Kelowna is located in British Columbia, and is situated on the Okanagan Lake. In the southern part of Canada, Kelowna is the official head of the Regional District of Central Okanagan. The name of this distinguished city comes from the Okanagan language, and means “grizzly bear”. A census conducted in 2011 reported that there were 179,839 residents in Kelowna, which makes it the 22nd largest city in Canada.
Significant Events
- The first settlers came to Kelowna in 1859. Kelowna didn’t become an official city until 1905.
- Residents of Kelowna experienced a sonic boom in 1969, which was triggered by one of the members of the American Blue Angels. He was performing a stunt in preparation for an upcoming air show. The sonic boom was a result of him flying through the sound barrier at an altitude that was too low. As a result, 6 people were injured, and there was a quarter of a million dollars in damages.
- The last time the lake froze over in Kelowna was in 1986.
Neighbourhoods
Kelowna can be divided into 10 different sectors, but there are multiple neighbourhoods within each sector. Here are a few of them and what they have to offer.
Central City – Located close to Highway 33, this sector is made up of large businesses and commercial centres.
Downtown – Located in the Okanagan Lake region, this sector offers many beaches, parks, restaurants and stories. Downtown is known for its culture as it is home to art galleries, museums, sports arenas and several government offices.
Midtown - If it is shopping that you desire, there are many popular choices in the Midtown sector. This sector is also where the largest shopping centre is located, Orchard Park. This area is often criticized for the large retailers that do business there.
Other sectors include: Glenmore - Clifton – Dilworth, McKinley, Highway 9, (Airport/University), Rutland, Belgo (Black Moutain), South Pandosy (KLO), Southeast Kelowna, Northwest Mision (Crawford), Southwest Mission (Kettle Valley).