A small city that offers the world

Artifacts suggest that hunters lived in the Kelowna area as far back as 2,000 years ago. However, the first European settlement took place in 1859 by three Oblate missionaries. Father Pandosy, Father Richard and Brother Surel set up a mission for the area�s natives, traders and new settlers. Three of the original buildings remain at the Father Pandosy Mission Provincial Heritage Site.

In 1893, Lord Aberdeen, Canada�s Governor General, bought huge tracts of land in the valley in recognition of Okanagan�s fruit growing potential. He also built Guisachan House, now a 2.4 acre heritage site.

Kelowna became a city in 1905 at a time when the population was 600. Its name comes from the story of August Gillard, an early settler who crawled from an underground shelter just as a group of Indians passed by. The Indians called out, �Kim-ach-touch�, meaning Brown Bear. Over time, this became Kelowna, meaning Grizzly Bear, which was easier to pronounce.

Today, the greater Kelowna area has a total population of 145,445. It also boasts a rich history, some of which can be viewed in fascinating exhibits in the Wine Museum, BC Orchard Industry Museum, the Kelowna Museum and the Military Museum.

Cradled within a glorious range of mountains, is a sanctuary filled with pristine lakes, pine forests, abundant gardens, orchards and vineyards, sandy beaches, and superb amenities. Stretching from north to south for approximately 110 kms (68 miles) is beautiful Okanagan Lake. The lake sustains several diverse communities along this corridor known as the Okanagan Valley. The Okanagan Valley is located at the northern most end of the Sonora Desert and has a semi-arid climate, boasting long warm summers and short mild winters. The city of Kelowna, is the largest community and is located midway through the valley. It has a population of 107,000 and is the transportation, business and service hub of the valley.

Relatively undiscovered, Kelowna, is never too crowded despite playing host to visitors the world over. The Kelowna International Airport, the 10th busiest in Canada, easily connects to major North American cities. With daily flights, it�s just a 60-minute flight from Calgary or Vancouver and 70 minutes from Seattle. Daily direct flights to Toronto are also available. A variety of accommodations offer choices ranging from lakeside resorts to cozy B & B�s.

Kelowna has miles of beautiful parkland, and several sandy beaches which provide wonderful opportunities for boating, swimming, water-skiing, windsurfing and fishing. As well, you can hit the links at one of our many golf courses nine months out of the year. In cooler months, our snow-capped mountains and pine filled forests are a haven for skiers, boarders, snowmobilers and outdoor adventurists of all types and levels.

Orchards and vineyards thrive within a 10-minute drive from the downtown core and provide seasonal delights year round. You can pluck ripe cherries or juicy peaches from trees, or delicious strawberries from fields, spend a delightful day sampling the award-winning wares of our internationally acclaimed wineries. The Spring, Summer and Fall Wine Festivals offer hundreds of activities focused on wine making, tasting and touring.

Kelowna�s growing Cultural District covers a six-block downtown area and features a concentration of galleries, museums, theatres, artists� studios, fine dining, unique shops and a vibrant cultural life all year long. Prospera Place, a 6,000-seat multi-purpose facility that�s home to the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League, attracts major entertainers and events, and is also located in the heart of the city.

Kelowna weather is so mild, it�s one of the reasons why many of our visitors become residents. Warm summers are characterized by low humidity, along with relatively mild winters.

Kelowna lies in the rainshadow of the Cascade Mountain Range at the northern most tip of the Sonora Desert. This results in a dry, semi-arid steppe climate.

Categorised in About Kelowna

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A small city that offers the world