Letters Reveal Kelowna Has More Power Over TOA Development Than Residents Were Told. For months, residents of Kelowna’s Abbott Street Heritage Conservation Area have been told that six-storey development is unavoidable because of the Province’s Transit-Oriented Areas (TOA) legislation. But recent correspondence from two Provincial Ministers tells a different story. In letters sent in November…
Kelowna is changing rapidly. Recent provincial housing policies, including Transit-Oriented Area (TOA) legislation and Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) requirements, are transforming neighbourhoods across our city. These changes will influence everything from housing density and development patterns to neighbourhood character, green space, and community identity for years to come. Now, residents have an opportunity to share…
Abbott Street Heritage Area Deserves Meaningful Protection A recent Castanet article highlighted growing concerns from heritage advocates about the future of Kelowna’s Abbott Street Heritage Conservation Area. The discussion raises an important question for our community: if a Heritage Conservation Area is not protected from incompatible development, what purpose does the designation serve? The Abbott…
As cities grow and evolve, it can be easy to focus on what is new and overlook what already exists. Heritage communities serve as living connections to our past, providing character, identity, and a sense of place that modern developments often struggle to replicate. Preserving these neighbourhoods is not about preventing change—it is about ensuring…
Protecting Kelowna’s Heritage Conservation Area doesn’t require special expertise—every resident can play a role in preserving the character, history, and beauty of our community. The mature trees, historic homes, and walkable streets of Kelowna’s Heritage Conservation Area are more than features on a map—they are part of our community’s identity. One of the easiest ways…
Walk through Kelowna’s Heritage Conservation Area on any summer evening and you’ll quickly understand why so many people care about its future. It isn’t just the historic homes. It’s the mature tree canopy arching over the streets. It’s the gardens that have been cultivated for decades. It’s the front porches, heritage plaques, and quiet streets…
How Advocacy Protects Cultural and Historical Identity Every community has a story. In Kelowna, that story is told through historic homes, tree-lined streets, cultural landmarks, and neighbourhoods that have evolved over generations. These places connect us to our past and help define who we are today. But heritage does not preserve itself. The places we…
When people think about heritage conservation, they often picture historic homes and old buildings. While preserving these structures is important, heritage conservation is about much more than architecture. It helps create stronger, more connected, and more resilient communities. “The strongest communities are those that embrace their future without forgetting the places and stories that shaped…
