Living in
Kelowna, BC
The Okanagan’s biggest city delivers big-city energy without the big-city grind. Beaches on your lunch break, world-class wine five minutes from downtown, 2,000 hours of sun a year โ Kelowna is where people come to visit and stay forever.
๐ Our Roots
Built on the Land of the Syilx People
Kelowna’s name comes from a Syilx word meaning “grizzly bear.” Long before it became the Okanagan’s largest city, this valley was home to one of BC’s most vibrant Indigenous nations.
The syilx/Okanagan people have called this valley home for more than 9,000 years. Their language, nsyilxcษn, carries the knowledge of generations and is woven into the landscape itself โ including the name Kelowna, derived from the Syilx word for grizzly bear. The syilx continue to live, work, and share their culture throughout the region today, with Westbank First Nation situated directly across Okanagan Lake from the city core.
European settlement arrived in 1859 when Father Charles Pandosy, a French Oblate missionary, established the valley’s first European settlement at what he called l’Anse au Sable โ Bay of Sand. His mission introduced agriculture to the valley, planting apple and other fruit trees that would define the region for generations.
The arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the early 1900s connected Kelowna to the rest of Canada, opening markets and accelerating growth. The iconic Kettle Valley Railway โ with its dramatic Myra Canyon trestles โ ran freight across the mountains until 1972 and is now one of the most celebrated rail-trail experiences in Canada.
Kelowna was officially incorporated as a city on May 4, 1905, with a population of just 600. Today, with roughly 166,000 residents in the city and over 254,000 in the greater metro area, it is the third-largest metropolitan area in British Columbia and the fastest-growing mid-size city in Canada.
BC
Syilx Settle the Valley
The syilx/Okanagan people establish a rich civilization in the Okanagan Valley, living in harmony with the land and lake.
First European Contact
Scottish fur trader David Stuart becomes the first European to travel through the Okanagan Valley.
Father Pandosy’s Mission
Father Charles Pandosy founds the first European settlement in the valley, introducing fruit growing and establishing the roots of Kelowna’s orchard industry.
Kelowna Incorporated
The City of Kelowna is officially incorporated on May 4 with a population of 600 people.
The Floating Bridge Opens
The Okanagan Lake Floating Bridge โ one of only a few floating bridges in the world โ connects Kelowna to the Westside for the first time, transforming the city’s growth.
Kelowna Today
A UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy with 166,000 residents, a booming tech sector, world-renowned wine country, and BC’s fastest-growing metro.
โ๏ธ Year-Round Sunshine
The Kelowna Climate
With over 2,000 hours of sunshine per year and the second-mildest winter of any non-coastal city in Canada, Kelowna’s climate is one of its greatest assets. The mountains shield the valley from coastal rain, while Okanagan Lake moderates the cold.
Cherry blossoms arrive by April, and orchard country bursts into bloom. Light layers are the move โ warm afternoons, cool evenings, and the occasional spring shower to keep everything green.
Hot, dry, and brilliant. Average July highs push 30ยฐC and beyond. Beaches fill up by 10am, patio season is in full swing, and the wineries are humming. Book everything in advance โ Kelowna summers are busy for a reason.
The valley’s finest season. Harvest runs September through October, the hillsides turn gold and amber, and the wineries open for crush. Fewer crowds, lower prices, and arguably the most beautiful light of the year.
Mild by Interior BC standards โ Kelowna rarely sees the brutal cold of the prairies. When snow falls in the valley, Big White Ski Resort (45 minutes away) is usually getting dumped on. Ski season and wine season overlap perfectly here.
๐ The Lake & The Vines
Where the Water Meets the Vineyard
Okanagan Lake defines everything about Kelowna โ the climate, the views, the lifestyle, and the wine. It’s 110 kilometres long, impossibly blue, and sits at the centre of every reason people fall in love with this city.
The heart of Kelowna’s lifestyle. Swim from City Park beach, rent a boat from the marina, paddleboard at sunset, or just sit on the waterfront and watch the lake change colour. Okanagan Lake moderates the city’s climate and makes lakefront living one of the most sought-after real estate propositions in Western Canada.
Kelowna sits at the centre of Canada’s most celebrated wine region. Over 40 wineries lie within a 20-minute drive, from grand estate wineries like Mission Hill and Summerhill Pyramid to intimate boutique operations tucked into the East Kelowna hillsides. The Okanagan consistently wins international awards for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling.
๐๏ธ Stay Active
Gyms & Recreation
Kelowna has one of the most extensive cycling networks in Canada for a city its size, plus world-class ski access, lake sports, and a major recreation centre currently undergoing its biggest transformation in history.
๐ WHL Hockey
The Kelowna Rockets
Hockey is serious business in Kelowna. The Rockets are one of the most decorated franchises in junior hockey history โ four WHL Championships and a 2004 Memorial Cup won right here at home.
๐ Did you know? The Rockets sold out Prospera Place for over 300 consecutive games after the arena opened in 1999. Kelowna is hosting the 2026 Memorial Cup โ the most prestigious event in Canadian junior hockey. Tickets are already selling fast.
๐ฝ๏ธ Eat & Drink Local
Food, Markets & Local Gems
Kelowna is a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy โ the first in Canada. That’s not a marketing title; it reflects a real food culture built on local farms, Okanagan wine, and chefs who care deeply about where their ingredients come from.
