Glenmore Ellison Improvement District joins forces with the City of Kelowna

News Release

The Glenmore Ellison Improvement District (GEID) and City of Kelowna have signed a Transition Agreement with the goal of transferring the operation of GEID to the City of Kelowna over the next three years.  The conversion is consistent with Kelowna’s integrated water supply plan and provincial policies that call for improvement districts to transition to local governments over time.

“It’s the right time for an orderly and seamless transition,” said Steven Bonn, Board Chair of GEID. “GEID is in a strong financial position and over the past several years we have completed all major capital projects required to deliver high quality drinking and agricultural water. The Board of Trustees and GEID staff are extremely proud of the legacy we leave, that has allowed the Glenmore-Ellison valleys to grow and prosper.” 

The agreement sees GEID running as a separate business unit within the City for the next three years, to allow time for an orderly operational transition. The integration will see all GEID and City of Kelowna water utility customers continue to receive the same level of service while enhancing reliability, resiliency, and value in the face of rapid growth and climate change. 

As part of the transition, the City and GEID have completed a financial and asset audit to ensure City of Kelowna ratepayers do not take on any undue risk. GEID is in a strong financial position and rates will not increase for either utility ratepayers due to the transition.

“We are pleased to be working collaboratively with GEID and share the goal of continuing to provide high-quality service and water that both GEID and City customers are accustomed to,” said Mayor Tom Dyas. “Working together, we will be able to improve the resiliency of the system through integration of water supply connectivity and operations which are becoming even more important due to the impacts of climate change. Our goal is to create a model for orderly transitions that can be used by other improvement districts and local governments around the province,” said Mayor Dyas.

“People in British Columbia rely on efficient services and resilient infrastructure, which are essential to vibrant communities,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “That’s why I’m pleased to see the Glenmore-Ellison Improvement District and City of Kelowna working together on this important project. The ministry is available to provide advice where needed, and I look forward to seeing both Kelowna and GEID engage the members of their community.”       

Benefits to both GEID and City water utility customers in unifying the systems include:

• improved supply and resiliency through better interconnectivity and integration of operations.
• more effective and efficient emergency response across both systems, especially with a larger pool of trained water operators
• ability to better coordinate City infrastructure projects including water, road, sewer, and stormwater projects.
• GEID ratepayers will now have access to provincial grants for major capital projects along with lower interest rates through the Municipal Finance Authority.  

The next step is for the province to consider an Order in Council and share information with ratepayers. For more information, visit geid.ca or kelowna.ca/water.

Mayor Tom Dyas with GEID Board Chair, Steven Bonn, as a Transition Agreement is signed with the goal of transferring the operation of GEID to the City of Kelowna water utility over the next three years.