Kelowna
Encyclopedia
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
". Kelowna ranks as the 22nd largest metropolitan area in Canada.
Nearby communities include the district of West Kelowna (a separate political entity from Kelowna) to the west across Okanagan Lake
, Lake Country
and Vernon
to the north, as well as Peachland
to the southwest and, further to the south, Summerland
and Penticton.
in 1905.
lives in Lake Okanagan. In the past, naysayers have pointed out the similarities between the so-called monster
and a beaver, a log and other less monstrous lake denizens. Nevertheless, local tourism makes use of the Ogopogo legend, and a children's park features an imaginative statue of the fictional creature.
In both 1986 and 1988, alcohol-fueled riots erupted during summer Regatta festivities. In May 2005, Kelowna celebrated its Centennial. That year a new bridge
to replace the Okanagan Lake Bridge
began construction as part of a plan to alleviate traffic problems experienced during the summer months when tourists from the Coast, Alberta
and east, and the U.S. flock to the area to enjoy the summer heat, Okanagan Lake beaches, mountain bike riding and other outdoor activities. This influx of tourist traffic adds to the commuters between West Kelowna/Westbank and Kelowna.
In July 2007 general rowdiness during the annual "Wakefest" wakeboarding competition and music festival led to the decision by Kelowna City Council
to ban the event for the following year. Expected to return for the summer 2009 tour after organizers/promoters agreed to changes in the festival (including renaming it, introducing restricted beer garden hours and moving the date to later in the summer), conflicting dates with the national tour forced the festival to be withheld for another year.
In February 2009 an RCMP gang task unit was approved to help deal with gang violence. In January 2011, Kelowna hosted the 2011 International Children's Winter Games
.
in West Kelowna across Lake Okanagan from Kelowna proper; no homes were damaged, however. In August 2003, a nearby wildfire
destroyed over 200 homes and forced the temporary evacuation of approx. 30,000 residents. During the 2003 fire, many trestles of the historic Kettle Valley Railway
were destroyed. All the trestles have been rebuilt to look like the originals but using smaller dimension beams.
In July 2009 wildfires destroyed hundreds of hectares of forest and a number of buildings in West Kelowna; 17,000 residents were evacuated.
BSk), with four seasons. The official climate station for Kelowna is located at the Kelowna International Airport
, which is at a higher altitude than the city core with slightly higher precipitation and cooler temperatures. Okanagan Lake
as well as the blocking barriers of the Cascade Mountains to the west, and the Canadian Rockies
and the Columbia Mountains
to the east tend to moderate the winter climate, but Arctic
air masses
do occasionally penetrate the valley during winter, usually for very short periods (coldest recorded temperature of -36.1 °C, on December 30, 1968).
Summers are hot and sunny, with daytime temperatures often exceeding 35 °C (95 °F), the hottest recorded temperature at the Airport was 39.5 °C (103.1 °F), on July 24, 1994. During summer clear, dry air allows nighttime temperatures to fall rapidly. The city averages about 300 millimetres (12 in) of precipitation per year, with about 1/3 of the precipitation falling as snow, the bulk in December and January; however, June is the month of greatest rainfall. The inherent dryness of Kelowna's climate is a factor in the forest fire risk as, for example, during the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire
of 2003, a large residential evacuation (over 30,000 residents) was ordered.
Although Kelowna averages 300.5 hours of bright sunshine in July (61% of daylight hours), the winter months are mostly overcast due to the presence of low-level Pacific moisture clashing with Arctic air and getting trapped in the valley; thus, Kelowna averages only 40.3 hours of bright sunshine in January (for comparison, consider 120 hours at Winnipeg
, Manitoba
and Miramichi, New Brunswick
).
Kelowna has the greatest percentage of "calm" wind observations in Canada (39% of the time). The 4 year average wind measured at the airport has been less than 5 knots on average 10/12 months of the year between 2008 and 2011.
. In summer, boating, golf, hiking and biking are popular, and in winter, both Alpine skiing
and Nordic skiing
are favourite activities at the nearby Big White
and Silver Star
ski resorts.
Kelowna produces wines
that have received international recognition. Vineyard
s are common around and south of the city where the climate is ideal for the many wineries
. Notable vineyards in the area include the Mission Hill Winery
(in West Kelowna), specifically for its unique architectural design. At least two major wineries were damaged or destroyed (now rebuilt) in 2003 due to the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire
. Kelowna is also the home of Sun-Rype
, a popular manufacturer of fruit bars and juices.
Okanagan College
and University of British Columbia Okanagan
are the predominant centres for post-secondary education. Over 5000 full-time students attend Okanagan College. In addition to vocational training and adult basic education, the college offers a highly regarded university transfer program. University of British Columbia Okanagan has a student population of over 7900 full-time students, enrolled in diverse undergraduate and graduate programs.
Kelowna is the seat of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan
, the third-largest metropolitan area in British Columbia (after Vancouver
and Victoria
), and the largest in the British Columbia Interior
. With scenic lake vistas and a dry, mild climate, Kelowna has become one of the fastest growing cities in North America. The appropriate management of such rapid development (and its attendant consequences) is a source of significant debate within the community. Kelowna is the fourth least affordable housing market in Canada, currently maintaining the classification of "Severely Unaffordable". Because of the Okanagan
's climate and vineyard-filled scenery, it is often compared to Napa Valley, California.
2001 census, the population estimates there were 96,288 people residing in Kelowna and 147,739 people residing in the Greater Kelowna Area. 48.4% of residents were male and 51.6% were female. Children under five accounted for approximately 4.8% of the resident population of Kelowna. This compares with 5.2% in British Columbia, and 5.6% for Canada
overall.
In mid-2001, 18.4% of the resident population in Kelowna were of retirement age (65 and over for males and females) compared with 13.2% in Canada; the average age is 41.1 years of age, compared to an average age of 37.6 years in Canada.
