The Kootenay Workforce Housing Society brings partners together to advance collaborative housing solutions that support the region’s workforce, strengthen local economies, and help communities retain essential workers.
Established by Community Futures Central Kootenay in November 2025, the Society’s purpose is to support the development of housing in the Central Kootenay region and beyond, with a focus on meeting the needs of moderate-income, working individuals and families.
What We do
The Society works collaboratively with local governments, private developers, First Nations, and community partners to advance workforce housing projects. Our services include:
- Securing land for workforce housing development by holding lease agreements with property owners such as local governments, school districts, private landowners, and existing housing societies;
- Acting as the non-profit development partner that applies to funders and lenders to access grants and favourable financing for pre-development activities, feasibility studies, design development, and construction;
- Holding ownership and mortgages for workforce housing developments; and
- Acting as an aggregator to help smaller housing providers access funding opportunities, including programs such as Build Canada Homes.
The Society remains open to taking on additional roles that help fill gaps in the existing housing development ecosystem.
Governance
The Society is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of Community Futures Central Kootenay volunteers and staff with strong regional knowledge and experience in economic development, finance, and project delivery.
The Society’s founding Board of Directors includes:
- Terry Bambrick (Creston), Vice President
- Robert Bleier (Castlegar), President
- Am Naqvi (Nelson), Community Futures Central Kootenay representative
- Andrea Wilkey (Nelson), Secretary & Treasurer
Building Attainable Housing Symposium
Date: April 30, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Prestige Lakeside Resort, Nelson, BC
Agenda: Housing Symposium Agenda
The West Kootenay Building Attainable Housing Symposium brings together housing providers, building professionals, local governments, and community leaders for a full day of learning, knowledge sharing, and collaboration.
Attendees will hear from experienced housing practitioners and explore case studies of projects led by community-based housing societies and non-profits. Sessions will highlight development models that do not rely on BC Housing funding, along with strategies for navigating common challenges and moving projects forward.
Designed to build regional capacity, the symposium creates space for meaningful dialogue, connection, and collaboration – helping participants identify opportunities to advance attainable housing across the West Kootenay.
Register Now
