On 12 July 2010, a 30-ha fire in West Kelowna destroyed one home and caused multiple evacuations. The RCMP conducts annual "spring sweeps" there, arresting low-level drug dealers. [86] This increase has, however, been attributed[who?] As Okanagan Lake hardly ever freezes, warmer air rising from the lake climbs above colder atmospheric air, creating a temperature inversion which can cause the valley to be socked in by cloud. The Municipal Council of the City of Kelowna, in open meeting assembled, enacts that City of Kelowna Zoning Bylaw No. It has been extensively developed in the past two decades, transformed from a small suburb with a rural character to large suburban neighborhoods, including several elementary schools and a rapidly growing commercial hub. 2.1 Lands in City of Kelowna. In addition to vocational training and adult basic education, the college offers a highly regarded university transfer program. [8] The Indigenous Syilx people were the region's first inhabitants, and they continue to live in the region. I see a corporation that is diverse and inviting to all and also one that attracts top events and tourism into our community. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. "Example: Calona Vineyards – Awards – Artist Series Reserve VQA", "6th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey: 2010", "Flicka: Country Pride (Video 2012) - IMDb", "Population, Age characteristics, Dwellings, Houses, Language, Education, Work, Industry, Earnings, Income, Immigration, Citizenship, Labor", The Changing Face of Kelowna: Report on Ethnicity and Ethnic Relations, "Canada's population estimates: Subprovincial areas, July 1, 2015", "2011 National Household Survey: Religion (108)", "Community Profiles from the 2006 Census, Statistics Canada - Census Subdivision", UBC students partner with City of Kelowna to recognize heritage sites, Old Kelowna Chinatown recognized as historic, Heritage Building 1435 Water St - Chinese Store (Kelowna Museum, 470 Queensway), "Kelowna Homelessness Networking Group Report on the Census of Homeless Individuals in Kelowna Spring 2003", "Kelowna Point-in-Time Count: Community Report", Memo 2030 draft 20-year Servicing Plan and Financial Strategy Transportation Network, "Population of census metropolitan areas", TAC Sustainable Urban Transportation Award Submission, "TeamPages: Okanagan All Stars - Okanagan All Stars", "Hours and Locations - Okanagan Regional Library (ORL)", Special unit needed to fight Kelowna gang war: RCMP – British Columbia – CBC News, "Police-reported Crime Severity Index and crime rate, by census metropolitan area", "Domestic violence capital of BC - Kelowna News", Police report a pot possession incident every 9 minutes in Canada – CBC News, "Frustration mounts over fentanyl response in Kelowna", "And the Winners of Great Places in Canada 2015 are … | CIP", Category:Regional District of Central Okanagan, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kelowna&oldid=994724411, Articles with dead external links from January 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, All Wikipedia articles written in Canadian English, Pages using infobox settlement with possible nickname list, Pages using infobox settlement with possible area code list, Articles with a promotional tone from November 2015, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from January 2017, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Nick Romanchuk stated, "I am absolutely convinced that as our drug enforcement numbers increase, our overall crime rate will decrease. [21][22] The official climate station for Kelowna is at the Kelowna International Airport, which is at a higher altitude than the city core, with slightly higher precipitation and cooler nighttime temperatures. Since most of Midtown consists of large, car-oriented big-box stores, it is often criticized for its plainness; its contributions to urban sprawl and the decline of the pedestrian-oriented Downtown; and its lack of green space, as the area was formerly a linear park and golf course. Nearby communities include the City of West Kelowna (also referred to as Westbank and Westside) to the west, across Okanagan Lake; Lake Country and Vernon to the north; Peachland to the southwest; and Summerland and Penticton to the south. 2. [46] Because of the Okanagan's climate and vineyard-filled scenery, it is often compared to Napa Valley, California.[47]. In July 2014, a 340-ha fire behind the West Kelowna subdivision of Smith Creek caused the evacuation of 3,000 people. Claim: A newspaper clipping from 1918 documents a "public notice" from the city of Kelowna, British Columbia, announcing that schools, movie theaters, and other public places would be closed to p… Nominate an individual, business or organization for a Civic & Community Award. mainly to the actions of a relative few known, prolific offenders. An energetic city surrounded by wilderness, mountains, vineyards, orchards, set on sparkling Okanagan Lake. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. [77], Most crime in Kelowna is non-violent property crime. The name Kelowna derives from an Okanagan language word for "grizzly bear". Find out what works well at City of Kelowna from the people who know best. The city proper encompasses 211.82[2] square kilometres (81.78 sq mi), and the census metropolitan area 2,904.86 square kilometres (1,121.57 sq mi). Kelowna, which comes from the Okanagan term for "grizzly bear," is located on Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada.Kelowna is the 22nd largest city in Canada and the 3rd largest metro area in British Columbia with a population estimated at 120,000 in 2015. [66] For information about COVID-19 safety measures and program adaptations, visit kelowna.ca/recreation. On 24 February 2016, as part of the Government of Canada's Homelessness Partnering Strategy, the Central Okanagan Foundation conducted a coordinated Point-in-Time (PiT) Count of Kelowna's homeless population. Orchard Park, the shopping complex in BC's interior, is here. Police focused on crime in 2014, and Kelowna moved into the number four position across the country. Kelowna faces severe suburbanization and urban sprawl promoted by the popularity of low-density car-oriented developments. [62] In 1978 the final remaining traditional Chinese business ceased operations. [56], Kelowna had a historic Chinatown in the area between Harvey Avenue and Leon Avenue, east of Abbott and west of Highway 97/Harvey Avenue. Parts 1, 2 and 7 of this bylaw apply to all nts Owners who make an Application for Subdivision Approval or an Application for Building Permit. In fact, average high temperatures in January surpass those of St. John's, Newfoundland. Breaking News. September 2011, a 40-ha fire in West Kelowna's Bear Creek Park caused the evacuation of over 500 people. Kelowna is classified as a humid continental climate or an inland oceanic climate per the Köppen climate classification system due to its coldest month having an average temperature slightly above −3.0 °C (26.6 °F) and below 0 °C (32 °F),[20] with dry, hot, sunny summers and cool, cloudy winters, and four seasons. In February 2016, Statistics Canada released their latest census, stating that Kelowna's population had grown by 8.4% from 2011 to 2016. Use #explore Kelowna during your Kelowna adventures. Read a first, second and third time by the Municipal Council this 16th day of November, 2020. [2] In 2019, it was estimated Kelowna's population had grown to 217,229 in the metropolitan area and 142,146 in the city proper. The public is encouraged to avoid the line and stay safe by connecting with us digitally: Call 778-797-1000. In 2017, the property crime in Kelowna rate went up six percent, once again the highest rate in Canada, while the drug crime rate fell two percent. It serves as the head office of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan. As of 2016, the crime rate has declined to second highest. We are invested in being a City that is shaped by collaboration, responsible decision making, connected citizens and by adapting in smart ways to rapid growth. [6] After many years of suburban expansion into the surrounding mountain slopes, the city council adopted a long-term plan intended to increase density instead - particularly in the downtown core. Uncover why City of Kelowna is the best company for you. Father Pandosy, a French Roman Catholic Oblate missionary, became the first European to settle in Kelowna in 1859 at a place he named "l'Anse au Sable" (Bay of Sand) in reference to the sandy shoreline. All programs are subject to changes/cancelations at any time. Take part in our surveys on electric vehicles and building retrofits and be entered to win one of five $100 Local Gift Cards. The predominant language spoken in Kelowna is English. [87] Children under five accounted for approximately 4.8% of the resident population of Kelowna. Population density of Kelowna averaged 601.3 people per square kilometre, compared with Vancouver at 5,335 people per square kilometre, and with all of British Columbia with an average of 4.2 people/km2. The other main route through downtown is Bernard Avenue from Richter street to the lake, with more shops and restaurants designed for both locals and tourists. Known locally as "The Mission" (or "Okanagan Mission") to differentiate it from the Lower Mainland city of Mission, this area was a separate jurisdiction before being amalgamated with Kelowna in the mid- to late-20th century. Central City is a linear commercial sector along Harvey Avenue, from downtown to Highway 33. Business or organization for a Civic & community Award to avoid the line and stay by. New web and mobile applications more than 65 % of Kelowna housing billion a industry. 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