In the five years between 1996 and 2001, the population of Kelowna grew by 8.2%, compared with an increase of 4.9% for British Columbia as a whole. Population density of Kelowna averaged 50.9 people per square kilometre, compared with Vancouver at 5335 people per square kilometre, and with all of British Columbia with an average of 4.2 people/km².
Minorities make up 6.2% of the population of Kelowna. The largest group of visible minorities are South Asian (28.7%), Chinese (19.0%), Japanese (14.0%), Southeast Asian (9.0%), Filipino and other Asian (10.6%), Black (7.4%), multiple/other (4.1%), and Arab (0.8%)
Population Growth
Religious groups
Ethnic origin
Kelowna's population growth has been driven primarily by the movement of Canadians from BC and other provinces into this region, not by international immigration. Only 15.1% of the population is foreign born.
In 1986, in time for the opening of Expo 86
, a new freeway was built into the BC interior
, eliminating over two hours of travel time between the Coast and the interior. This freeway, starting in Hope
, is known as the Coquihalla Highway (Hwy 5), and terminates in Kamloops. At Merritt
another newer (1989) highway, the Okanagan Connector, BC Highway 97C, heads eastward to Highway 97, which it joins at the West Kelowna-Peachland boundary. This new freeway system allows one to drive the 395 kilometres from Vancouver to Kelowna in four and a half hours.
Kelowna is connected to West Kelowna by the new five lane William R. Bennett Bridge
which officially opened May 25, 2008. This new bridge links Highway 97 to the southern Okanagan and to the Coquihalla Highway via Hwy 97C. The old floating bridge has been dismantled as it has outlived its usefulness and was incapable of supporting the current traffic levels. A small park area on the Kelowna side of the bridge has a dedication to the old bridge, and artwork made of pieces of it. The new William R. Bennett bridge has helped to alleviate some traffic congestion but ongoing roadwork on interchanges, the restructuring of traffic lights and other improvements are underway on HWY 97 on both the Kelowna East and West Kelowna sides of the bridge. This stretch of Highway 97 continues to be one of the province's busiest traffic arteries and improvements will be necessary to keep up with the ever increasing population and the ever expanding tourist traffic to this area.
Highway 33, which connects with Highway 97 in Rutland
, provides an alternate way to enter and exit the city, towards the southeast; it also is the route to the Big White Ski area.
based company FirstGroup, providing public bus transportation services in Kelowna and its vicinity. Funding for the transit system is shared between the City of Kelowna, Central Okanagan Regional District, District of Lake Country
and BC Transit
.
, Edmonton
, Toronto
, Vancouver
, Victoria
, and Seattle, as well as seasonal service to Las Vegas
, Phoenix
, and Mexico. Travelers arriving at the Kelowna International Airport can find Ground Transportation services available for travel throughout the Okanagan Valley and British Columbia
.
On November 27 2011 Kelowna airport officials received warnings of a flying Christmas tree to which helium balloons had been attachedhttp://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/134614483.html as part of an international scavenger hunt organised by Misha Collins
known as GISHWHEShttp://greatestinternationalscavengerhunttheworldhaseverseen.com (Greatest International Scavenger Hunt The World Has Ever Seen.)
Public schools
Public schools in the Kelowna area are part of School District 23 Central Okanagan
or School District 93 Conseil scolaire francophone:
Private schools
Post-secondary
" agreements with the following cities: Kasugai
, Japan
Veendam
, Netherlands
Senanga
, Zambia
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
on Okanagan Lake
Okanagan Lake
Okanagan Lake is a large, deep lake in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. The lake is 135 km long, between 4 and 5 km wide, and has a surface area of 351 km². The lake's maximum depth is 232 meters near Grant Island...
in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of 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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
". Kelowna ranks as the 22nd largest metropolitan area in Canada.
Nearby communities include the district of West Kelowna (a separate political entity from Kelowna) to the west across Okanagan Lake
Okanagan Lake
Okanagan Lake is a large, deep lake in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. The lake is 135 km long, between 4 and 5 km wide, and has a surface area of 351 km². The lake's maximum depth is 232 meters near Grant Island...
, Lake Country
Lake Country, British Columbia
Lake Country is a District Municipality with a population of approximately 10,000 in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada. The city of Kelowna lies to the south, while the city of Vernon lies to the north. As its name suggests, there are a number of lakes in the vicinity of Lake Country,...
and Vernon
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
to the north, as well as Peachland
Peachland, British Columbia
Peachland is a district municipality of approximately 5000 residents in the Okanagan Valley, on the west side of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1899 by John Moore Robinson, although the region had long been home to the Okanagan people...
to the southwest and, further to the south, Summerland
Summerland, British Columbia
Summerland is a community on the west side of Okanagan Lake in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. The district is between Peachland to the north and Penticton to the south...
and Penticton.
History
Father Charles M. Pandosy, a French Roman Catholic Oblate missionary, arriving in 1859 was the first European to settle at Kelowna, a place named "L'anse au sable" (Bay of Sand) in reference to the sandy shoreline. Kelowna was officially incorporatedMunicipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
in 1905.
Events of significance
- On August 6, 1969 a sonic boomSonic boomA sonic boom is the sound associated with the shock waves created by an object traveling through the air faster than the speed of sound. Sonic booms generate enormous amounts of sound energy, sounding much like an explosion...
from a nearby air show produced an expensive broken glass bill of a quarter million dollars while at least 6 people were injured. The incident was caused by a member of America's Blue AngelsBlue AngelsThe United States Navy's Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, popularly known as the Blue Angels, was formed in 1946 and is currently the oldest formal flying aerobatic team...
during a practice routine for the Kelowna Regatta festival: He accidentally went through the sound barrier while flying too low. - Winter 1986 was the last time that the Lake completely froze over. (A Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceThe Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
helicopter successfully rescued an SUV that had tried to drive across the Lake and cracked through the ice). - 2000s, Kelowna builds the tallest building in between the lower mainland and CalgaryCalgaryCalgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
: Skye at WaterscapesSkye at WaterscapesSkye at Waterscapes, a 26 storey building, is the tallest building in Kelowna, Canada. It is the largest building between Calgary and the lower mainland, and is the tallest building in Waterscapes, featuring a complex of lowrise apartment buildings...
