What if your next great adventure started in the middle of everything?

Our new investment attraction video, In the Middle, showcases why Cranbrook is the Basecamp of the Kootenays. As BC’s Sunniest City and the largest urban centre in the region, Cranbrook offers unmatched access to the Canadian Rockies and hundreds of experiences within a short drive.

From world-class golf, mountain biking, hiking, skiing, fishing, and lakes to vibrant events, cultural attractions, and mountain communities, Cranbrook is where visitors stay, explore, and connect to the best of the Kootenays.

The journey begins at the Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC), providing direct connections to Vancouver, Calgary, and Kelowna. Within minutes of landing, visitors can be on a trail, tee box, ski hill, lake, or exploring one of the many communities that make this region unique. YXC continues to strengthen Cranbrook’s role as the transportation gateway to the Kootenays.

Did you know? Cranbrook welcomed more than 580,000 unique visitors in 2025, a 107% increase since 2020. June was the community’s busiest tourism month, and passenger traffic at YXC has now exceeded pre-pandemic levels. These trends reflect growing visitation to the region and Cranbrook’s position as a key gateway for travellers exploring the Canadian Rockies. Visit our Data Portal for more information.

For investors, tourism operators, airlines, and business leaders, In the Middle tells a broader story about opportunity. It highlights Cranbrook’s strategic location, growing visitor economy, strong transportation connections, and role as the commercial and service hub of the Kootenays. Through Visit Cranbrook, we’re sharing that story with the world and inviting more people to discover why Cranbrook truly sits in the middle of adventure.

Watch In the Middle and see why BC’s Sunniest City is the Basecamp of the Kootenays. Welcome to Cranbrook.

The Cranbrook Strongman Classic has grown from a local grassroots idea into one of the premier events of the Spirit of the Rockies Festival, which is held annually in June. Now celebrating its 22nd year, this made-in-Cranbrook showcase brings together athletes, families, visitors, sponsors, and volunteers for a full day of strength, community pride, and festival energy.

Built in Cranbrook, Built by Community

Started in 2004, the Cranbrook Strongman Classic has steadily evolved into a major production and a signature part of Cranbrook’s annual community calendar. What began as a local event has become a destination competition that attracts talent from across Canada and the United States, while remaining true to its roots as a welcoming, family-friendly celebration.

This is exactly the kind of story that reflects the Choose Cranbrook message: local people creating something authentic, building it year after year, and turning community energy into an event that brings visitors, athletes, and attention to the city. The Strongman Classic is not imported, manufactured, or generic. It is made in Cranbrook.

A Showcase for Athletes, Families, and Visitors

The event welcomes competitors from novice level and up, giving emerging athletes the chance to test themselves alongside seasoned competitors. For spectators, it offers a powerful and exciting show: athletes lifting, pulling, carrying, and competing in events that demonstrate strength, skill, discipline, and determination.

Just as importantly, the Cranbrook Strongman Classic is a family-friendly event that brings people together. It gives local families something memorable to enjoy, gives visitors another reason to come to Cranbrook, and adds energy to the Spirit of the Rockies Festival experience.

Part of the Spirit of the Rockies

As one of the premier events during the Spirit of the Rockies Festival, the Strongman Classic helps showcase Cranbrook at its best. The festival brings residents, visitors, businesses, clubs, and volunteers together through a largely free, city-wide celebration, and the Strongman Classic adds a unique sports and entertainment draw that stands out year after year.

Events like this support community pride and visitor attraction at the same time. They create reasons to gather, reasons to stay longer, and reasons to see Cranbrook as a place with energy, character, and momentum.

Making It Bigger and Better Every Year

The continued growth of the Cranbrook Strongman Classic is the result of dedication, collaboration, and local pride. Each year, the event becomes bigger, better, and more recognized because people step forward to support it.

Thank you to the sponsors, volunteers, organizers, and athletes who make this showcase possible. Their commitment has helped turn a grassroots Cranbrook event into an annual tradition that welcomes competitors and visitors, celebrates strength and community, and proudly carries the spirit of Cranbrook forward.

For nearly half a century, one of Cranbrook’s best-loved community traditions has brought kids, families, firefighters, and volunteers together for a day at Idlewild Park. This year marked the 49th Annual Cranbrook Firemen’s Father’s Day Fishing Clinic, with 122 children taking part in a hands-on introduction to fishing, conservation, and outdoor recreation.

