Kelowna, British Columbia RELOCATION GUIDE · Quincy Vrecko & Associates Welcome to Kelowna 2 About Kelowna Kelowna, British Columbia Relocation Guide Kelowna is the largest city

www.QuincyVrecko.com www.WelcometoKelowna.com

RELOCATION GUIDEKelowna, British Columbia

Inside the Guide

Kelowna, British Columbia Relocation Guide

Quincy Vrecko & Associates Welcome to Kelowna www.QuincyVrecko.com www.WelcometoKelowna.com

1

This guide is brought to you by:

Quincy Vrecko & Associates

Fine Homes & Luxury Properties

1391 Ellis Street Kelowna, BC Canada V1Y 1Z9

Phone 250.863.8810

[email protected]

QuincyVrecko.com

Welcome to Kelowna

Your Community Portal

#206–1441 Ellis Street Kelowna, BC Canada V1Y 2A3

Phone 250.862.8010

[email protected]

WelcometoKelowna.com

About Kelowna .............................................................................. 02

Kelowna is the largest city in the Okanagan Valley, boasting all the amenities of a major city.

Traveling To and From Kelowna .............................................. 04

Kelowna is located in the interior of British Columbia and is access-ible by land, air and boat.

Shopping .......................................................................................... 05

Kelowna is home to extensive shopping choices.

Arts, Culture and Entertainment ........................................... 06

Kelowna offers many choices for those seeking the Arts, Culture or Entertainment.

Kelowna: A Four Season Playground .................................... 08

Kelowna is a truly a four season playground; you can golf, ski, snow-mobile, go boating, tour wineries, hike, fish and more!

Educational Services ................................................................... 10

Kelowna boasts many educational opportunities ranging from pre-schools to several post secondary options.

Health Care ..................................................................................... 11

Kelowna has a wealth of quality health care available.

Media Serving the Area ............................................................. 13

Kelowna has radio stations, local TV stations, newspapers and an online community highlighted by WelcometoKelowna.com.

Moving and Utilities .................................................................... 14

Before and after relocating to the area there are calls to be made.

Protective Services ...................................................................... 15

Kelowna is policed by the RCMP throughout the city.

Business and Industry ................................................................ 16

Kelowna is a prosperous region, where smart growth complements its natural resources and amenities.

Real Estate Report ....................................................................... 17

Quincy Vrecko & Associates keep you up to date with Real Estate.


2

About Kelowna


Kelowna is the largest city in the Okanagan Valley, boasting all the amenities of a major city - fine dining, unique shops and a vibrant cultural life - yet orchards and vineyards thrive within a 10 minute drive of the downtown core. Spectacular vistas await those ready to explore; a delightful day can be spent sampling the award-winning wares of our numerous internationally-ac-claimed wineries, or you may wish to visit one of several cham-pionship golf courses in the area.

Situated on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake mid-way between Penticton in the south and Vernon in the north, Kelowna residents and tourists alike find that the lake offers wonderful opportun-ities for boating, swimming or fishing. The nearby mountains attract hikers, skiers and out-door enthusiasts of all descrip-tions. There are three major ski hills within a one hour drive - Big White, Silver Star and Apex.

Kelowna has become the main marketing and distribution cen-tre of the Okanagan Valley, with a flourishing tree fruit industry and growing light industrial sector that competes on a world scale. Best known for forestry, boats, plastics, fibreglass, body armour and oil-field equipment, Kelowna also has a growing high technol-ogy sector that includes aero-space development and service.

Prospera Place is a 6,000 seat multipurpose facility that’s home to the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League, and at-tracts major entertainers and events to the heart of our Cultural District.

The Rotary Centre for the Arts is a significant feature of the dis-trict, which was named a Cultural Capital of Canada in 2003.

Waterfront Park is a showcase of the area with lagoons, an out-door amphitheatre and a wood-en boardwalk that links Tugboat Beach and the residential area to the north with the Delta Grand Hotel and the downtown.

HistoryKelowna was incorporated in May 1905 when the population con-sisted of 600 people and farming was the economic mainstay of the region. Today, more than 118,500 people call Kelowna home and we’re considered by many to be one of the most liveable cities in Canada. Visit the Kelowna City Heritage web site at www.kelow-na.ca/CM/Page1795.aspx for more information on how Kelowna is preserving our Historical build-ings and culture.



3

QuicK FActsKelowna is one of the most liveable cities in Canada. In the recent Canada Pulse survey, 90% of residents reported “My city is a great place to live.”