, which is a 26-floor residential tower.
Tourism and consequences
Some claim to believe that a lake monster named OgopogoOgopogo
Ogopogo or Naitaka is the name given to a cryptid lake monster reported to live in Okanagan Lake, in British Columbia, Canada. Ogopogo has been allegedly seen by First Nations people since the 19th century...
lives in Lake Okanagan. In the past, naysayers have pointed out the similarities between the so-called monster
Cryptozoology
Cryptozoology refers to the search for animals whose existence has not been proven...
and a beaver, a log and other less monstrous lake denizens. Nevertheless, local tourism makes use of the Ogopogo legend, and a children's park features an imaginative statue of the fictional creature.
In both 1986 and 1988, alcohol-fueled riots erupted during summer Regatta festivities. In May 2005, Kelowna celebrated its Centennial. That year a new bridge
William R. Bennett Bridge
The William R. Bennett Bridge is a bridge in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Completed on May 25, 2008, the bridge replaced the older Okanagan Lake Bridge built in 1958 to link Downtown Kelowna to West Kelowna across Okanagan Lake as part of Highway 97.On April 21, 2005, premier...
to replace the Okanagan Lake Bridge
Okanagan Lake Bridge
The Okanagan Lake Bridge was a three-lane, 2,100 foot/650 metre-long floating bridge in British Columbia, Canada. It crossed Okanagan Lake, connecting the Westside area to Kelowna on the lake's eastern side. Taller boats such as sailboats were able to pass under the lift span which was located at...
began construction as part of a plan to alleviate traffic problems experienced during the summer months when tourists from the Coast, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and east, and the U.S. flock to the area to enjoy the summer heat, Okanagan Lake beaches, mountain bike riding and other outdoor activities. This influx of tourist traffic adds to the commuters between West Kelowna/Westbank and Kelowna.
In July 2007 general rowdiness during the annual "Wakefest" wakeboarding competition and music festival led to the decision by Kelowna City Council
Kelowna City Council
-2008-2011:* Mayor: Sharon ShepherdCouncilors: Robert Hobson, Brian Given, Andre Blanleil, Angela Reid, Michele Rule, Graeme James, Luke Stack, Charlie Hodge.* As of the November 2009 by-election; Kevin Craig has replaced the late Brian Given.*-2005-2008:*...
to ban the event for the following year. Expected to return for the summer 2009 tour after organizers/promoters agreed to changes in the festival (including renaming it, introducing restricted beer garden hours and moving the date to later in the summer), conflicting dates with the national tour forced the festival to be withheld for another year.
In February 2009 an RCMP gang task unit was approved to help deal with gang violence. In January 2011, Kelowna hosted the 2011 International Children's Winter Games
2011 International Children's Winter Games
The 2011 International Children's Winter Games, officially known as the IV International Children's Games, was a major international multi-sport event held from January 26 to January 31, 2011 in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. The city was elected by the International Olympic Committee)...
.
Area seasonal wildfires
On May 7, 1992, a forest fire consumed 60 hectares of forest on Mount BoucherieMount Boucherie
Mount Boucherie is a mountain located in West Kelowna on the west shore of Okanagan Lake, British Columbia, Canada, opposite the city of Kelowna. It is the remnants of a former stratovolcano created nearly 60 million years ago. Between four and six different glacial periods over the past 50...
in West Kelowna across Lake Okanagan from Kelowna proper; no homes were damaged, however. In August 2003, a nearby wildfire
2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire
On August 16, 2003 a wildfire was started by a lightning strike near Rattlesnake Island in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. The wildfire was fuelled by a constant wind and one of the driest summers in the past decade...
destroyed over 200 homes and forced the temporary evacuation of approx. 30,000 residents. During the 2003 fire, many trestles of the historic Kettle Valley Railway
Kettle Valley Railway
The Kettle Valley Railroad was a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway that operated in the Thompson-Okanagan region of southern British Columbia....
were destroyed. All the trestles have been rebuilt to look like the originals but using smaller dimension beams.
In July 2009 wildfires destroyed hundreds of hectares of forest and a number of buildings in West Kelowna; 17,000 residents were evacuated.
Geography and climate
Kelowna's climate is a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk), with four seasons. The official climate station for Kelowna is located at the Kelowna International Airport
Kelowna International Airport
Kelowna International Airport is a Canadian airport located approximately 10 minutes or northeast of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, on Highway 97....
, which is at a higher altitude than the city core with slightly higher precipitation and cooler temperatures. Okanagan Lake
Okanagan Lake
Okanagan Lake is a large, deep lake in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. The lake is 135 km long, between 4 and 5 km wide, and has a surface area of 351 km². The lake's maximum depth is 232 meters near Grant Island...
as well as the blocking barriers of the Cascade Mountains to the west, and the Canadian Rockies
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
and the Columbia Mountains
Columbia Mountains
The Columbia Mountains are a group of mountain ranges located in southeastern British Columbia, and partially in Montana, Idaho and Washington. The mountain range covers 135,952 km² . The range is bounded by the Rocky Mountain Trench on the east, and the Kootenay River on the south; their...
to the east tend to moderate the winter climate, but Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
air masses
Air mass
In meteorology, an air mass is a volume of air defined by its temperature and water vapor content. Air masses cover many hundreds or thousands of square miles, and adopt the characteristics of the surface below them. They are classified according to latitude and their continental or maritime...
do occasionally penetrate the valley during winter, usually for very short periods (coldest recorded temperature of -36.1 °C, on December 30, 1968).
Summers are hot and sunny, with daytime temperatures often exceeding 35 °C (95 °F), the hottest recorded temperature at the Airport was 39.5 °C (103.1 °F), on July 24, 1994. During summer clear, dry air allows nighttime temperatures to fall rapidly. The city averages about 300 millimetres (12 in) of precipitation per year, with about 1/3 of the precipitation falling as snow, the bulk in December and January; however, June is the month of greatest rainfall. The inherent dryness of Kelowna's climate is a factor in the forest fire risk as, for example, during the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire
2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire
On August 16, 2003 a wildfire was started by a lightning strike near Rattlesnake Island in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. The wildfire was fuelled by a constant wind and one of the driest summers in the past decade...
of 2003, a large residential evacuation (over 30,000 residents) was ordered.
