ter heaters, ENERGY STAR® appliances
and LED lighting in every home also con-
tributes to “a home that is very well insu-
lated, sips energy to heat the home and
hence respects the desire to minimize our
carbon footprint.”
Building techniques at Skaha Hills have
generated lower utility bills for homeown-
ers, and a reduced impact on the environ-
ment. Not to mention, bragging rights of
owning a home in one of Canada’s most
energy efficient housing developments
and two-time recipient of the FortisBC Ef-
ficiency in Action Award.
STEWARDSHIP AND
DIRECTION
As a band member and Economic Busi-
ness Development Officer for PIBDC,
Lesley Gabriel says opening parts of the
Penticton India Reserve land for develop-
ment was a long time coming. “With com-
munity members, the Chief and Councils’
vision, and by using our Community Com-
prehensive Plan as a guide, we are very
proud of the fact that we have come into
our own and decided we needed to do
this,” says Gabriel. “It not only put us in
the limelight, it illustrates that our com-
munity is ready and prepared for business.
We want to move forward and strengthen
our relationship with city, provincial and
federal government. We have to do this in
order to help our people with their needs
and wants.”
MARCH 2017
H
business elite canada 91
