Our Community

On May 17, 2021, intersection safety improvements for Louie Drive and Old Okanagan Highway will begin. This will include 730 metres of works on Old Okanagan Highway, and 620 metres of works on Louie Drive.

Do you have a child or know someone who is going to be five years old by Dec 31st, 2021? Thinking about options for Kindergarten in September? Join us for an interactive Zoom session with our Kindergarten classroom.

Today at approximately 8:15 am Sensisyusten school staff noticed a gas-like odour when they arrived at the school. Staff and students were evacuated to the ballfields at Pine Stadium.

This grazing season, WFN will utilize the Provincial Range Tenure we have with the Province on lands adjacent to our Gallagher’s reserves 11 and 12. This will serve to augment other steps we have taken and continue to take in our area of responsibility to forward our title and rights.

The BC Museums Association (BCMA) is seeking a BC-based Indigenous artist to create a new or use an existing work that evokes the spirit of repatriation and acts as a symbol of institutional participation in a nation-wide Call to Action that will be released this Spring.

Westbank First Nation (WFN) in partnership with the City of West Kelowna (CWK) is offering funding to help property owners who demonstrate the use of FireSmart principles and initiatives to reduce the risk of wildfire damage to their homes and community.

Enter this contest by submitting a poem so you can win a prize and have it presented at a concert where your poem will be set to music by an accomplished composer and sung by RESOUND Choir. The winning poem, with “joy” as its theme, will be set to music by Andrew Balfour and premiered by RESOUND Choir at their March 2022 concert.

2021 is shaping up to be a busy construction season for the WFN community. With this in mind, WFN would like all residents to be aware of these identified works to limit any potential impact to daily travel for residents and visitors on Westbank Lands.

In recognition of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, WFN has further extended its rental increase effective date freeze from July 1, 2021 to January 1, 2022.

Wilfred “Grouse” Barnes and Pamela Barnes, Elders and Knowledge Keepers from Westbank First Nation, say they were surprised to find out they were named Okanagan College Honorary Fellows for 2020.

Tree removal will occur on Lots 404 – 408 Plan CLSR 77632 IR#10 located along Westside Road commencing March 9, 2021. It is anticipated that it will take one week to complete the scheduled works. Tree removal has been approved by WFN.

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WFN has recently noted the hillside adjacent to its Member Beachlots and below the Bluffs is slipping and people are being asked to stay away.

There’s a new opportunity available for Indigenous artists across Canada. The Okanagan Indigenous Music and Arts Society (OIMAS) has launched the “Honouring our Stories” Artistic Mural and Beautification Project, in partnership with Kelowna’s Gospel Mission and Sncewips Heritage Museum.

Statistics Canada is hiring to support the upcoming 2021 Census. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply online at www.census.gc.ca

To help keep our community safe, please note the following preventative health measures regarding our Government offices, Sensisyusten School, and Westbank Child Development Centre.

Westbank First Nation (WFN) has honoured Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton for his efforts to support the access of Indigenous students to higher learning and Indigenization of the post-secondary system, as well as strengthening ties between WFN and the College.

West Kelowna Fire Rescue will continue their 23rd Annual Holiday Food Drive in support of local food banks. This year due to Provincial health guidelines, the fire stations will be drop off sites for residents to leave their non-perishable food donations from December 1 to 15th, 2020.

The Child Advocacy Centre is collaborating with Westbank First Nation to be the fifth partner of the organization. Launched on Jan. 1, 2020, the centre is a child-friendly facility that supports children and families impacted by child abuse and neglect.

BC Housing has rescheduled their Virtual Neighbourhood Information Session for November 25, 2020 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm for a Land Use Amendment / Rezoning application and proposed supportive housing unit located at 3235 Cougar Road.

Please be advised that there will be intersection improvement works from beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday November 5 to Thursday November 19, 2020 that will result in road closure at the Carrington/Butt Road intersection.

Please be advised of the following advisory for Kelowna Regional Transit System - Route 25 (25 East Boundary Detour). Carrington Road will be closed for the day due to road construction. The 25 East Boundary route will be on detour for October 22, 2020, and all bus stops on Carrington Road will be closed for the duration of the road closure.

In accordance with Westbank First Nation (WFN) Advisory Council Law 2017-10, October 15, 2020, saw a new Advisory Council voted in for a three-year term by WFN residents. The 2020 – 2023 Advisory Council includes new representatives Steven Gilroy (Lakeridge District) and Michael Trenn (Lakeshore District), and returning representatives Ludwig Teichgraber (East Boundary District), John Cole (Prairie District) and Rick Ould (Old Okanagan District).

Each year, WFN completes an annual report highlighting various departmental, community, and organization accomplishments, projects, and future initiatives.

The West Kelowna Urgent and Primary Care Centre (WK UPCC) will open October 5, 2020. The centre is designed to improve the quality of primary care services for people living in West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and Peachland, by improving the access to primary care that includes urgent primary care services required within 12-24 hours, and by providing ongoing longitudinal primary care for underserved populations in the area.