Although Kelowna averages 300.5 hours of bright sunshine in July (61% of daylight hours), the winter months are mostly overcast due to the presence of low-level Pacific moisture clashing with Arctic air and getting trapped in the valley; thus, Kelowna averages only 40.3 hours of bright sunshine in January (for comparison, consider 120 hours at Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
and Miramichi, New Brunswick
Miramichi, New Brunswick
Miramichi is the largest city in northern New Brunswick, Canada. It is situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it enters Miramichi Bay...
).
Kelowna has the greatest percentage of "calm" wind observations in Canada (39% of the time). The 4 year average wind measured at the airport has been less than 5 knots on average 10/12 months of the year between 2008 and 2011.
Economy
The service industry employs the most people in Kelowna, the largest city in the tourist-oriented Okanagan ValleyOkanagan
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...
. In summer, boating, golf, hiking and biking are popular, and in winter, both Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
and Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing....
are favourite activities at the nearby Big White
Big White Ski Resort
Big White Ski Resort, or simply Big White, is a ski resort located southeast of Kelowna in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. Located on Big White Mountain, the highest summit in the Okanagan Highland, an upland area between the Monashee Mountains and the Okanagan Valley, it is the second...
and Silver Star
Silver Star Mountain Resort
Silver Star Mountain Resort is a ski resort located near Silver Star Provincial Park in the Shuswap Highland of the Monashee Mountains, northeast of the city of Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Silver Star's snow season runs from late November to mid-April weather permitting...
ski resorts.
Kelowna produces wines
Canadian wine
Canadian wine is produced in mainly southern British Columbia and southern Ontario. There is also a growing number of small scale producers of grapes and wine in southern Quebec and Nova Scotia. The two largest wine-producing regions in Canada are the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia and the...
that have received international recognition. Vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
s are common around and south of the city where the climate is ideal for the many wineries
Winery
A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of...
. Notable vineyards in the area include the Mission Hill Winery
Mission Hill Winery
Mission Hill Winery is a Canadian wine grower and producer. It is based in West Kelowna, British Columbia, in the Okanagan Valley wine region.-History:...
(in West Kelowna), specifically for its unique architectural design. At least two major wineries were damaged or destroyed (now rebuilt) in 2003 due to the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire
2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire
On August 16, 2003 a wildfire was started by a lightning strike near Rattlesnake Island in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. The wildfire was fuelled by a constant wind and one of the driest summers in the past decade...
. Kelowna is also the home of Sun-Rype
Sun-Rype
Sun-Rype Products Ltd. is western Canada’s largest fruit-based food and beverage manufacturer. Since its foundation in 1946, Sun-Rype has been producing juices and fruit snacks in Kelowna, British Columbia, in the heart of the Okanagan....
, a popular manufacturer of fruit bars and juices.
Okanagan College
Okanagan College
Okanagan College is a public, post-secondary institution with over 120 certificates, diplomas, degrees and programs including Apprenticeship & Pre-apprenticeship Trades programs. It is located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada...
and University of British Columbia Okanagan
UBC Okanagan
The University of British Columbia Okanagan is a campus of the University of British Columbia, located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. The official name for the campus is simply UBC's Okanagan Campus, although it is frequently called 'UBCO.'...
are the predominant centres for post-secondary education. Over 5000 full-time students attend Okanagan College. In addition to vocational training and adult basic education, the college offers a highly regarded university transfer program. University of British Columbia Okanagan has a student population of over 7900 full-time students, enrolled in diverse undergraduate and graduate programs.
Kelowna is the seat of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan
Regional District of Central Okanagan, British Columbia
The Regional District of Central Okanagan is a regional district in the Canadian province of British Columbia, Canada, comprising the City of Kelowna and its surrounding bedroom municipalities....
, the third-largest metropolitan area in British Columbia (after Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
), and the largest in the British Columbia Interior
British Columbia Interior
The British Columbia Interior or BC Interior or Interior of British Columbia, usually referred to only as the Interior, is one of the three main regions of the Canadian province of British Columbia, the other two being the Lower Mainland, which comprises the overlapping areas of Greater Vancouver...
. With scenic lake vistas and a dry, mild climate, Kelowna has become one of the fastest growing cities in North America. The appropriate management of such rapid development (and its attendant consequences) is a source of significant debate within the community. Kelowna is the fourth least affordable housing market in Canada, currently maintaining the classification of "Severely Unaffordable". Because of the 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...
's climate and vineyard-filled scenery, it is often compared to Napa Valley, California.
Kelowna's use as a film locale
- FidoFido (film)Fido is a 2006 Canadian zombie comedy film directed by Andrew Currie and written by Robert Chomiak, Currie, and Dennis Heaton from an original story by Heaton...
, a comedy/horror/thriller movie about zombies, was filmed in Kelowna and debuted on September 7, 2006 at the Toronto Film Festival. - Part of the movie Mee Shee: The Water Giant was filmed in Kelowna.
- The movies ShredShred (film)Shred is a snowboarding comedy film starring Tom Green that was filmed along with its sequel Shred 2 at Big White Ski Resort and Silver Star Mountain Resort, two ski resorts in British Columbia, Canada.-Plot:...
, and Shred 2Shred 2Revenge Of The Boarding School Dropouts is a snowboarding film and a sequel to Shred that stars Tom Green and was filmed at Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia, Canada.-Cast:*Kingsley Brown, a corporate snowboard rep - Tom Green...
were partially filmed at Big White, a ski hill near Kelowna.
