Council Connect

By Mayor Tom Dyas

This month Kelowna received some much anticipated good news.

On April 17, Kelowna was granted an early exemption from the Province’s new short-term rental regulations.

This exemption allows Kelowna to become the only community in British Columbia able to implement a tailored, local approach ahead of the previously imposed province-wide November timeline.

This means starting June 1, short-term rentals will once again be allowed only in specific areas of our city. This made-in-Kelowna approach supports tourism, respects our neighbourhoods, and protects our housing supply.

This is an important moment for our community, but it is also the result of a much bigger plan.

Over the past several years, we have taken decisive action to increase supply, streamline building permits, and improve affordability—and this announcement is only possible because Kelowna has emerged as a housing leader.

Four years ago, Kelowna’s vacancy rate was below 1%. Today, we are closer to a healthy vacancy rate, exceeding 5%

Thanks to these efforts Kelowna has surpassed our provincial housing targets—building nearly 3,500 homes in 2024 and more than 4,000 homes in 2025.

As a result, rents are beginning to stabilize and, in some cases within out community even decline.

This progress matters. It means more options for residents, greater stability for renters, and a stronger foundation for the next generation to continue living in the community they call home.

In 2023, when the Province introduced new short-term rental rules, did not have the option to opt out of this legislation.

At that time, Kelowna had more than 2,600 short term rentals 1,400 of which were unlicensed and were disrupting neighbourhoods, causing extra work for bylaw, and impacting housing availability.

We supported the need for clear rules, but we also knew a one-size-fits-all approach would not reflect Kelowna’s realities.

So we built a case and we advocated.

We worked alongside the Minister of Housing, , the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, community partners, both City and Provincial staff, our local MLAs to put forward a plan that works for our community.

This early exemption is the result of that sustained advocacy—and through the City’s advocacy we have helped change future short term rental legislation for all communities across British Columbia.

The timing of this decision could not be more important.

Kelowna is one of Canada’s premier summer destinations, and this year we are preparing to welcome major national events, including the Memorial Cup, BC Lions games, the Canadian Elite Basketball League, and the BC Summer Games.

These events will bring energy, visitors, and national attention to our city—along with an estimated economic impact of more than $90 million.

By implementing this approach ahead of the peak summer season, we are ensuring we can welcome visitors, support local businesses, and continue to grow a strong and resilient economy.

At the same time, we are continuing to take action on housing.

Last week, Council supported a motion to assist homebuilding during a challenging time in the construction sector. We are cutting Development Cost Charges by 25 percent for two years, conducting a voluntary review of how the program is administered, launching future roundtable discussions with the development industry, and reviewing our purpose built rental tax exemption program.

These changes are focused on outcomes—not just for builders, but for the people who need homes.

It means projects can move forward sooner. It means more housing can be delivered faster. And it means more families can find a place to call home.

Kelowna is growing, and with that growth comes responsibility.

This decision reflects a made-in-Kelowna approach one that supports housing, strengthens our economy, and ensures our community continues to be a place where people can live, work, and thrive.

Full details on short term rentals can be found here.

In a fast-growing city like Kelowna, making it easier, faster, and safer to move around is essential.

From the day we were elected to office, Council has made transportation a priority. For too long, our population was growing, new homes were being built, and traffic was increasing, but major infrastructure was not being advanced.

We knew Kelowna needed a different approach.

One focused on building the roads, transit, and other major infrastructure projects our community needs today and for the future. To support this, our Council changed how we plan and fund infrastructure.

We introduced service-based budgeting and project bundling to accelerate delivery, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.

This year alone, 55 transportation projects are being advanced, with $87 million invested in transportation and transit through the 2026 budget.

Major projects moving into construction include the Burtch Road Extension, creating a continuous north-south corridor from Glenmore Road to KLO Road, to enhance interconnectivity in our city.

The first phase of the Hollywood Road extension is from John Hindle Drive to Sexsmith Road. Once complete, this extension will establish a continuous arterial connection between Airport Way and Highway 97, improving access in a growing area of our city.

We are also advancing the Glenmore Road widening to reduce congestion, improve travel times, and enhance safety.

A full list of transportation projects currently underway is available here for residents who want to learn more.

A major priority within this work is the Clement Crosstown Connector.

For more than 25 years, this project was talked about but never advanced.

Meanwhile, residents have felt the impact every day sitting in traffic.

Running parallel to Highway 97, the Clement Crosstown Connector will create a new east-west route linking downtown Kelowna with YLW and UBC Okanagan, while also improving connections to Highway 33 and Rutland.

Approximately 105,000 vehicles travel through our midtown corridor each day, making it the biggest traffic pressure point in the city and region.

The Clement Crosstown Connector will expand midtown’s road capacity by 25%, relieving pressure on our busiest corridors, improving transit reliability, and shortening travel times for residents, students, and visitors alike.

Design work is now underway, and during my meeting last week in Victoria with the Minister of Transportation Mike Farnworth, we discussed the importance of accelerating this project and exploring creative funding approaches to help move it forward. It is a critical investment that will shape how Kelowna moves for decades to come.

But a transportation system is about more than roads. It is about giving people real options — whether that is transit, walking, or cycling.

Recently completed upgrades to the Rutland Transit Exchange — including new bus bays and shelters, a park-and-ride lot, improved sidewalks, and dedicated pick-up and drop-off areas — are already making transit safer and more accessible for residents.

Building on that progress, one of our top advocacy priorities is the Kelowna Regional Transit Centre.

Our current transit facility at Hardy Yards was built in 1998 to serve Kelowna and the surrounding region and was designed to accommodate 70 buses.

Today it holds 117.

By 2028, we will not be able to add a single new bus to our network, limiting our ability to expand service at a time when demand continues to grow.

In 2025, Kelowna recorded a record 6.6 million transit rides — clear evidence that more residents are choosing transit as part of their daily lives.

While in Victoria, I made it clear that this project is essential to keeping our region moving and that Kelowna must receive its fair share of transit funding.

Currently, Kelowna residents receive less than half the per-person transit investment compared to Metro Vancouver, and that gap needs to close.

Kelowna residents deserve the same level of investment as other major urban centres in British Columbia.

Kelowna has done its part. We have secured a site for the new Regional Transit Centre, completed key planning work, and are ready to get shovels in the ground.

We are a willing and capable partner, and we will continue advocating for the investment our community deserves.

As Kelowna continues to grow, we must ensure our infrastructure keeps pace. By building new roads and investing in transit now, we are strengthening our economy, connecting our neighbourhoods, and protecting the quality of life that makes this city such a special place to call home.

Whether it is getting to work, driving your kids to hockey practice, or spending time with family and friends, our goal is to make it easier and faster for you to get where you need to go as efficiently as possible.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

Happy New Year, Kelowna.

I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season and was able to spend time with family, friends, and loved ones.

There is something special about Kelowna at this time of year. Whether it’s the Tree of Hope glowing, or families skating at Stuart Park under the glow of the new Christmas tree, the holidays — and our own personal traditions — remind us why this community is such a wonderful place to call home.

In 2025, Kelowna made significant investments in our community, with more than 131 capital projects underway representing over $150 million in infrastructure investment. This work included breaking ground on the new Parkinson Recreation Centre, advancing new community centres in Glenmore, Mission, and Rutland, moving forward 23 park projects citywide, opening the Bertram multi-use overpass, and completing the Chute Lake Road and Kane and Valley Road roundabouts. Additionally we have announced two new roundabouts on Springfield Road.

We also broke ground on the Glenmore Protective Services Campus, including a new fire hall and permanent home for COSAR, began construction on a new youth recovery centre, established an Economic Prosperity Task Force, and advanced plans for a new Performing Arts Centre.

Kelowna issued more than 1,700 building permits and over 4,000 occupancy permits throughout the year — helping deliver new homes for young families, seniors, and people building their future in Kelowna.

We also hosted major events like the Montana’s Brier and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards, bringing more than $30 million in economic impact to our community.

Together, this positive work reflects continued momentum on Council’s priorities, a full summary of our work is available through Council’s priority progress report.

At the same time as we enter 2026, we know there is far more work to do.

Over the past several weeks, I have heard directly from some downtown business owners who are facing incidents of crime, vandalism, and disorder affecting their staff and customers. What they are experiencing is unacceptable. No one should feel unsafe opening their business, going to work, or spending time in our city’s core.

