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Kelowna (2005 Population 105,621, Metropolitan Area 165,221) is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. It is the seat of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, and the third-largest metropolitan area in British Columbia (outside the Lower Mainland and Victoria). Kelowna is one of the fastest growing cities in North America and is considered by some to be one of the most desirable cities in the world in which to reside. The appropriate management of such rapid development (and its attendant consequences) is a source of significant debate within the community. It is the fifth most expensive housing market in Canada behind Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria. The city name derives from an Okanagan term for "female grizzly bear."

History

First settled by missionaries in 1859, Kelowna was officially incorporated in 1905. Neighbouring towns include Westbank to the west across the lake, Lake Country and then Vernon to the north, Peachland to the southwest and further to the south, Summerland and Penticton.

The service industry employs the most people in Kelowna, the largest city in the tourist-oriented Okanagan Valley. In summer, boating is popular and in winter, Alpine skiing at the nearby Big White Ski Resort.

Kelowna produces wines that have a worldwide reputation. Vineyards are common around and south of the city where the climate is ideal for the many wineries. Notable ones include the Mission Hill Estate Winery, specifically for its unique architectual design. However, at least two major wineries were damaged or destroyed in 2003 due to the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire. Kelowna is also the home to Sun-Rype, a popular manufacturer of fruit juice and snacks.

With its roots dating back to 1965 Okanagan College is the predominant centre for vocational and undergraduate post-secondary education in Kelowna. With over 5000 full-time students it constitutes the largest college in British Columbia outside the Lower Mainland and Victoria. The University of British Columbia established its Okanagan campus on July 1, 2005, replacing the Okanagan University College.

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

Former Major League Baseball players, Jeff Zimmerman of the Texas Rangers, his brother Jordan Zimmerman, and Paul Spoljaric were born here. The city is also home to The Grapes of Wrath, one of Canada's most popular rock bands in the 1980s and early 1990s. Evangeline Lilly of the hit TV show Lost was discovered on the streets of Kelowna. (Enduring legend has it that various celebrities, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, own houses in the area; as Kelowna grows, celebrity-sightings are giving Ogopogo-sightings a run for their money.)

Demographics

According to the Statistics Canada 2001 censusKelowna Community Profile - Statistics Canada. 2002. 2001 Community Profiles. Released June 27, 2002. Last modified: 2005-11-30. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 93F0053XIE., 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, therefore, the average age is 41.1 years of age comparing to 37.6 years of age for all of 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 an average of 4.2, for British Columbia altogether.

Ethnic Origin

Religious Groups

Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census

How To Get There

For years, only one road 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. As the Okanagan Valley is a popular getaway for residents in Vancouver, a new freeway was built into the BC interior in 1986, eliminates over two hours of travel time between the two major destinations. This freeway, starting in Hope, is known as the Coquihalla Highway (Hwy 5), and terminates in Kamloops. A spur route (The Okanagan Connector, or Hwy 97C) was later added in 1989; it connects in Merritt, and heads eastward to Peachland, about twenty minutes south of Kelowna.

This new freeway system makes the drive from Vancouver to Kelowna just under four hours, at 425 km in distance.

Kelowna is connected to Westbank by the three-lane Okanagan Lake Bridge which links Highway 97 south. The floating bridge is slated for replacement as it has outlived its usefulness and is incapable of supporting the current traffic levels. The construction of a new bridge -- William R. Bennett Bridge -- has begun, although there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the project. Delays and connectivity are some of the major issues, since the highway leading up to the bridge is only four-laned and is not a freeway.

Highway 33, which connects with Highway 97 in Rutland, provides an alternate way to enter and exit the city, towards the southeast.

Kelowna has an International Airport north of the downtown core, with regular flights to and from Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Las Vegas and Seattle.

Venues and Attractions

Gallery

Image:Kelowna 1909.jpg|Kelowna in 1909 Image:Kelownaatnight.jpg|Kelowna, British Columbia Image:DSCN0050.JPG|Kelowna as seen from Westside

Sports Teams

Media

Radio

Television

Print

The city's main daily newspaper is the Kelowna Daily Courier. A free community newspaper, the Kelowna Capital News, is published thrice weekly (Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday).

Local Services

Education

Public SchoolsPublic Schools in Kelowna: Kelowna Senior Secondary, Rutland Senior Secondary, Mount Boucherie SecondaryOkanagan Mission Secondary, KLO Middle, Dr. Knox Middle, Constable Neil Bruce Middle, Rutland Middle, Springvalley Middle

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 Senior Secondary (offers French immersion)
    • Rutland Senior Secondary
    • Mount Boucherie Secondary
    • Okanagan Mission Secondary
  • Middle (Grades 7-9):
    • KLO Middle (offers French immersion)
    • Dr. Knox Middle
    • Constable Neil Bruce Middle
    • Rutland Middle
    • Springvalley Middle
  • Elementary Schools (Grades K-6 or K-7):
    • About 20 elementary schools spread throughtout the city. (See the school directory list for district 23 and district 93.)

Private SchoolsPrivate Schools in Kelowna: Kelowna Christian School, Heritage Christian School, Vedanta Academy, Okanagan Adventist Academy, Immaculata Regional High School, St. Joseph Elementary, Kelowna Waldorf School, Okanagan Montessori School, Okanagan Montessori

  • Kelowna Christian School (K-12)
  • Heritage Christian School (K-12)
  • Vedanta Academy (K-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-SecondaryPost-secondary Schools in Kelowna: UBC Okanagan, Okanagan College, Sprott-Shaw Community College

  • UBC Okanagan
  • Okanagan College
  • Sprott-Shaw Community College

Events of Significance

  • On August 6, 1969, a sonic boom from a nearby air show produces an expensive broken glass bill while at least 6 people were injuredsonic boom.
  • Winter 1983 was the last time that the Lake completely froze over. (The RCMP helicopter successfully 'rescued' an SUV that had tried to drive across the Lake and cracked through the ice).
  • In both 1986 and 1988, alcohol-fuelled riots erupted during summer Regatta festivities.
  • On May 7, 1992, a forest fire consumed 60 hectares of forest on Mount Boucherie in West Kelowna; no homes were damaged.
  • In August 2003, a nearby wildfire destroyed over 200 homes and forced the temporary evacuation of approximately 30,000 residentsOkanagan Mountain Park Fire 2003.
  • During the 2003 fire, many trestles of the historic Kettle Valley Railway were destroyed. One of the trestles, Trestle 18, has been rebuilt, and other trestles are planned to be reconstructed as well.
  • In May 2005, Kelowna celebrated its Centennial.
  • In 2005, a new bridge to replace the Okanagan Lake Bridge has begun construction, being part of a plan to try and alleviate the severe traffic problems experienced during the summer months (the height of tourist season).

Sister Cities

Veendam, Netherlands
Kasugai, Japan   (other sister cities in Japan )

Trivia

  • In the Sci-Fi series Stargate SG-1, Jonas Quinn comes from another planet, from a nation named Kelowna. Later in the series, the country amalgamates with two others to form the Langara Federation. Stargate SG-1 is produced in Canada (specifically, in Vancouver).
  • Some believe 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.

References

External links

  North: Vernon  
West: Westbank Kelowna East:
  South: Penticton  

Cities in British Columbia | Kelowna, British Columbia

Kelowna | Kelowna | Kelowna | ケロウナ | Kelowna | Kelowna, British Columbia

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Kelowna, British Columbia".

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