A look at what the City of Kelowna accomplished in 2015

KELOWNA – The city claims its goal is building the best mid-sized city in North America and progress toward that goal is outlined in the 2015 Year in Review, released by the city this week.

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment the city made this year actually involved other communities. This past year the abandoned CN Rail corridor was purchased by a group of communities, lead by Kelowna, with plans to turn the railway corridor into a multi-use transportation corridor. The $48-million purchase will need another two years and at least $10 million before it opens to the public.

Acquisition of a waterfront property near Lakeshore is considered another highlight of the year. Council annouced the purchase of a waterfront property near Lexington Road for $12 million. It is to be combined with another city property to create a new waterfront park similar in size to Rotary Beach Park.

The city connected some tech-sector customers to its fibre optic network — RackForce, Bardel Intertainment and UBC Okanagan-Okanagan Regional Library Kelowna branch. The agreements with the companies helps realize a goal to offset costs of the fibre optic network by utilizing unused capacity.

Kelowna Airport was the focus of much effort in 2015. The completion of its apron expansion program and the construction of a new de-icing facility both taking place this past year. The airport has eight airlines operating from the facility, averaging 20,000 available seats per week.

Check out more year in review items on the city website.

To contact a reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.