That is why the City is taking immediate steps to strengthen coordinated safety and enforcement efforts in our urban centres. The focus is ensuring that business owners, staff, and customers can safely access storefronts and workplaces, particularly during the morning and evening hours.

Improving visibility, consistency, and on-the-ground presence is essential to supporting employees and protecting the vitality and economic prosperity of our urban centres — ensuring they are places where people feel safe to visit, shop, and start a business.

In the weeks ahead, in partnership with CMHA, we will also be launching CRCL Kelowna, a mobile, community-based crisis response service for people experiencing a mental health or substance-use crisis. This frees up police officers to focus on crime and safety-related calls.

Public safety has been a priority for Council since day one of this term, and these initiatives build on the actions currently underway.

In 2025, we strengthened our front lines by adding new RCMP officers, firefighters, and Bylaw Enforcement Officers, welcomed a new Officer in Charge at the Kelowna RCMP detachment, and appointed the City’s first dedicated Community Safety Liaison in Rutland.

We have also invested in treatment and recovery, including expanding transitional housing across the city, and our Social Development team continued to work alongside service providers to better coordinate resources.

These efforts are beginning to make a difference. While crime has declined statistically over the past several years, I know those improvements do not always reflect what is being experienced on the ground — and that is where our focus must remain.

That is why, alongside Council, I will be hosting a business community forum on public safety in early February. This forum will provide an opportunity to hear directly from business owners, better understand their concerns, and work together on both immediate local solutions and long term strategies.

While there is important work we can and must do locally, we also recognize these challenges are not unique to Kelowna. In September, I stood on the steps of the B.C. Legislature alongside mayors from across the province who are experiencing these same pressures in their communities.

Municipalities were never designed or given the tools to manage the impacts chronic repeat crime and untreated mental health and addictions have on our streets.

That is why we will continue to press senior partners such as provincial and federal governments and Interior Health to step up with the tools, resources, and systemic changes needed to address the root causes of these issues.

Public safety affects everyone, and this Council will continue working relentlessly with businesses, residents, and service providers on local solutions while advocating for the changes Kelowna needs to see.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to speak up and share their experiences.

Your voices matter, and they are helping guide the actions we are taking now and, in the months ahead, to make Kelowna a safer place for everyone.

We know that 2026, like 2025, will be a busy year and will once again showcase our city in the national spotlight. As Kelowna continues to shine, we want to ensure these opportunities help grow economic prosperity for the entire community.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

People across Canada and around the world have discovered what residents of Kelowna have always known: the beauty of our city and the quality of life that makes it so special.

Kelowna is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada. In 2016, our population was about 130,000. Today, it has surpassed 165,000 and is projected to reach over 210,000 by 2040.

While there are understandably different opinions about how fast our city is growing, it’s easy to see why people are choosing to make Kelowna their home, and our job as a council is to follow the current plans and work with staff to plan for that growth.

Growth brings incredible opportunities — new businesses, jobs, development, and world class events — but it also brings responsibility.

We must ensure our city:

has the roads, recreation centres, and essential services such as water and sewers to sustain a growing population;

remains a place where our children and grandchildren can afford to buy a home and raise their families; and

maintains the character and quality of life that make Kelowna the best place on earth to call home.

The backbone of how our city— and every city— plans for this growth is an Official Community Plan, or OCP.

In September, I attended the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Conference in Victoria. Among the 189 municipalities represented, every single one has an OCP. That is because every municipality in British Columbia is required by provincial law to have an Official Community Plan.

It is a high-level document that guides how a city grows — including where homes, parks, businesses, and roads will go, how we protect our natural areas, and how we plan for future infrastructure needs.

Although these plans project into the future, by law, these plans must be reviewed and updated every five years to ensure they remain relevant as communities evolve.

Kelowna’s current OCP was adopted in 2022 following several years of public engagement involving thousands of residents. It sets out a 20-year vision to guide Kelowna’s growth to 2040, helping ensure we grow in a way that is sustainable, efficient, and reflects community values.

It’s important to understand that the OCP is not a rigid rulebook. It’s a projection, a guiding document that provides direction for decisions on zoning, development, and investment.

Each new Council inherits the existing OCP and works within its framework, ensuring it remains relevant as Kelowna grows. Council also has the authority to amend sections of the plan when needed — to reflect new data and align with community priorities.

When this Council began its term, we held strategic planning sessions and had conversations with residents, business owners, and community leaders to identify the issues most important to Kelowna today. From those discussions came our Council Priorities. Currently they are:

• Crime and Safety
• Homelessness
• Affordable Housing
• Agriculture and the Environment
• Economic Development
• Transportation

Not every community priority fits directly within the OCP. Issues such as crime and homelessness, for example, are addressed through dedicated programs and partnerships outside the scope of the plan.

But when it comes to how Kelowna grows — how we design neighbourhoods, move people and goods, protect farmland, and plan for future services — the OCP remains a central guide that connects our long-term vision to the priorities we update every 6 months.

The OCP is regularly monitored, reviewed and updated by staff and Council. It is a living document that needs to adjust as priorities evolve.

Having said that - the big picture vision remains the same.

I sometimes hear people ask, “Why not just scrap the OCP and start over?” The answer is twofold.

First, we can’t — every municipality must have an OCP under the Local Government Act.

But more importantly, we shouldn’t.

The OCP represents years of community input, technical study, and professional expertise from planners, engineers, environmental specialists, and development experts. It provides stability for residents, builders, and investors by ensuring consistent and transparent decision-making about how our city grows.

Starting from scratch would come at a significant cost. It would mean launching a new, years-long public consultation process, bringing in technical experts, and redoing the analysis that has already been done — a process that could cost millions of taxpayer dollars. That money is better invested in building new roads, new recreation facilities, and improving the safety of our neighbourhoods.

That said, the OCP is not static. Council continually reviews and updates sections to reflect new data, priorities, and emerging challenges, whether that’s housing affordability, transportation improvements, or environmental protection. An example of this is the North End plan Council endorsed this year.

The OCP gives Kelowna a roadmap for the future, but it is just one of the many plans that guide our city’s growth. It works alongside our Transportation Master Plan, 20-year servicing plan, 10-year capital plan, Agriculture Plan, Council Priorities, and annual budget — to name just a few. Each of these documents plays a role in building a city that grows responsibly.

Our focus as a Council is to take these blueprints and turn them into real progress: safer streets, more housing options, better transportation, and a thriving city that we are all proud to call home.

If you have time, I encourage you to look through Kelowna’s OCP and see how we’re planning Kelowna’s future.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

This summer I have had the chance to attend events all across our city. From neighbourhood park openings to community sporting events, I have spoken with families, students, seniors, business owners, and new residents who are proud to call Kelowna home. What I heard in these conversations was appreciation for the advancement in infrastructure projects and the need to continue focusing on public safety.

From the beginning, council and I made public safety our number one priority, and it remains our most urgent focus today. I would like to share some of the steps we have taken locally.

A significant milestone came in July when Superintendent Chris Goebel was named the new RCMP Officer in Charge. For the first time in our city’s history, this role is dedicated solely to the city of Kelowna.

Superintendent Goebel is a proud member of our community, raising his family here, and living the same day-to-day experiences as the people he serves. That kind of connection brings local understanding, accountability, and responsiveness that Kelowna needs.

We also now have a dedicated Community Safety Unit supervisor for Rutland, Corporal Michael Gauthier, based in the Rutland RCMP office. This addition strengthens local oversight and ensures our safety strategy reflects the unique needs of every neighbourhood.

These structural changes build on significant investments our council has made in public safety.

Since 2023, Kelowna has added 31 new RCMP officers, 15 bylaw officers, and 14 firefighters. These are boots on the ground—working every day in our neighbourhoods and public spaces.

We also launched the Mayor’s Task Force on Crime Reduction, which developed a roadmap that council unanimously endorsed. The recommendations are now being implemented, with actions ranging from immediate interventions to long-term solutions.

On the ground, we have supported new initiatives like the URBA on-call team, investing in and working alongside the Downtown Kelowna Association on-call and clean team, to provide timely responses where they are needed most.

We have grown our Block Connector Program from 60 to more than 90 neighbourhoods, relaunched the volunteer-driven Speed Watch Program, and look forward to the RCMP revival of its Auxiliary Police Program.

