Kelowna's #1 Source for News, Events & Local Happenings
This week, Ottawa backs new development at YLW, Marriott moves closer to Kelowna's waterfront and a local florist takes her work to the prime minister's Toronto summit, a couple pipeline projects, and some info about the quick provincial election.
The federal money will help install water, sewer, power and communications infrastructure on the airport's east side. The project will open 165 acres for aviation, aerospace, logistics, manufacturing and training businesses, with about 90 acres made development-ready first.
The City has selected Marriott International as its preferred partner for a hotel and branded residential project at 289 Queensway. It is a meaningful step for the long-delayed site, although design, financing and final development terms still have to be worked out.
Jackie McLaughlin of Kelowna's Jam Florals was chosen to create the flower arrangements for Prime Minister Mark Carney's first Canada Investment Summit in Toronto. Not bad mileage for a bouquet from home.
The Kitimat expansion will double the terminal's capacity to 28 million tonnes a year and is expected to create more than 4,000 construction jobs. The project also includes an option for five First Nations to invest up to $1 billion in a new storage tank.
The proposed Pacific Link pipeline would carry up to one million barrels of Alberta oil a day to a new terminal near Delta for export to Asia. Ottawa has declared it a project of national interest, with a goal of completing approvals, environmental reviews and consultations by September 2027.
The project could reduce Canada’s reliance on the U.S. market and offer Indigenous communities at least 10% ownership. It is far from a done deal, however. Financing, environmental risks, tanker traffic and Indigenous concerns could still become major obstacles.
The designation speeds up the review process but does not guarantee construction. If approved, the pipeline could begin operating around 2032 or 2033.
Final voting day for the provincial election is Saturday, October 24, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advance voting runs October 16–21, also from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Kelowna Centre: Kristina Loewen, Conservative; Loyal Wooldridge, BC NDP.
Kelowna-Mission: Gavin Dew, Conservative.
Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream: Pavneet Singh, Conservative; Alexandra Wright, OneBC.
Nominations close October 3, so more names may be added. Elections BC will mail registered voters a Where to Vote card before advance voting begins. During advance voting, you can vote at any advance location. On October 24, voters have an assigned voting place.
Canada’s daily national average is currently 175.7/L. Kelowna drivers can compare that with local pump prices to see whether we are paying more, less, or just enjoying the usual Okanagan “scenic surcharge.”
*Bonus Bookmark:*
collects more Okanagan stories in one place.
Normals: High +16°C, low +5°C. | Sunrise 6:58 a.m. Sunset 6:37 p.m.
October opens on a friendly note, with a cool Friday followed by sunshine and steadily warmer afternoons.
Friday: Clouds giving way to some sun, high 17°C, low 7°C.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, high 19°C, low 6°C.
Sunday: Partly sunny and pleasant, high 20°C, low 8°C.
📘 City Payrolls... →
📘 2026 FINANCIAL PLAN Preliminary Budget:
PDF File →
📘 Read the New B.C. Budget 2026 →
📘 Kelowna’s 2026 Citizen Survey →
Council received a progress report on Kelowna's biggest recreation build, tightened rules around public reserves and prepared for the first advance votes of the city election.
Kelowna heads to the polls next month. Forty-six prospective candidates have put their names forward for mayor, city council and the School District No. 23 Board of Education.
Kelowna voters will elect one mayor, eight councillors and four school trustees to serve for the next four years.
Want to know more about the people asking for your vote? The City has a candidate page with links to candidate websites and social media accounts.
Meet the Kelowna election candidates →
Advance voting will be held on October 7, 10, 14, 15 and 16. General Voting Day is Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Most voting locations are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can vote at any City voting location, so you do not have to wait until Election Day or stick to one neighbourhood polling station.
If you will be away, mail ballot voting is also available. Completed mail ballots must reach the City by 8 p.m. on October 17 to be counted.
Municipal elections do not always get the attention of provincial or federal elections, but City Hall makes decisions that hit close to home: roads, taxes, policing, development, parks, transit and how Kelowna grows. It is worth spending a few minutes learning who is running.
Then show up and vote.
Planning, design and permits are complete for the Building a Stronger Kelowna program. Construction began last year on the new Parkinson Recreation Centre, and the Glenmore, Rutland and Mission activity centres all broke ground in 2026.
Council approved tighter reserve and investment policies, plus a bylaw that protects the principal of the Kelowna Legacy Endowment Fund. Investment earnings can still support City priorities, but the original capital is meant to remain intact.
Kelowna's first advance voting day is October 7, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Parkinson Recreation Centre and MNP Place. More advance voting follows October 10, 14, 15 and 16 before general voting day on October 17.
The Rockets renew their rivalry with Kamloops, the Lions take an 8-6 record to Toronto and the Blue Jays close a disappointing season with one last strong performance.
Kelowna beat Penticton 3-1 in its home opener for the club's first win of the season. The Rockets now play a home-and-home set with the Kamloops Blazers, starting Friday night at Prospera Place.
Most recent: Kelowna 3, Penticton 1, Saturday, September 26.
Next games: Kamloops at Kelowna, Friday, October 2 at 7:05 p.m.; Kelowna at Kamloops, Saturday, October 3 at 6 p.m.
Nathan Rourke threw four touchdown passes as B.C. held off Saskatchewan 31-24. The win moved the Lions to 8-6 and gave them an important season-series tiebreaker over the Roughriders.
Most recent: B.C. 31, Saskatchewan 24, Friday, September 25.
Next game: B.C. at Toronto, Saturday, October 3 at noon PT.
