Money-saving co-location

Co-operative use of space results in cost savings for Service B.C. and several government ministries

(L-R) Wayne Stetski, Ron Hinshaw, Melanie Sam, Debbie Schroeter and Andrew Wilkinson. Marie Milner photo — Marie Milner photo.

In the building formerly known to Cranbrook citizens as the Access Centre, Service BC and several BC government ministries occupy the ground floor. Service BC operates under the Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizen Services (TICS), and provides programs and services on behalf of government agencies.

Until recently, the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation (SDSI) occupied offices on the second floor. With their lease about to expire, SDSI went into discussions with Service BC about moving into some unoccupied space on the first floor.

An agreement was reached and SDSI is now located on the first floor of the Service BC building—saving a significant amount of money on lease fees—along with ICBC and four ministries: Jobs, Technology, Skills & Training; Energy, Mines & Natural Gas; Employment & Labour Market Development; and TICS.

Andrew Wilkinson, minister for TICS, was at the Service BC building on October 16 to cut a celebratory cake and tour the facility. He expressed appreciation for the efforts in effective cost-cutting by the ministries, and acknowledged the support of the Ktunaxa Nation, on whose traditional lands all of Cranbrook is built.