Strengthening safety also means addressing the challenges connected to homelessness and street disorder. That is why we made changes to the OS4 outdoor sheltering site, because the status quo was not working—for those sheltering there, for service providers, or for nearby residents.

Working with community partners, from local non-profits to provincial agencies, the outdoor sheltering site is now more structured and safer.

Since the end of March, the number of people sheltering there has dropped from over 80 to an average of about 53, as more individuals transition into transitional housing or indoor shelter options. At the same time, ambulance calls have been cut in half, criminal activity linked to the site has declined significantly, and the risks of safety incidents and fires have been greatly reduced.

Alongside these efforts, since 2023 Kelowna, through Provincial HEART and HEARTH program investments and municipal land contributions, has added 180 new shelter units and 20 complex care units. Sites like STEP Place, Trailside, and the newly opened Balsam Place provide people with a pathway off our streets and into safer, supported environments, which helps build a safer community.

Early reports are encouraging: of the 120 people who originally moved into STEP Place and Trailside, within a year 66 have successfully transitioned either into permanent housing, back with their families, or into treatment with Interior Health. This has opened up space for more individuals to move in and begin their recovery journey.

These are not just numbers—they represent real people getting a second chance, families being reunited, and a safer, healthier city for everyone.

As we strengthen both housing supports and local safety initiatives, we are starting to see positive results.

Since 2022, overall property crime has fallen by 17 percent, driven by a 55 percent reduction in business break-ins, 48 percent reduction in auto theft, and 32 percent decrease in theft from auto. Importantly, both our overall Crime Severity Index and our Violent Crime Severity Index declined in 2023 and again in 2024.

We know that no single measure tells the whole story or erases the daily experiences of residents and businesses. But they are signs that focused, collaborative action can make a real difference.

Even with these steps forward, the reality is that municipalities cannot solve these challenges alone. Crime, homelessness, mental health and addiction are felt in communities across the country and require provincial and federal leadership.

Here in Kelowna, we experience firsthand the detrimental and costly impacts of a criminal justice system in dire need of reform.

That is why our advocacy remains focused and pressing.

We will continue to push for compassionate mandatory care for individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others, more Crown prosecutors and court resources in Kelowna, and bail reform that holds chronic property offenders accountable in order to rebuild public confidence in justice and end the revolving door of repeat crime.

These are changes higher levels of government can make immediately, and we will keep pressing until Kelowna, and communities across the country, see the meaningful action we need.

We will also continue working closely with our local business associations who have been strong partners in calling for change and strengthening community safety.

The challenges we face are complex, but the strength of our community is real. I have heard it in every conversation this summer.

By working together—residents, local leaders, and partners at every level—we can build a safer Kelowna for everyone.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

It has been a busy spring and an exciting few months for Kelowna.

When this Council began its term, you told us clearly what mattered most: keeping our community safe, investing and advancing the infrastructure and services that support daily life, and making sure Kelowna remains a place everyone can be proud to call home.

We are seeing significant progress on all of these fronts.

Our city continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the country. That growth requires accelerated infrastructure delivery to keep pace, and this spring and summer, important projects have moved ahead.

In April, we broke ground on the new Parkinson Recreation Centre—the largest capital investment in Kelowna’s history. We also opened DeHart Park, began work on a new winter tennis facility, and started the planning process on the Rutland, Mission, and Glenmore activity centers—all of which will expand access to parks, recreation, and public spaces that benefit our entire community.

On the transportation side, the Bertram multi-use overpass officially opened, providing a safe and reliable route for cyclists and pedestrians helping to ease congestion along Highway 97.

We also celebrated the opening of Balsam Place, which delivers 60 new temporary housing units, a critical step to help people stabilize and transition into permanent homes. Through the Provincial Government’s partnerships with the HEART and HEARTH programs, we now have 180 units that have already transitioned over 65 people into housing since the first opened in February 2024.

That means families reunited, lives rebuilt, and a healthier, safer community for everyone.

While these milestones are worth celebrating, our work does not stop here. We know that the issues facing our community—public safety, housing, and the visible challenges that impact our streets and neighbourhoods—are complex and require sustained effort. We remain committed to working with our partners to make meaningful improvements.

As a Council, we are continually assessing how we can better serve you and prepare for the future. Recently, we held our third strategic planning session to review our Council priorities, measure progress, and focus our efforts on what we aim to accomplish in the final 16 months of this term.

This update includes a strong focus on economic development and the launch of a new Community Task Force on Economic Prosperity—an initiative that will strengthen our economy by supporting small businesses, helping local entrepreneurs succeed, attracting new investment, and creating good-paying jobs for Kelowna residents.

We remain especially focused on two urgent challenges: crime and safety, and homelessness. Council continues to advocate with the Provincial government for more Crown prosecutors and the Federal Government for bail reform to address repeat property crime. We are also working with the Provincial Government on advancing a regional mandatory compassionate care facility in the Okanagan to help those struggling with mental health and addictions issues under the Mental Health Act receive the support they need.

Another priority is making our roads safer for everyone. That includes advancing plans and securing investment for a new transit operations centre, prioritizing traffic safety upgrades, and increasing RCMP speed patrols to better protect people walking, biking, and driving.

On the climate and agriculture fronts, we have combined these priorities to drive long-term projects, including the Climate Resilient Kelowna Strategy and efforts to ensure a reliable agricultural water supply.

Another important way Council advances your priorities is through committee appointments.

These appointments help ensure Council has strong oversight and community input on issues that matter to you, like parks and recreation, public safety, and regional services.

My approach as Mayor has been to rotate appointments over time so every councillor has the opportunity to contribute across these different areas, gain a broad understanding of our city’s needs, and bring fresh perspectives to each table.

While some appointments—such as the 16 committees and task forces focused on topics like housing, transportation, public safety, and economic development—are appointed by the Mayor, other committees, including the six councillors chosen to sit on the Regional District of Central Okanagan Board, are selected and voted on by all of Council.

I recognize that no approach to appointments will satisfy everyone. However, my focus is always on ensuring transparency, quality, fairness, and that Council has the experience and perspectives needed to serve our growing city effectively.

At every step, we are guided by a commitment to transparency, accountability, and community. You can track our progress, review priorities, and see updates on the City’s website.

These priorities reflect the big challenges and opportunities facing Kelowna today—keeping your neighbourhood safe, accelerating transportation, investing in infrastructure that supports daily life, and ensuring the best value for the municipal services you rely on. All this is being delivered while maintaining one of the lowest municipal tax rates in the province.

Kelowna is a city we are proud to call home. Together, we are building a strong, safe, and resilient community for everyone.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

Is there a better feeling than a Kelowna summer? As the days stretch longer and the sun warms our valley, the season we wait for all year is nearing.

We live in the most spectacular part of our country—and the rest of Canada, and the world, is quickly catching on. Visitors arrive from all over because there is simply no better place to spend a summer.

Recent seasons, however, have not been easy

First came the COVID shutdowns, which emptied downtown streets and forced many small businesses to close their doors. Then came the wildfires, testing the strength of our community and deterring visitors just as we were rebuilding.

Even last summer, despite beautiful weather, a vibrant downtown, and a record number of passengers arriving through Kelowna International Airport, many operators were still carrying the burden of pandemic debt, and tourists remained hesitant to re-commit in the wake of fire seasons and a high cost of living.

Added to that was the uncertainty around short-term rental rules, which shrank available accommodations and left many would-be visitors unsure of where to stay.

But we believe things will look different this year.

In a time of global economic uncertainty and growing threats of a trade war, there’s never been a more important moment to support local—and to support Canada. This is the summer to explore our own backyard, take a Kelowna staycation, and enjoy what people from across the country and around the world travel here to experience. Try a new winery, discover a new beach, or share your favorite patio with your friends and family.

Let’s do everything we can to support our local economy and bring people to our city. That means calling your friends, whether they’re in Osoyoos or Ottawa, to plan a trip to Kelowna this summer.

And when our neighbours from Washington or California roll into town, or guests arrive from around the world, let’s welcome them with the warmth and hospitality that defines us. Their visits support our country, sustain our small businesses, and strengthen our economy for everyone

This April, Council aligned Kelowna’s short-term rental regulations with the provincial framework, and in doing so, has immediately opened another 400 licensed units—bringing the total to over 800, with more to come. These new regulations allow us to welcome more guests in a controlled and thoughtful way, addressing neighbourhood concerns while ensuring tourists and residents alike can enjoy a peaceful and exciting summer.

