DISCOVER KELOWNA

Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a native term for "female grizzly bear."

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With scenic lake vistas and a dry, mild Canadian 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 second most expensive housing market in Canada (behind Vancouver).

Because of the Okanagan's climate and vineyard-filled scenery, it has sometimes been compared to California.

Kelowna also ranks as the 22nd largest metropolitan area in Canada.


HISTORY OF KELOWNA

First settled by missionaries in 1859, Kelowna was officially incorporated in 1905. Nearby communities include Westside to the west across the lake, Lake Country and then Vernon to the north, Westbank and then 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 architectural 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 of Sun-Rype, a popular manufacturer of fruit juice and snacks.

With roots dating back to 1965, Okanagan College is the predominant centre for vocational and undergraduate post-secondary education in Kelowna. With over 5000 full-time students it constitutes the largest college in British Columbia outside the Lower Mainland and Victoria. The University of British Columbia took over the North Kelowna campus of Okanagan University College (now Okanagan College) on July 1, 2005. While UBCO continues to offer many of OUC's undergraduate programs, UBC Okanagan also offers Engineering and Management undergraduate programs and has developed Graduate programs in most disciplines.

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 is also home to The Grapes of Wrath, one of Canada's most popular rock bands in the 1980s and early 1990s. Evangeline Lilly of the hit TV show Lost was discovered on the streets of Kelowna.


CLIMATE OF KELOWNA

Relative to most Canadian cities, Kelowna enjoys a dry climate and mild temperatures. Okanagan Lake tends to moderate the winter climate, but Arctic air occasionally penetrates into the valley during winter (coldest recorded temperature = -36.1oC, 30 December 1968). Summers are hot and sunny, with daytime temperatures often exceeding 35oC. Nighttime temperatures in summer are cool due to the dry environment. 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.


VENUES AND ATTRACTIONS

• Prospera Place, formerly known as Skyreach Place, is a 6,886-seat multi-purpose arena built in 1999. It is home to the Kelowna Rockets Ice hockey team. It replaced the old Kelowna Memorial Arena.
• The Apple Bowl is a multi-purpose stadium located at the Parkinson Recreation Area. It is the home of the Okanagan Sun of the Canadian Junior Football League and the Okanagan Challenge of the Pacific Coast Soccer League. Besides hosting field events, it has a rubberized 400m running track and facilities for other track and field events. The stadium seats 5,700, and had new molded seating installed in the main grandstand in 2006.
• Alternator Gallery for Contemporary Art
• Rotary Centre for the Arts
• Kelowna Art Gallery
• Kelowna Community Theatre
• Kelowna Museum
• Kelowna Marina on Okanagan Lake
• Capital News Centre
• 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.
  
  
  From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
  
  
  KELOWNA HOTELS & ACCOMMODATION
  
  BRITISH COLUMBIA TOURS, TRAVEL & ACTIVITIES
  
  

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