I'm up quite a bit North of you, but I did partake in a Permablitz in Darfield (Also North of you, but it's a cool
permie site with an Earthship, food forest in progress, hugulkultur, and other interesting bits. Worth the trip, if only online
http://www.darfieldearthship.com/ ). Darfield is in Thompson River valley.
The reason I mention it, though, is mostly because that permablitz was instructed in part by a cool guy named Gord Heibert. He works out of Vernon.
Find him through:
http://www.elementecodesign.com/
Highly recommend his perspectives.
Good luck with forming your local group.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."-Margaret Mead "The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision."-Helen Keller