Lake CountryBritish Columbia

Lake Country earns a D− for hazard risk

Measured across the Okanagan health region: radon tests

Averaged over the years, quake damage costs $0.012 per $1,000 of buildings, lower than British Columbia’s towns ($0.36) and near Canadian towns ($0.030). In Health Canada’s survey, 17% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). Wildfire is a real hazard for Lake Country: 20% of the land within 25 km has burned since 1986, 0.51% a year, in the high band. Okanagan Basin Water Board has mapped the flood hazard here: one study on the national inventory.

Lake Country earns a D− for cost of living

Nearly a quarter of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, higher than both British Columbia’s towns (21%) and Canadian towns (18%). Home ownership covers nearly four in five households. Lake Country doesn’t get its own rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom figures; the ones here come from the Kelowna metro area.

Summer runs warm in Lake Country: July highs of 28.5°C, above British Columbia’s towns and Canadian towns

A normal winter brings 93 cm of snow, above British Columbia’s towns (51 cm) but below Canadian towns (141 cm). In January, overnight lows in Lake Country settle at −5.9°C. Snow peaks in December: 31 cm in a normal year. June is the wettest month, with 55 mm of rain and snow on average.

Lake Country has fewer jobs than residents in work: 0.6 for each

At the census, 92% of commuters went by car. Getting to work takes 25 min on average.

4 of Lake Country’s 5 tested schools score in the lower two fifths in British Columbia

Secondary school means a trip of 2.2 km at the nearest, above British Columbia’s towns (1.8 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km) alike.

Expect November days around 6°C in Lake Country, nights around −2°C

ECCC’s forecast for Kelowna is on the Weather page, hour by hour. Expect around 18 cm of snow in November. A normal November brings 49 mm of rain and snow.

Scott Anderson (Conservative Party of Canada) represents Lake Country in Ottawa as MP for Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee

Across British Columbia, 20 of the 43 MPs sit with the Liberal Party of Canada.

ORL: Lake Country Branch and Oyama Branch are Lake Country’s two public libraries

No library board reports for Lake Country alone: its libraries belong to a county or regional system, whose figures cover many towns.

A provincial park at Lake Country’s edge: Kalamalka Lake Park

Of the land within 10 km, 6.1% has protected status, below British Columbia’s towns (6.7%) but above Canadian towns (2.3%). There is no national park within 100 km of the town. CPCAD lists 20 protected areas within 10 km. Within 5 km are 22 beaches; Beasley Park Beach is the nearest.

Lake Country earns a B− for safety

Its violent severity index came to 60, below both British Columbia’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86). Property crime runs at 21.8 per 1,000 people a year. Violence accounts for 10.9 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.

More of Lake Country’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in British Columbia’s towns or Canadian towns: 6.2%

16% are under 15, higher than British Columbia’s towns (14%) and near Canadian towns (16%). People 65 and over make up 19% of the town.

Around Lake Country, 52% of adults call their health very good or excellent

Measured from where people live, the nearest hospital is 20 km away, above British Columbia’s towns (4.4 km) and Canadian towns (3.7 km) alike. At 12%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 8.9% for British Columbia. Women in the region live to 84.1 and men to 78.2, 81.0 years taken together (2022/2024). For health survey and life expectancy, the only official count covers all of the Okanagan Health Service Delivery Area, Lake Country included.