The event, which is open to kids under 15, is about much more than casting a line. It is a chance for families to spend time together, for children to learn a new skill, and for the community to gather in one of the most meaningful green spaces in the Kootenays. For many dads, and more than a few moms, it is also a simple but special way to enjoy a day outside with their kids.

A Park Built by Community Spirit

Idlewild’s story is deeply tied to Cranbrook’s own history. The lake was once part of the City’s water supply system, serving as a reservoir before the development of the Phillips Reservoir. In the 1970s, as the City prepared to decommission Idlewild from that role, local firefighters saw something more than an old piece of infrastructure. They saw the potential for a community park.

That decision says a great deal about Cranbrook. Idlewild Park exists today because people cared enough to imagine something better, speak up for it, and then keep showing up year after year to make it special. What could have simply faded into the background instead became one of the community’s most treasured public spaces: a place for walking, fishing, skating, picnics, celebrations, and quiet moments close to home.

The local firefighters have continued to be at the heart of that story. Over the years, they have helped build and improve the park, including the gazebo and docks, while also organizing the fishing clinic as a way to give back. Their work is a reminder that community spirit is not just something we talk about in Cranbrook. It is something people build, maintain, volunteer for, and pass on to the next generation.

Father’s Day at the Lake

Held on Father’s Day weekend, the clinic has also become a meaningful tradition for families. There is something fitting about seeing dads, grandfathers, uncles, and family friends helping kids bait hooks, untangle lines, celebrate small catches, and learn patience along the water’s edge. It is the kind of day that does not need to be complicated to be memorable.

And while Father’s Day is often front and centre, the event is for everyone. Plenty of moms, grandparents, volunteers, and community members help make the day work. That is part of what makes it so special. It reflects the best of Cranbrook: people stepping in, pitching in, feeding families, teaching kids, sharing knowledge, and creating a welcoming place where everyone can feel part of the community.

Food, Sponsors, and a Shared Commitment

This year’s event was supported by generous local and regional partners, including Columbia Basin Trust, Denham Ford, the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, Mr Mikes Steakhouse, and St Mary’s Angler Fly Shop. Their support helped make the day welcoming, accessible, and fun for the families who attended.

Mr Mikes Steakhouse donated 200 burgers and 48 hotdogs, helping turn the clinic into a full community gathering. Those details matter. A burger after fishing, a shared meal at the park, and volunteers working together behind the scenes all add to the feeling that this is not just an event on the calendar. It is one of those days when Cranbrook shows how it supports its own.

Looking Ahead to 50 Years

Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the kids fishing clinic, a milestone that speaks to the strength of the tradition and the people behind it. Few community events last that long without a deep sense of purpose. In Cranbrook, this clinic has endured because it brings together all the right things: kids learning outdoors, families spending time together, local businesses giving back, volunteers sharing their time, and firefighters continuing a legacy of service that helped shape Idlewild Park itself.

For 49 years, the clinic has helped build connections between children and nature, between families and neighbours, and between the community’s past and its future. As Cranbrook looks ahead to the 50th annual event, there is good reason to celebrate not only a day of fishing, but the community spirit that made it possible.

Did you know Cranbrook has a data portal?

For decades, communities relied on static reports, lagging indicators, delayed releases, and snapshots that were often outdated the moment they were published. It worked, but only to a point. Decisions were being made with incomplete timelines and limited transparency.

That’s no longer the case.

The Choose Cranbrook Data Portal treats data as infrastructure: something that is continuously updated, accessible, and built to support real decisions in real time. Instead of waiting months for reporting cycles, key indicators are now available as they change.

Take building permits. Rather than relying on quarterly or annual summaries, Cranbrook tracks activity in real time. This reduces lag, improves transparency, and allows both the public and decision-makers to see development activity as it happens, not after the fact. It changes the conversation from “what happened” to “what’s happening.”

The same approach extends across the platform.

The portal brings together retail spending analysis, real estate trends, workforce data, and economic dependency metrics into a single, integrated system. It also includes story maps and curated datasets from both free and paid sources, creating a comprehensive view of the local economy. Instead of fragmented data points spread across reports and agencies, everything is organized, visualized, and easy to interpret.

And that matters.

Because when the data is clear, the conversation changes. Discussions move away from assumptions and toward evidence. Investment conversations become more grounded. Policy decisions become more precise. The narrative shifts from general perception to measurable reality, focused specifically on Cranbrook.

