PENTICTON — Software company owner Keith MacIntyre lives in Penticton but all his clients are in Calgary.
MacIntyre is a so-called ‘virtual worker,’ someone whose work isn’t dependent on their location.
He made this move from Alberta five years ago, saying it was a lifestyle choice.
“Perhaps my company would be bigger in Calgary, but I don’t think it would be better. I know personally, my lifestyle wouldn’t have been better,” he said.
MacIntyre said moving to Penticton meant he could take the time that would have been spent in a car and try opportunities that weren’t possible in a big city, such as being a director at the local Chamber of Commerce and run for school trustee.
The City of Penticton is aiming to attract more virtual workers like MacIntyre.
It has recently launched a campaign called #PentictonWorks, promoting its lakes, outdoor activities and competitive housing prices.
“In Penticton, you get the lifestyle, you get the home and you don’t have to give up all the other things for the rest of your life to own that home. So it has played very well to our audience,” said Colleen Pennington, the city’s economic developer.
There is already a small community of virtual workers in Penticton.
There’s even one entrepreneur who’s from as far away as Germany.
Wolf Borowski is a photographer and web developer. He said he was first attracted to Penticton because of its local ski hill, and he stayed because he could enjoy the lifestyle and still maintain the clients he has from Germany.
Borowski says not being able to meet face-to-face has some challenges but overall, it’s a rewarding experience.
“Although we are thousands of kilometres apart, we can achieve something together and I think that’s a good feeling for the customer and it is a good feeling for myself,” said Borowski.
The city’s campaign is aimed at people in Vancouver and Alberta, unexpectedly, Pennington said that people in Ontario are also showing interest.
She is optimistic that the campaign will attract people to move to the Peach City.