We’re grateful to see these rentals return, and we’ll continue working with all levels of government to advocate for a truly “made-in-Kelowna” approach.

A busy season benefits all of us—tasting rooms pour more samples, farm stands sell more cherries, and local shops and restaurants thrive.

There’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the summer: soak up the sun on one of our over 30 beaches, paddle through Kelowna’s water trails, take a walk along the City Park walkway, or explore City’s parks and trail systems through our growing Active By Nature network.

With more than 40 wineries in Kelowna alone, the Central Okanagan is at the heart of one of the most exciting wine regions in the world. Alongside its flourishing craft brewery industry, many of these wineries can be explored by bike, boat, or through one of the many curated local tour companies.

The Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market and the Downtown Kelowna Night Market continue to be favourite local destinations. You can take in breathtaking views on Knox Mountain or the Mission Creek Greenway, or enjoy the Rail Trail that connects downtown Kelowna to Coldstream, with lakes, parks, and scenic stops along the way.

These are just a few of the many summer highlights. For a full list of festivals, concerts, markets, and activities, check out the Tourism Kelowna calendar and start planning your perfect season.

Capping off a spectacular summer, we’ll welcome Canada’s brightest stars for the Canadian Country Music Awards in September—a national celebration of talent, energy, and the spirit of the season.

Our community has weathered the pandemic, wildfires, and economic turbulence, but our community spirit and resilience have been unwavering.

So this summer, do not forget to call your friends—wherever they may be—and invite them to experience Kelowna for themselves.

Let’s support our country, support our community, and support each other—and let’s make 2025 Kelowna’s best summer yet.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

A growing city needs a transportation system that keeps people moving.

Last month, I used this opportunity to outline how the City’s budget is developed and the importance of accountability and transparency in that process. Our goal is to ensure the budget remains fiscally responsible and reflects the priorities of the people of Kelowna.

One of the most exciting parts of Kelowna’s 2025 budget is the way we’re transforming how we deliver infrastructure—roads, bridges, recreation facilities, and public transit.

We’ve heard you loud and clear: our transportation system needs more efficient options, less congestion, and better connections across the region.

As Mayor and council, we’ve made transportation infrastructure a council priority. In a rapidly growing city like ours, delivering projects quickly and efficiently is essential to keeping pace with development and meeting residents’ needs. Every decision we make today must ensure these projects serve our community not only when they’re built but for decades to come.

Too often, government projects are associated with delays, unnecessary red tape, and ballooning budgets. For Kelowna, that’s simply not the case.  We know that inefficiencies waste taxpayer dollars and cause inconvenience for families and businesses.

That’s why we’ve adopted a smarter, faster approach to building infrastructure. Our new strategy includes road bundling, which combines major projects to accelerate delivery, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.

This year’s budget reflects a strong emphasis on long-term infrastructure investments, with a focus on accelerating capital projects and leveraging partnerships to deliver real results. In the 2025 budget, we allocated $81 million toward transportation capital expenditures.

By accelerating these investments, we’ve doubled the rate of annual capital delivery and increased the proportion of our capital plan completed within the planned year. This means more projects being built faster.

One of the cornerstone projects in development is the Clement Avenue extension, with design work already underway. This initiative will link downtown Kelowna to Highway 33 and McCurdy Road. Running parallel to Highway 97, it will reduce congestion, improve transit, and shorten travel times for residents, students, and visitors alike.

Complementing this is the Burtch Road Upgrades, which will establish a continuous north-south corridor connecting Glenmore Road to KLO Road. This vital route will ease traffic flow and provide a reliable alternative to Highway 97 for commuters.

Meanwhile, the replacement of the KLO bridge over mission creek is underway, with construction of a new bridge and creek pathway set to begin this year, improving connections across the city.

But it’s not just about roads, Kelowna’s growth requires diverse transportation options and improved travel choices.

Investments in the Mission Recreation Transit Exchange, along with new transit exchanges in Rutland and Okanagan College, are designed to enhance rider comfort and reduce delays.

At the same time, we’re expanding capacity at the Hardy Transit Centre while preparing designs for a new Hollywood Transit Centre, which will complement the Clement Avenue extension and enhance transit accessibility along this key route.

These investments are critical as we reached a record level transit ridership of 6.45 million in 2024, a testament to how much residents value reliable and accessible transit options.

Active transportation also plays a vital role in a healthy, connected city. Projects like the Bertram Active Transportation Corridor and the Rutland Neighborhood Bikeway will expand safe walking and cycling routes, linking key areas, including new playing fields, and encouraging more people to choose active transportation for their daily commutes.

Every one of these projects has a common goal: less time stuck in traffic and more time to enjoy what matters most—spending time with family, shopping at local businesses, or exploring all that Kelowna has to offer.

We are already starting to see results. Through our Transportation Accelerator Plan, we’ve expanded investments in mobility and infrastructure, advancing the construction of seven major projects ahead of schedule.

By streamlining processes, leveraging partnerships, and listening to the needs of residents, we’re proving that Kelowna can lead the way in delivering efficient, innovative and community-focused infrastructure.

Together, we’re building a transportation system that keeps people, goods, and our economy moving while enhancing the quality of life for everyone in Kelowna.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

As the festive season approaches, I am reminded how grateful I am to the community we all call home. It’s an opportunity to embrace the spirit of the holidays and reflect on what makes Kelowna such a great place to live. With festive events already underway and more to come, cherished traditions, and countless ways to give back, this season allows each of us to find our own unique ways to celebrate and be together.

For many of us the annual lighting of the Tree of Hope signifies the start of the season here in Kelowna thanks to the Stober Foundation. For nearly three decades, this illuminated tree has been a beacon of light in the Landmark District and a powerful symbol of hope for the holiday season.

As always, this year's Tree of Hope lighting supported an essential cause. The Stober Foundation named Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) as its charity of choice, making a significant donation of over $500,000 to support their work. COSAR plays a critical role in ensuring safety across our region, and this generous contribution will allow them to continue their important services.

This past weekend we’ve celebrated light ups throughout the city. The annual Downtown Kelowna Light Up and Winter Street Market is one of the city’s popular gatherings and a community highlight. The event in Stuart Park brought together friends and families to enjoy live entertainment, skating, and a wide range of activities for people of all ages. The winter market ran during the day and was an incredible showcase of local vendors and warm treats, with proceeds going to the Central Okanagan Food Bank. The day came to a close with the much-anticipated tree lighting, illuminating the heart of downtown and setting the festive mood for the weeks ahead.

In Rutland this past Sunday, the Uptown Rutland Business Association hosted its Winter Light Up in Centennial Park. The vibrant community event brought together residents and businesses and featured local vendors, live entertainment, food trucks, and, of course, visits with Santa himself. It was another community celebration that reminded us all that the joy of the holiday season is felt across our entire city.

On December 14th, Kelowna will see the return of something truly special—a holiday parade in downtown Kelowna. For the first time in decades, the magic of a festive parade will return to our city center with the event, “A Parade with a Purpose.” This community-driven celebration originated in Kettle Valley four years ago and has grown significantly, prompting organizers to move it downtown, a decision made possible with the City’s full support and collaboration with the parade’s founders.

All funds raised from the parade will go directly toward The Bridge Youth & Family Services’ new Youth Recovery House project, a much-needed resource in our community. The parade promises to bring festive floats, music, and excitement for families, while also making a meaningful difference for youth in need. It’s a wonderful opportunity to start a new family tradition as this parade evolves, while continuing to support a worthwhile cause.

With events like these taking place throughout the City, its important to remember to shop local and support the many businesses that are the backbone of our growing economy.

While the holidays bring happiness and celebration for many, they can also be a challenging time for some members of our community. The season is often a reminder of how much we rely on one another, and it’s a time when the support and care we show to each other really shines. Whether through volunteering, donating, or simply offering a helping hand, we can all play a part in making this season brighter for those who may be struggling.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other tradition, I hope that above all you experience in some way the warmth that defines the holidays, and the values that unite us as a community, such as kindness, generosity, and gratitude.

