Columbia Valley Housing Symposium

Columbia Valley Housing Symposium Brings Local Knowledge Together

In December 2025, the Columbia Valley Housing Society (CVHS), in partnership with Community Futures East Kootenay (CFEK), hosted a regional Housing Symposium that brought 75 leaders together to tackle one of the East Kootenays’ most pressing issues: attainable and workforce housing.

Municipal leaders, non-profit housing providers, Indigenous housing representatives, developers, trades, social service agencies, and funders gathered for a full day of practical learning and collaboration. Representatives included the Shuswap Band, Aq’am Communities, housing societies from across the Kootenays, and funding partners such as the Community Housing Transformation Centre and the Columbia Valley Community Foundation.

Six months of surveys and interviews shaped the event. Three key priorities emerged: Identifying serviceable land and infrastructure needs, leveraging developer expertise and smart design including modular and prefabricated construction, and strengthening regional collaboration.
Participants brought active development plans and proformas during afternoon case studies, turning ideas into practical next steps. Key presenters at the symposium included:

• Katey Taylor (Elk Valley Family Society, EVFS): Presented successes and future projects in Fernie and the Elk Valley, including Timbers Landing Phase 2, Old Firehall, and a new Childcare and Affordable Housing Project.
• Severn Nelson (Community Housing Transformation Center, CHTC): Provided tools and services to support the growth of community housing.
• Nicholas Lorraway (2B Developments / Rural Impact Canada, 2BD/RIC): Offered guidance on efficient planning, building, and collaborative approaches.

These experts participated in presentations, Q&A sessions, and interviews. All attendees will receive the video footage and documents from the event, which will also form the basis for a new website content for CVHS and Community Futures East Kootenays.

The symposium directly influenced several major initiatives now underway:

• A formal mentorship MOU between CVHS and Elk Valley Family Society to strengthen property management systems and long-term strategy.
• A capacity-building grant application to the Community Housing Transformation Centre.
• A 48-unit workforce rental development approved in Radium Hot Springs, with feasibility and funding applications in progress.
• Two proposed 10–12 unit workforce rental developments in Invermere, supported by $160,000 in OAP funding to advance to construction-ready status.
• Additional grant applications are being submitted in early 2026 to support construction, operations, and the creation of a regional lands database.

A Rural Model for Collaboration

For a rural region, face-to-face collaboration is critical. This symposium demonstrated that when municipalities, Indigenous leaders, developers, and non-profits align around shared priorities, real progress follows.

What began as a day of dialogue has already translated into mentorship agreements, funding applications, and shovel-ready housing projects. The Columbia Valley is not just talking about attainable housing — it is building the partnerships and systems to deliver it.