2023: Beyond the Curve

A Year of Action, Progress, and Innovation

Each year in June, we release the City of Kelowna Annual Report. While it chronicles the activities and major themes of the past year, it is also an important document that helps keep our community informed on where we’re headed in the future.

While key to livability and quality of life, creating a city of the future isn't just about building smart architecture and sustainable infrastructure—it’s about daring to be bold in vision, taking decisive action, and not being afraid to make tough decisions and push through obstacles.

Cities that stand out are those that continually push boundaries, embrace change, and strive for excellence in every aspect of life. Whether it's pioneering sustainable transportation solutions, implementing cutting-edge technologies, creating vibrant cultural hubs, or addressing community priorities, innovative thinking is what drives progress.

Embracing new ideas and nurturing a culture of creativity allows cities to stay ahead of the curve and unlock their full potential to create vibrant, sustainable communities that put people first and deliver a high quality of life—now and in the future. However, innovation alone is not sufficient. Action is the catalyst that transforms innovative ideas into reality. It's about rolling up sleeves, demonstrating a willingness to take bold steps forward, and working collaboratively to make things happen. This was the driving spirit behind 2023, marking a year of transformative change and propelling our community into a new era of progress.

The compass guiding the City’s business planning and investment decisions to take immediate action on what truly matters to our residents and the organization are the 2023–2026 Council and corporate priorities. While there is significant work ahead to achieve our shared vision, over the course of the 2023, together we took major steps forward for the collective good of the community. The results achieved illustrate that when leadership is driven by empathy, innovation, and a genuine desire to make good, transformative change is not just possible, but inevitable.

However, at the core of our work, comes a responsibility to ensure sustainable growth and protecting what we already love about our city. Through our 2040 Official Community Plan, we are strategically managing our community’s incredible growth, while seizing the opportunity to create a city like no other. In the coming years, there will be a big push to deliver more infrastructure, more quickly, to keep pace with growth pressures. From roads and parks bundles to expanded recreation facilities, we will commence some of the City’s most ambitious capital and infrastructure projects to date. In fact, our 10-year capital plan includes over 330 infrastructure projects to support Kelowna’s future and growth.

The 2023 Annual Report is one measure of accountability. Regular public progress reporting on Council and corporate priorities can be found at opendata.kelowna.ca. You can find ways to share your feedback and get involved at kelowna.ca/getinvolved.

Holding your leaders accountable for the strategic shifts, improvements, and changes you want to see is an important part of local government. It is about fostering a sense of pride and ownership within our community, where each resident feels not just represented but actively involved in shaping the future of our city. Because, together, we are not just ahead of the curve—we are pioneers charting a course towards a future where strong communities lead, not just through words, but through real, meaningful action.

To learn more, view the recently released 2023 Annual Report.