KPMG Praises Kamloops for Overall Competitiveness, Kamloops Daily News
This article appeared in the Kamloops Daily News on March 23rd, 2012 and was written by Michele Young.
People in Kamloops are going to be getting swollen heads, with two studies in one week pointing to the city as a great place to be.
First, MoneySense Magazine rated Kamloops 44th out of 190 Canadian cities for livability.
Then on Thursday, KPMG ranked Kamloops as top B.C. community for overall competitiveness to do business.
Venture Kamloops executive director Dan Sulz said the accounting firm’s ratings looked at 26 factors — things like land prices, taxes, labour costs, real estate and utilities — in making the choice.
Other B.C. cities vying against Kamloops were Prince George, Vancouver and Victoria.
The KPMG rating was something that’s important to help with getting Kamloops recognized among international investors, Sulz said.
“This is also an international report. It’s very important that Kamloops fared above the other communities in B.C. as we try to promote ourselves internationally,” he said.
“When I talk to international investors, they ask me how we fared on the KPMG report.”
It was those questions that prompted him to sign Kamloops up for this year’s ranking — a first for this city.
Participating cities pay for the service of being ranked by KPMG. But Sulz said the money spent has great value when it comes to marketing and promotional uses.
“I was listening to international companies saying this is an important report we rely on in terms of competitiveness,” he said.
“There is value in being able to be ranked in this publication.”
Between the two reports, Kamloops stands out in terms of availability of labour, affordability of lifestyle for employees, quality of life for employees with what the City has done with the Tournament Capital program, and location, services and infrastructure that the city has that companies can benefit from, he said.
Venture Kamloops hasn’t been alone in helping the city’s business image. Sulz said the Chamber of Commerce and other local business associations have contributed.
And even social agencies have helped because they build infrastructure and services in the community that are important to the quality of life Kamloops offers, he said.
“It’s not just about building things that are good for business; it’s about building things that are good for the community. I was surprised and ecstatic to see us ranked as we were. But when you look at every group and organization working hard in the community, it doesn’t surprise me.”
Mayor Peter Milobar said Kamloops needs to let outsiders know about what it has to offer, and rankings such as these two help with that.
“When you combine business competitiveness with one of the best cities to live in Canada, you’ve got a community that is positioned to grow and prosper. That’s something we all have a stake in and can be proud of,” he said.
Open concept, spacious 1 bedroom unit in popular Park Place. Located in a quiet location close to all downtown amenities and transportation. Secure underground parking with 1 parking stall. All appliances included. Many of the amenities include indoor pool, exercise room, sauna, whirlpool, recreation room with billiards, workshop, car wash, bicycle storage, and gated entrance. To top it off there is a private wharf on the river that offers moorage for you boat. This complex is located on the millennium trail, close to Pioneer Park, tennis courts and more. A/C and hot water tank replaced 2009. Please allow 24 hours notice for viewings. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to live in this great complex. Pets and rentals allowed with restrictions.
Tranquille on the Lake is a former Tuberculosis Sanatorium. It is currently in the early development stages of a comprehensive waterfront village plan. The developers have a grand vision for this large lakefront parcel of land. I came across this 
Tranquille, also known as Padova is located at the eastern bay of Kamloops Lake. It gets its name from the Tranquille River that enters Kamloops Lake in this area. In the 1840’s and 1850’s this area was a main route for fur traders, passing along the north shore of Kamloops lake. The area was largely uninhabited until gold was discovered in 1857. The area was mined for years to follow.
As early as 1897 the Fortune family was taking in TB patients at their ranch. The Fortunes sold their ranch in 1907 for $57,000. The hospital was officially named the King Edward Sanatorium but was known as the Tranquille Sanatorium. Many residents of Kamloops opposed the Sanatorium.
A lakeside village, urban farm, dynamic, sustainable community, breathtaking aquatic landscapes and pristine shorelines are all phrases the developers use to describe their vision. This lakeside community will feature a local market, public trail network, public beach, working farm, local artisans, eco friendly living, boat launch, marine ecology research centre and beachfront cafes all set among residential properties.
The developers have built new buildings on the site, refurbished some of the pre-existing homes and dealt with some of the environmental issues such as asbestos and lead paint. There is farming activity right now. Currently there are hay fields and produce (cantelope, blackberries, cherries, grapes and more).