Uncategorized

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For decades, communities relied on static reports, lagging indicators, delayed releases, and snapshots that were often outdated the moment they were published.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.

The City of Cranbrook delivered an exceptional milestone in the first quarter of 2026, recording the strongest single‑quarter and single year in Building Permit activity in the City’s history, totaling over $243 million YTD.

The first quarter of 2026 reflects a shift toward higher‑value development activity across key sectors. The first quarter of 2026 exceeded the entire total of construction values for 2025 driven by institutional, multi‑family, and industrial projects that signal growing investor confidence and long‑term community investment in Cranbrook.

In 2026, 148 housing units were permitted by the end of February, signaling a strong start to the year and continued momentum in residential development. In comparison, 200 units were permitted in total throughout 2025. Combined, 348 dwelling units have been permitted over the past two years.

The increased value represents of a diversity of construction types across several sectors compared to 2025:

The F.W. Green Home represents the single largest contributor to the City’s first‑quarter results and underscores substantial long‑term public and community investment in Cranbrook’s social and health infrastructure.

Residential development continues to be anchored by significant multi‑family projects, led by Crowne Pacific Developments’ Wildstone community, which includes Phase 1 and Phase 2 apartment buildings totaling 252 units, as well as KulKon’s 102‑unit townhouse project. Additional apartment developments are underway across the community, including projects on Victoria Avenue, Hurry Avenue, Cranbrook Street, and in the downtown core, collectively supporting housing supply, density objectives, and mixed‑use redevelopment.

Industrial development activity is strong, with several new and expanded facilities approved in key employment areas. Notable permits include new industrial buildings for Anderson Holdings, Applied Compressions, and Finning. These projects reinforce the importance of Cranbrook’s industrial lands in supporting employment.

Looking ahead, single‑family dwelling units are expected to perform at typical run rates as the season advances and with the Revitalization Tax Exemption Program now established, the City anticipates an increase in commercial construction activity, with values expected to be comparable to—or exceed—recent historical performance.

Development permit activity in 2025 and early 2026 shows strong momentum across housing, commercial, and industrial sectors, with projects advancing in both established and emerging growth areas.

Downtown and Victoria corridor revitalization is further reflected through multiple mixed‑use, commercial, and façade improvement permits. These include residential‑commercial projects in the downtown area, business expansion and mixed‑use development along Cranbrook Street, and a growing number of façade improvement applications from local businesses.

Additional development permit activity includes environmental permits associated with Mission Hills Golf Course to support a dry campground, reflecting continued diversification of tourism and recreational infrastructure. The City of Cranbrook is participating in the Tourism Sprint Program in partnership with Destination BC and Destination Canada, focused on advancing the Prairies‑to‑Pacific tourism corridor. This initiative is aimed at foreign direct investment in hospitality and hotel development along the corridor. Cranbrook’s involvement positions the community to leverage its strategic location, serve emerging travel markets, and support new accommodation investment aligned with long‑term tourism growth.

Collectively, these development permits illustrate a healthy and diversified development pipeline, with balanced investment across housing, employment, and commercial reinvestment. The breadth and scale of projects moving forward show developer confidence and reinforce Cranbrook’s role as a regional service, employment, and residential centre.

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.

The City of Cranbrook is pleased to announce ConvergX Cranbrook, a two‑day regional leadership event bringing together decision‑makers, industry partners, innovators, and community leaders to explore collaborative opportunities that support economic resilience, technological advancement, and long‑term regional growth.

The City continues to work on diversifying the local economy with regional partners from Calgary and Spokane, thanks to grant funding from the CanExport Community Investments program, through Global Affairs Canada and Pacifican. This initiative aims to explore how Cranbrook can strengthen supply chains and foster innovation in the aerospace industry and its supporting sectors. It will involve strategic planning through a Business Case study and a Regional Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Attraction Strategy

The program brings together a lineup of world‑class experts delivering presentations across key sectors shaping the future of the region. Supply chain strategist Peter Sholtz will outline practical pathways for strengthening industrial readiness and economic opportunity. Kim Van Vliet will provide insight into the evolving landscape of aerospace and defence, highlighting how cross‑sector collaboration accelerates innovation. Tim Troxel, a leading specialist in electro‑optics, will explore advanced imaging and surveillance technologies driving global competitiveness. Rounding out the program, Sheldon Decosse will share perspectives from the Global Airborne Observatory, showcasing cutting‑edge environmental mapping and flight operations used around the world. Together, these sessions offer attendees access to internationally recognized expertise and actionable knowledge.

March 10, 2026 – Leadership Reception & Registration-Cranbrook City Hall

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

March 11, 2026 – Morning Strategic Roundtable (By Invitation)- College of the Rockies – President’s Boardroom

9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

March 11, 2026 – Afternoon Leadership Sessions (Open) – Key City Theater

12:00–1:00 PM — Lunch

1:00–1:45 PM — Peter Sholtz & Darren Brewer: Morning Debrief / Supply Chain & Business Case

1:45–2:15 PM — Tim Troxel, Infiniti Optics

2:15–2:45 PM — Sheldon Decosse, Asner Global Airborne Observatory

3:00–4:00 PM — Kim Van Vliet: ConvergX Xpand

To attend the March 11th Afternoon Leadership session please register :

ConvergX® Cranbrook

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.

If you’ve walked through downtown Cranbrook lately, you’ve probably noticed the Baker Hotel. Not just for its century-old architecture, but for the energy it brings to the street. Built over 100 years ago, the Baker Hotel is one of the city’s oldest buildings, and thanks to Greg Eaton’s vision, it’s now one of the freshest.

Greg saw something in the bones of the Baker. Character, charm, and a chance to breathe new life into a piece of Cranbrook’s history. What was once a fading landmark is now a boutique hotel with mixed-use commercial space on the ground floor, home to local gems like The Fenwick & Baker and The Barber Shop.

It’s not just a renovation. It’s a revival. The Baker is helping lead the charge in downtown revitalization, showing what’s possible when heritage meets hustle. The building now buzzes with activity, drawing locals and visitors alike. Whether you’re grabbing a coffee, checking in for a weekend stay, or getting a fresh cut, the Baker is where stories begin, and where the answer to “Who’s your barber?” is suddenly a lot more interesting.

But beyond the bricks and mortar, the Baker Hotel is a symbol of Cranbrook’s evolution. It’s a place where entrepreneurship, tourism, and community pride intersect. It’s where people first experience the city, whether they’re staying the night or just stopping in for a trim. And it’s proof that investing in our past can be the key to unlocking our future.

This is what Make it Cranbrook is all about: preserving what matters, building what’s next, and creating spaces that bring people together.

So next time you’re downtown, take a stroll past the Baker. Step inside. Grab lunch. Ask for a fade. And see how Cranbrook is making history, one storefront, one story, one haircut at a time.

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