Building permits double as Kootenay town experiences construction boom
Cranbrook permits double, Revelstoke and Nelson also say construction up from last year
The biggest city in British Columbia's Kootenay region is going through a building boom.
Cranbrook Mayor Lee Pratt says building permits have more than doubled so far in 2016 — from $9 million in permits distributed last year.
"That's a huge increase and I think it shows a lot of confidence returning to Cranbrook and the economy here," Pratt said.
Pratt says he thinks the boom is because people from the Lower Mainland are moving in.
On top of that, he says, fewer locals are moving to Alberta, which is experiencing a severe recession.
Other Kootenay towns like Revelstoke and Nelson also say they're experiencing spikes in new construction.
Evan Burwash, a contractor in Cranbrook, says there's no shortage of work for him right now.
"I've only been doing this for about five years now," Burwash said. "It's pretty steady."
With files from Bob Keating