It is both an honour and a privilege to serve as your mayor, and I am incredibly proud of the progress this Council has made together over the past year. With major events coming to this community along with the advancement of capital infrastructure projects, 2025 promises to be a busy year. Until then I hope you are all able to take time to relax and enjoy the holidays together.

So, as the holidays approach, let’s embrace all the season has to offer. Enjoy time with family and friends, support our local businesses, and look out for each other. I also hope to see you all at the annual New year’s celebration in Stuart Park by Festivals Kelowna on December 31.

Together, let’s make this a joyful and meaningful holiday season.

Happy holidays, Kelowna!

By Mayor Tom Dyas

Diving into election season, it’s become an increasingly busy time for everyone as we strive to recognize the responsibilities and jurisdictions of Municipal, Provincial and Federal governments. The next month will see debates, differing perspectives and promises, which will ultimately lead up to election day. Despite the election’s outcome, our community can take comfort in knowing that Kelowna’s advocacy priorities remain strong and unwavering. We’ve positioned ourselves as a leading municipality in BC; one that is open to collaboration and collective action that goes beyond party lines and focuses on what matters most to our residents.

Our advocacy priorities are a direct response to what we are hearing from our community and where we have focused our efforts when attending tours and meetings, like the recent UBCM Convention in Vancouver.

Public safety remains a top concern for our residents, and we know that Mandatory compassionate care for those suffering from severe mental health and addiction issues needs to be implemented in an effective and meaningful way. I need to be clear – allowing those with severe mental health and addiction issues to suffer on our streets is not compassionate, it is neglect. As a City, we continue to press for the expansion of a regional mandatory care model inspired by the Red Fish Healing Centre. This centre offers a compassionate mandatory care approach for those in crisis. The recent provincial announcements are promising, and we will continue to advocate for bringing this life-saving model to our community.

To add to this, the need for more Crown prosecutors has never been more urgent. As Kelowna continues to grow, so too does the need for resources to support our justice system. We are pushing for at least five more Crown prosecutors to keep pace with the increasing demands on our courts. The current judicial system is stretched too thin and is not deterring repeat offender, many of whom have extensive criminal histories. By adding more resources, we can ensure a tougher approach is followed that holds repeat offenders accountable. We are also advocating the Province to add their voice to our request to the Federal government to enact bail reform on repeat property offenders.  

On the infrastructure front, we are committed to transforming how our city moves and grows. The Clement Extension Partnership multi-modal corridor is one of the most exciting projects on the horizon. This would create a seamless connection between downtown Kelowna, Highway 33, McCurdy, the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO), and the Kelowna International Airport (YLW), in parallel to Highway 97. The project is set to significantly enhance our transportation infrastructure by alleviating congestion on highway 97, increasing capacity for upgraded transit lanes, and improving travel times for residents as well as the movement of goods and services across the region.

This critical piece of infrastructure is also interconnected with transit as it is a key step in advancing the construction of our new Transit Operations Centre. Our community and region have outgrown the current facility at Hardy Street, and it is over capacity. This challenge impacts our ability to respond to current and future ridership demand. We must ensure that planning and commitments made today will meet the needs of our community as we grow. 

The expansion of Kelowna’s International Airport YLW is another key pillar of our economic development strategy. As the largest municipally-owned and operated airport in Canada, YLW and its aerospace campus has been a hub for innovation, job creation, and air service delivery to support industry, tourism, agriculture, trade and regional economic activity. We continue to seek opportunities for growth for our airport into the Eastlands to attract more partners that will continue to place Kelowna as a great place to invest in. In fact, as this article is being published, I am currently in Ottawa advocating for federal support to advance our Airport Campus Expansion.  

The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), which represents 151 Municipalities and 38 Regional Districts, acts as a collective voice for challenges faced by all our communities. The annual convention is the main provincial forum for policy-making through resolution voting and debates. The busy week allows for collaborative discussions, sharing of best practices, gaining insights, and attending informative sessions. It offers a chance for in-person meetings and interactions with Ministers, enabling us to directly advocate for our community's needs. It also serves as a platform for recognition of excellence, and I am beyond proud of the City’s asset management team for being awarded as a provincial leader in strong asset management and accelerated infrastructure delivery.

A highlight of the week was joining a coalition of mayors calling on the federal government to take stronger action on the key issues of mental health, addiction, and public safety.

These topics were at the forefront of many discussions, especially during the panel on impacts to public safety that I had the honour of being invited to participate in. I brought to light the financial and social toll that addiction is taking on our communities and the strain it’s putting on our first responders. Whether it’s our bylaw officers, RCMP, or firefighters, the impact is felt across the board. I made it clear that we need more support from both the provincial and federal government to address these challenges head-on – and particularly the need for the right agency to respond to the crisis: we wouldn’t send a doctor to respond to a robbery, so why are we sending police and bylaw officers to respond to a health incident?

A lot of the real work happened in one-on-one meetings with Premier Eby and 5 key provincial ministers. In these conversations, we went beyond just bringing awareness to our priorities and we pushed for real commitments through collaborative discussions.

We are now in the middle of a Provincial Election, with election day scheduled for October 19th and advance voting starting as early as October 10th. I encourage everyone to research the platforms, ask questions, and get out and vote for the candidates who prioritize the issues that matter most to you and our community. Whether it’s public safety, mental health and addictions, infrastructure, or economic development, every vote counts and will help shape the next four years of Canada’s fastest growing region.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

Our Council Priorities guide the City’s business planning and investment decisions, in the ongoing service delivery that our residents value.

We regularly monitor and report our progress on council priorities every six months and adjust the priorities as needed - a process that represents our continuous improvement and commitment to transparency and accountability as an organization.

The recently updated Council Priorities were adopted on July 22 and include a total of 30 action items and now, with the addition of a new priority, 7 priority areas. Let us review our achievements thus far and outline the future actions we will take to address the challenges and opportunities we face as a growing city.

Crime and Safety

Some notable updates to this priority area include advancing implementation of Mayor’s Task Force on Crime Reduction recommendations, increasing RCMP and Bylaw visibility to focus on high-risk traffic behaviour and crime, and a continued focus on reducing property crime. To address repeat offenders, we will be advocating for more crown prosecutors as well as the establishment of a future sobering centre.  We have completed many actions in this area already, including the establishment of the URBA On Call team and the establishment of the Business Safety Toolkit. We’ve seen the RCMP respond directly to Task Force recommendations with the relaunch of the Speed Watch Program. Council also received a progress report in March 2024, where the RCMP reported a 44% drop in Break and Enters and, most recently, the latest Crime Severity Index data revealed that Kelowna is no longer leading the nation in Police reported crime statistics.

Housing

In 2023 Council advanced 4000 permits for new homes. Although this is a positive step forward, we recognize that many of these units may not be built for several years, and we need more action now. We will meet provincial/local affordable housing targets with support from the Province and to increasing number of rental units with below market rents. On top of this we will complete the Housing Action Plan, including incentive options, and want to partner with the private sector on the creation of more low-cost affordable housing pilot projects. We will work alongside the development community to explore more options to protect renters impacted by redevelopment projects and protect existing rental stock.

Homelessness

We’ve been able to further focus in on actions in this area and are committed to the completion of the delivery of 180 tiny homes via BC Housing as well as work to facilitate the creation of a new purpose-built shelter with warp around support and graduated housing options. Council will advocate for a regional care facility, additional Complex Care beds and explore what options we need to implement more care and delivery models such as a multi-care site in the Okanagan. We realize these are complex issues that fall outside the City’s realm of influence, meaning we will continue to advocate to the Province and other agencies for assistance in completing these actions.

Transportation

Our updated Transportation actions focus on improving mobility and movement throughout the City. This includes creating an additional connection to north Kelowna and YLW through the completion of the functional design of the Hwy 33 multi-modal traffic corridor, securing funding for a new transit operations centre, and improving both transit services and traffic flow on major road networks. To accomplish these actions, we will use approaches like road bundling to decrease costs, while expediting delivery, and increase advocacy with external agencies and senior levels of government, with the goal to create further interconnectivity and alleviating traffic congestion through simple solutions.