This approach has not gone unnoticed. The data portal has been recognized as a leading example in the economic development space and is viewed as a thought leader by organizations such as BCEDA and EDAC. It reflects a broader shift in how communities compete, not just on assets, but on clarity, transparency, and the ability to demonstrate opportunity with confidence.

In many ways, this is about how we communicate.

Early humans told stories with drawings on cave walls: visual, immediate, and grounded in what they could observe. Thousands of years later, the goal is the same, but the tools have changed. In 2026, we are still telling stories, but now we do it with data, maps, and real-time insight.

The Choose Cranbrook Data Portal is that evolution.

It doesn’t just report information. It explains it, connects it, and makes it usable.

If you haven’t explored it yet, take a look. The maps, charts, and visualizations are built to be intuitive and accessible, and they tell a story about Cranbrook that static reports simply can’t.

The data is there. The question is what you see when you explore it.

City of Cranbrook Hosts ConvergX, Bringing Pacific Northwest Thought Leaders Together on Aerospace, Defence, and Supply Chains

Cranbrook, BC – The City of Cranbrook recently hosted ConvergX, a full day event that brought together more than 30 thought leaders from across the Pacific Northwest, including representatives from Alberta, the Kootenays, and Washington State. Participants from academia, government, and industry gathered to explore cross sector industrial collaboration with a focus on aerospace, defence, and critical supply chains.

ConvergX builds on a year of international outreach and collaboration supported by a Global Affairs Canada CanExport grant. Through this work, Cranbrook has engaged directly with senior federal partners, including meetings with the Deputy Minister of National Defence and Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy Team. The initiative has also elevated Cranbrook’s profile nationally and internationally, including participation alongside senior Canadian Armed Forces leadership and invitations to engage in broader supply chain discussions through the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER).

The Kootenays also play a critical role in Canada’s resource and supply chain ecosystem. The region produces globally significant minerals and natural resources that support advanced manufacturing, energy systems, and emerging technologies, while its geography positions it on key arterial transportation and trade corridors running north-south and east-west. With direct links across all four cardinal directions, to the Prairies, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, the BC coast, and the Interior, the Kootenays sit at a strategic crossroads of continental supply chains, reinforcing the region’s importance to national resilience, security, and industrial competitiveness.

A highlight of the event was a keynote presentation by Sheldon DeCossé, President of DeCossé Aerospace, who spoke about the Global Airborne Observatory (GAO). Formerly known as the Carnegie Airborne Observatory, the GAO was developed by Greg Asner and his team and represents one of the most advanced airborne Earth mapping platforms in the civil sector. Now in its third generation, the GAO is a fully integrated airborne laboratory housed within a highly modified Dornier 228 202 aircraft, enabling advanced environmental, climate, and resource intelligence applications worldwide.

Attendees also heard from Tim Troxel of Infiniti Optics, who shared insights into next generation electro optical and video surveillance technologies currently being deployed in collaboration with governments and partners across multiple countries.

Kim Van Vliet spoke about her role as Canada’s delegate on NATO’s industrial advisory group and formally launched ConvergX Xpand during the event. The ConvergX® Xpand™ Commercialization Zone is a national program designed to accelerate cross industry innovation and technology adoption by connecting sectors including defence, aerospace, energy, mining, manufacturing, security, construction, agriculture, space, technology, and healthcare. The program is available to businesses across Canada and is intended to reduce barriers between innovators, end users, and markets.

Mark Norton of the I 90 Aerospace Corridor, representing Washington, Idaho, and Montana, spoke about emerging technology hubs south of the border and emphasized the strong momentum, despite current geopolitical tensions, for the Pacific Northwest aerospace sector to collaborate and compete collectively on the global stage.

Hosting ConvergX reflects Cranbrook’s growing role as a convenor and connector for advanced industries and cross border collaboration. The City is actively working toward the development of a “Team Kootenay” approach to investment attraction, promoting the region as a unified, competitive destination for industry, innovation, and talent.

The City of Cranbrook thanks all speakers, partners, and participants who contributed to the success of ConvergX and looks forward to building on the momentum generated through the event.

The Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC) remains one of Cranbrook’s most important economic drivers, offering reliable service, strong connectivity, and essential support for the region’s workforce, visitors, and business community.

As the airport continues to grow, it underscores Cranbrook’s role as a connected and accessible hub for the Kootenays.

