We offer 5 categories of arts and culture grants to non-profit organizations on an annual basis. The purpose of these grants is to enrich the art, culture and heritage experience for Kelowna residents. An organization must be incorporated as a non-profit society and operate primarily in Kelowna to be eligible for a grant. Organizations may apply for grants under more than one category in the same calendar year.
The Civic Precinct Plan is a future land use plan guiding the long-term redevelopment of key sites in Kelowna’s Civic Precinct area over 25 years (2016-2040). The Civic Precinct area, also known more broadly as Kelowna’s Cultural District, is located between Clement Avenue to the north, Queensway Avenue to the south, Water Street to the west, and Ellis Street to the east.
The Bernard Avenue revitalization, one of the first projects to be completed from the Downtown Plan, is a $14 million investment that is helping to rejuvenate downtown and set the stage for more activity, attracting residents and visitors alike.
Improvements to Bernard Avenue include wider sidewalks, coordinated street furniture, as well as more trees and vegetation... and it's spectacular!
Great cities have great downtowns. Downtown Kelowna’s waterfront amenities combine with historic charm to attract people to dine out, attend cultural events, shop and work in the heart of our city: the largest centre in the B.C. Interior.
We have numerous policies that focus attention on urban centres. The Official Community Plan (OCP) describes urban centres as vibrant, pedestrian friendly areas with access to amenities and a mix of land uses within close proximity. The OCP identifies five urban centres that are expected to accommodate roughly 40 per cent of the City’s future growth.
The City of Kelowna uses a consistent visual identity to ensure citizens can easily identify and recognize City programs, services, and facilities, as well as others funded by the City. This unified look and feel includes logos, colours, fonts and image treatments that reflect our corporate identity.
Download our Visual Identity Guidelines below to learn more about our brand and explore usage of City logos and brand elements.
The community vision reflected in Imagine Kelowna recognizes that the well-being of our city is a shared responsibility and everyone needs to do their part to seize opportunities for improvement. Partnerships and sponsorships that provide economic and social benefits, and use a balanced approach to mobilizing resources, are an effective way to meet community needs.
The City of Kelowna has been conducting a bi-annual citizen survey for over a decade. The survey provides a stable, ongoing measure of how residents feel about life in the City, their priorities for the future of the City and their satisfaction with the municipal services, programs and facilities the City provides. Results are benchmarked against other B.C. municipalities where possible, to help us understand how we measure up to other cities. The responses are weighted by age, gender and city-wide distribution to accurately reflect Kelowna’s population.
Sister City relationships between communities can foster a range of cultural, educational, recreational and economic benefits and opportunities. Kelowna currently enjoys a Sister City relationship with Kasugai, Japan.
Kelowna and Kasugai have been sister cities since 1981. The arrangement has fostered a number of cultural exchanges and business ventures. The two cities also signed an Agreement on Environmental Protection in 2001.
Kelowna is a City of the Future, rapidly evolving and becoming a more urban and dynamic region. The city is the sixth largest in British Columbia, Canada, and has one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. Situated in the heart of the Okanagan Valley on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the syilx/Okanagan people, Kelowna is surrounded by mountains, lakes and vineyards where residents embrace outdoor adventure and an active lifestyle all year long.