Kelowna's use as a market trial location
Due to its moderate population, Kelowna is often used as a market trial area where national businesses and organizations can test a new product. Examples include:- The Canadian Air Transport Security AuthorityCanadian Air Transport Security AuthorityThe Canadian Air Transport Security Authority is a Canadian Crown corporation responsible for the security screening at the 89 designated airports in Canada...
piloted new whole body imaging technology for passenger screening at the Kelowna International AirportKelowna International AirportKelowna International Airport is a Canadian airport located approximately 10 minutes or northeast of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, on Highway 97....
from 2008-2009. - Telus Mobility re-launched its ClearnetClearnet (Telus Mobility)Clearnet is a division of Telus Mobility launched in April 2011 which sells landline and mobile phone bundles in Western Canada. It is a revival of the Clearnet Communications brand name, an independent cellular provider that was merged into Telus Mobility in 2000...
discount mobile phone brand in Kelowna and Red Deer, AlbertaRed Deer, AlbertaRed Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
in 2011. - Carl's Jr.Carl's Jr.Carl's Jr. is an American fast-food restaurant chain located mostly in the Western and Southwestern United States. The first store has opened in Canada in Kelowna, BC. They are in the process of expanding to Mexico, Malaysia, Denmark, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Russia, Vietnam,...
opened its first Canadian store in Kelowna in 2011
Demography
According to the Statistics CanadaStatistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
2001 census, the population estimates there were 96,288 people residing in Kelowna and 147,739 people residing in the Greater Kelowna Area. 48.4% of residents were male and 51.6% were female. Children under five accounted for approximately 4.8% of the resident population of Kelowna. This compares with 5.2% in British Columbia, and 5.6% for Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
overall.
In mid-2001, 18.4% of the resident population in Kelowna were of retirement age (65 and over for males and females) compared with 13.2% in Canada; the average age is 41.1 years of age, compared to an average age of 37.6 years in Canada.
In the five years between 1996 and 2001, the population of Kelowna grew by 8.2%, compared with an increase of 4.9% for British Columbia as a whole. Population density of Kelowna averaged 50.9 people per square kilometre, compared with Vancouver at 5335 people per square kilometre, and with all of British Columbia with an average of 4.2 people/km².
Minorities make up 6.2% of the population of Kelowna. The largest group of visible minorities are South Asian (28.7%), Chinese (19.0%), Japanese (14.0%), Southeast Asian (9.0%), Filipino and other Asian (10.6%), Black (7.4%), multiple/other (4.1%), and Arab (0.8%)
Population Growth
| 1905 | 600 |
|---|---|
| 1959 | 10,000 |
| 1971 | 19,089 |
| 1978 | 51,955 |
| 1981 | 59,196 |
| 1986 | 61,213 |
| 1991 | 75,950 |
| 1993 | 85,564 |
| 1996 | 89,442 |
| 2001 | 96,288 |
| 2006 | 106,707 |
Religious groups
| Total | 94,760 | 100% |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 18,195 | 19.2% |
| Protestant Protestantism Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the... |
38,215 | 40.3% |
| Christian Orthodox Eastern Orthodox Church The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,... |
795 | 0.8% |
| Christian Christian A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament... , n.i.e. |
5,735 | 6.1% |
| Muslim Muslim A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable... |
250 | 0.2% |
| Jewish | 215 | 0.2% |
| Buddhist | 505 | 0.5% |
| Hindu Hindu Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion... |
140 | 0.1% |
| Sikh Sikh A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"... |
855 | 0.9% |
| Eastern religions | 110 | 0.1% |
| Latter-day Saint | 305 | 0.3% |
| No religious affiliation | 29,435 | 31.1% |
- Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census
Ethnic origin
| English | 20,665 | 48.1% |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish | 16,275 | 37.9% |
| German | 13,170 | 30.7% |
| Canadian | 12,410 | 28.9% |
| Irish | 12,265 | 28.5% |
| French | 7,455 | 17.4% |
| Ukrainian | 4,485 | 10.4% |
| Dutch | 2,915 | 6.8% |
| Polish | 2,815 | 6.6% |
| Norwegian | 2,765 | 6.4% |
| Swedish | 2,380 | 5.5% |
| Russian | 2,045 | 4.8% |
| Italian | 1,865 | 4.3% |
| Aboriginal people | 1,695 | 3.9% |
| Welsh | 1,390 | 3.2% |
Kelowna's population growth has been driven primarily by the movement of Canadians from BC and other provinces into this region, not by international immigration. Only 15.1% of the population is foreign born.
Roads and highways
For years, only one major highway passed through the city of Kelowna: Highway 97. The road itself is good, but its connections to all points east and west in the province were only managed by using the slow, curving Trans Canada Highway and the Crowsnest Highway.In 1986, in time for the opening of Expo 86
Expo 86
The 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or simply Expo '86, was a World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from Friday, May 2 until Monday, October 13, 1986...
, a new freeway was built into the BC interior
British Columbia Interior
The British Columbia Interior or BC Interior or Interior of British Columbia, usually referred to only as the Interior, is one of the three main regions of the Canadian province of British Columbia, the other two being the Lower Mainland, which comprises the overlapping areas of Greater Vancouver...
, eliminating over two hours of travel time between the Coast and the interior. This freeway, starting in Hope
Hope, British Columbia
Hope is a district municipality located at the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Hope is at the eastern end of both the Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland region, and is at the southern end of the Fraser Canyon...
, is known as the Coquihalla Highway (Hwy 5), and terminates in Kamloops. At Merritt
Merritt, British Columbia
Merritt is a city in the Nicola Valley of the south-central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Situated at the confluence of the Nicola and Coldwater rivers, it is the first major community encountered after travelling along Phase One of the Coquihalla Highway and acts as the gateway to all...
another newer (1989) highway, the Okanagan Connector, BC Highway 97C, heads eastward to Highway 97, which it joins at the West Kelowna-Peachland boundary. This new freeway system allows one to drive the 395 kilometres from Vancouver to Kelowna in four and a half hours.
