West Kelowna has an estimated population of 38,311 residents (BC Stats, 2021), living in more than 12,500 homes located within an area of 123.53 km2 (Stats Canada). The municipality is the third largest city by population in the Okanagan. The community continues to grow rapidly with a population increase of 17.3 per cent between the 2016 and 2021 censuses (Stats Canada).
West Kelowna’s many neighbourhoods include Casa Loma, Gellatly Bay, Glenrosa, Lakeview Heights, Mission Hill/Sunnyside, Rose Valley/West Kelowna Estates, Shannon Lake, Smith Creek and Westbank Centre. Each of the neighbourhoods is unique and offers advantages such as lake views, close access to recreation and amenities, and vineyards only steps away.
See the neighbourhoods below to read a short description of each area's characteristics and attributes. For 2016 Census data on each neighbourhood, please choose from the list of document links (PDFs). The full 2016 Census Report can be found here.
Casa Loma |
Casa Loma is the smallest neighbourhood within the City of West Kelowna with roughly 457 residents. The neighbourhood is ideally situated for those looking for easy access to both West Kelowna and Kelowna; its proximity to the Okanagan Lake Bridge (William R. Bennett) provides safe pedestrian and convenient car access to both communities. Offering quiet living outside the town centre and scenic views of Okanagan Lake, it is a great neighbourhood for couples and individuals. Casa Loma is settled along the waterfront which allows for a variety of recreational activities such as swimming, boating and kayaking. |
Gellatly Bay |
Gellatly Bay is an emerging community with an approximate growth rate for the neighbourhood of 3.24% from 2011 to 2016. It captures the small town feel along Okanagan Lake while offering an abundance of commercial and retail services less than two kilometres away at Westbank Centre. Gellatly Bay is ideal for mature families, or individuals who enjoy being close to the water and a short distance away from amenities. The neighbourhood features a gorgeous waterfront path, as well as several other parks and beaches to make a splash in the summer including CNR Wharf, Willow Beach and the Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park. The neighbourhood has a high proportion of senior residents with 44% of the neighbourhood population over the age of sixty-five. |
Glenrosa |
Glenrosa is an urbanizing neighbourhood ideal for active young families. Close to amenities such as Glen Canyon Regional Park, Glenrosa maintains a small community feel while providing a wide range of activities. The neighbourhood offers an affordable and attractive quality of life, where year-round recreation opportunities are complimented by a range of shops and services only 2.5 kilometres away at Westbank Centre. Moreover, Glenrosa’s close proximity to the neighbourhoods of Smith Creek and Gellatly Bay, in addition to Westbank Centre, provides even more hiking and biking trails, beach accesses and shopping and dining convenience. Public schools in the neighbourhood include Helen Gorman Elementary, Glenrosa Elementary and Glenrosa Middle. |
Lakeview Heights |
Lakeview Heights is ideal for those who appreciate balance; it offers rural living with large acreages in addition to numerous nearby retail locations and restaurants. Framed by views of Okanagan Lake, mountains, an extinct volcano and orchards, Lakeview Heights offers picturesque living. This quiet neighbourhood is complimented by urban amenities including a quaint shopping centre. In particular, Mount Boucherie Community Centre offers a variety of recreational activities and serves as a focal point for the neighbourhood. The neighbourhood features five of the wineries along the Westside Wine Trail, home to some of the most accomplished winemakers in the valley. Hudson Road Elementary School and Mount Boucherie Secondary School, which serves all of West Kelowna, are located in the neighbourhood. |
Mission Hill |
The Mission Hill neighbourhood, which includes the Sunnyside neighbourhood, is ideal for mature families who desire spacious living outside the town centre. Offering scenic views of mountains, Okanagan Lake and vineyards, the area is home to the award winning wineries of Mission Hill Family Estate Winery and Quails’ Gate Estate Winery. The neighbourhood features rolling hills and panoramic vistas. The Mission Hill area is an intermediate neighbourhood in size with close to 3,150 residents, representing less than 10% of the city's population. Nearly 90% of the neighbourhood population is of fifteen years of age or older. Chief Tomat Elementary School is located in the neighbourhood. |
Rose Valley |
Rose Valley, also commonly referred to as West Kelowna Estates, is a developing neighbourhood ideal for young families. It is the second most populated neighbourhood in the city after the Glenrosa neighbourhood. Rose Valley has contains several hectares of park space. Featuring a variety of trails, particularly those in Rose Valley Regional Park, the neighbourhood has recreational activities suitable for the entire family. The neighbourhood offers urban amenities including the nearby conveniences of Okanagan Lake Shopping Centre. With plentiful outdoor space and a friendly community, the neighbourhood offers an attractive quality of life for families. Two elementary schools are located in the neighbourhood, namely Rose Valley Elementary School and the newly developed Mar Jok Elementary School. |
Shannon Lake |
Shannon Lake is a developing and popular neighbourhood situated with mountain views overlooking West Kelowna and Okanagan Lake. Shannon Lake is ideal for young active families who enjoy outdoor activities and being part of a strong community. It offers a range of amenities from golfing and fishing to hiking and biking. Centred around the shores of Shannon Lake, the neighbourhood features the greens of Shannon Lake Golf Course and the trails and fishing opportunities of Shannon Lake Regional Park. Shannon Lake Elementary School and Constable Neil Bruce Middle School are located in the neighbourhood. |
Smith Creek |
Smith Creek is ideal for families who desire spacious living and enjoy recreational activities such as hiking and biking. An assortment of trails and varied terrain make Smith Creek the perfect playground for the avid adventurist. A rural landscape and numerous working farms offer residents opportune access to local produce and give the area an agricultural feel. However, with the close proximity of Westbank Centre, residents can still access urban amenities for shopping and dining convenience. Several family homes, small acreages and active farms exist in the region. |
Westbank Centre |
Westbank Centre is ideal for families and mature residents who value the convenience of urban amenities. The neighbourhood offers shopping, restaurants, and parks all in extremely close proximity. Community events such as Westside Daze, the Westbank Farmers Market, and Music in the Park take place in Westbank Centre. The neighbourhood features recreational facilities including the Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre and Kids Care Spray Park as well as amenities such as the public library. Ecole George Pringle Elementary School, West Kelowna's only French Immersion School, serves the neighbourhood. |
West Kelowna |
West Kelowna Census Data |
Westside Trading Area |
Westside Trading Area Census Data |
School District 23 Catchment Areas:
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