The Urban Development Institute (UDI) is a non-profit association of the development industry and its related professions and is non-partisan in its activities. With over 850 corporate members, between its Pacific, Victoria, Okanagan and Fraser Valley Chapters, UDI represents thousands of individuals involved in all facets of land development and planning, including, to mention a few: developers, property managers, financial lenders, lawyers, engineers, planners, architects, appraisers, real estate professionals, local governments and government agencies. Since 1972, UDI has been dedicated to fostering effective communication between the industry, government, and the public and aims to improve both housing and job opportunities for all British Columbians. UDI also serves as the public voice of the real estate development industry, communicating with the media on a number of issues and concentrates its activities in three primary areas: government relations, professional development and education, and research. The UDI Okanagan Chapter has been in existence since 1992.