Kelowna is connected to West Kelowna by the new five lane William R. Bennett Bridge
William R. Bennett Bridge
The William R. Bennett Bridge is a bridge in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Completed on May 25, 2008, the bridge replaced the older Okanagan Lake Bridge built in 1958 to link Downtown Kelowna to West Kelowna across Okanagan Lake as part of Highway 97.On April 21, 2005, premier...
which officially opened May 25, 2008. This new bridge links Highway 97 to the southern Okanagan and to the Coquihalla Highway via Hwy 97C. The old floating bridge has been dismantled as it has outlived its usefulness and was incapable of supporting the current traffic levels. A small park area on the Kelowna side of the bridge has a dedication to the old bridge, and artwork made of pieces of it. The new William R. Bennett bridge has helped to alleviate some traffic congestion but ongoing roadwork on interchanges, the restructuring of traffic lights and other improvements are underway on HWY 97 on both the Kelowna East and West Kelowna sides of the bridge. This stretch of Highway 97 continues to be one of the province's busiest traffic arteries and improvements will be necessary to keep up with the ever increasing population and the ever expanding tourist traffic to this area.
Highway 33, which connects with Highway 97 in Rutland
Rutland, Kelowna
Rutland is a neighbourhood of the City of Kelowna in the Okanagan region of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, located on the northeast edge of the city's core. Nearby neighbourhoods include Dilworth, Belgo, Black Mountain...
, provides an alternate way to enter and exit the city, towards the southeast; it also is the route to the Big White Ski area.
Public Transport
Kelowna Regional Transit System is operated by ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
based company FirstGroup, providing public bus transportation services in Kelowna and its vicinity. Funding for the transit system is shared between the City of Kelowna, Central Okanagan Regional District, District of Lake Country
Lake Country, British Columbia
Lake Country is a District Municipality with a population of approximately 10,000 in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada. The city of Kelowna lies to the south, while the city of Vernon lies to the north. As its name suggests, there are a number of lakes in the vicinity of Lake Country,...
and BC Transit
BC Transit
BC Transit is a provincial crown agency responsible for coordinating the delivery of public transportation within British Columbia, Canada, outside of Greater Vancouver...
.
Air travel
Kelowna International Airport (IATA: YLW), north of the downtown core, is the 10th busiest airport in Canada. There are regular flights to and from CalgaryCalgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, and Seattle, as well as seasonal service to Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, and Mexico. Travelers arriving at the Kelowna International Airport can find Ground Transportation services available for travel throughout the Okanagan Valley and 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...
.
On November 27 2011 Kelowna airport officials received warnings of a flying Christmas tree to which helium balloons had been attachedhttp://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/134614483.html as part of an international scavenger hunt organised by Misha Collins
Misha Collins
Misha Collins is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his role as the angel Castiel on the CW television series Supernatural.-Personal life:...
known as GISHWHEShttp://greatestinternationalscavengerhunttheworldhaseverseen.com (Greatest International Scavenger Hunt The World Has Ever Seen.)
Local services
- Emergency services are provided by the Kelowna General HospitalKelowna General HospitalKelowna General Hospital is a medical facility located in Kelowna, British Columbia and offers high level medical care in the Central Okanagan. Interior Health is responsible for the operations of the hospital.- History :...
, the British Columbia Ambulance ServiceBritish Columbia Ambulance ServiceThe British Columbia Ambulance Service is the sole ambulance service and provider of pre-hospital emergency care in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It operates under the Emergency and Health Services Commission and the Provincial Health Services Authority, and is tasked with the...
, Central Okanagan Search and Rescue and the Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceThe Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
Venues and attractions
- Prospera PlaceProspera PlaceProspera Place, formerly known as Skyreach Place, is a 6,886-seat multi-purpose arena, in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. It replaced the old Kelowna Memorial Arena, though it is still in use for smaller venues and sports....
, a 6,800-seat arenaArenaAn arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the... - Apple BowlApple BowlThe Apple Bowl is a multi-purpose stadium located at the Parkinson Recreation Area in Kelowna, British Columbia. It is the home of the Okanagan Sun of the Canadian Junior Football League and the Okanagan Challenge of the Pacific Coast Soccer League. Besides hosting field events, it has a rubberized...
, a 5,700 seat outdoor stadiumStadiumA modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event... - SOPA Gallery of Fine Arts
- Alternator Gallery for Contemporary Art
- Rotary Centre for the Arts, a multidisciplinary visual and performing arts centre, with a 326-seat theatre (Mary Irwin Theatre), artists studios, the Alternator Gallery, dance and painting studios, atrium and Bistro
- Kelowna Art GalleryKelowna Art GalleryThe Kelowna Art Gallery is a Canadian public art gallery located in Kelowna, British Columbia founded in 1976. The gallery has become a leading public art gallery serving the central Okanagan region. The gallery was incorporated as a not-for-profit charitable society in 1977...
- Kelowna Community Theatre, a 853-seat theatre, 236 person capacity lobby, complete backstage amenities and a 1200 square foot rehearsal hall (Black Box Theatre)
- Kelowna Museum
- Kelowna Marina on Okanagan Lake
- Kelowna HydrofestKelowna HydrofestThe Kelowna Hydrofest is a hydroplane boat race in the H1 Unlimited season. The race is held in August on Okanagan Lake in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. The race is the main attraction of the summer events in British Columbia...
on Okanagan LakeOkanagan LakeOkanagan Lake is a large, deep lake in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. The lake is 135 km long, between 4 and 5 km wide, and has a surface area of 351 km². The lake's maximum depth is 232 meters near Grant Island... - Capital News Centre
- H2O Adventure and Fitness Centre, largest publicly owned water parkWater parkA waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...
in Canada, and features Canada's first FlowRider - Kelowna Farmers Market – April to October Outdoors
- Kasugai Gardens, an outdoor Garden beside City Hall built to celebrate friendship with its sister city; Kasugai, Japan.
- Over 100 Wineries within a 90 minute drive
- Kettle Valley RailwayKettle Valley RailwayThe Kettle Valley Railroad was a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway that operated in the Thompson-Okanagan region of southern British Columbia....
(Myra Canyon Trestles) - Knox Mountain Hillclimb – One of the world's longest uphill point-to-point car races still running. The event runs May long weekend of each year.
