The District of West Kelowna is a local government

Local government

Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...

 incorporated in British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

's Okanagan

Okanagan

The Okanagan , also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as Okanagan Country is a region located in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. As of 2009, the region's population is approximately 350,927. The...

 Valley. The municipality is composed of several distinct communities, including Westbank

Westbank, British Columbia

Westbank is one of the communities within the district municipality of West Kelowna in the province of British Columbia. It is 12 km to the west of Kelowna. Other communities in West Kelowna include Casa Loma, West Kelowna Estates, Shannon Lake, Smith Creek, Glenrosa, Rose Valley and Lakeview...

, Glenrosa, Smith Creek, Shannon Lake, Rose Valley, West Kelowna Estates, Casa Loma, and Lakeview Heights

Lakeview Heights, British Columbia

Lakeview Heights is a rural community within the incorporated District of West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Lakeview Heights and the rest of West Kelowna is on the west side of Okanagan Lake, across the lake from Kelowna...

. West Kelowna's population is estimated at 28,793, making it the second-largest municipality in the Kelowna-based Regional District of Central Okanagan.

The district was incorporated on December 6, 2007 as Westside District Municipality, so-named because it was the name of the regional district rural electoral area at the time. On January 30, 2009 the district was renamed West Kelowna.

Geography

The areas within the district municipality's jurisdiction include Westbank, Glenrosa, Shannon Lake, and Smith Creek in the south, which comprise approximately half of the total population, along with several other communities in the north, closer to Kelowna, including Casa Loma, West Kelowna Estates, Rose Valley and Lakeview Heights.

Embedded within the District of West Kelowna's boundaries are two self-governing reserves of the Westbank First Nation

Westbank First Nation

The Westbank First Nation is a First Nations government in the Okanagan region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, located with the District of West Kelowna. They are a member of the Okanagan Nation Alliance...

, Tsinstikeptum 9

Tsinstikeptum 9

Tsinstikeptum 9, usually referred to as Tsinstikeptum Indian Reserve No. 9, is one of two Indian Reserves of the Westbank First Nation located in West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. It and Tsinstikeptum Indian Reserve No. 10 are jointly normally referred to as the Westbank Indian Reserve. ...

 and Tsinstikeptum 10

Tsinstikeptum 10

Tsinstikeptum 10, usually referred to as Tsinstikeptum Indian Reserve No. 10, is one of two Indian Reserves of the Westbank First Nation located in West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. It and Tsinstikeptum Indian Reserve No. 9 are jointly normally referred to as the Westbank Indian Reserve. ...

. Approximately 6,000 non-band members and 500 First Nation Westbank band members live on the reserves.

Formation of Westside District Municipality

Westside District Municipality came into existence on December 6, 2007, following a June 16, 2007 referendum in which Westside residents voted to incorporate by a margin of 5,924 votes to 5,582. The other choice was amalgamation with the City of Kelowna

Kelowna

Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...

, with a previous question on the ballot offering the option of remaining unincorporated within the regional district's Westside electoral area. The vote was split along highly geographical lines with voters from Westbank, Glenrosa and other areas farther away from the City of Kelowna

Kelowna

Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...

 more often voting to incorporate and voters living closer to Kelowna

Kelowna

Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...

 typically choosing amalgamation.

On November 15, 2008, Doug Findlater was elected the new mayor of West Kelowna, succeeding the municipality's first mayor Rosalind Neis, who had served an initial one-year term. Neis opted not to run for a second term as mayor, choosing instead to run for a seat as a councillor. Neis is currently one of six councilors serving with Findlater.

Name change

During the November 2008 civic election, Westside residents were also asked in a "Community Opinion Vote" to select a permanent name for the fledgling municipality. The new name of West Kelowna, with 3,841 votes, was selected by a narrow margin over the closest contender, Westbank, with 3,675 votes. The West Kelowna name was subsequently confirmed by the district council on December 9, 2008. The controversial new name became official on January 30, 2009 after the Government of British Columbia approved the change.

Development and growth

West Kelowna has shared in the rapid growth experienced in the Okanagan area in the last decade. Between 2001 and 2006 alone, the population of the census

Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

 area encompassing the municipality grew by 11.4%.

Traditional shopping areas in West Kelowna are downtown Westbank, Lakeview Heights Shopping Centre and the Highway 97 Industrial Area. However, in the 1990s, Canadian federal grant money enabled the Westbank First Nation to bring in water from Okanagan Lake, allowing the band to open its reserves to major development. This has created competition for West Kelowna's commercial sector. Starting with a shopping centre near downtown Westbank, the Westbank First Nation began building large commercial developments along Highway 97. In the fall of 2006, a second big-box shopping centre was opened on Westbank First Nation land. The shopping mall was called the "Hub Centre" in honour of the former occupant of the site, a hubcap shop. Nearby developments include the Two Eagles Golf Course and attendant housing, other major on-reserve housing developments and another major shopping centre on the west side of the highway.

Education

West Kelowna is located within School District 23 Central Okanagan

School District 23 Central Okanagan

School District 23 Central Okanagan is a school district in the Okanagan valley of British Columbia. It includes the city of Kelowna, and the District Municipalities of West Kelowna, Lake Country, and Peachland. The boundaries of the school district are identical to those of the Regional District...

. Mount Boucherie Secondary School serves Grades 10 through 12, and is the only high school in the municipality. As well, West Kelowna has two middle schools, serving Grades 7 through 9: Constable Neil Bruce Middle School and Glenrosa Middle School. There are several elementary schools in the municipality: Hudson Road Elementary School Rose Valley Elementary School Chief Tomat Elementary School Shannon Lake Elementary School, George Pringle Elementary School, Glenrosa Elementary School, and Helen Gorman Elementary School. Post-secondary educational opportunities are available in the nearby City of Kelowna including two major public institutions: UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College.

Recreation and leisure/Culture

The Mount Boucherie Community Centre offers Royal LePage Place

Royal Lepage Place

Royal LePage Place, is a 1500-seat multi-purpose arena in West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. It was completed in 2007.Royal LePage Place is the home of the Westside Warriors ice hockey team. It has a maximum capacity of 1520 plus standing room...

 arena, home to the BCHL team the Westside Warriors

Westside Warriors

The Westside Warriors are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League and play in the Interior Conference....

, and Jim Lind Arena for ice sport clubs such as hockey, figure skating and ringette. Many residents enjoy a lakefront walking trail alongside Gellatly Road and several swimming areas along Okanagan Lake, including Willow Beach. Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre, in downtown Westbank, offers public swimming and recreational programs. Several community and regional parks are scattered throughout the municipality, offering soccer pitches, ball fields, children's play areas and hiking trails. The award winning Constable Neil Bruce Soccer Fields are also a popular recreational destination. The municipality also funds youth and seniors centres in downtown Westbank. A community garden, pergola and two off-leash dog parks are located in the Westbank Town Centre Park off Hebert Road. Crystal Ski Resort is located west of the municipality and is about a 15 minute drive from the downtown core. Telemark Cross Country Ski Club is located next to the ski resort. There are two golf courses in the municipality - Shannon Lake Golf Course and Two Eagles Golf Course .
Culturally, the area offers has no theatre or major art gallery, though a few smaller galleries sell works by local artists and potters.

External links

• West Kelowna District Municipality website