Official name	City of Kelowna
Native name
Nickname	K-Town
Settlement type
Motto	"Fruitful in Unity"
Image shield	Coat of Arms of Kelowna, British Columbia.svg
Pushpin map	Canada British Columbia
Pushpin label position
Pushpin map caption	Location of Kelowna in British Columbia
Coordinates region	CA-BC
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name
Subdivision type1	Province
Subdivision name1
Subdivision type2	Regional District
Subdivision name2	Central Okanagan
Governing body	Kelowna City Council
Leader title1	MP
Leader name1	Ron Cannan
Leader title2	MLAs
Leader name2	Steve ThomsonNorm LetnickBen Stewart
Established title	Settled
Established date	1879
Established title2	Incorporated
Established date2	1905
Established title3
Unit pref
Area total km2	211.69
Area metro sq mi
Population as of	2006
Population total	106,707
Population density km2	504.1
Population metro	162,276
Timezone	Pacific Time Zone
Utc offset	-8
Timezone dst	Pacific Daylight Time
Utc offset dst	-7
Elevation footnotes
Elevation m	344
Postal code type	Postal code span
Postal code	V1P, V1V – V1Z
Area code	(250), (778)
Website	City of Kelowna
Footnotes	}}

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.

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 incorporated in 1905.

Events of significance

On August 6, 1969 a sonic boom 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 Angels 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 Police 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 Calgary: Skye at Waterscapes, which is a 26-floor residential tower.

Tourism and consequences

Some claim to believe that a lake monster named Ogopogo 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.

Area seasonal wildfires

On May 7, 1992, a forest fire consumed 60 hectares of forest on Mount Boucherie 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.

Geography and climate

Kelowna's climate is a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification ''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 , on December 30, 1968).

Summers are hot and sunny, with daytime temperatures often exceeding , the hottest recorded temperature at the Airport was , on July 24, 1994. During summer clear, dry air allows nighttime temperatures to fall rapidly. The city averages about 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.

Economy

The service industry employs the most people in Kelowna, the largest city in the tourist-oriented Okanagan Valley. 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. Vineyards 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 exceeding 6000 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.

Kelowna's use as a film locale

''Fido'', 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 ''Shred'', and ''Shred 2'' 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 Authority piloted new whole body imaging technology for passenger screening at the Kelowna International Airport from 2008-2009.

Telus Mobility re-launched its Clearnet discount mobile phone brand in Kelowna and Red Deer, Alberta in 2011.

Carl's Jr. opened its first Canadian store in Kelowna in 2011

Demography

According to the Statistics Canada 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

1905
1959
1971
1978
1981
1986
1991
1993
1996
2001
2006

Religious groups

Total
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! style="padding:0.75em; align:right;"
Christian, n.i.e.
Muslim
Jewish
Buddhist
Hindu
Sikh
Eastern religions
Latter-day Saint
No religious affiliation

:''Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census''

Ethnic origin

English
Scottish
German
Canadian
Irish
French
Ukrainian
Dutch
Polish
Norwegian
Swedish
Russian
Italian
Aboriginal people
Welsh

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.

Transportation

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, 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.

Public Transport

Kelowna Regional Transit System is operated by Scotland 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.

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 Calgary, 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.

Local services

Emergency services are provided by the Kelowna General Hospital, the British Columbia Ambulance Service, Central Okanagan Search and Rescue and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Venues and attractions

Prospera Place, a 6,800-seat arena

Apple Bowl, a 5,700 seat outdoor stadium

SOPA Gallery of Fine Arts Alternator Gallery for Contemporary Art Rotary Centre for the Arts, a 326-seat theatre Kelowna Art Gallery Kelowna Community Theatre, a 853-seat theatre Kelowna Museum

Kelowna Marina on Okanagan Lake

Kelowna Hydrofest on Okanagan Lake

Capital News Centre

H2O Adventure and Fitness Centre, largest publicly owned water park 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 Railway (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

Prominent citizens

Kelowna was home to the late Premier of British Columbia, W.A.C. Bennett and is the birthplace of his son, William R. Bennett, who also served as Premier of the province.

Many current and former National Hockey League players reside in Kelowna, including Dany Heatley, Ryan Getzlaf, Wade Redden, Trevor Linden, Jarome Iginla, Josh Gorges, Blake Comeau, Shea Weber, Scott Hannan, Brett McLean, Jeff Finley, Jim Harrison, Byron Dafoe, Tim Lenardon, Fran Huck, Bill Hogaboam, Curt Fraser, Mike Ridley, Todd Elik, Bob Bourne and Greg Adams.

Former Major League Baseball players, Jeff Zimmerman of the Texas Rangers, his brother Jordan Zimmerman, and Paul Spoljaric were born here.

Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Guard Danny Watkins is from Kelowna.

Olympic rower Heather Mandoli was born and resides in Kelowna. The 2007 World Women's Curling Championship winning Kelly Scott has also resided in the city.

The city was home to The Grapes of Wrath, one of Canada's most popular rock bands in the 1980s and early 1990s. Mad Child also resides in Kelowna, as do Bend Sinister, and Yukon Blonde.

Dubstep artists Excision, Downlink and Datsik are from Kelowna.

Actor Taylor Kitsch was raised in the town and now appears in the hit television show Friday Night Lights.

Actress/model Nicole Evangeline Lilly of ABC-TV LOST fame. She played the lead as Kate.

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 Rockets – Western Hockey League (Winners of the 2004 Memorial Cup)

Okanagan Sun – Canadian Junior Football League (Winners of the 1988 and 2000 Canadian Bowl)

Okanagan Challenge – Pacific Coast Soccer League

Kelowna Falcons – West Coast Collegiate Baseball League

Kelowna Hydrofest- American Boat Racing Association (Largest professional boat racing series in Canada)

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

*Kelowna Branch

*Mission Branch

*Rutland Branch

Public schools

Public schools in the Kelowna area are part of School District 23 Central Okanagan or School District 93 Conseil scolaire francophone:

Secondary (Grades 10–12 or 8–12):

* ''Kelowna Secondary School'' (offers French immersion)

* ''Rutland Senior Secondary School''

* ''Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary School''

* ''Okanagan Mission Secondary School''

* "George Elliot 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 23 and district 93.)

Private schools

Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School (Pre-school, K-7)

''Kelowna Christian School'' (Pre-12)

Heritage Christian School (K-12)

''Vedanta Academy'' (Pre-12)

''Okanagan Adventist Academy'' (K-12)

''Immaculata Regional High School'' (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 Columbia'' (Okanagan Campus)

''Okanagan College''

''Sprott-Shaw Community College'' (privately-owned)

''The Centre for Arts and Technology'' (privately-owned)

Sister cities

Kelowna has "sister city" agreements with the following cities: Kasugai, Japan Veendam, Netherlands Senanga, Zambia

Winter

See also

Sunshine tax

WT Small House

Capri Centre Mall

Orchard Park Shopping Centre

References

External links

Kelowna City Hall

Tourism Kelowna

Regional District of the Central Okanagan

School District No. 23 Central Okanagan

University of British Columbia Okanagan

Kelowna Weather

Category:Okanagan Country Category:Populated places established in 1879

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