Download the Canada Pulse 2011 Survey (Ipsos Reid - Global News) at www.ipsos-na.com/download/pr.aspx?id=11033

Quincy Vrecko & Associates Welcome to Kelowna Call us at 250.863.8810 www.WelcometoKelowna.com

4

Traveling To and From Kelowna


Kelowna is located in the interior of British Columbia and is accessible by land, air and boat, should you be traveling from Penticton, Summerland, Peachland, West Kelowna or Vernon, BC.

By Air:Kelowna International Airport is one of the top ten airports in Canada, serving over one million passengers annually.

Kelowna International Airport (YLW) plays a vital part in the economic development and prosperity of the Okanagan Valley. YLW’s total eco-nomic impact in 2010 included 2,730 jobs, representing $140 million in wages and $610 million in total economic output to the province of BC.

Serving 1.39 million passengers annually, YLW offers 62 daily non-stop commercial flights with Air Canada, WestJet, Alaska Airlines, Central Mountain Air and Northwestern Air with daily service to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Seattle, Victoria, Prince George, Edmonton, and Red Deer, plus seasonal service to Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cancun. YLW truly is your Link to the World.

The main terminal building, located at the south-end of the airport property, boasts numerous amenities for passengers. On ground side, there are long-term and short-term parking options available food and beverage services, a gift shop and a brand-new well-wishing area that features local artwork. The new screening area, opened in May 2008, features four fully-operational screening lines and the ex-panded departures lounge amenities include a full service White Spot restaurant, gift shops, cafe, and a wine shop which sells local vintages.

The terminal building is open 24 hours every day.

By lAnd: Kelowna is located on Highway 97, a short 3.5 hour drive to Vancouver, BC along the Okanagan Connector and the Coquihalla Hwy. To the east you will be able to reach Calgary, AB within 6.5 hours along Hwy 97 until you connect to Canada’s #1 highway in Sicamous.



5

Kelowna is home to a considerable amount of shopping choices. Orchard Park Mall is the largest shopping center between Vancouver, BC and Calgary, AB. Kelowna is also home to a vibrant downtown core that offers many shops and dining opportunities. You will find the big names here including RONA, Home Depot, Walmart, Canadian Tire, Future Shop and so much more.

Grocery stores range from many specialty stores to the big box stores, such as Costco, Superstore and Save On Foods. And don’t forget about the Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market which runs from spring to fall at it’s outdoor location and indoors throughout the winter months. The market features all locally produced items ranging from arts and crafts to produce and food items.

To begin your shopping experience in Kelowna visit WelcometoKelowna.com for a comprehensive online directory of stores and businesses in the area.

Shopping In Kelowna

QuicK FActsKelowna is home to more than 118,500 people. The Central Okanagan Regional District has a population of 167,000.


6

Arts, Culture and Entertainment


Kelowna’s Cultural District is locat-ed in downtown Kelowna and was once the centre of the Okanagan Fruit Packing industry. Now home to artists and performers, the Cultural District offers a variety of activities and experiences for residents and visitors alike.

The Kelowna Community Theatre, Kelowna Art Gallery, Rotary Centre for the Arts, the main branch of the Kelowna Library (Okanagan Regional Library sys-tem), all four Kelowna Museums

and other exciting cultural fa-cilities are situated within the Cultural District. The area also houses an assortment of private galleries, restaurants and unique shops. The Cultural District prom-ises experiences that appeal to every age and interest.

Kelowna also boasts a 6,000 plus seat arena that is home to the WHL, Kelowna Rockets and many concerts throughout the year.

An extensive Kelowna events calendar can be found on the

Welcome to Kelowna website at www.welcometokelowna.com/events.

For an extensive listing of the Arts, Theatres, the Symphony, the Ballet and more, visit the list-ings with links to their websites at www.welcometokelowna.com/business_directory/listings/Fine-Arts-Culture-Entertainment.

Kelowna offers a wide variety of choices for those seeking the Arts, Culture or Entertainment.



7

QuicK FActsThe Rotary Centre for the Arts is a significant feature of the district, which was named a Cultural Capital of Canada in 2003.

