Kelowna, British Columbia

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Kelowna
Image:BCFlag.png
 Image:Kelownacoatofarms.jpg
(Flag of British Columbia) (Coat of Arms)
Motto:Fruitful in Unity
Image:KelownaMap.gif
Member of Parliament Werner Schmidt (Conservative)
Members of the Legislative Assembly Al Horning, Sindi Hawkins
Governing Body Kelowna City Council
Mayor Walter Gray
Land area 283 km²
Population (2005) 105,000
Population Density 229.1 km²
Immigrant Population 6,020 (6.3%)
Languages English (Official)95.8%
French (Official)0.5% Non Official 3.7%
Unemployment rate 7.1%
Average house price $210,000
Image:Kelowna2.jpg

Kelowna (2005 population 105,621 metropolitan population 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 (aside from Vancouver 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, Montreal, Vancouver and Victoria.

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.

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.

Major League Baseball player, Jeff Zimmerman of the Texas Rangers was 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.

Contents

Demographics

According to the mid-2001 census, the population estimates there were 147,739 people residing in Kelowna, located in the province of British Columbia, of whom 48.4 per cent were male and 51.6 per cent were female. Children under five accounted for approximately 4.8 per cent of the resident population of Kelowna. This compares with 5.2 per cent in British Columbia, and 5.6 per cent for Canada overall.

In mid-2001, 18.4 per cent of the resident population in Kelowna were of retirement age (65 and over for males and females) compared with 13.2 per cent 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 per cent, compared with an increase of 4.9 per cent 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.

At the time of the census in May 2001, the resident population of the Kelowna city authority had 96,288 people, but had 147,739 when encompassing the Greater Kelowna Area compared with a resident population in the province of British Columbia of 3,907,738 people.
Ethnic Origin
Image:Kelethnicorigin.PNG
Religious Groups

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, shaving off 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 a three-lane floating bridge and 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 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, Las Vegas, Toronto, Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria.

Venues and Attractions

Sports Teams

Local Services

Education

Public Schools

Public schools in the Kelowna area are part of School District 23

Private Schools

Post-Secondary

Events of Significance

  • On Aug. 6, 1969, a sonic boom from a nearby air show produces an expensive broken glass bill while at least 6 people were injured.[1]
  • In August 2003, a nearby wildfire destroyed over 200 homes and forced the temporary evacuation of approximately 30,000 residents.
  • 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.
  • 2005, A new bridge to replace the Okanagan Floating 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 tourism season)

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).

External links


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