Lake Country purchases B.C. Tree Fruits property for future, undetermined use

The District of Lake Country has acquired the property that used to be home to the B.C. Tree Fruits Co-Operative.

The district submitted a bid of $9.1-million for the 8.4 acre lot at 9718 Bottom Wood Lake Road, next to the Winfield Arena activity hub, and was successful in its purchase.

Lake Country plans to use the site for future community amenities as the population growth creates an increased demand for both programmed and unprogrammed recreational options, green space, and public spaces and amenities.

“Balancing the community’s priorities to make strategic investments without sacrificing service and amenities is never easy,” Mayor Blair Ireland, said.

“And when a unique opportunity like this comes along, when grant funding and reserves are available to make a purchase that will benefit the community long into the future, it feels like a win for all!”

The district stated the property could potentially be used as a location for a new RCMP detachment, or for improvements and expansions to the adjacent Winfield Arena.

“The right time, location and price don’t often align, so we made sure we did our due diligence in quick order so we could direct staff to make a fair bid in the best interest of the community,” Ireland said.

“And we were thrilled when the court approved it this morning (Wednesday, Nov. 27).”

The District of Lake Country will hold engagement opportunities in 2025 to hear from the public and decide how to best use the property.