Glenrosa, West Kelowna

West Kelowna is a city on the west shore of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, formerly known as Westside and colloquially referred to as Westbank. Incorporated in 2007 as Westside District Municipality, the area was officially renamed West Kelowna on January 30, 2009, and achieved city status on June 26, 2015. As of the 2021 Census, West Kelowna had a population of 36,078 - a 10.5% increase from its 2016 population of 32,655 - spread across 122 square kilometres of land. The city sits at an elevation of 484 metres and carries postal codes V1Z and V4T. The Greater Westside economic region, which includes West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, Peachland, and surrounding rural areas, has a combined population exceeding 52,000 people. West Kelowna is part of the larger Central Okanagan Regional District with approximately 208,852 total residents. The city is the primary gateway to the Central Okanagan from the west via Highway 97C (the Okanagan Connector), and is connected to downtown Kelowna via Highway 97 and the William R. Bennett Bridge. The city encompasses diverse neighbourhoods including Lakeview Heights, Shannon Lake, Smith Creek, Westbank Centre, Glenrosa, Rose Valley, West Kelowna Estates, Gellatly, and Casa Loma. A key distinction for buyers: "West Kelowna is the city; Westbank is the historic town centre inside that city." Westbank First Nation (WFN) occupies separate self-governing reserve lands adjacent to the city, with its own taxation and land management systems - properties on WFN land are leasehold rather than freehold. West Kelowna has a diverse economy spanning agriculture, construction, finance, food and retail services, light industry, lumber manufacturing, technology, tourism, and wineries. More than 2,200 business licences are issued annually. Major private employers include Gorman Bros. Lumber and Mission Hill Family Estate Winery. Major public employers are Interior Health and School District 23.

West Kelowna's amenities are anchored by traditional shopping areas at Boucherie Centre, Lakeview Heights Shopping Centre, Westbank Centre, and the West Kelowna Business Park, which together offer a variety of retail outlets, cafes, restaurants, and tourist accommodations. For everyday errands, Westbank Centre residents note they do not need to cross the bridge to Kelowna - grocery stores, banks, medical facilities, and essential services are all available locally. Health services in the region are provided through Interior Health, one of West Kelowna's major public employers. A growing number of medical and wellness clinics operate in Westbank, including the expanding Next Clinic led by Dr. Cara Curtis, which brings together six health disciplines in one location. Rose Valley Veterinary Hospital serves the pet-owning community and has been operating for 16 years. Recreation facilities include the Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre for indoor swimming, Royal LePage Place arena for hockey and skating events, Jim Lind Arena, and the Multi Sport Complex at 2139 McDougal Road which offers indoor Dome programming through fall and winter. The Westbank Town Centre Park includes a community garden, pergola, two off-leash dog parks, and a children's water park. Kids Care Spray Park at 2569 May Street adds another free water play option for families in summer. The Westbank Museum offers pioneer exhibits, artifacts, and archives. Westbank First Nation operates its own Indigenous museum. Smaller galleries throughout the city sell works by local artists and potters. Free summer concert programming at Annette Beaudreau Amphitheatre in Memorial Park, along with the annual Westside Daze festival, adds to the city's cultural calendar. The Westside Wine Trail, a dozen wineries, and the Gellatly Bay boat launch round out the outdoor lifestyle amenities that define life in West Kelowna.