Agriculture

Protecting our agricultural land base continues to be a priority for Council and we commit to further protect agricultural lands through continued enforcement to ensure farmland is used for permitted uses. We celebrated a win earlier this year with the announcement of a new permanent home for the Kelowna Farmers and Crafters Market within the Landmark District. Beyond that, we realize the need to keep water usage and strategies top of mind to ensure our water supply is not only maintained but also secured for future generations. We’ve already started down this path with the transition of GEID to the City water Utility and are working to help the fruit producers and packers find solutions so Kelowna orchardists can get their fruit to market in the coming months.

Climate and Environment

We have committed to completing the City’s Climate Resilient Kelowna Strategy and continue to include ‘Climate Lens’ in all of our decision making. Focusing on the power of the natural environment, we will continue to further increase the urban tree canopy, especially along boulevards and medians. Realizing the impact civic facilities have on green house gas emissions, we commit to finding ways to reduce them, with the goal of net-zero solutions. Finally, we want to incentivize more green choices through the pilot energy concierge program to enable retrofits in buildings.

Economy

This new priority area is grounded in what we’ve heard from residents, businesses and the communities we serve. We know that a thriving and resilient economy underpins a good quality of life today and in the future, and we will seek more opportunities to enhance economic diversification and attract new employment and support existing business growth.

Council is committed to assessing the City’s supply of employment lands and want to further consider the City’s investment into economic development. This means investing in substantial infrastructure delivery to set the stage and ensure Kelowna is ready for a suite of exciting upcoming major events like the Canadian Country Music Awards, the 2025 Brier, and the possibility of developing our own CPL team and hosting the 2026 Memorial Cup.

These are exciting developments and staff have now been given direction to begin work on all action areas. As August rolls in, I wish everyone an enjoyable and relaxing end to the summer season.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

Last month’s Canadian Premier League (CPL) announcement was truly a pivotal moment for the future of professional sports in Kelowna.

Our growing community currently has the opportunity of becoming a premier national sports destination in the Interior, and an important aspect of this vision is attracting top-tier talent, coaches, and events. By investing in sports infrastructure and promoting diverse athletic opportunities, we can set the stage for Kelowna to shine on both the national and international stage.

The upcoming CPL match on June 16, 2024, between Vancouver FC and Calvary FC at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, will be a test of the city's potential to embrace soccer at a higher level. In the lead-up to the match, CPL players and coaches will visit local schools and participate in soccer-related events and activities, building excitement and community engagement around the sport.

Hosting a Premier League game is one thing, but to truly establish ourselves as a sports hub, we need to be able to offer more amenities by investing in building modern and purpose-built infrastructure. For instance, pickleball has seen tremendous growth in Kelowna, with over 600 members through Pickleball Kelowna and more than 200 on a waitlist. To accommodate this interest and attract tournaments and training opportunities, we realize the need to create destination courts. Similarly, soccer remains immensely popular, with over 7,000 players in the city, 5,000 of whom are under 18, spanning six local and four regional leagues. To support this growing enthusiasm, enhanced facilities and more fields are essential.

Baseball also plays a significant role in our sports landscape. Just last month, the Jays Care Foundation committed funding through the Field of Dreams program to enhancing the Edith Gay Ball Diamonds in Rutland. We are also in discussions to bring enhancements to Kings Stadium in the North End. These projects will provide upgrades to the facilities, improving the safety, accessibility, and overall user experience for our growing baseball community. Beyond these sports, our city boasts an active and growing participation in hockey, basketball, football, lacrosse, volleyball, curling and more. Each of these sports requires dedicated spaces and support to thrive.

We know the need is there, and as a City we are responding in full force.

The Building a Stronger Kelowna initiative, which includes the redevelopment of the Parkinson Recreation Centre, new Activity Centres for all-ages in Glenmore and Mission, enhancements at Rutland Recreation Park, and the advancement of facility partnerships, will represent the largest capital investment in our City’s history. This investment focuses on creating more opportunities for sport and wellness through both destination courts and fields, which serve as central hubs to host significant events and drive significant economic impact to many sectors, as well as satellite courts to support local neighbourhoods and build their own love for the sport.

Facilities and amenities like these play an important role in supporting healthy communities far beyond the physical benefits of recreation. By creating a positive and safe environment that promotes community, they serve as a key component addressing social issues and some of the root causes of crime. Recreation facilities are especially important for vulnerable populations in providing low-barrier access to facility services, and our youth. Engaging young people through sports, arts, and educational programs can divert them from negative influences and keep them occupied in productive and positive ways. Council collectively agrees that this is necessary infrastructure to ensure a vibrant, healthy and safe community for present and future generations.

This coming month, you can engage with City teams on the planning process for the enhancement of Rutland Recreation Park. Finalizing plans with community input helps to ensure that the future developments meet the needs and aspirations of our residents. There is also an active request for proposal process for the future management of Prospera Place, marking the beginning of another exciting phase of sports infrastructure development.

Our commitment to sports extends to hosting prominent events that draw national attention, such as the Brier 2025 as well as the intent for the Kelowna Rockets bid to host the 2026 Memorial Cup. These types of events will not only bring a significant boost to our local tourism economy but also build on Kelowna’s reputation as a top-tier sports destination that can only grow even further.

Kelowna’s future in sports is bright.

The upcoming CPL match on June 16, as well as more initiatives are just the beginning. There is more good news on the horizon, as we usher in more sporting events, present plans for future parks, and engage our residents on a deeper level to ensure all voices are heard to inform our sports and recreation decisions in Canada’s fastest growing City.

The City is ready to commit to this promise. Our financial health indicators continue to demonstrate stability for the City as it continues to be well positioned to not only meet current but also future financial obligations.

We are ready to invest today to build a stronger, more dynamic city where a culture of sport and wellness thrives and Kelowna’s reputation as a premier sport and recreation destination is solidified.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

The past few months have seen immense change affecting countless municipalities due to the new sweeping legislative changes happening at the provincial level. As council, we’ve witnessed and heard from residents that have become increasingly concerned about how the City will navigate these changes, all of which have significant impacts on our community. One specific concern, which centres on communicating with the City, is the prohibition of public hearings for rezonings if the development proposal is in alignment with the City’s Official Community Plan.  

This is a valid and understandable concern. For Council, transparency and accountability are cornerstones for how we make decisions, and it is important that Kelowna’s residents are not only informed, but also have a multitude of channels to have their voices heard. It is necessary that every resident have access to information and have the opportunity, through a variety of channels, to share their opinions, ideas and feedback.

Although public hearings will no longer include routine rezoning applications, this form of engagement only represents a small fraction of the ways citizens engage with us and City staff. We welcome ideas, concerns, and feedback as it helps shape the decisions that impact our city's future.

Get all the information you need in real-time.

The City's website, Kelowna.ca, is a central hub of information, resources, news, events, and more. From accessing important documents like the Official Community Plan to learning about upcoming events and initiatives, the website is a constantly updated wealth of information for residents, businesses, and visitors to the area. In 2023 the site garnered over 8.7 million page views, a number that continues to grow year over year.

To enhance citizens’ experience on our website, we are harnessing the power of technology and AI to make it easier for you to find the information you need. Whether you have questions about city services, event schedules, or municipal regulations, our virtual assistants are available 24/7 to provide prompt and helpful responses in real time.

Let us know about an issue, ask a question, or report a concern.

The City has an online service request portal to make it easier for citizens to request city services when it’s most convenient for you. You can find it on the Kelowna.ca homepage right below the main image banner. This makes creating service request a convenient and quick solution and allows appropriate staff and teams to address the issue or concern directly. Whether it's reporting a pothole, requesting a recycling bin, requesting bylaw, or submitting a noise complaint, our dedicated city staff work diligently to address these requests promptly, ensuring that our city remains clean, safe, and well-maintained.

Give the City your feedback on current and upcoming projects and initiatives.

Engaged communities are strong communities. We know that all our decisions are improved through open and transparent processes, and through the input of citizens and stakeholders. The City’s current, upcoming, and past engagement opportunities can all be found online at getinvolved.kelowna.ca.  This central website serves as a virtual town square where residents can participate in discussions, share ideas, and provide feedback on various city projects and initiatives. From community planning initiatives to transportation projects, your input matters, and we encourage you to join the conversation.

The Citizen Survey is another avenue for engagement that the City uses. It is a statistically valid survey conducted every two years and is a tool for Council to understand our citizen’s priorities and understand satisfaction levels with municipal programs and services. The insights gained by this research help us make important decisions regarding planning, budgeting and service improvements.

