City of Kelowna
1435 Water Street V1Y 1J4 Kelowna, BC, Canada

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Family Day Active Photo Contest! We loved seeing all of your wonderful #BCFamilyDay adventures. All contest winners have now been contacted. Thank you also to the Government of British Columbia for their contribution to this free, community activity.

Participate in public hearings electronically! Learn how to provide input on public hearing and Tuesday regular Council meeting agenda items electronically. Either provide your comments in advance via email or share your comments during the public hearing by participating online. Visit kelowna.ca/council to learn more.

If you're heading out for a skate, please avoid frozen ponds and waterways. We don't inspect or maintain these ice surfaces and there's a risk you could fall through. Ice thickness can change quickly, particularly now when we're in the last days of winter. Stuart Park, Capital News Centre, Rutland Arena and Prospera Arena provide a safe alternative and can be booked for public skating - https://www.kelowna.ca/skating

If you wish to minimize your exposure to pesticides, you can register for the Pesticide Notification Registry until March 12. Please note that this registry includes notification for commercial spraying on residential properties only and does not include spraying on agricultural properties or orchards. Visit kelowna.ca/pesticidefree or call the hotline at 250-469-8556 to learn more.

"Now is the time to stay home, and do your part to keep our hospitals, schools, and workplaces safe. We will get through this by pulling together." - Government of British Columbia See details: www.gov.bc.ca/COVID19restrictions

Did you share your thoughts and opinions on City projects last year? Over 10,500 people visited getinvolved.kelowna.ca to learn about City projects and have their say in 2020. New projects are being added regularly, visit Get Involved today to shape City projects in 2021.

Business licence renewals are due Jan. 15, 2021. This year your business licence has an updated look and we've moved to an enhanced online system to better serve you. Visit kelowna.ca/business for details.

Do you own or are you operating a business in Kelowna? Be sure to renew your 2021 business licence by the Jan. 15 due date. All businesses operating in Kelowna need to obtain an annual Business Licence. This includes retail, commercial, management, professional, home-based, Bed & Breakfast and taxi companies. Why not try online renewal for an easy, quick and convenient way to renew your business licence from the comfort of your home or office. kelowna.ca/business

Did someone shovel your driveway or sidewalk over the holidays? Don’t forget to nominate them as a Snow Angel - you could score them $100 to The Local Gift Card! Plus, all Snow Angel nominators receive a toque to gift to their Angel. Visit kelowna.ca/snowangels for details or to nominate.

Business licence renewals are due by Jan. 15, 2021. This year, we've moved to an enhanced online system to better serve you. Visit kelowna.ca/business for details.

The water shut-off previously planned for north Glenmore residents this morning has been postponed until further notice. Local notification will occur when the work has been rescheduled. Visit kelowna.ca/water to learn more.

Peer navigators play an important role in sharing their lived experience with community and government organizations as we look to provide services for individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health and addiction challenges. We value the perspective they bring and the support they provide to our vulnerable residents. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3lN68KK.

Budget deliberations are over and a 4.04% overall taxation demand increase for 2021 has been approved by Council. But what does that mean? When does the increase come into affect? What items does the 2021 budget cover? For answers to these questions and more, check out this high-level overview: https://bit.ly/2W6teRf For even more detail (and to geek-out on the numbers), our 2021 Preliminary Financial Plan is also available to read at kelowna.ca/budget.

Take a virtual tour of Kelowna Fire Hall 1! The cancellation of the Kelowna Fire Department’s annual open house has required firefighters to get on-camera ready to provide a virtual tour. Meet some of our firefighters, see the inside of a fire truck and other vehicles and check out some of the heavy-duty equipment used to fight different types of fires and assist in emergencies. Sorry, you’ll have to provide your own pancakes this year. https://bit.ly/35zVgds

To celebrate GIS Day, we have released a Minecraft world that digitally recreates Kelowna's landscape using a variety of data sets! We are constantly looking to use data to tell a story about our city and this is a fun way for our younger residents to build a Kelowna they would like to see. To learn more and download the Minecraft world, visit https://bit.ly/2HedPdX.