Renowned as a popular ski des-tination, Kelowna draws locals and tourists alike to its world class ski resorts all within a short drive. Big White is the largest re-sort offered in the region with 16 lifts, 8 runs and 7355 acres of resort area. With an average an-nual snowfall of 750 cm they live up to their motto “It’s the Snow!” Silver Star is located just an hour drive from Kelowna International Airport with ski-in ski-out accom-modation and a variety of terrain, featuring 115 marked trails, a pro-gressive park and the renowned backside. Apex Mountain is ap-proximately 95 km south of Kelowna and boasts 2 Terrain Parks, a World Cup Aerial Site and Mogul Course, a Lift Accessed


8

Kelowna: A Four Season Playground


Kelowna is truly a four season playground. You can golf, ski, snowmobile, go boating, tour winer-ies, hike, fish, ride your off-road motorbike, mountain bike, or play in one of the many beautiful parks all on the same day.

Tube Park, an Outdoor Regulation Size Hockey/Skating Rink and a 1 km Adventure Ice Skating Loop. Crystal Mountain is known for being an ideal place to learn to ski with ski schools in a protected learning environment. Besides the 18 runs down the mountain there are also cross country and snowshoeing trails. Visit the ski

guide at www.welcometokelowna.com/business_directory/ski_oka-nagan_guide.

When the snow is gone, out come the golf clubs! Kelowna is an in-credibly picturesque setting in which to play one of the oldest sports in the world. There are many world class golf courses here and Kelowna is known to



9

have the longest, driest golf sea-son you can find. With over 2000 hours of sun annually, you can often play for 7-8 months out of the year. Gallagher’s Canyon and the Harvest were ranked as two of the top 15 courses in BC by SCOREGolf and the other 17+ courses are no slouch either. You can find more info about them, including contact and booking in-formation at www.welcometoke-lowna.com/business_directory/golf_guide.

Kelowna is the birthplace of BC wine. Kelowna (and its surround-ing area) features three separate wine-making regions, currently with 25 wineries. Most winer-ies are open year round for tast-ing and tours, while some are seasonal or by appointment. In Kelowna’s wine-making regions, expect to find solid table wines and internationally recognized distinctive reds, whites, rosés, sparkling wines, and ice-wines. You can experience the aromas and flavours of the Okanagan:

herbal – sage, clover, honey and elderflower; tree fruit – apple, pear, peach and apricot; red fruit – plum, cherry, raspberry and blackberry; and earthy – stone, gravel, mineral and dust. Pair a vintage with locally-sourced dishes at a winery restaurant in an idyllic setting, or with arti-san cheeses on an impromptu winery picnic. Complete winery listings can be viewed at www.welcometokelowna.com/busi-ness_directory/winery_guide.

Nothing says summer quite like soaking up the sun and surf at one of Kelowna’s many popu-lar parks and beaches. All along the lakeshore there are beauti-ful beach areas frequented by thousands of people throughout the summer. Kelowna is known for it’s beach culture and the city has done a good job of protecting the natural setting with bird sanc-tuaries and walking trails. If the beach isn’t your flavour, then try bicycling, hiking or walking along the Mission Creek Greenway that

runs through town or head up to Myra Canyon along the trestles of the old Kettle Valley railroad. There are activities and places for all ages throughout the city with many playgrounds and areas to sit and take it all in. For a listing of parks and beach access points go to http://www.welcometoke-lowna.com/business_directory/listings/Accommodations-Travel-Tourism/Beaches-Parks.

For those looking for opportun-ities to enjoy some fun and ex-ercise year round, Kelowna also houses many recreational facili-ties. The Sunplex is an indoor arena; the only of its type, custom built for indoor floor sports such as ball hockey and futsal. There are also swimming and workout facilities, indoor training areas for hockey, figure skating, lacrosse and soccer. For recreational fa-cilities information visit www.welcometokelowna.com/busi-ness_directory/listings/Sports-Recreation/Recreation-Centres.

The University of BC – Okanagan provides world-class educational opportunities and sees many stu-dents arriving each year from all over the world to pursue higher education. UBC-O has been ex-panding in order to keep up with the growing student body. In the past couple of years, it has been undergoing a rapid $450 mil-lion expansion. A new science building (The Charles E. Fipke Centre for Innovative Research), University Centre, Arts and

Sciences buildings, Engineering and management building and a medical school building were recently completed. The library at UBC-O also received a major upgrade, thanks to a $1.4 million makeover. The upgrade includes increasing student seating by 25 percent and the addition of new amenities designed to enrich the student learning experience. In addition to all this, there are stu-dent residences in various stages of construction.

Along with the physical expan-sion of the campus, the campus’ Collegia program has gained na-tional attention as a home-away-from-home for its large commut-er population.