๐ Education
Schools & Learning
Kelowna is one of the few BC cities with both a major research university and a large community college right in town โ making it a genuine education destination, not just a family-friendly community.
๐พ For Dog Lovers
Dog Parks & Off-Leash Areas
With over 16,000 licensed dogs, Kelowna takes its dog community seriously. Off-leash areas range from hillside parks with city views to full lakefront dog beaches โ including the biggest off-leash dog beach in the Okanagan.
โ๏ธ Getting Here
How to Get to Kelowna
Kelowna is one of the most accessible Interior cities in Western Canada โ with its own international airport and direct flights from across the country, plus a straight highway shot from Vancouver or Calgary.
Kelowna has its own international airport, just 15 minutes from downtown. Direct flights from Vancouver (50 min), Calgary (1 hr), Edmonton, Toronto, and Seattle. Airlines include Air Canada, WestJet, Flair, Pacific Coastal, and Alaska Airlines. Over 2.3 million passengers in 2025 make YLW Canada’s 9th busiest airport.
Drive โ Highway 97Highway 97 is Kelowna’s main artery through the Okanagan Valley. Vancouver: ~4.5โ5 hours via the Coquihalla Highway (Hwy 5) and Hwy 97C โ one of BC’s most scenic drives. Calgary: ~6.5โ7 hours via Rogers Pass or Crowsnest Pass. Penticton: 1 hour south. Check DriveBC for real-time road conditions before you head out.
Bus ServiceKelowna Regional Transit (BC Transit) runs 30 routes across the city, West Kelowna, Lake Country, and Peachland, including the 97 Okanagan RapidBus. ebus connects Kelowna to Penticton, Vernon, and the Lower Mainland with comfortable coach service.
Connect through Vancouver (YVR) or Calgary (YYC) for international arrivals. From YVR, it’s a quick 50-minute direct flight to YLW, or approximately a 5-hour scenic drive through the Fraser Canyon and Coquihalla. YLW also has seasonal direct routes from Cancรบn and other warm destinations.
โ Common Questions
Your Kelowna Questions, Answered
Thinking about moving to Kelowna or just curious what life here is actually like? Here are the questions we hear most โ with straight answers from someone who knows the valley.
Cost of Living
Is Kelowna expensive to live in?
Kelowna sits between Vancouver and smaller BC towns on the cost scale. Expect to pay $2,000โ$2,400/month for a two-bedroom rental. Groceries run about 10โ15% above the national average. The offset is that you get more space, better weather, and a quality of life that Vancouver residents pay double for.
Real Estate
What is the average home price in Kelowna?
Kelowna’s benchmark home price has hovered around $750,000โ$850,000 depending on the neighbourhood and property type. Condos and townhomes offer a more accessible entry point, especially in areas like Rutland and the North End. The market is active year-round, with spring typically seeing the most competition.
Weather
What is the weather like in Kelowna, BC?
Kelowna gets over 2,000 hours of sunshine a year โ more than most Canadian cities. Summers are hot and dry (averaging 28โ30ยฐC), while winters are mild by BC Interior standards. Snowfall in town is light and usually short-lived. The valley climate is one of the top reasons people move here from the coast.
Lifestyle
What is Kelowna known for?
Kelowna is best known for Okanagan Lake, its world-class wine country, and a year-round outdoor lifestyle. It’s also the home of the Kelowna Rockets WHL hockey team, a growing tech sector that’s earned the nickname “Silicon Valley of the North,” and some of the best beach weather in Canada outside of the coasts.
Jobs & Economy
Is there good employment in Kelowna?
Kelowna’s largest employers are Kelowna General Hospital, UBC Okanagan, and the airport โ plus a fast-growing tech sector with dozens of startups and established firms. Tourism, agriculture, and construction also drive significant seasonal employment. It’s not a major corporate hub, but remote workers and entrepreneurs are choosing it in growing numbers.
Families
Is Kelowna a good place to raise a family?
Yes โ consistently. School District 23 serves 24,000+ students with strong academic and French Immersion programs. The outdoor lifestyle means kids grow up skiing, swimming, and hiking as a matter of course. Neighbourhoods like Lower Mission, Kettle Valley, and Glenmore are especially popular with families for their schools, parks, and community feel.
Getting Around
Do you need a car to live in Kelowna?
For most people, yes. BC Transit covers the city reasonably well and the 97 Okanagan RapidBus connects major corridors, but Kelowna is spread out and suburban areas aren’t well-served by transit alone. Downtown and the Pandosy corridor are walkable, but if you’re in Glenmore, Rutland, or the Mission, a car makes day-to-day life significantly easier.
Outdoors
What outdoor activities are available near Kelowna?
More than most cities its size can offer. Summer brings beach days on Okanagan Lake, paddleboarding, boating, hiking Knox Mountain and the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, and 16+ golf courses. In winter, Big White Ski Resort is 45 minutes away. Year-round mountain biking, trail running, and wine touring round out a lifestyle that draws people from across the country.
๐ก Find Your Place
Ready to Call Kelowna Home?
I’m Riccardo Manazza โ a licensed REALTORยฎ with eXp Realty and a proud Okanagan local. Kelowna’s market moves fast, and knowing which neighbourhoods fit your lifestyle matters as much as knowing the numbers. Whether you’re relocating from Vancouver, upsizing into the Mission, or looking for your first lakefront property โ I’ll help you get there.