From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Westbank is one of the communities within the District Municipality of Westside in the province of British Columbia. It is 12 km to the west of Kelowna. Other communities in Westside include Casa Loma, West Kelowna Estates, Shannon Lake, Glenrosa, Rose Valley and Lakeview Heights. Westbank is at the southern end of the municipality.

Westbank has a population of approximately 18,000. The Municipality of Westside has a total population, including Westbank, of about 28,900.

Embedded within the Municipality of Westside are two self-governing reserves of the Westbank First Nation, Tsinstikeptum #9 and Tsinstikeptum #10. Approximately 7,000 non-natives live on the reserves.

Contents 1 Formation of Westside Municipality 2 Westbank Attractions 3 Schools 4 Recreation 5 Develpment and Growth 6 See also 7 External links

The Municipality of Westside came into existence on December 6, 2007, following a June 16, 2007, referendum in which Westside residents voted to incorporate as a city by a margin of 5,924 votes to 5,582. The other choice was amalgamation with the City of Kelowna. The vote was split along highly geographic lines with voters from Westbank and other areas farther away from the city of Kelowna more often voting to incorporate and voters living closer to Kelowna much more likely to vote for amalgamation.

On November 17, 2007, Westside residents elected Rosalind Neis as the new mayor. Her election platform consisted of promising to disincorporate the new city, and join the city of Kelowna. However, five of the six newly elected city councilors disagree with Neis's platform. Disincorporation would require (1) a resolution of the city council, (2) 60% of all voters in the municipality to sign a petition to that effect and (3) a new referendum. As a result, it is seen by most observers as unlikely.

Westbank has numerous orchards, wineries, golf courses, and is a twenty minute drive away from Crystal Mountain Ski Resort. To the south of Westbank are the towns of Peachland and Summerland, and the city of Penticton.

Westbank and Westside are part of School District 23 Central Okanagan. Lakeview Heights is home to the centrally located Mount Boucherie Secondary School. As well, the Westside includes two Middle schools; Constable Neil Bruceand Glenrosa Middle schools. There are many well situated elementary schools serving the Westside like Hudson Road.

Alongside Mount Boucherie Secondary School is the Mount Bouceherie Multiplex Centre housing Mount Boucherie Community Centre, Jim Lind Arena, home to the BCHL team the Westside Warriors, and Royal LePage Place.

Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre is the main recreational facility in Westbank. It includes a 25 m swimming pool, a whirl pool, a steam room, a gym, and an exercise area, as well as a skateboard park.

The YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club operate in Westbank supported by the Westside.

There are many beaches along Okanagan Lake and many sports fields.

Demographically, Westside has been growing almost geometrically. Between 2001 and 2006, the population of the area grew by 11.4%.

Traditional shopping areas on the westside have been downtown Westbank, the Lakeview Heights Shopping Centre and in other small centres. However, in the 1990s, Canadian federal grant money allowed the Westbank First Nation to bring in water supplies from Okanagan Lake which has allowed them to open their reserves to major development. Starting with a shopping centre at the juncture between Westbank and I.R. #10, right next door to "downtown" Westbank, the Westbank First Nation has begun building major commercial developments all along Highway 97 as it passes through the reserve. In the fall of 2006 'big-box' shopping centre was opened on Westbank First Nation land. This new shopping area is called the "Hub Centre" in honour of the former resident of the area, a hub cap shop. Nearby developments include the 18-hole Vintage Hills Golf Course and attendant housing, other major on-reserve housing developments, and another major shopping centre on the other side of the highway.

In Westbank proper, development company Medican, is building Kaleido, a 700+ unit project which includes three residential towers, the tallest of which is 18 stories making it fully 15 stories taller than anything else in Westside.

Numerous other commercial and residential developments are planned both on and off Reserve.

The Municipality of Westside is part of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, the local governing body.

• Westbank First Nation

• Westside website
• Westbank website
• Westbank Chamber of Commerce
• "Join Kelowna" campaign
• Lakeview Heights website
• Ourwestside - Welcome to Canada's Newest City

v • d • e Subdivisions of British Columbia
Subdivisions	Electoral Areas · Regional districts · School districts
Settlements	Communities · First Nations · Ghost towns · Municipalities
Urban centres	Abbotsford · Kamloops · Kelowna · Nanaimo · Prince George · Vancouver · Victoria