Article 5 - Industry in Summerland?

This e mail arrived from Barrie Karner the other day. Barrie raises an important discussion topic.

"If possible I would like to see some discussion around industry and what proportion of a community should be provided for industry or does anyone even know the answer to that question. Industrial lands are becoming increasingly scarce, in the Okanagan and the lower mainland as well as across Canada. A lot of people think it's better to not have industry but that's a bit like letting everyone else vaccinate their kids so you don't have to worry about vaccinating your own. I think a healthy community is an economically healthy community and that usually means economic diversity and I don't think that issue gets much serious consideration from a lot of people."

Thanks,
Barrie Karner

Barrie's words raise many interesting questions. Here's a few.

• Should the Okanagan region attempt to be fully diversified economically or should it focus on existing areas of employment such as agriculture, tourism, wineries, providing retirement services, healthcare, etc?
• We have an unusual climatic situation here with frequent temperature inversions that produce rapid pollution build-up at times. How much industry, and what type of industry, could the Okanagan Valley take?
• Is it a good thing or a bad thing for Summerlanders to commute to industrial jobs in Penticton and Kelowna, as opposed to having industry here in town?
• Should Summerland concentrate on retirement services, healthcare for the elderly, agriculture, etc.? or should we strive for full economic diversification?