A Record-Setting 2025

In 2025, YXC recorded its strongest year since the pandemic with more than 176,000 passenger movements, reflecting steady demand for both leisure and business travel. While the airport’s pre-pandemic peak reached approximately 180,000 passenger movements, the 2025 results demonstrate that passenger traffic has nearly returned to those levels, highlighting the airport’s continued importance to regional connectivity and economic activity.

Within that total, June was a particularly strong month, with just under 15,000 passenger movements, the highest June the airport has recorded.

Expanding Connections Across Western Canada
YXC is served by three major carriers offering direct flights to key destinations:

• WestJet – Calgary and Vancouver
• Air Canada – Calgary and Vancouver
• Pacific Coastal Airlines – Kelowna

These routes provide convenient access to major travel hubs, supporting resident travel, visitor experiences, and business mobility throughout the region while enabling easy connections to national and international destinations.

To support this growth, YXC is making upgrades to improve the passenger experience. Planned terminal improvements include an expanded passenger hold room and new washroom facilities, designed to make travel more comfortable, accessible, and efficient as traffic volume increases.

The airport is also expanding and repaving its parking areas to improve access and increase capacity for passengers and visitors. These upgrades will help ensure the airport remains reliable, and convenient for the community it serves. All of these great things are happening at the airport – an entirely self-sustaining operation funding its own capital and not drawing a penny from municipal tax revenue.

“It is a privilege to be part of the continued success of YXC. Aviation is a turbulent industry to work in, never more so that over these past few years and I’m thrilled that the continued loyalty and utilization of this key asset has enabled us to smooth out the bumps and continue realizing our potential for the region,” says Tristen Chernove, Airport Manager for the Canadian Rockies International Airport.

Sustainability also remains an important focus. Electric vehicle charging stations installed at the airport continue to be well used and well received, providing added convenience for travelers while supporting low emission transportation across the Kootenays.

On the business side, YXC is seeing continued private sector investment. The sale of the former Bid Air hangar to Decosse Customs supports increased aviation activity and reinforces the airport’s role as a regional hub for logistics and specialized services. Streamline Airways is also completed construction of a new hangar, adding space for aircraft storage, maintenance, and operations.

Together, these developments highlight YXC’s ongoing role as a key transportation link and economic driver for the region, supporting travelers today while preparing for future growth.

A Reliable Gateway for a Growing Community
The airport’s strong performance reflects more than just travel activity. YXC plays a crucial role in supporting mobility for workers, enabling efficient business travel, strengthening tourism, and connecting Cranbrook to broader provincial and national networks. Continued growth in passenger movements enhances the airport’s ability to support the region’s evolving needs.

As YXC continues its momentum in 2026, it remains a vital asset for a growing and increasingly connected Cranbrook, supporting opportunity, accessibility, and regional resilience for years to come.

For 40 years, the Kootenay Children’s Festival has been a joyful gathering place for families, and in 2026 it reaches an incredible milestone. This long-standing Cranbrook tradition, recognized as the longest running free children’s festival in Canada, returns on May 9th with a full day of celebration, creativity, and community pride.

The festival has always been built around one simple idea: giving children a place to explore, imagine, and enjoy. Every year, families come together for a vibrant mix of activities and entertainment that highlight the spirit of play.

As the Festival turns 40, organizers are preparing an unforgettable experience that honours its history while introducing exciting new features for today’s young adventurers.

Festival Highlights:

• Main Stage Entertainment: Performers of all kinds bring music, movement, humour, and storytelling to life in ways that keep kids fully engaged.
• Creative and Discovery Zones: Hands-on stations invite children to paint, build, experiment, and learn through guided activities that encourage self-expression and curiosity.
• Family Fun Areas: Expect lively games, activity stations, inflatables, and interactive spaces designed to keep kids moving, laughing, and connecting.
• Local Eats: A selection of food vendors will be on site, offering quick bites and treats for families spending the day at the festival.

Beyond the excitement, the Kootenay Children’s Festival remains a meaningful gathering for the community. Generations have grown up attending this event, and many parents now bring their own children to share in a tradition that continues to inspire imagination year after year. The 40th anniversary is a moment to celebrate those shared memories while looking forward to the years ahead.

With special programming planned for this milestone edition, May 9th is set to be a standout day for local families. Whether you are a longtime Festival fan or discovering it for the first time, this year’s event promises something memorable for everyone.

