Our Community

May 10, 2022 – WESTBANK: Westbank First Nation (WFN) is disputing the fairness of a Pine Acres Home (PAH) labour dispute with the British Columbia General Employees Union (BCGEU) following an arbitration decision that did not go in WFN’s favour.

April 8, 2022 - WESTBANK: Westbank First Nation (WFN) has completed wildfire mitigation work on over 66 hectares of land across IR 9 and 10. From November 2021 to April 2022, nine parcels of land were identified and combed through by wildfire forestry crews who removed dead and hazardous trees, ladder fuels, and brush vegetation, to slow future wildfires that could move through the area.

March 17, 2022 - WFN Public Works Crews and contractors will begin street and parking lot Sweeping on April 4, 2022, across IR 9 and 10.

Clean drinking water samples have been obtained and the boil water notice for Lakeridge Park has been lifted. The boil water notice issued earlier this month was a precaution following a water break on Alexander Place and Michelle Crescent.

The latest quarterly issue of the WFN EC DEV X-Press Newsletter is available on the WFN website. This issue features:

Under this WFN Council Resolution Property Tax Department will be empowered to extend the date of applications for Home Owner Grants for the taxation year 2021 from December 31, 2021 to January 05, 2022.

November 26, 2021 - WESTBANK: Westbank First Nation (WFN) will be conducting wildfire mitigation work beginning Monday, November 29, 2021. Nine parcels have been identified in needing fuel management beginning with unit 6 – Bear Creek and Unit 9 – WFN Cut Off Lands. Forestry crews will be removing dead and hazardous trees, ladder fuels, brushing vegetation and spacing trees on just over 66 hectares throughout units 1 through 9.

November 22, 2021 - It is important to know the difference between third dose vs booster dose because the amount of vaccine administered is different between the two. There are also different criteria that must be met to qualify for a third dose than there is for a booster dose.

Westbank First Nation (WFN) is pleased to announce that Jim Bauer, CPA, CMA, has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer for WFN commencing November 29, 2021.

Westbank First Nation (WFN) and West Boundary Community Forest have received community forest awards and a $10,000 grant each. Established in 2016, the Robin Hood Memorial Award for Excellence in Community Forestry is given annually to community forests that align with the values of the late Robin Hood, a BC forest pioneer.

For Immediate Release, October 4, 2021 – WESTBANK: The Carrington Road roundabout closure will begin on Monday, October 18, 2021 for repairs. The closure schedule is as fo

Louie Drive and Old Okanagan Hwy will re-open on Friday, October 15, 2021. The new 4-way stop located at Old Okanagan and Louie Drive will be active with the re-opening.

On September 30, 2021, The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Westbank First Nation (WFN) is launching an online language tutorial series in effort to revitalize nsyilxcən language learning within the community. WFN received $100,000 from the First People’s Cultural Council through their Pathways to Language Vitality Program that helped to support developing materials, immersion programming, planning and community collaboration.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is September 30, 2021. WFN encourages everyone to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools whether it be a day of quiet reflection or participation in a community event.

Late this afternoon, a large watermain break caused a sinkhole on the roadway of Carrington and Butt Roads and Sonoma Pines Drive, which has closed the roundabout in all directions.

In consideration of the new public holiday, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Westbank First Nation offices will be closed on September 30, 2021 for a day of honoring, healing and reconciliation.

September 3, 2021 There is currently an exceptionally high level of bear activity occurring in Westbank First Nation and the surrounding area.

WFN is encouraging everyone to get fully vaccinated to significantly reduce their chances of contracting and spreading the COVID-19 virus. Residents should ensure they get their second dose as early as 28 days after their first dose. WFN will not be hosting any further vaccination clinics at this time.

This weekend, the Health Team will be available for COVID testing on both Saturday and Sunday, August 14-15, from 10am – 4pm at the Community Services Building.

Sənsisyustən House of Learning is a Group 2 Independent Elementary School with the BC Ministry of Education. We teach current BC curriculum with an integration of Okanagan Syilx perspectives. The syilx/Okanagan translation of Sənsisyustən is “the place where you become anything you choose to be.” The school, designed after a traditional native pit-house, lends itself to interactive learning in a warm and nurturing environment.

Wednesday, July 21, 2021 - In the event that you are evacuated from your home due to wildfire, it is imperative that you register with the Emergency Support Services (ESS) in your area to ensure all evacuees are accounted for and First Responders do not go back in looking for individuals who have already evacuated. ESS is also responsible for setting evacuees up with vouchers for hotel rooms in your area, meals, etc. It is advised that you register with ESS online, but in person options are avai

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) has been activated in response to the Brenda Creek wildfire which was discovered yesterday (Wednesday July 14, 2021), northwest of Peachland and south of the Okanagan Connector Hwy 97-C. It is estimated at 400 hectares and is regarded as "out of control". BC Wildfire has deployed multiple air and ground crews.

CANCELLED - The West Kelowna First Nation Policing Unit in partnership with Penticton Indian Band and Okanagan Indian Band are conducting an Okanagan RCMP Recruiting Youth Canoe Journey on Okanagan Lake August 23 - 27, 2021 with a goal to help build better community relationships with the RCMP and indigenous communities.

The most recent issue of the WFN Ec Dev X-press Economic Development newsletter is now available online.

With a fraction of the normal precipitation and scorching temperatures raising fire concerns across the Southern Interior, the Central Okanagan emergency program urges residents to be prepared.