Stay up to date on news, events, and programs that the City is leading or involved with.

The City of Kelowna's social media channels provide real-time updates on city news, events, and initiatives. Whether you are on Facebook, X, Instagram, Youtube or LinkedIn, you can stay informed and engaged with our city's programs, initiatives and activities while connecting with fellow residents and City departments directly.

You can also receive City updates and news directly to your inbox via the City’s e-newsletters, which provide a quick and convenient way to stay informed about city news releases, events, development applications and opportunities for engagement. By subscribing, you'll never miss out on important updates from City Hall, ensuring that you're always in the loop about what's happening in our city. I encourage residents to join the City Views subscriber list for a monthly update on upcoming news and events.

Connect with Council.

There are also many avenues and channels available to residents to connect with Council directly. My colleagues on Council and I are here to serve as your elected representatives and advocates, and we value your input and encourage you to reach out to us. You can do so through a variety of ways:

• You can attend a Council meeting, whether that be in person or virtually via the live broadcast available at Kelowna.ca/council.
• Email Councillors individually through their direct email addresses.
• Email [email protected] with your concern, idea, or request. This email is accessible to all of Council and I can respond to questions directly as a representative of Council.
• Requesting to present to Council as a delegation by contacting Clerks at [email protected].
• Reading this monthly Column, Council Connect, which offers an inside look into Council decisions and more.
• We have also been invited to be present at future Neighbourhood Association meetings, where I have invited all of Council to attend. This will be a new setting where residents can have face time with Councillors, meet them in person, express their concerns, and offer their ideas.

As elected officials, we are here to listen to your needs and concerns. We know that technologies will continue to evolve and change, and that new channels will arise. Our promise is to continue to adapt to ensure transparency and accountability through all the work we do.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

Happy New Year, Kelowna! As we usher in 2024, I would like to reflect on my exciting first year as your mayor and the journey we have undertaken together. While the path toward progress is ongoing and the work is continual, I am filled with optimism and enthusiasm for the new year and future of our beautiful city.

We have taken some significant steps forward as a community. And thanks to the contributions, support, and hard work of my council colleagues, residents, staff, community partners, other levels of government, and the local business community, we can collectively take pride in our accomplishments which have laid the foundation for a bright year ahead.

As we wrap up the year, I want to share with you some 2023 projects that especially stand out to me that I believe will have some of the most significant impacts for our community.

The introduction of the one per cent community safety levy, which has been instrumental in our ability to fund 31 new RCMP and 11 bylaw officers and other safety related positions for 2023 and 2024; I also want to thank Kelowna RCMP for their incredible work over the past year. Their latest report (January 1 to August 31) noted a 43.9 per cent decline in business break and enter, 40.8 per cent decrease in auto theft, 38.7 per cent decrease in bike theft, 30.6 per cent reduction in theft from a motor vehicle, and 10.7 per cent decrease in residential break and enter.

An agreement, under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), will provide $31.5 million in federal funding to eliminate barriers to building the housing we need faster. The memorandum of understanding with the Province of B.C. formalizes our commitment to work together to better support people who are unhoused.  Work is underway to open 120 new units on both Crowley Ave and Highway 97.  In addition, the City is in the process of identifying a possible future third site that could accommodate another potential 60 units. 

Council is pleased the City will take a more active role working with local social-serving sector organizations and other partners to address current and emerging complex social issues in 2024.  The Social Development team, approved by Council in the 2024 budget, will increase the focus on long-term upstream prevention of the flow into homelessness, and will support initiatives that address broader housing needs, advance social wellness advocacy, and expand partnership opportunities.

Establishing the 13-member Mayor’s Task Force on Crime Reduction was also very important to me. As chair, I’d like to thank the community stakeholders who have committed their time and expertise to help develop community-driven initiatives to reduce crime in Kelowna.

I’m also happy to see the many important infrastructure and community projects advanced in 2023, including the YLW terminal expansion; waterfront park in the Pandosy town centre as well as the Strathcona, DeHart, Truswell land acquisition, Ballou and Glenmore parks projects; indoor recreation facility strategy; North End Plan; and bike valet program.

With funding approval in place, 2023 also brought the commencement of the Building a Stronger Kelowna legacy project that will see the construction of two new activity centres for all-ages in Mission and Glenmore, enhanced sports fields in Rutland, the redevelopment of Parkinson Recreation Centre, and further development of community partnership opportunities with key partners such as Okanagan College and UBCO.

A major highlight of the year for me were the results of our advocacy work. The City has been a leading advocate, in collaboration with other B.C. Municipalities, responding to the Province’s illicit drug decriminalization pilot project. Local governments are requesting that  playgrounds, spray and wading pools, and skate parks be added to the province’s list of areas where possession of illicit drugs is banned (including within six metres of all building entrances and bus stops and within all parks, beaches and sports fields).  With the legislation related to exemptions are now on hold due to a B.C. Supreme Court ruling last week, we will continue our advocacy efforts.

The City also continues to advocate to Interior Health to deliver more and better access to substance use treatments, supports and complex care housing in conjunction with decriminalization, and appropriate levels of consequence for repeat property and violent offenders. Kelowna has been a leading voice for bail reforms to address repeat offending including through our Community Confidence in Justice Advocacy Paper.

Our grant and advocacy work also resulted in significant investment in 2023 from senior levels of government, including over $26 million, through the BC Growing Communities Fund, for infrastructure to support our fast-growing community; $28.5 million in funding to support the addition of 359 much needed childcare spaces in our community; and investments and recognition for ecological restoration and fuel management in the face of this summer’s unprecedented Grouse Complex wildfire.

In addition to funding for the Island Stage rejuvenation, Kelowna also received significant funding to improve, grow and start electrifying regional transit service through upgrades to the current transit facility, transit exchanges and prep for a new transit operations centre. The total project costs are $29.3 million, with senior levels of government contributing the majority of the funding to BC Transit through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) to advance the work.

Other 2023 highlights include helping to facilitate a permanent home for the Kelowna Famers’ and Crafters’ Market; completing Kelowna’s housing needs assessment; advancing 2200 new rental and for-purchase housing units in the community; and record-breaking building permit construction value, which was up approximately 46 per cent from $1.2 billion in 2022 to $1.76 billion in 2023. We also welcomed some exciting events including the Pan Continental Curling Championships, the BreakOut West music festival, and were named host of Curling Canada’s 2025 Brier.

While there is much to celebrate from last year, we also recognize have a lot of work to do. Holding us accountable for the strategic shifts, improvements and changes you want to see is an important part of local government and why we have introduced things like a lobbyist registry and code of conduct for Council; six-month Council priority progress reporting; and a financial health dashboard to show how the city is performing financially year-to-year and how prepared it is to meet future obligations.

Transparency and listening to residents on matters that are important to them, such as Kelowna Springs Golf and Country Club, the creation of the Community Task Force for Performing Arts, and the implementation of value-added audits are an essential part of the democratic process. Your engagement, feedback, and enthusiasm through channels, such as getinvolved.kelowna.ca and Council correspondence, help Council make the decisions that support a high quality of life. I encourage you to visit kelowna.ca/council to view the latest public progress report, including details on the 80 Council priority actions undertaken in the last year.

As we reflect on the past year, as our strength and resiliency has been tested, it is crucial to recognize that this progress would not have been possible without the active participation and support of our residents.

On the cusp of a new year, I am excited to see what we can achieve together in the next 12 months. I invite you to join me and all of council in making our city the best it can be. Together, we can make our city a place where everyone thrives and belongs.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

I want to take a moment to reflect on the summer we experienced and the incredible teamwork and dedication we saw throughout our region during the wildfires.

The collaboration between municipal fire departments, BC Wildfire Service, local governments and thousands of volunteers was inspiring and I am very thankful for everyone’s service to our region.

It is going to take a similar spirit of prolonged teamwork and collaboration to combat the root cause of the wildfires and floods our region has experienced over the past several years.

Local and regional governments influence approximately 50 per cent of the nation’s overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, so we are intent on trying to influence our community’s shift toward a low-carbon lifestyle and respond effectively to climate impacts.

The City of Kelowna’s actions have always focused on doing what we can to mitigate factors contributing to climate change along with making adaptations to limit the effects of climate change.

