Kelowna, BC: An Inside Look at This Amazing City Tucked in the Okanagan Valley

The city of Kelowna was first settled in 1859, when Father Charles M. Pandosy moved to the area, which was then referred to as the Bay of Sand due to its shoreline. The city was fully incorporated on May 4th, 1905 and in May 2005 the city enjoyed its centennial anniversary. Since then, Kelowna has grown into a major Canadian centre with over 100 000 residents.

The Arts In Kelowna

Although it may not be evident at first, Kelowna has a thriving arts scene. The Rotary Centre for the Arts is a vital establishment for Kelowna's arts community. Visual arts and performance arts shows take place in this venue, which also offers a variety of courses and instructional workshops that help artists realize their dreams. Festivals take place around the year, including music, theatre, dance and visual art events. The Kelowna Art Gallery was created in 1976, establishing another important space where shows and exhibitions take place. More than 700 pieces populate the permanent collection of the Kelowna Art Gallery, which began with the procurement of After the Rain by Irvine Adams, an artist who commands international praise. Some of the largest theatre venues in the area are the Kelowna Community Theatre, which boasts a seating capacity of 869, and the Black Box Theatre, a rehearsal hall that measures 1 200 square feet.

Demographics of the City of Kelowna

The city of Kelowna is the 22nd-largest city in the country, with a population of 179 839 as of 2011. The population increase between 2006 and 2011 measured 9.9 percent, with a total increase in permanent residents of 10 605 people. The median income of individuals in Kelowna is $36 813 per year, slightly higher than the average for British Columbia as a whole. The unemployment rate is 7.9 percent, four percentage points above the average unemployment rate of British Columbia. The average price for a resale house in the Kelowna real estate area has risen for the past two years straight, rising 0.9 percent in 2012 and 2.0 percent during 2013. Currently, the average resale price of a Kelowna home is $522 000. For brand new homes, the average cost is $740 000 for a single-detached property, after a 1.4 percent increase in value in 2013. The most expensive properties found in Kelowna real estate listings such as AllKelownaHomes.com tend to be gorgeous waterfront properties that are valued in the millions.

Major Kelowna Transportations Routes

One of the newest ways to get around the Kelowna area is the William R. Bennett Bridge that connects Kelowna with West Kelowna. This bridge has five lanes and was made accessible to the public on May 25th, 2008. The main highway that serves Kelowna is Highway 97, which was once the only major highway into town. The Coquihalla Highway, the Okanagan Connector and Highway 33 are other significant connecting routes in and around Kelowna.

Kelowna Weather and Climate

Kelowna experiences a variety of different weather. The coldest month tends to be January, with an average high of 1.4 degrees while the hottest month is usually July, which averages a high of 29.2 degrees. A wilderness playground nestled in the British Columbia interior, Kelowna is a world-class city that is famous for its delicious wines, thriving technology sector and vibrant arts community. With a great variety of local activities like skiing, surfing and winery tours, this growing city is great for those who love to play as hard as they work.