Max Scherzer struck out seven over seven-plus innings as Toronto beat Cincinnati 5-1 in the season finale. The Jays finished 79-83, while the 42-year-old Scherzer earned career win number 225 in what may have been his final start.
Final game: Toronto 5, Cincinnati 1, Sunday, September 27.
Season record: 79 wins, 83 losses.
The first October weekend brings bluegrass, a late-night arts celebration, family theatre and a guided walk through syilx plant knowledge. Bruce Cockburn coming in the Spring.
Iconic singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn is bringing his spring tour to the Central Okanagan for a special evening at the Kelowna Community Theatre on Monday, April 12, 2027. Celebrating his upcoming cover album The Blood of Others, the Canadian Music Hall of Famer will perform a selection of timeless classics and newly recorded covers that shaped his legendary career.
Friday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m.
The Juno-nominated bluegrass group brings its mix of original music and Appalachian tradition to the Mary Irwin Theatre, with Kelowna musician Mickey Reeves opening the night.
Saturday, October 3 from 6 to 11 p.m.
Downtown turns into a free evening of light projections, art installations, workshops, music, dance and live performance. This year's theme is “One Breath.”
Saturday and Sunday, October 3–4, 2026
The outspoken storybook first-grader takes the stage in a lively family musical at The Balsam School on Cawston Avenue. School is rarely quiet when Junie B. is involved.
Sunday, October 4 from 10 a.m. to noon
This two-kilometre guided walk begins at the Laurel Packinghouse and explores how local plants have long been used for food, medicine, building materials and natural scents.
September 25 – October 4, 2026
Harvest season takes over wineries across the valley with tastings, dinners and special events that pair local wine with the food being gathered around it.
Ongoing event listings
The Box Office is a handy local hub for Kelowna shows, concerts, comedy, dance, theatre, sports, and festivals. Worth checking before saying, “There’s nothing going on.”
Friday, February 19, 2027
Air Supply's 50th-anniversary A Matter of Time tour lands at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton with Glass Tiger. General tickets go on sale Friday, September 18 at 10 a.m.
The RCA calendar is packed with theatre, live music, and gallery shows throughout the week.
From tastings to winemaker dinners, Okanagan wine events continue year-round.
Local bands, touring acts, and pub shows are heating up this month.
To prevent this situation, Canadian homeowners need to treat home insurance as a safety net for major disasters, like a severe fire or massive structural damage, rather than a maintenance plan for everyday accidents. Since filing two claims within five years can cause your insurance company to drop you or double your rates, smaller losses (like lost personal items or minor repairs) should be paid out of pocket whenever possible. Before making a claim, always check your policy details and ask your broker specifically how filing it could impact your future rates and risk status.
Taking a proactive approach to home safety can also help you avoid the need to file claims in the first place. Focus on prevention by doing simple maintenance, such as installing a sump pump or backwater valve to prevent basement flooding, keeping your roof and gutters in good repair, and maintaining smoke alarms. You can also consider raising your deductible; a higher deductible lowers your monthly payments and keeps you from being tempted to file small claims for minor incidents.
This week's stop is a small Kelowna bakery where restraint is not really part of the recipe.
Chomp bakes thick, handmade cookies in small batches, with flavours that rotate through the seasons. You can build a mixed box for pickup or have it shipped across the Okanagan and Western Canada.
Address: Unit 3, 470 Banks Road, Kelowna
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Made-to-order burritos, bowls, tacos and salads. It is Chipotle's first B.C. restaurant outside the Lower Mainland and Victoria.
Address: Unit 150, 1950 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna
The new Ellis Street shop specializes in crisp waffles, desserts, specialty coffee and over-the-top sweet treats. Subtle it is not. Sometimes that is exactly the point.
Address: Unit 120, 1633 Ellis Street, Kelowna
The new location brings the familiar Canadian chain's burritos, tacos and Mexi-Fries to the Lower Mission, adding another fast lunch option near Okanagan College.
Address: Mission Park Shopping Centre, 3155 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna
Kelowna-built Happy Hour Compass gathers current specials from Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country restaurants in one searchable place.
Tastings, winery dinners and summer vineyard events continue across the valley. One calendar saves a lot of hunting.
If you’re stuck in the “where should we eat?” loop, this helps. Tourism Kelowna has rounded up 74 local restaurants across the city.
From lakefront patios and wine bar gems to global flavours and casual comfort spots, it’s a solid master list for a great dining out experience.
Brand New Sub $300K Condos, and the latest complete housing figures show fewer sales and listings after August wildfires interrupted an already balanced Okanagan market.
With benchmark condo prices soaring past $400,000, a new wave of innovative micro-suites and smart studio developments is quietly creating an accessible entry floor across Kelowna's transit corridors. Read the full Kelowna Grapevine report to explore sub-$300k properties, investor yields, and key market trends.
There were 142 single-family sales in August, down 10% from a year earlier. The average sale price was $1,049,811, about 4% lower year over year, while the average home took 60 days to sell.
Across the Association of Interior REALTORS® region, August produced 1,141 residential sales, down 13.4% from last year. New listings fell 17.9% and active inventory dropped 7.7%, leaving buyers with fewer new choices but no sign of a sudden price collapse.
We have moved dozens of times, and Logan and his helpers at Dolly Boyz gave us the best experience we have ever had. They did not dilly-dally. They practically ran back for the next load, and two men did more work than many three-person crews.
The final price matched the estimate. No surprise charges. Just hard work from a local owner who is serious about building a great service business.
Dolly Boyz Moving Co.: 250-869-5295
Website and quote request →
James Roffel’s videos offer quick local updates on listings, sales, price cuts and what buyers are doing right now.
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