- Waterfront Park
- Mission Creek Greenway
Politicians
- W.A.C. BennettW.A.C. BennettWilliam Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C...
, late Premier of British Columbia - William R. Bennett, served as Premier of the province
Athletes
- Josh GorgesJosh GorgesJosh Gorges is a professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. He is of German ancestry as his grandparents immigrated from Germany to Canada.-Playing career:...
, professional ice hockey player - Heather MandoliHeather MandoliHeather Mandoli is a Canadian rower.She finished in fourth place at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China in the women's eights with Ashley Brzozowicz, Darcy Marquardt, Buffy Williams, Jane Rumball, Romina Stefancic, Sarah Bonikowsky, Andréanne Morin and cox Lesley...
, Olympic rower - Tyler ShelastTyler ShelastTyler Shelast is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Greenville Road Warriors in the ECHL .-External links:...
, professional ice hockey player - Paul SpoljaricPaul SpoljaricPaul Nikola Spoljaric is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who last played in the major leagues for the Kansas City Royals in ....
, professional baseball player - Danny WatkinsDanny WatkinsWatkins invited five of his friends from the West Kelowna fire department to join him at the draft. On the morning of the draft, Watkins and his firefighter friends visited a New York City firehouse that lost several members during the September 11 attacks....
, professional football player - Jeff ZimmermanJeff ZimmermanJeffrey Ross Zimmerman is a former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball from 1999-2001 for the Texas Rangers.-Independent baseball:...
, professional baseball player - Jordan ZimmermanJordan ZimmermanJordan William Zimmerman is a former Major League pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. Zimmerman also pitched for the Long Island Ducks in ....
, professional baseball player - Tyson Armstrong, professional hockey player
Entertainers
- Bend SinisterBend Sinister (band)Bend Sinister is a progressive-indie band formed in 2001 now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The band takes its name from a novel by Vladimir Nabokov.-History:...
- DatsikDatsik (musician)Datsik is the alias of Troy Beetles, a Dubstep DJ and music producer from British Columbia, Canada. He frequently works with fellow Canadian Dubstep producers Excision and Downlink. His first release was in the spring of 2009.-Biography:...
- Downlink
- Excision
- The Grapes of Wrath
- Evangeline LillyEvangeline LillyEvangeline Lilly is a Canadian actress, best known for her role as Kate Austen in the ABC drama, Lost.-Early life:...
, actress/model - Chad BrownleeChad BrownleeChad Brownlee is a Canadian country music artist and ice hockey defenceman. Brownlee was a draft pick for the Vancouver Canucks in 2003, going in the sixth round #190th overall...
, country music artist - Mad ChildMad ChildMadchild is the stage name of Shane Bunting , a Canadian rapper. He is part of the Vancouver-based hip hop group Swollen Members. In 2009, he released his solo EP entitled The Mad Child EP...
- Taylor KitschTaylor Kitsch-Early life and modeling career:Kitsch was born in Kelowna, British Columbia. He has two older brothers and two younger half sisters. Originally set to become a professional hockey player, he played for the Langley Hornets in the Canadian BCHL before a bad knee injury ended his career...
, actor - Yukon BlondeYukon BlondeYukon Blonde is a Canadian indie rock band originally from Kelowna, British Columbia. Formed in 2005 as a quintet called Alphababy, the band members changed the name in late 2008 at the suggestion of Jon-Rae Fletcher, with whom the band was touring. The band has been based in Vancouver since 2009...
Miscellaneous
- Early pioneer Hugh Dunlop settled in the Okanagan Mission. Donated a large parcel of land to the Boy Scouts near Cedar Creek. Now known as Camp Dunlop in his honor.
Sport
- Kelowna RocketsKelowna RocketsThe Kelowna Rockets are a major junior ice hockey team based in Kelowna, British Columbia. The Rockets play in the Western Hockey League , out of the Canadian Hockey League . They play their home games at Prospera Place....
– Western Hockey LeagueWestern Hockey LeagueThe Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
(Winners of the 2004 Memorial Cup2004 Memorial CupThe 2004 Memorial Cup occurred May 15–23 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia. It featured the host team, the Kelowna Rockets as well as the winners of the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League which were the Guelph Storm, Gatineau...
) - Okanagan SunOkanagan SunThe Okanagan Sun are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Kelowna, British Columbia. The Sun play in the eight-team B.C. Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl...
– Canadian Junior Football LeagueCanadian Junior Football LeagueThe Canadian Junior Football League is a national amateur Canadian football league consisting of 19 teams playing in six provinces across Canada. The teams compete annually for the Canadian Bowl...
(Winners of the 1988 and 2000 Canadian BowlCanadian BowlThe Canadian Bowl is the championship of the Canadian Junior Football League. The three league champions participate in the playdowns for the championship. One champion receives a bye to the game, while the other two play off in the Jostens Cup. The bye rotates among the three...
) - Okanagan ChallengeOkanagan ChallengeOkanagan Challenge is a Canadian soccer team based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1995, the team plays in Pacific Coast Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, which features teams from western Canada and the Pacific Northwest...
– Pacific Coast Soccer LeaguePacific Coast Soccer LeagueThe Pacific Coast Soccer League is a soccer league featuring teams from British Columbia, although the league has also featured teams from Washington in the past as well... - Kelowna FalconsKelowna FalconsThe Kelowna Falcons are an amateur baseball team located in Kelowna, British Columbia. Formally known as the Kelowna Grizzlies, the club was purchased in and changed its name to the Falcons. They play in the West Coast League, a collegiate summer baseball league...
– West Coast Collegiate Baseball League - Kelowna HydrofestKelowna HydrofestThe Kelowna Hydrofest is a hydroplane boat race in the H1 Unlimited season. The race is held in August on Okanagan Lake in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. The race is the main attraction of the summer events in British Columbia...
- American Boat Racing AssociationAmerican Boat Racing AssociationH1 Unlimited is an Unlimited Hydroplane racing league that is sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association , and Union Internationale Motonautique . Until 2009, the series was known as ABRA Unlimited Hydroplane, in turn renamed from APBA Unlimited Hydroplane in 2004...
