Kelowna Parks Memorial Amenity Program
Program Overview
Through the Memorial Amenity Program, residents can create a meaningful and lasting tribute by dedicating a plaque on a bench or picnic table, in select public locations. These dedications honour the memory of a loved one while contributing to the enhancement and beautification of public spaces.
Memorial amenities provide a place for reflection and remembrance while supporting the long-term enjoyment of parks and open spaces by the community.
Memorial Options
The Memorial Amenity Program offers several amenity options to suit different preferences and locations:
• Memorial benches: Benches are available in two categories of parks, Classic locations and Premier locations. Each park will be clearly identified on the public map viewer.
• Memorial picnic tables
Availability of new or existing amenities may vary depending on location and program capacity.
Locations & Installation
Memorial amenities are identified in the public map viewer. Please note that special location requests are not available at this time. Each year the locations will be made available on the “mapviewer” for the public to identify possible locations available that year.
Installation of the bench and custom plaque occurs twice annually.
Pricing
Pricing varies depending on the selected amenity, location and whether it is a new installation or an existing asset. All pricing includes installation and maintenance for the duration of the agreement term. Resident Fee applies to the person being commemorated on the bronze plaque.
Bench Classic Location (10 year term) | 2026 Fee: $5,937 |
Bench Premier Location (10 year term) (not available in the 2026 program) | 2026 Fee:$8,437 |
Picnic Table (10 year term) (not available in the 2026 program) | 2026 Fee:$15,000 Resident Fee: $12,000 |
Renewal of additional 10 year term (approval based on condition of amenity. One renewal maximum.) | 50% of program fee at time of renewal |
New Memorial on an existing amenity (10 year term) | 70% of program fee |
Plaque Guidelines
Plaques are installed on memorial amenities and must follow standard inscription requirements:
• Maximum of 3 lines of text
• Maximum of 25 characters (including spaces) per line
• Messaging must be respectful, commemorative, or uplifting
• The City reserves the right to review and approve all inscription content
Program Terms
Memorial agreements typically follow these general principles:
• Memorial benches and picnic tables are provided under fixed-term agreements (10 years)
• Renewal options may be available at the end of the agreement term. The City reviews the condition of the amenity, the location to determine if a renewal may proceed.
• The City retains ownership of all amenities and may relocate or remove them if required for operational or planning purposes.
The bench or picnic table is not owned or maintained by the Memorial Amenity Program Permit Holder. Special adornments or improvements are not permitted on or near the bench or picnic table.
Damage or vandalism to the amenity and bronze plaque will be corrected by the City one time. If there is a second occurrence, the City reserves the right to relocate the amenity to a different location.
At the end of the 10 year term period, the City will contact the permit holder (the person who originally paid for the memorial amenity program permit) to inquire if a renewal is desired. It is the responsibility of the Permit Holder to ensure current contact information is provided to the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery office. The City will attempt to contact the original permit holder one year in advance of the program term ending. Should the permit holder wish to renew, the City will inspect the amenity to determine if the amenity is in proper condition to last another 10 years. If the amenity is not in proper condition, a renewal may not be possible.
How the Program Works
The general process for participating in the Kelowna Parks Memorial Amenity Program includes:
• Selecting a preferred memorial option and location
• Submitting an application through the online intake form: Please note this online form does not guarantee this location. The form is an application only and will be processed by the City in order received. There are no wait lists for this program. If you receive a notice that a location is no longer available, an application for another location will need to be made.
• City staff confirming eligibility, availability, and installation details: Payment and design of the custom bronze plaque.
• Scheduling installation based on seasonal timelines
Each year the City selects and prepares a location for a memorial bench or picnic table. This is carefully planned to enhance the amenity options throughout the City. As such, only the locations shown on the public map viewer are available that year. It is not possible to request a specific location or park.
Benches are installed twice annually, in May and September. As the bronze plaque is custom, it take several weeks to arrive once ordered. The KMPC office will inform each applicant on the timelines and which installation date is possible with each permit.
The amenities are owned and maintained by the City. Special or personal adornments or improvements must not be placed on or near the amenities.
The City of Kelowna will contact the Permit Holder one year before the end of the 10 year term. It is important that the permit holder ensures the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery office has the current contact information for the permit holder. The City will inspect the amenity to determine if a renewal for another 10 years is possible based on the condition of the amenity. Only one 10 year renewal is possible.
