Kelowna

City in southern British Columbia, Canada, on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake, 275 km/170 mi northeast of Vancouver; population (1991) 76,000. The trade centre of a large fruit-growing and winemaking region, Kelowna cans and packs apples, grapes, and vegetables, and produces lumber and dairy goods. Tourism and lake and mountain recreation are also important.

The settlement was founded in 1859 by Oblate missionaries who planted the area's first fruit trees here. The city is home to Okanagan College (1963). The summer Kelowna Regatta has been held since 1906. Okanagan Lake is crossed here by a 1,400-m/4,600-ft floating (pontoon) bridge.