PLEASE NOTE: The water shut-off planned for north Glenmore residents on Monday, Dec. 14 has been postponed until further notice. Local notification will occur when the work has been rescheduled. Learn more at kelowna.ca/water.

"Live in the Interior Health, Island Health or Northern Health Regions? Limit your gatherings to no more than your immediate household plus a maximum of six others"

Know of any outstanding Kelowna residents or organizations that helped make our city a better place during this challenging year? Nominate them for a 2020 Civic & Community Award! Visit kelowna.ca/civicawards to nominate or to learn more.

Did you know that we have updated our processes so that residents and developers can access, complete, submit and pay for building permit applications fully online? Visit kelowna.ca/build to learn more.

It’s snow time once again, and our Snow Angels program starts now! See a neighbour or friend shoveling your driveway or sidewalk? Share your story with us and we’ll send you a Snow Angels card and toque to gift to them. They will also be entered into a monthly draw for a gift card to local businesses! Visit kelowna.ca/snowangels to learn more or to nominate.

Turning back the clock means fewer daylight hours and reduced visibility. Drivers: check your headlights and signal lights, turn with caution and share the road. Whether you walk, drive or bike, please stay alert and follow the rules of the road.

Tune-in to Council meetings online! Join today's regular Council meeting from home by watching a livestream beginning at 1:30 p.m. Learn more and tune-in at kelowna.ca/council. #Kelowna #CityofKelowna

Masks are now required to be worn in all indoor City-operated facilities. Mayor Basran describes the new approach and the reasons for these enhanced safety measures in the video below. Learn more about how the City is responding to COVID-19 at kelowna.ca/covid19.

We all want to be seen for who we are, without any stigmas or labels attached. The City has partnered with PEOPLE to provide training and employment for individuals who have experienced homelessness, addiction or mental health challenges. The peer navigators play an important role in supporting vulnerable residents and bringing an important voice to the table. Head to https://bit.ly/2HKC97i to read the full story.

A reminder from our partners at Regional District of Central Okanagan on this snowy Tuesday.

A Halloween reminder from the Government of British Columbia.

Did you know that you can quickly and easily report an issue, and request or access City services online? Action buttons were added to kelowna.ca earlier this year encouraging residents to Apply, Pay, Report/Request or Explore. These four categories refine the list of online services the City provides and simplifies the process of accessing them. To request and access online services, visit kelowna.ca or kelowna.ca/onlineservices.

Have an old wood stove? Did you know you can receive a $400 rebate for replacing an uncertified wood stove with cleaner appliance such as new pellet stove, an electric heat pump or a gas or propane stove? Or receive a $250 rebate when you replace and recycle your old wood burning appliance with a new certified wood stove. Learn more at rdco.com/airquality.

Last week City staff took part in UBC Okanagan's Virtual Leadership Forum on Building Okanagan Flood Resiliency. We are working closely with groups and stakeholders in the region to ensure in the ethical and sustainable protection and management of our watershed. Watch the video to learn more: https://youtu.be/E0LOYE9ML6E.

Residents are encouraged to avoid local parks and trails today due to an increased safety risk associated with falling trees and branches. Heavy snowfall early in the season can weigh down trees or braches, causing them to break. To report a tree-related safety hazard, please call 250-469-8503 today during business hours (until 4 p.m.) or submit a service request at https://bit.ly/3dQ1TLn over the weekend or after hours.

Trade your pumpkins in for snowmen, it's the first snow day of the season! Snow crews are out in full force this morning and will continue to clear the snowfall as needed throughout the weekend. Help clear the way by moving vehicles off the street and remember to drive for the conditions. For information about snow routes, bus stop and bicycle route cycling and more, visit kelowna.ca/snow.

Transit riders: Due to weather conditions throughout the region, BC Transit is advising riders to expect delays on all routes. For real-time trip planning resources and to sign up for customer advisories specific to your route, please visit bctransit.com/kelowna.