We're number nine! We're number nine!
That according to a Dec. 12, 2024 article in the Globe and Mail entitled "Canada's Most Livable Cities" that positioned Penticton ninth of a whopping 448 cross-Canada competitors in terms of overall livability.
It's the second consecutive year G&M has sorted and published its own ranking system. In 2023, Penticton finished 28th. This year's result is an impressive 19-place jump.
That jump helped the town of 40,000 that sits between Okanagan and Skaha Lakes to retain the title of Okanagan top dog. Vernon's not far behind at number 31, while Kelowna, with all those amenities but all that traffic, dropped 21 positions this year and now sits outside the hot 100 at 105.
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West Kelowna, meanwhile, which gets its fair share of Penticton shoppers hungry for more variety, lurks almost halfway down the list at 219.
British Columbia communities absolutely dominate the new leaderboard. At the very top is a trio of BC coastal bergs -- the ultra-expensive North Vancouver and West Vancouver and Victoria. Pitt Meadows (somehow) sits just ahead of Penticton in eighth, while Port Coquitlam is 11th, Vancouver is 12th, Delta is 14th and New Westminster is 15th.
That's nine of the top 15 to BC.
Penticton's bragging rights extend far beyond the ninth place "overall" result, a factoid not lost on Penticton City Hall, which issued an upbeat press release within hours of the article's appearance.
Indeed, Penticton topped the national scorecard in two categories – Most Livable City for Young Professionals and Most Livable City for Midlife Transitions. It's also the third Most Livable City for Newcomers, the fifth Most Livable City for Retirement, and the seventh Most Livable City for Raising Kids.
The only soft spot, and even then it's not a particularly shameful result, came in the Most Livable City for Entrepreneurs category, where Penticton finished 33rd of 448.
The Globe and Mail admitted their initial ranking system from 2023 needed some tweaks. The new results, it says, more accurately accounts for factors like climate change and puts more emphasis on the presence and accessibility of amenities such as museums and galleries.
All 448 communities were evaluated on 50 variables in ten categories – categories such as transportation, housing and yes, even safety. The scores were then "weighted and averaged."
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"No community is perfect," said the article. "Our top-ranked city this year, North Vancouver, received a near-bottom score for housing. But the ranking offers a holistic view of the strengths of each community’s overall livability."
Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield was, as might be expected, rather thrilled with the scorecard.
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“We’re proud to see Penticton climb the charts in this national ranking," he said. "Penticton has long been known as a great place to retire, and now it’s wonderful to see our community recognized as a top destination for young professionals.
"All the work we’ve been doing to attract and welcome skilled workers and business leaders is paying off, and it’s exciting to see Penticton celebrated among the country’s top cities.”
Director of Development Services Blake Laven concurred, adding, “Penticton is a fantastic place to live for people of all ages and backgrounds. The city’s vibrancy is on the rise, driven by new housing options for every income level, a burgeoning culinary, winery and craft brewery scene, a robust job market, strong entrepreneurial spirit and outstanding natural amenities.”