As the City’s current five-year Community Climate Action Plan reaches the end of its life, staff are in the process of developing the next phase of a Climate Resilient Kelowna Strategy that will map out plans to reduce our carbon footprint and continue the process of rebuilding our city in a more sustainable way. That strategy is expected to be completed early in 2024.  

We know that we must continue to provide options to help Kelowna residents reduce GHG emissions.

Along with promoting healthy lifestyles, the City has invested heavily in Active Transportation Corridors and encouraged other modes of travelling around our city in ways that reduce GHG emissions – walking, cycling, scooters, electric bikes, transit and supporting the use of ride sharing opportunities.

At the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention in Vancouver, I met with Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Rob Fleming to discuss progress on a new transit operation centre, which we need to expand and improve local transit service. The City of Kelowna will benefit from $9 million in senior government funding that will see upgrades at our current transit facility for service expansion and initial electric battery procurement for buses. In addition, funding will help advance the design of the new transit operations centre that will allow expanded transit service and the electrification of the entire fleet over time.

Decarbonizing new and existing buildings has also been a major component in meeting the City’s GHG emissions reduction targets. The 50-year-old Parkinson Recreation Centre, for example, is one of the largest emitters of GHG among all City of Kelowna properties, and we expect the new facility to be a net-zero carbon building. We are also developing an energy concierge pilot program to support homeowners through what can be a complicated home energy retrofit journey.

In 2018, YLW became carbon accredited through Airports Council International (ACI) and its Carbon Accreditation program. As part of the ongoing program, in June 2022, YLW received Level 2 Carbon Accreditation from ACI, gaining recognition of our efforts to measure and reduce our GHG emissions. We are currently working on a plan to further reduce energy consumption and to meet our commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

The City has a Strategic Energy Management Plan that is targeting a GHG emissions reduction of 40 per cent below 2007 levels by 2030 for all corporate facilities and will implement equipment upgrades accordingly.

Current actions to reduce GHG emissions include:

• Focusing growth in the five urban centres and along major transit corridors with a goal of putting more people and more jobs within easy walking distance of reliable, direct transit service.
• Developing an energy concierge pilot program to support homeowners with energy retrofits.
• Top-up rebates for heat pump space heating, heat pump water heaters, electrical service upgrades, and EV (Electric Vehicle) chargers in multi-unit residential buildings.
• Amendments to the zoning bylaw to include EV ready requirements for new residential developments.
• A new Climate Action and Environmental Stewardship Department to apply a climate lens to policy development and decisions.
• 22 EV chargers on City properties with plans to install more.
• Completed a deconstruction pilot project on city-owned homes to assess waste reduction options and reduce lifecycle GHG emissions.
• Continued the Neighbourwoods Program to encourage citizens to help grow and preserve Kelowna’s urban forestEnvironmental protection and climate change adaptation are also essential for the City of Kelowna as we take measures to protect our beautiful landscape.

Environmental protection and climate change adaptation are also essential for the City of Kelowna as we take measures to protect our beautiful landscape.

The City of Kelowna was recently awarded the Climate & Energy Action Award at UBCM for our FireSmart Community Chipping Program, which has collected well over 100 metric tonnes of vegetation to reduce wildfire risk.

Other environmental protection and climate adaptation initiatives that have been in place include:

• Continued work on Mill Creek Flood Protection Project (year four of an eight-year project) to improve flood passage and public safety on Mill Creek.
• Initiated development of a Water Security Plan.
• Amended the Development Application Procedures Bylaw to require pre-development tree inventory to identify trees that may require root zone protection and help ensure trees proposed for the development are retained and protected.
• Finalizing a Sustainable Urban Forestry Strategy to expand Kelowna’s urban tree canopy (this year more than 1000 trees were planted).
• Continued implementation of the Community Wildfire Resilience Plan.

Along with Council’s other priorities of acting on crime and safety, affordable housing, homelessness, transportation, and agriculture, we have a lot of important work to do. An Oct. 16 report to Council at the six-month point since priorities were developed provided encouraging evidence that we are making progress on all priorities.

Ultimately, for Kelowna to become resilient to climate change, it will require collaboration with all levels of government, businesses and organizations, and the broader community. At the time of writing this article, conversations are happening between the federal and provincial government regarding the federal carbon tax. It will be interesting to see how the policy evolves in the coming weeks, months and years. Nonetheless, as a local government, we are uniquely positioned to influence this shift and how our community will grow, how we commute, interact and protect natural assets to maintain the quality of life we cherish in Kelowna.

We will all breathe easier if we work together to protect our environment and lessen the impacts on our warming climate. This is something the City has done in the past and I can assure you that Council will continue to use a climate lens when reviewing City policies, infrastructure, and programs.

By Mayor Tom Dyas

On Aug. 15, twenty years — almost to the day — after the start of the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park fire, flames from the McDougall Creek wildfire ignited our city’s skyline and quickly reminded us of the power of both wildfire and our regional emergency program.

More than 500 firefighters and 100 RCMP officers from more than 50 cities and towns joined forces with the Kelowna Fire Department, West Kelowna Fire Rescue, Lake Country Fire Department, North Westside Fire Rescue, Wilson's Landing Fire Department, BC Wildfire Service, Kelowna RCMP and Bylaw Services to execute an unprecedented, coordinated response.

While there will always be lessons to be learned in any emergency response, I am truly humbled by what was, and still is being, accomplished by the incredible work of our first responders and emergency operations centre. While a strong emergency response program is key, in the wake of a crisis that threatened lives and destroyed people’s homes, we all want to know what we can do to minimize the risk of wildfire in our community in the future.

First and foremost, we must recognize that the intensity and sheer number of wildfires we’ve seen across Canada and beyond are what many are now calling a climate change wake-up call, and one of the many reasons why climate/environment is one of six Council priorities. From the way we travel, to the electricity we use, and the food we eat, we all have a role to play in helping to limit climate change. Because, as temperatures rise, so too will the size, frequency and severity of wildfires.

Wildfire risk reduction is also top of mind in the community. Fuel mitigation treatments reduce the amount of available fire fuels in our natural areas, which plays a significant role in our ability to manage wildfire as safely and as quickly as possible. Over the past five years, the City has actioned over 100 hectares of fuel mitigation treatments on city-owned land, including reducing the amount of woody debris on the forest floor, thinning trees where necessary, and removing the lower limbs of trees to help keep fire from climbing into the canopy.

The success of fuel mitigation, including work done in Wilden during this fire and earlier in the season on Knox Mountain, speaks to the importance of proactive treatment and the need to look at all the different ways it can be accomplished—including securing ongoing, long-term funding and the way we explore new solutions, such as prescribed burns or the use of animals for grazing in key areas.

Residents can also make a critical difference by visiting kelowna.ca/firesmart to learn how to FireSmart their homes and take advantage of the City’s free community chipping program. Frontline fire fighters 2 said the homes and areas that were FireSmart made an integral difference in their ability to fight the recent fire safely and save properties.

New subdivisions in Kelowna are subject to review against Wildfire Hazard Development Permit guidelines which are reviewed by professional foresters. Developers are required to perform fuel modification and new single family lots created in fire hazard areas have maintenance obligations registered on their land title related to building construction and property maintenance in accordance with Fire Smart guidelines.

The Provincial Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) Program and 2022–2026 Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan, which contains over 40 recommendations from standardizing fuel management to how we build our communities, have been integral to completing wildfire prevention activities that have and will continue to reduce risk for our community especially as we face extreme fire and weather conditions.

The CRI program is a provincial funding program administered through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) to provide funds for communities to plan and implement actions to reduce wildfire risk. Through the program over the last five years, we have been awarded $730,000, which has supported a variety of important FireSmart and mitigation initiatives throughout the community.

This year we were also successful in receiving a federal grant of $132,000 for ecological restoration and fuel management. As we return to normal, post wildfire, the City will be assessing impact to City property, as well as whether any intervention required to support a healthy regeneration of the area. In addition, the regional emergency program will be looking at lessons learned to apply to future events in our region. I am pleased to see conversations occurring at both the federal and provincial levels regarding resiliency and response and welcome Premier Eby’s emergency response task force announced just last week.

We will also reflect on the depth of our city’s spirit and unity through this event. It got us through a crisis and will undoubtedly be the key to achieving our collective community goals and vision for an inclusive, welcoming, prosperous and sustainable future.