Central Okanagan Economic Profile
The 2023 Central Okanagan Economic Profile, created with funding support from CanExport Community Investments, offers a comprehensive overview of the economic landscape, strengths, and prospects of the region. It is used by the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) and its partners to support and promote the region.
The Economic Profile serves as a concise yet informative gateway, showcasing opportunities in key industries, and community competitive advantages across four municipalities, First Nations, and two electoral areas. The visually engaging and well-organized profile consolidates essential information like industry data, economic diversity, census highlights, and exceptional quality of life in a user-friendly format, facilitating the attraction and retention of diverse talent and business investments.
The 2023 Economic Profile was effectively distributed to community support organizations, government entities, partner organizations, and post-secondary institutions with a comprehensive promotional package providing advocates with a simple engagement tool to drive visibility and awareness of the opportunities in the Central Okanagan.
The profile has been shared through targeted marketing initiatives on COEDC social platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram) reaching 7,256 individuals since 2023. Additionally, 255 physical profiles were handed out to elected officials, post secondary leaders, and 15 community organizations who serve thousands of members (business, workforce, entrepreneurs, etc.) across the region.
Through unified efforts with member governments, the COEDC is dedicated to reinforcing partnerships and bolstering investment and workforce development initiatives. By presenting a unified value proposition while spotlighting unique community attributes and opportunities, the Commission aims to amplify investment, talent attraction and retention, and drive sustainable economic growth in Canada’s fastest growing region.
The project encountered challenges due to the dense and data-heavy nature of the document. To address this, we incorporated engaging imagery and infographic-style visuals. By leveraging visual elements, the project successfully transformed complex information into a more engaging and compelling format for diverse audiences. This strategic shift not only enhanced the document’s accessibility but also improved the overall presentation, making it easier for stakeholders to effectively grasp key insights and information.
The 2023 Economic Profile serves as a valuable resource for individuals considering relocation, prospective and existing entrepreneurs, community organizations, government entities, post-secondary institutions, and more. By consolidating key data showcasing the Central Okanagan as Canada’s fastest-growing region, highlighting community advantages, quality of life, and robust economic drivers, the profile positions the region as resilient, attractive for investment, and an ideal place to live, work, grow, and play. The profile is an inclusive and accessible tool, providing valuable insights to a wide audience, reflecting the dedication and connectivity the Central Okanagan provides through community collaboration.
To gather and interpret data for past iterations of the Economic Profile the COEDC utilized consultants. For the 2023 Economic Profile, the COEDC shifted towards developing in-house capabilities for data sourcing and interpretation. This shift shows a commitment to long-term viability, capacity building, and skill development. This transition improves operational efficiency and ensures data management continuity and sustainability for the Central Okanagan. Building in-house capabilities establishes a sustainable model for ongoing data collection and analysis, promoting self-reliance and adaptability. This decision aligns with the COEDC’s priority to build sustainable and resilient economic capacity.
