Think out of the box to diversity the economy
KAMLOOPS — Back around 2008, I was asked for my thoughts on the local economy and what new ideas I might have about diversifying our economy. Everyone else at the table was talking high tech and manufacturing but not providing specific examples or even a back of the envelope action plan, so I decided to take a completely different approach.
I mentioned the wine industry, suggesting our south facing slopes were likely ideal for vineyards. It was a renewable, non-polluting use of an existing resource, with an established and proven market. It could be scaled to allow for gradual growth and many varietals had already been proven to be well suited to our area.
When I looked out to the audience I could see that not mentioning Microsoft, assembly lines, forestry or mining had not gone over well. As if to prove the point, the following morning, the media’s response was polite but dismissive of the idea as being the product of an overactive imagination. Kamloops was they implied, a blue-collar town and a wine industry based here would never fly, let alone be accepted.
Of course jump forward several years and as you now enter the City, you are greeted with signs welcoming you to and encouraging you to stop and travel the wine trails of Kamloops.