OKANAGAN OUTLOOK 2011 — 7 VJH Tower of Strength for Vernon


Life is looking up in Vernon, especially when it comes to health care.


Polson Tower at Vernon Jubilee Hospital is slated to open in late September, giving the North Okanagan city expanded services and access to cutting-edge technology.


“We are another step closer towards offer-


ing brand-new health-care facilities to North Okanagan residents,” said Norm Embree, Interior Health board chairman. “This build- ing will help to ensure continuing and im- proving high quality patient care at Vernon Jubilee Hospital for years to come.”


Work on the $180- million project began in November 2008. It will add 231,000 square feet to VJH through improved emergency and am- bulatory departments, new intensive- and coronary-care units, additional operating rooms and a new Women’s and Children’s Health Services department.


Work at the hospital adds to an already


lively, growing region.Vernon is considered an excellent city to begin a business, ac- cording to the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses.The CFIB rates Vernon as one of the most entrepreneurial cities in B.C. for the success of its existing entrepreneurs, their outlook toward the fu- ture and existing public policy.


“A lot of our growth relating to job creation is from people who are moving to Vernon and bringing their employment with them,”


says Kevin Poole, the City of Vernon’s eco- nomic development officer. “We are working hard to create a community where people, and businesses, want to be.”


The tourism industry continues to build upon an already well-established reputation. Predator Ridge is celebrating its 20th year in style, fresh off SCOREGolf magazine nam- ing The Ridge best new course in Canada for 2010.


Less than a year after it opened, Sparkling Hill resort received the prestigious Senses Wellness Award for best mountain resort. It beat out 600 other entries, and was the only North American resort lauded at the ITB tourism fair in Berlin in March.


As for local services,


a new Vernon Secondary School and improved B.C. Transit buildings are


just some of the projected advances. Construction is also well underway on the new Vernon branch of the Okanagan Regional Library. The $11-million, 30,000- square-foot building is to open on the corner of 30th Avenue and 28th Street in 2012.


“The ORL board is very happy that this community will be able to receive the level of service it deserves,” chairman Ted Bacigalupo said.


“The current branch is 13,000 square feet, and according to ORL guidelines, it should be approximately 30,000 square feet for the population base it serves.”


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