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Kelowna, Canada  Kelowna (2001 population 96,288, metropolitan population 147,739) is a city on Okanagan Lake in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is the seat of the Regional District of Central Okanagan, and the third-largest metropolitan area in British Columbia (aside from Vancouver and Victoria). First settled by missionaries in 1859, Kelowna was officially incorporated in 1905. Neighbouring towns include Westbank to the west, Peachland to the southwest, Vernon to the north and Penticton south of Peachland. 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 is well known for producing wines that have a worldwide reputation. Vineyards are common anywhere around and south of the city where the climate is ideal for the many wineries. Notable ones would include the Mission Hill Estate Winery, specifically for its unique architectual design. However at least two major wineries were damaged or destroyed in 2003 due to the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire Kelowna was home to the late Premier of British Columbia, W.A.C. Bennett and the birthplace of his son, William R. Bennett, who would also become Premier of the province. Major League Baseball player, Jeff Zimmerman of the Texas Rangers was 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.
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How To Get ThereFor years, only one road major highway passed through the city of Kelowna: Highway 97. The road itself is good, but its connections to all points east and west in the province were only managed by using the slow, curving Trans Canada Highway and the Crowsnest Highway. As the Okanagan Valley is a popular getaway for residents in Vancouver, a new freeway was built into the BC interior in 1986, shaving off over two hours of travel time between the two major destinations. This freeway, starting in Hope is known as the Coquihalla Highway (Hwy 5), and terminates in Kamloops. Highway 5 is a toll highway for both directions, with each way costing $10 for a typical passenger vehicle. A spur route (The Okanagan Connector, or Hwy 97C) was later added in 1989; it connects in Merritt, and heads eastward to Peachland, about twenty minutes south of Kelowna. This new freeway system makes the drive from Vancouver to Kelowna just under four hours, at 425 km in distance. Kelowna is connected to Westbank by a three-lane floating bridge and links Highway 97 south. The floating bridge is slated for replacement as it has outlived its usefulness and is incapable of supporting the current traffic levels. The construction of a new bridge has begun, although here has been a lot of controversy surrounding the project. Delays and connectivity are some of the major issues, since the highway leading up to the bridge is only four laned and is not a freeway. Highway 33, which connects with Highway 97 in Rutland, provides an alternate way to enter and exit the city, towards the southeast. Kelowna has an International Airport north of the downtown core, with regular flights to and from Calgary, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Toronto, Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria. Venues and Attractions
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EducationPublic SchoolsPublic schools in the Kelowna area are part of School District 23
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