Kelowna ranked second best small city in Canada

Photo: Brayden Ursel

Kelowna has been ranked the second best small city in all of Canada thanks to its growing economy and downtown.

Resonance Consultancy, an advisory group in real estate, tourism and economic development, ranked Canada’s best small cities using a combination of six categories: place, product, programming, people, prosperity and promotion.

"A pursuit of the holy trinity of opportunity, lifestyle and (relative) post-pandemic affordability has Kelowna booming," the report reads.

Kelowna received high praise for their downtown shopping options and high rate of self employment, which both ranked second best for small cities across the country.

The Okanagan city ranked in the top three for its theatre options in the Cultural District, and ranked fourth among small cities for nightlife, which Resonance believes will only improve in the coming years due to visitors getting the chance to experience the 10 local breweries, five cideries and five distilleries.

Resonance says Kelowna’s restaurants, which ranked sixth in Canada for small cities, has taken the pandemic slowdown as an opportunity to assess its culinary needs and plan for the long term.

The report says the endless options of places to eat in the city almost matches its outdoor pursuits with winery restaurants like Old Vines being joined by new concepts like King Taps restaurant on Kelowna’s waterfront.

The city's growing downtown was also noticed.

"Proposals for high-density towers continue to pour into city planning offices as new cranes rise weekly on approved projects," the report said.

Victoria, B.C. was named the top small city in Canada, while Kamloops came in at 18th.

You can read the Resonance Consultancy breakdown here.