Future plans include a multi-use pathway to span the highway and provide direct pedestrian and cyc-list access to the University, pro-viding support and encouraging safe pedestrian and cycling, while reducing vehicle dependency and green house gas emissions.


10

Educational Services


uBc-o

Kelowna boasts a whole host of educational options ranging from preschools to several post secondary institutions to trade schools and flying schools.

oKAnAgAn collegeKelowna’s major post-secondary educational institution, Okanagan College is known for the excellent standard and variety of course ma-terial provided with options for technical training as well as supple-mentary courses, adult education, continuing education and diploma programs available in many different industries.

You can find an extensive listing of educational resources at WelcometoKelowna.com/business_directory/listings/Education-Employment

The Central Okanagan School District (SD No. 23) governs the districts public elementary, middle and secondary schools. There are many private schools in Kelowna as well, including those geared towards special interests such as Christian, Montessori, or the Arts.

Two of Kelowna’s largest post secondary institutions are The University of BC - Okanagan (UBC-O) and Okanagan College.

Health Care



11

Kelowna has a wealth of quality health care available. Residents have access to hospitals, clinics and pharmacies that provide ser-vices to suit everyone’s needs. A variety of alternative medicine such as aromatherapy, holistic medicine, and chiropractic care can be found as well.

Kelowna has many dentists in the area specializing in cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, sedation dentistry, root canals, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery and peri-odontal care. The area also offers a wide variety of health care ser-vices for seniors, including nurs-ing homes and community based residential facilities.

Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) has been undergoing a major transformation since the Fall of

2008. This new construction in-cluded the new six storey 360,000 square-foot Centennial Building. KGH is also the site of a 34,000 square foot Interior Health and UBC Faculty of Medicine Clinical Academic Campus. The Centennial Building consolidates, expands and modernizes out-patient services and programs currently dispersed throughout KGH into one facility. These new facilities will help Interior Health provide enhanced patient care for a growing population. Service efficiency and patient flow will im-prove the patient experience.

Taken together with the new Interior Health and UBC Faculty of Medicine Clinical Academic Campus, it is the equivalent to the combined size of Kelowna’s

Home Depot, Walmart and RONA stores.

KGH is the Central Okanagan’s primary acute care health facil-ity and one of two Interior Health tertiary referral hospitals that of-fer high-level, specialty medical care. It is the only hospital that provides full, specialty surgical programs such as neurosurgery, vascular surgery, advanced plas-tic surgery and thoracic surgery.

The final phase of the Interior Heart and Surgical Centre (IHSC) Project includes renovations to the existing hospital and addi-tions to the new Centennial Building. These renovations and additions will be ongoing, and will be complete in 2017.


12

Places of Worship


Kelowna is an inter-denominational community with locations to suit almost any religious or per-sonal belief. Kelowna is home to more than one hundred churches, temples, synagogues, faith centres and organizations.

To find yours visit: WelcometoKelowna.com/

business_directory/listings/Government-Community-Municipal-Organizations

Media Serving the Area



13

Kelowna is currently served by 10 radio stations with every-thing from classical to classic rock. There are 9 FM stations (including 2 CBC) and an AM station dedicated solely to talk programming. All of the Kelowna Rockets games are broadcast live on AM 1150 along with Okanagan Sun (football) and Kelowna Falcons (baseball) games.

CHBC Global is Kelowna’s local TV channel, broadcasting local news, sports and weather as well as na-tional and world coverage. CHBC has a strong community involve-ment including contests, events and charity work. Shaw TV also offers local broadcasts featur-ing some interest stories around the city and occasionally broad-casting WHL and college football games.

Kelowna also has two print newspapers: the Kelowna Daily Courier and the Kelowna Capital News. The Kelowna Daily Courier has been a favourite newspaper of the Central Okanagan and the rest of the Okanagan Valley since 1904 making it one of British Columbia Canada’s long-est running daily newspapers. The Courier covers local news, sports, business, community

events, classifieds, entertainment news, weather and more. Inside, there are also some national and international news stories, along with what’s going on in the world of sports. The Kelowna Capital News has been landing on the doorsteps of Kelowna for many years as well, dating back to 1930.

The Kelowna Capital News is pub-lished on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of each week.

Kelowna’s online media is highlighted by Welcome to Kelowna, Kelowna’s premiere online community resource. WelcometoKelowna.com is a community portal with many useful features including a free

Events Calendar, free Classifieds, Kelowna’s most viewed Business Directory as well as news and local columnists on a variety of topics including: Kelowna Business, Arts, Social Media, Health and Fitness, Medical, and much more. Add to this many tools and resources to help you throughout your day and guides for Attractions, Weddings, Ski, Golf, Dining and more and you get a one-stop solution to all your local online needs.