(Largest professional boat racing series in CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) - Okanagan Coyotes – Coyotes Website
- Kelowna Peach Tarts – Okanagan Roller Derby (independent Women's Flat Track Roller Derby league) website
- OgoPolo – Kelowna Hardcourt Bike Polo Club website
- Kelowna Rowing Club – Kelowna Rowing Club – 1449 Green Bay Rd, West Kelowna, BC.
Education
- The Okanagan Regional Library has 3 branches in Kelowna
Public schools
Public schools in the Kelowna area are part of 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...
or School District 93 Conseil scolaire francophone:
- Secondary (Grades 10–12 or 8–12):
- Kelowna Secondary SchoolKelowna Secondary SchoolKelowna Secondary School is a public high school in Kelowna, British Columbia within School District 23 Central Okanagan.-Sister School:* Official Website * Haruhigaoka High School...
(offers French immersionFrench immersionFrench immersion is a form of bilingual education in which a child who does not speak French as his or her first language receives instruction in school in French...
) - Rutland Senior Secondary SchoolRutland Senior Secondary SchoolRutland Senior Secondary School is part of School District 23 Central Okanagan in Kelowna, British Columbia. It is located off Rutland Road, sharing a lot with Rutland Middle School...
- Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary SchoolMount Boucherie Senior Secondary SchoolMount Boucherie Senior Secondary School is a public high school in West Kelowna, British Columbia, part of School District No. 23 . Its mascot is the bear.The Principal is currently Mr. John Simonson.-History:...
- Okanagan Mission Secondary SchoolOkanagan Mission Secondary SchoolOkanagan Mission Secondary is a public high school in Kelowna, British Columbia, part of School District 23 Central Okanagan. It is well known for its consistent academic performance and successful arts programs. It is also ranked as a AA school for many of its sports leagues....
- "George Elliot Secondary SchoolGeorge Elliot Secondary SchoolGeorge Elliot Secondary is a public high school in Lake Country, British Columbia part of School District 23 Central Okanagan. In the 2006-07 year there were 772 students. The school was originally founded in 1960. The school has a store called "The Coyote's Den", named after the school's mascot...
- Kelowna Secondary School
- Middle (Grades 7–9):
- KLO Middle School (offers French immersion)
- Dr. Knox Middle School
- Constable Neil Bruce Middle School
- Rutland Middle School
- Springvalley Middle School
- Glenrosa Middle School
- Elementary Schools (Grades K-6 or K-7):
- About 20 elementary schools are located throughout the city. (See the school directory list for district 23School District 23 Central OkanaganSchool 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...
and district 93.)
- About 20 elementary schools are located throughout the city. (See the school directory list for district 23
Private schools
- Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School (Pre-school, K-7)
- Kelowna Christian School (Pre-12)
- Heritage Christian SchoolHeritage Christian School (Kelowna)Heritage Christian School is a group 1 independent school located in Kelowna, British Columbia. The school consists of 300 students ranging from Kindergarten to Grade 12...
(K-12) - Vedanta Academy (Pre-12)
- Okanagan Adventist Academy (K-12)
- Immaculata Regional High SchoolImmaculata Regional High SchoolImmaculata Regional High School is a Roman Catholic high school situated in Kelowna, B.C. Canada. It was under the direction of the Kelowna Catholic Independent School Council....
(8–12) - St. Joseph Elementary (K-7)
- Kelowna Waldorf School (Pre-8)
- Okanagan Montessori School (Preschool & Kindergarten)
- Okanagan Montessori Preschool-grade 6, after school care
Post-secondary
- The University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British ColumbiaThe University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
(Okanagan CampusUBC OkanaganThe University of British Columbia Okanagan is a campus of the University of British Columbia, located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. The official name for the campus is simply UBC's Okanagan Campus, although it is frequently called 'UBCO.'...
) - Okanagan CollegeOkanagan CollegeOkanagan College is a public, post-secondary institution with over 120 certificates, diplomas, degrees and programs including Apprenticeship & Pre-apprenticeship Trades programs. It is located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada...
- Sprott-Shaw Community College (privately-owned)
- The Centre for Arts and Technology (privately-owned)
Sister cities
Kelowna has "sister cityTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
" agreements with the following cities: Kasugai
Kasugai, Aichi
is a city located in Aichi, Japan. The city was founded on June 1, 1943. As of March 1, 2010, the city had an estimated population of 303,181 and a density of . The total area is ....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Veendam
Veendam
Veendam is a municipality and a town in the northeastern Dutch province of Groningen.A Holland America Line cruise ship, the MS Veendam, is named after the city.- Population centres :...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Senanga
Senanga
Senanga is a town in the Western Province of Zambia, on the eastern bank of the Zambezi River, at the southern end of its Barotse Floodplain. It lies on the main road running parallel to the river from Livingstone and Sesheke to Mongu, which crosses the river by a pontoon ferry about 15 km ...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
See also
- Sunshine taxSunshine tax"Sunshine tax" is an ironic term used in the United States and Canada describing the phenomenon that salaries are often lower than the national average, and costs of living higher than the national average, in places which have a desirable climate....
- WT Small HouseWT Small House.'WT Small House' is reputed to be the oldest continually inhabited home in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. It is listed on the Kelowna Heritage Register as a highly valued example of early residential pioneer settlement in the Okanagan Valley....
- Capri Centre MallCapri Centre MallCapri Centre Mall is a large shopping mall in Kelowna, British Columbia. Built in 1959, the shopping centre was the first of its kind to be built in the B.C. interior. The mall's original main anchor was The Bay, but the store moved out in the 1970s with the construction of a nearby mall, Orchard...
- Orchard Park Shopping CentreOrchard Park Shopping CentreOrchard Park Shopping Centre is a regional shopping mall in Kelowna, British Columbia. It is located on the major provincial highway, Harvey Avenue, at the intersections of Cooper and Dilworth Road...