"Trade your commute for Cabernet" is among the latest marketing lines enticing people to try B.C. wine. But for many people eyeing a slower pace of life, it summarizes why the Okanagan makes the list.
Wine and food add spice to the Okanagan lifestyle, transforming the childhood vacation destination of many into a year-round community of outdoor activities and sophisticated culinary experiences.
The arid climate of the southern Okanagan has given communities such as Osoyoos, a lakefront desert town on the U.S. border, the Okanagan’s greatest concentration of seniors. Cycling and pedestrian trails along the Okanagan River and Osoyoos Lake offer stellar opportunities for birdwatchers and wildlife scouts of all stripes.
Retirees from Vancouver and Calgary also find real estate a deal.
With properties a fraction of the price of those in the city and Internet connections on par with anywhere in North America, relocating here becomes a matter of simple economics. Indeed, a rush of development a decade ago transformed the southern Okanagan into a hub of second homes, many anticipating the coming wave of retirees. The financial crisis of 2008 stalled the shift, but the trend has resumed with the recovery of real estate markets.
Projects such as Skaha Hills in Penticton are attracting retirees from across Western Canada. The homes offer single-level living ideal for seniors, often at half the price of properties in Vancouver. Similarly, other developments offer golf-oriented homes while still others in Kelowna offer proximity to urban amenities.
When health becomes a concern, South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver serves the Okanagan south of Penticton, home to its own regional hospital. The largest facility in the region – and one of the largest in Western Canada – is Kelowna General Hospital, with 700 beds. It boasts the only cardiac unit performing heart surgeries in the B.C. Interior, and enjoys an affiliation with the University of British Columbia medical school.
The region’s key shopping hub is Kelowna. Kelowna International Airport, located just north of downtown, is a departure point for direct trips to Vancouver, Calgary and the U.S.
In the north Okanagan, anchored by Vernon, seniors represent 23.6 per cent of the population. The region has seen the highest growth of retirees in the entire Okanagan since 2011.
Add in a solid economy and retiring in the Okanagan is as good as it gets for a retirement that’s a change of pace rather than a shuffling to the sidelines of life.
