McQUARRIE – We need to think outside the box on growing our local economy
The industry they said couldn’t happen here. (Image: Mel Rothenburger)
BACK AROUND 2008, I was asked for my thoughts on the local economy and what new ideas I might have about diversifying our economy.
Everyone else at the table was talking high tech and manufacturing but not providing specific examples or even a back of the envelope action plan, so I decided to take a completely different approach.
I mentioned the wine industry, suggesting our south facing slopes were likely ideal for vineyards. It was a renewable, non-polluting use of an existing resource, with an established and proven market. It could be scaled to allow for gradual growth and many varietals had already been proven to be well suited to our area.
Bill McQuarrie is a Kamloops entrepreneur. He can be contacted at billmcquarrie@gmail.com. He tweets @bafflegabbed.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Mr. McQuarrie, I am officially stealing all of your ideas and embedding them into one of my main platform planks in my run for Mayor: creative, homegrown economic diversification. Thank you, sir!
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