Not only has Penticton been recognized as being one of the most livable cities in Canada, but it topped the charts overall ahead of every other Okanagan city in a recent assessment published by the Globe and Mail newspaper.
Penticton was recognized as being the 28th most livable city in Canada, out of 439 locations assessed, according to the ‘Most Liveable Cities in Canada’ 2023 rankings. And it nailed third place for young professionals based on criteria tailored to recent post-secondary graduates who are looking for a dynamic blend of vibrant job prospects, affordable housing and an active social environment.
The city claimed the #11 spot for entrepreneurs. For retirees, Penticton was placed ranked #9 and it nabbed the #16 position for those going through mid-life transitions such as kids leaving home, divorce and downsizing.
The evaluation looked at 43 variables across 10 categories: Economy, Housing, Demographics, Health Care, Safety, Education, Community, Amenities, Transportation and Climate. The results were then sorted into a number of sub-ranked groups.
“This kind of result is incredibly encouraging and shows what many people in our community already know: that this is a great place to live and work. Achieving these high rankings across a variety of categories means Penticton is attractive to a broad range of people at all life stages,” says Blake Laven, Director of Development Services at the City of Penticton.
The high young professionals ranking might be the most rewarding because it speaks to a long vision to put Penticton on the radar for a younger demographic. Back in 2015, when the City of Penticton’s Economic Development department first launched the #PentictonWorks campaign, to attract remote workers, it was an innovative marketing angle for the community which had historically been a well-known destination for peaches, beaches, holiday-making and retirement.
The initiative saw an opportunity to leverage all of the region’s lifestyle amenities and the new high speed fibre internet which was being rolled out across the city. It was anticipated that this approach to marketing Penticton would result in a younger demographic starting to look at Penticton as an option for a better lifestyle.
What started as a pilot project grew into a year-on-year campaign as the popularity of remote working grew and the allure of finding a work/life balance became more widely sought after. Deeper insights discovered that often someone would move here for a job and their partner would be able to bring their work with them by working remotely.
Amenities such as an expanded regional hospital, the post-secondary education at Okanagan College and the presence of Penticton Airport were excellent anchors for a community that could boast a 10-minute commute and a four-season playground.
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Data collected from the recent ‘Welcome Home’ initiative supports the findings arising from these 2023 Globe and Mail rankings. ‘Welcome Home’ connects new residents with resources and welcome gifts while asking them a few questions about their reasons for moving here.
This information has been illuminating, providing immediate insights about how the community is growing. From the most recent data, representing residents who have arrived in the past 15 months, nearly 60% stated they had moved here for work or career-related reasons and 25% moved here to retire. The largest group had arrived here from the Lower Mainland.
“Penticton is an incredible place to live – a small city with big city amenities, nestled in a natural playground,” adds Laven. “And as the city grows, it’s important to maintain quality of life – and not lose what makes Penticton special. Attracting the right kind of development, while making strategic investments in infrastructure, parks amenities and recreation to support that growth, is adding vibrancy and opportunity to the community. It’s wonderful to see all this hard work being recognized at the national level.”
You can view the rankings yourself:
- #3 For young professionals
- #9 For retirement
- #11 for entrepreneurs
- #16 For midlife transitions
- #28 Most liveable city
If you’ve moved here since July 2022, we’d love to provide you with a Welcome Home pack. More information can be found here.
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@start.here.penticton