Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a native 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 then 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.^[1]
• Winter 1983 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).
• In both 1986 and 1988, alcohol-fueled 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 approx. 30,000 residents.^[2]
• 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 May 2005, Kelowna celebrated its Centennial.
• In 2005, a new bridge to replace the Okanagan Lake Bridge began construction, being part of a plan to try to alleviate the severe traffic problems experienced during the summer months when tourists from the Coast, Alberta and east, and the US flock to the area to enjoy the summer heat, Okanagan Lake and its 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.^[3]
• In July 2009, wildfires destroyed some hundreds of hectares of forest and a number of buildings in West Kelowna; 17,000 residents were asked to evacuate.^[4] (NB The District of West Kelowna is not part of the City of Kelowna.)
• In August 2009, Kelowna hosted the 40th General Council of the United Church of Canada
• 2000s, Kelowna builds the tallest building in between the lower mainland and Calgary: Skye at Waterscapes, which is a 26 floors high residential tower.

Geography and climate

Kelowna experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with low annual precipitation; these dry conditions allow for forest fires to occur in the area during some summers. Relative to most Canadian cities, Kelowna enjoys a dry climate and mild temperatures (Mean Annual Temperature of Template:Convert/°C, January Mean Temperature of Template:Convert/°C; Mean July Temperature of Template:Convert/°C, Average Maximum of Template:Convert/°C. These are recorded at the Kelowna Airport, at a higher altitude than the city core with higher precipitation and cooler temperatures. Okanagan Lake as well as the blocking barriers of the Canadian Rockies and the Columbia Mountains 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 Template:Convert/°C, 30 December 1968).

Summers are hot and sunny, with daytime temperatures often exceeding Template:Convert/°C (hottest recorded temperature = Template:Convert/°C, 24 July 1994). Clear, dry summer 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 precipitation. The inherent dryness of Kelowna's climate can be a factor in the forest fire risk as, for example, during the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire of 2003, when evacuation of large residential populations was ordered.

Although Kelowna averages 300.5 hours of bright sunshine in July (61% of daylight hours), the winter months are mostly overcast; thus, Kelowna averages only 40.3 hours of bright sunshine in January (for comparison, consider 120 hours at Winnipeg, Manitoba and Miramichi, New Brunswick; 44 hours at Prince Rupert, British Columbia; 45 hours at Yellowknife, Northwest Territories).

Kelowna has the greatest percentage of "calm" wind observations in Canada (39%).^{[6][7][8][9][10]} The city averages 363 days/yr recording winds less than 5 km/hr.^[11]

Cityscape

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.^[12][13] 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 Estate 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 4th least affordable housing market in Canada, currently maintaining the classification of "Severely Unaffordable".^[14] Because of the Okanagan's climate and vineyard-filled scenery, it is often compared to Napa Valley, California.^[15]

Demography

According to the Statistics Canada 2001 census,^[16] 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/sqkm.

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 Merrittt, 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 just over four 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 West 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[17]

Air travel

Kelowna International Airport, north of the downtown core, is the 10th busiest airport in Canada. There are regular flights to and from Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Las Vegas, and Seattle, as well as seasonal service to Mexico. Travelers arriving at the Kelowna International Airport can find Ground Transportation services available for travel throughout the Okanagan Valley and British Columbia.

Venues and attractions

• Prospera Place, a 6,800-seat arena
• Apple Bowl, a 5,700 seat outdoor stadium
• SOPA Gallery of Fine Arts^[18]
• Alternator Gallery for Contemporary Art^[19]
• Rotary Centre for the Arts, a 326-seat theatre^[20]
• Kelowna Art Gallery^[21]
• Kelowna Community Theatre, a 853-seat theatre^[22]
• Kelowna Museum^[23]
• 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.^[24]
• Summerhill Pyramid Winery
• Kettle Valley Railway (Myra Canyon Trestles)
• Knox Mountain Hillclimb - One of the worlds longest uphill point to point car races still running. The event runs May long weekend of each year.
• Waterfront Park
• Mission Creek Greenway
• Jesse Freez Traveling Hydraseal

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.

Former Major League Baseball players, Jeff Zimmerman of the Texas Rangers, his brother Jordan Zimmerman, and Paul Spoljaric were born here. The city was home to The Grapes of Wrath, one of Canada's most popular rock bands in the 1980s and early 1990s. The 2007 World Women's Curling Championship winning Kelly Scott rink is based in the city. Actor and model, Taylor Kitsch, was raised in the town and now appears in the hit tv show Friday Night Lights. Many current and former National Hockey League reside in Kelowna, including Dany Heatley, Ryan Getzlaf, Wade Redden, Trevor Linden, Jarome Iginla, Josh Gorges, Blake Comeau, Shea Weber, Scott Hannan, and Brett McLean Jeff Finley,Jim Harrison,Byron Dafoe,Tim Lenardon,Fran Huck,Bill Hogoboam,Curt Fraser,Mike Ridley,Todd Elik,Bob Bourne,Greg Adams. Dubstep artists DatsiK, Excision and Downlink are from Kelowna. Olympic Rower Heather Mandoli was born and resides in Kelowna. Mad Child also resides in Kelowna, as do Bend Sinister, and Yukon Blonde.

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 Crusaders - Crusaders Website
• Kelowna Peach Tarts - Okanagan Roller Derby (independent Women's Flat Track Roller Derby league) website

Media

Local services

• Kelowna Weather
• The Okanagan Regional Library has 3 branches in Kelowna
• Emergency services are provided by the Kelowna General Hospital, the BC Ambulance Service^{[dead link]}, the Kelowna Fire Department,
  Central Okanagan Search and Rescue and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Kelowna Regional Transit System provides transit to the Kelowna Area (A branch of BC Transit)
• Kelowna Airport Shuttle / Inner City Taxi Service provides transit services similar to a taxi

Education

Sister cities

Kelowna has "sister city" agreements with the following cities:^[28]

• Template:Country data JPN Kasugai, Japan
• Veendam, Netherlands

Trivia

• In the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1, Jonas Quinn hails from the nation of Kelowna on the planet Langara. Stargate SG-1 and its sister show Stargate Atlantis are produced 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.
• The Online Virtual World Club Penguin has its headquarters located in Kelowna.
• In the song "Driving One of Your Cars" by Swedish musician Lisa Miskovsky, she mentions Kelowna in the lyrics "Kelowna is beautiful in summertime they say".
• 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.
• In the song "Love This Town" by Canadian musician Joel Plaskett, he mentions playing a show in Kelowna that was met with apathy and heckling, resulting in him 'hating that town'. He has since played the song at a concert in Kelowna and apologized.

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 Board
• University of BC - Okanagan
• [1]
• Kelowna Art Gallery

Coordinates: 49°31′48″N 119°17′37″W / 49.5301°N 119.2936°W / 49.5301; -119.2936