Kelowna
Okanagan warmth grew orchards, then wine (185 wineries today), then tech (15% annual growth—fastest in Canada). 2025 population: 165,907. By 2026: scaling infrastructure without losing the valley.
Kelowna exists because the Okanagan Valley holds heat. The Silix/Okanagan people flourished here for over 12,000 years—the valley's microclimate, sheltered by mountains and warmed by the lake, creates growing conditions found nowhere else in Canada. When Oblate missionaries arrived in 1859, Father Charles Pandosy planted the first vineyard—intended solely for sacramental wine. The townsite was laid out in 1892, named from the Okanagan word for 'grizzly bear.'
By 1910, Kelowna was gaining fame as 'The Orchard City.' But the real transformation came with wine. The first commercial vineyard planted grapes in 1932; today, over 185 licensed wineries cluster within 20 minutes of the city, making the Okanagan Canada's premier wine region. Wine tourism draws over two million visitors annually, driving a hospitality economy that barely existed a generation ago.
Kelowna has added another layer: technology. The Okanagan tech sector grows at 15% annually—the fastest rate in Canada. The $35 million Innovation Centre opened to unite startups, and thousands of tech professionals now work alongside animation and digital media companies. The city is BC's third-largest metropolitan area, with a 2025 population of 165,907. A 42-storey tower opened in 2025—the tallest building in the city.
By 2026, Kelowna faces the growth city's classic problem: scaling infrastructure to match ambition. A $260 million performing arts centre is planned; the city spent $27.8 million in October 2025 to acquire a failed hotel development site. Whether Kelowna can manage the transition from orchard town to tech-and-wine destination without losing the valley's character will define its next chapter.