Kelowna or Kamloops?
 

Hi

We are over for a recce in March, flying into Vancouver and out of Calgary. Looking at our driving route between the two, we have the option of routes via either Kamloops or Kelowna. We'll probably only spend a couple of days there but just wanted some opinions of which one to see. Is it realisitic to think that there's a possibility of relocating to either of these cities (my OH is a human resources manager for an oil & gas company but wouldn't mind a change of direction and I would need a largish hospital to work out of) or should we see it as just sightseeing? Kelowna looks lovely but is there much going on there apart from tourism?

If anyone has opinions on either please tell me!

Re: Kelowna or Kamloops?
 

Hi,

My learned colleague posted the following info regarding the merits of life in Kamloops:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352588

Kelowna links of miscellaneous sorts:

http://www.welcometokelowna.com/business.php
http://www.city.kelowna.bc.ca/cm/Pag....aspx?SiteID=3
http://www.futuresbc.com/bus-services.htm
http://www.edccord.com/
http://www.vtours.com/kelowna/chamber.htm
http://www.sellingkelowna.com/kelown...employment.htm
http://www.sunnyokanagan.com/
http://kcr.ca/
http://www.okanaganpartnership.ca/e-home.html
http://www.tourismkelowna.com/
http://www.movekelownaforward.com/
http://www.shaida.com/kelowna/index.html
http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/
http://www.chbc.com/index.php
http://castanet.net/
http://forum.wr.ca/view_forum.php?id...8e836daac31b21

http://www.interiorhealth.ca/default.htm
http://www.interiorhealth.ca/Health%...%20General.htm
http://www.okanaganhightechjobs.com/

I would say that to compare the two you would really need a visit and you need to do plenty of research to find out the difference in culture, real estate prices, employment prospects, leisure pursuits, local economics and demographics etc. Kelowna has more of a "hype town" feel about it, lots of real estate/development spin, more strongly marketed as a relocation/resort destination, however the basic requirements of everyday life are available equally in each city. As it is perceived by first time visitors, Kelowna also appears to consist of Westside, Rutland, Lake Country etc areas however each has a strong and distinct feel, vibe, economy etc. Also, when first visited the main drag of Kelowna does not give a pleasant impression from seeing the trawl of Highway 97/Harvey Avenue via a haze of exhaust fumes, as that is merely a convenient (in some ways) strip mall of regular retail box stores. One really needs to get out to the burbs and surrounding communities to see Kelowna as it can be. I suggest visiting Lake Country (Oyama, Winfield etc, The Lakes is a nice new development), and in Kelowna itself, Glenmore, Upper/Lower Mission, for starters just to see life away from the main strip, which is really just a shopper and tourist magnet come high summer. Then there is Kettle Valley, The Quarry, just for starters from the pile of new developments. Dilworth Mountain is tres upmarket (the street of million dollar homes is located there). Alow 15-25 minute drive from town past farmland and orchards, you can sit looking over a fantastic million-dollar view of the whole valley or the city or lake or all of these at once. It is most certainly a lifestyle location, if one can afford to support the higher real estate, grocery and gas prices found in The Okanagan (and Kelowna in partic). There are issues regarding sustainable development, city planning, low wages, attracting quality industry and higher paid work, homelessness (400 street peeps) is an issue as with any growing city crime (auto theft and drugs, predominantly dope grow-ops and crack cocaine) is an issue. Nontheless it is safe, clean and pleasant and never short on things to do, see, investigate, etc. Remember that Vancouver is just a 4 hour hop away as is Northern BC, The Kootenays, BC Rockies etc so plenty to do when friends/relatives visit. Certainly The Okanagan region is an amazing genuine 4-season playground. The local phrase, "Kelowna, great place to live, crap place to work" is an exaggeration somewhat but gives you some idea of the issues relating to employment, as things are improving due to lack of skilled labor versus living costs and need to get business done. Bringing strong cash funds is a huge benefit in moving to Kelowna, that's for sure, but saying that, it applies to all of BC anyway (BC=Bring Cash). Minimum wage / service sector workers are struggling to make a living here and people are moving to Calgary etc to make more bucks. Kelowna is also not particularly diverse, a very small % are non white (4% I recall), and it is mainly a white middle-upper class culture here (Rutland and Westside are more working class areas, and the latter has a high aboriginal population), but that overall kelowna mixture will change as more incomers break the mould and the city grows even further. The balance of incomers to long-term homegrown Okanaganers has changed with the majority of the population now from out of town. They do say though, "buy now before they close the gates", based on the fact that the city cannot sustain mich more than under another 100k people due to water supply constraints hence it may become like Banff in real estate terms, maxed out on demand and with rarely any supply left. My own pet hate is the way they will give permission to build on any mountain ridge or slope irrespective that it damages the quality of life for which people moved here, however it seems we must feed the greedy real estate beast until it's bloated belly splits open.

If you have specific questions feel free to email or PM me. I suggest searching the forum here as I have posted a few useful articles about Kelowna always with the disclaimer that it is my own personal view and experience but using as much factual detail and real life knowledge as possible.

Rich.