhat, but there are still many projects slated to start in the near future or still before approvals processes:

• Blackstone Resort Development – Fernie
• College of the Rockies (renovations) - Cranbrook
• Crown Mountain Coal Project and Lodgepole Coal Mine – Elk Valley
• Elk Park Ranch Housing Development – Radium
• Fairmont Hot Springs Golf Course Resort (expansion) – Fairmont Hot Springs
• Jumbo Glacier Resort - Invermere
• Kimberley Paralympic Conference Centre - Kimberley
• Marent Ridge Wind Energy Project – Fernie
• Vista Del Lago Resort Development – Invermere
• Wildstone Golf and Residential Development – Cranbrook (on hold)

   
With such a slate of projects, the construction industry is expected to continue to be strong.  Also, the need for more accessible housing is spurring communities and developers to come up with innovative ways to ensure residents have affordable places to live.

2008 Building Stats RDEK (total value)

• 1st Q: 41 million
• 2nd Q: 20 million
• 3rd Q: 24 million
• 4th Q: 9 million

New Construction and Development — 2008 Assessment Roll ($ millions)
EAST KOOTENAY

  2008 Assessment Roll Information – from www.bcassessment.bc.ca