For a complete listing of media and media-related companies go to WelcometoKelowna.com/busi-ness_directory/listings/Media-Advertising-Communications.


14

Moving and Utilities


utilitiesAfter relocating to the area and finding a place to live, there are numerous calls to be made to the various utilities.

Water in Kelowna is served by 5 main water purveyors. Find out more information about each at www.kjwc.org as well as which one serves which address. Electricity is provided by Fortis BC. Gas Services are also provid-ed by Fortis BC (formerly Terasen Gas).

Additional and contact informa-tion about the each of the util-

ities can be found by visiting the directory at WelcometoKelowna.com/business _direc tor y/l is t-ings/Government-Community-Municipal-Organizations/Utilities-Telephone.

The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce is proud to have many members who are “thinking green”. From coaching and con-sulting to environmentally and

economically efficient products, Kelowna has many businesses that are making active steps to improve efficiency for others.

Find out how you can reduce your carbon footprint and reduce your fixed costs by contacting one of the Chamber’s many environ-mentally friendly members. You’ll be glad you did.

Protective Services



15

Kelowna is policed by the RCMP with 3 main policing stations throughout the city.

Of course, in an emergency you should call 9-1-1, but not every issue should be referred to the police and not every situation warrants an emergency call.

Some other numbers to call include:

rcMP Police non-emergency Call 24-7 Phone: 250-762-3300

Kelowna Bylaws Office Phone 250-469-8686

Graffiti Hotline Phone: 250-469-8600 Option 7

crime stoppers Direct: 250-470-6347 TIPS Line: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)

Health link Bc Call 24-7 to talk to a nurse directly: 8-1-1

MoVing And storAge As an attractive and enjoyable place to live, Kelowna con-tinues to increase in size each year.

If you're moving to Kelowna from another location, you might want to visit WelcometoKelowna.com/business_directory/listings/Real-Estate/Movers/ to look up mov-ers and storage options to help make your transition as smooth as possible.


16

Business and Industry


Kelowna has been described as “A prosperous region, where smart growth complements its nat-ural resources and amenities embracing new global economic and social change.” As such, it has become an inviting environment for prospective businesses. The Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission provides many resources including some targeted specifically to young-er entrepreneurs.

Kelowna has also attracted some high profile companies such as Disney (Club Penguin), Shaw (call centre) and Walmart recently built a second location (a Supercenter) in West Kelowna.

Some of the main employers in the region include:

• Interior Health Authority

• Walmart

• Kelowna Flightcraft

• Overwaitea Food Group

• Big White Ski Resort

• Shaw Cablesystems

• Sun-Rype Products Ltd.

• Disney Online Studios Canada

• Tolko Industries Ltd.

• The Grand Okanagan Resort

For a complete business directory and much more we invite you to visit WelcometoKelowna.com.

Real Estate



17

Quincy VrecKoQuincy Vrecko is the founder of Quincy Vrecko and Associates, as well as the company’s Luxury Estate Agent, specializing in the sale and pur-chase of properties valued at $1 million or more. Quincy has played a large part in the sale of Kelowna’s waterfront properties, selling over 20% of the entire single family residential waterfront market for the period January 1, 2012 to October 31, 2012.

With a reputation for being hardworking, outgoing, and assertive, Quincy is sure to provide you with the excellent service and results that you rightfully expect.

trAcey VrecKo Tracey Vrecko began her career in real estate in Calgary, Alberta, and has continued her success in the Kelowna market. Tracey’s focus is on finding value for the first time home-buyer, those looking to downsize, as well as clients looking to move up the property ladder.

With knowledge spanning all levels of the Kelowna market and a pas-sion to succeed, Tracey has been awarded sales achievements with the prestigious Million Dollar Club. The Million Dollar Club acknow-ledges RE/MAX agents who demonstrate commitment and dedication to success within their profession.

www.QuincyVrecko.com www.WelcometoKelowna.com

RELOCATION GUIDEKelowna, British Columbia

Brought to you by:

Guide Designed by Csek Creative

Documents

Kelowna, British Columbia RELOCATION GUIDE · Quincy Vrecko & Associates Welcome to Kelowna 2 About Kelowna Kelowna, British Columbia Relocation Guide Kelowna is the largest city