West Kelowna

The District of West Kelowna is a local government incorporated in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. The municipality is composed of several distinct communities, including historic Westbank, Glenrosa, Smith Creek, Shannon Lake, Rose Valley, West Kelowna Estates, Casa Loma, and Lakeview Heights. West Kelowna's population is estimated at 30,892, making it the second-largest municipality in the Kelowna-based Regional District of Central Okanagan.The district was incorporated on December 6, 2007 as Westside District Municipality, so-named because it was the name of the regional district rural electoral area at the time. On January 30, 2009 the district was renamed West Kelowna. Its nickname is also "Westbank".GeographyThe areas within the district municipality's jurisdiction include historic Westbank, Glenrosa, Shannon Lake, and Smith Creek in the south, which comprise approximately half of the total population, along with several other communities in the north, closer to Kelowna, including Casa Loma, West Kelowna Estates, Rose Valley and Lakeview Heights.Adjacent to the District of West Kelowna's boundaries are two self-governing reserves of the Westbank First Nation, Tsinstikeptum 9 and Tsinstikeptum 10. Approximately 9,000 non-band members and 800 First Nation Westbank band members live on the reserves.Formation of Westside District MunicipalityWestside District Municipality came into existence on December 6, 2007, following a June 16, 2007 referendum in which Westside residents voted to incorporate by a margin of 5,924 votes to 5,582. The other choice was amalgamation with the City of Kelowna, with a previous question on the ballot offering the option of remaining unincorporated within the regional district's Westside electoral area. The vote was split along highly geographical lines with voters from Westbank, Glenrosa and other areas farther away from the City of Kelowna more often voting to incorporate and voters living closer to Kelowna typically choosing amalgamation.