6 Reasons Why West Kelowna is a Great Place to Lay Down Roots

There are lots of places to put down roots when you’re looking for a place to live in the long term. Very few people settle anywhere with the intention of not staying unless there’s a sudden change in vocation or a family emergency. But when you’re faced with making the choice of where to lay down roots, whether it’s for just yourself or your family, it’s always smart to do the research first. 

As a serious contender, we’d like you to consider West Kelowna! Your first question in response should be ‘why?’ And we’re glad you asked because we have six great reasons as to why West Kelowna is a great place to settle.

1) Food & Wine
There are over 200 wineries in the Okanagan Valley making it the wine-centre of Canada. Several award winning wineries and restaurants are located in West Kelowna including Mission Hill Estate Winery, Quails Gate, The Red Fox Club, and many more. From amazing wine pairings, to delicious gourmet food, from popular restaurant chains, to independent restaurant hidden gems, there’s plenty for your taste buds to explore in West Kelowna.

2) Seasonal Temperatures
The Okanagan has some of the best weather conditions in Canada, boasting four distinct seasons, but with moderately controlled temperatures thanks to the lake and valley. Summers are typically warm and dry while winters are generally mild at the valley floor, but cooler the higher into the mountains you venture. On average, West Kelowna receives over 2000 hours of sunshine, annually. Sunglasses are recommended.

3) Active Lifestyle
West Kelowna is full of biking and hiking opportunities from easy to difficult trails. Due to the nice weather it’s common to see people out and about and active, taking advantage of the sun. There are numerous golf courses to choose from, adventure activities such as zip lining, and an entire lake to explore.  

4) Employment
Healthcare, manufacturing, construction, technology, and agriculture are just some of the booming industries that exist in the Kelowna area. Technology in particular has seen a massive increase over the past ten years with everything from digital animation companies to tech startups. In West Kelowna alone there are over 2,200 business licenses issued annually. The area features some of the most diverse employment opportunities around.

5) Educational Opportunities
Aside from numerous elementary schools, West Kelowna also has two middle schools and a high school. The latter offers a number of electives and AP classes to assist students as they move on to post-secondary education. Just across the bridge in Kelowna is the UBCO and OC campuses along with a number of private post secondary schools. 

6) The Lake Life
West Kelowna has a total of 25 beaches, many of which include boat launches. No matter where you live in West Kelowna, you’re never far from the lake, which holds countless opportunities to make great memories. Whether you’re looking for a slower pace and want to take a wander along the beach fronts or are more active and want to visit the diving docks or get your boat in the water, there’s a lot of fun lake-associated activities to choose from.