Photo: Colton Davies

Is it a hangover from the vote nine years ago that selected West Kelowna over Westbank? Or is it someone with a lot of time on their hands and a sense of humour?

Whatever the reason, West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater says he doesn't know why "Free Westbank" graffiti has started popping up around the city.

"All I know is it's graffiti, and it will have to be cleaned up. And that will come out of the taxpayers' pocket," said Findlater, who acknowledged no one from the community has contacted him with any theories or concern.

"The only people who seem to be interested at all are in the media."

The spray-painted signs started popping up about a month ago, most of them in the downtown Westbank commercial district.

Highway signs have also had the words West Kelowna blanked out.

Whether it's the city, or in many cases, the province, Findlater says someone will eventually have to go out and clean up the graffiti.

West Kelowna does not have a graffiti eradication program like some communities. It's just handled by staff as a regular part of maintenance, the same as cutting the grass, he says.

The community was split in 2008 when a two-part referendum was held to determine if residents of the year-old municipality wanted a name change from Westside, and if so, which of four names it would prefer.

West Kelowna won out 3,841 to 3,675 over Westbank. Two other options received little support.

Proponents of Westbank argued for months that a second referendum with just the two names be included, that WFN residents were denied a chance to vote, and that Westbank has been Canada Post's demarkation for the region for decades.

Much of that sentiment is still prevelant.