Save the date, invite your friends, and join Cranbrook in celebrating 40 years of childhood joy at the Kootenay Children’s Festival. See you on May 9th!

Cranbrook is forcasted to cross an important milestone in 2026/27; 10,000 homes, marking a significant stage in the city’s evolution. This level of residential growth reflects Cranbrook’s transition into a stronger, more dynamic mid-sized urban centre. For investors, developers, and employers, the milestone underscores a community with clear momentum and long-term economic potential.

The increase represents a 13% rise since Census 2021, highlighting sustained demand for housing and continued confidence in Cranbrook from both residents and the development sector. As the community expands, each new home contributes to greater economic resilience and broader opportunities for growth.

What This Milestone Means for Cranbrook
Reaching this benchmark reflects the steady momentum shaping Cranbrook’s growth and the conditions that support a more vibrant, resilient community.

• Labour Force Expansion: More homes support a growing workforce, making it easier for employers to attract and retain talent.
• Retail and Service Growth: A larger residential base strengthens local consumer demand, encouraging new commercial investment.
• Tax Base Stability: Increased housing adds to the city’s long-term financial sustainability, supporting infrastructure planning and service delivery.
• Investor Confidence: Consistent, measurable growth reinforces Cranbrook as a reliable and attractive market for development.

A City Positioned for Continued Momentum
Crossing the 10,000-home threshold reflects a community that is planning strategically and investing in its future. Housing growth supports employers, enhances livability, and plays a critical role in building a diverse and resilient economy.

This achievement underscores a community that is strengthening its capacity and creating new opportunities as it continues to grow.

Estimates are current as of 2025, based on 2021 Census data, with projections reflecting anticipated trends over the next 12 to 24 months.

Cranbrook’s Capital Works Program outlines the City’s planned infrastructure investments, giving residents, businesses, and community partners a clear view of the projects that support daily life and long-term growth. By identifying priorities, timelines, and community benefits, the program helps show how infrastructure improvements strengthen the services people rely on every day.

From roads and utilities to public facilities and community spaces, the Capital Works Program reflects a strategic approach to maintaining and improving the systems that keep Cranbrook running. It also provides transparency around public spending, reinforcing the City’s commitment to responsible financial planning and steady, well-managed growth.

What the Capital Works Program Supports

The program helps guide investments in core infrastructure that improve quality of life, enhance service delivery, and support Cranbrook’s continued growth.

• Roads and Transportation: Planned improvements help support safer, more efficient movement throughout the community.
• Utilities and Core Services: Investments in water, sewer, and related infrastructure help ensure reliable and resilient service.
• Public Facilities: Upgrades to civic and community spaces support the services residents use every day.
• Community Spaces: Improvements to parks and shared spaces help maintain a vibrant, livable city.

A strong and transparent Capital Works Program reinforces Cranbrook’s reputation as a well-managed and forward-thinking community. Clear communication around infrastructure priorities builds public trust, supports investor confidence, and helps create the conditions needed for future development.

As Cranbrook continues to grow, the Capital Works Program provides a clear roadmap for how the city is investing in a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable future.

When Louis Nelson first arrived in Cranbrook, he wasn’t planning to stay. He came to manage a struggling Domino’s Pizza location, one of the lowest-performing stores in the country at the time. But something happened. The city, the people, the potential, it all clicked. As Louis puts it, “I didn’t choose Cranbrook. Cranbrook chose me.”

Fast forward, and that same store is now one of the top-performing Domino’s locations in Canada. Louis didn’t just turn things around. He transformed the business, built a team, and became a proud local owner. His story is one of hustle, heart, and what’s possible when a community embraces its entrepreneurs.

Domino’s in Cranbrook isn’t just a pizza place. It’s a symbol of what Make it Cranbrook stands for. It’s about investing in people, believing in potential, and creating space for franchise owners and small businesses to thrive. Louis’s journey shows that Cranbrook isn’t just open for business. It’s open to building lasting success.

Whether it’s a Friday night pizza run or a first job for a local teen, Domino’s is woven into the everyday life of the city. And behind the counter is a team that reflects Cranbrook’s values: hard work, community, and pride in what you do.

Louis’s story is proof that Cranbrook is a place where businesses and people can grow. It’s where a challenge becomes an opportunity, and where local success stories are written every day.

Make it Happen. Make it Home. Make it Cranbrook.