Peachland is a district municipality in the Okanagan Valley on the west side of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada.[3] It was founded in 1899[4] by John Moore Robinson,[5] although the region had long been home to the Okanagan people. Peachland is approximately half-an-hour's drive south of the city of Kelowna and about a 20-minute drive north of Summerland. The Okanagan Valley is very narrow in the area and there are few terraces that mark former lake levels and the former lake bottom. As a result, the city is largely located on a steep sidehill. Like many other areas in the Okanagan, Peachland is rapidly growing, with new residents coming from all across Canada. Across the lake from Peachland is Rattlesnake Island, home of the legendary Ogopogo. Peachland is approximately 370 km from Vancouver, British Columbia, on the British Columbia south coast.[6]
Peachland | |
|---|---|
District municipality | |
| The Corporation of the District of Peachland[1] | |
 | |
  Peachland Location of Peachland in British Columbia | |
| Coordinates: 49°46′26″N 119°44′11″W / 49.77389°N 119.73639°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Regional district | Central Okanagan |
| Incorporated | 1909 |
| Government | |
| • Type | District Council |
| • Governing body | Peachland Council |
| • Mayor | Patrick Van Minsel |
| • School Trustee | Moyra Baxter |
| • MP | Dan Albas |
| Area | |
| • Land | 16.1 km2 (6.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 360 m (1,180 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 5,789 |
| • Density | 360/km2 (900/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| Highways | 97 |
| Waterways | Okanagan Lake |
| Website | www |
History
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Peachland was founded on the site of a tiny community called Camp Hewett.[7]
Demographics
editIn the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Peachland had a population of 5,789 living in 2,689 of its 2,936 total private dwellings, a change of 6.7% from its 2016 population of 5,428. With a land area of 16.1 km2 (6.2 sq mi), it had a population density of 359.6/km2 (931.3/sq mi) in 2021.[8]
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| Sources: Statistics Canada[9] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ethnicity
edit| Panethnic group |
2021[10] | 2016[11] | 2011[12] | 2006[13] | 2001[14] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |||||
| European[a] | 5,265 | 91.33% | 4,970 | 91.7% | 4,865 | 94.47% | 4,650 | 95.19% | 4,515 | 96.99% | ||||
| Indigenous | 280 | 4.86% | 310 | 5.72% | 180 | 3.5% | 135 | 2.76% | 30 | 0.64% | ||||
| East Asian[b] | 85 | 1.47% | 50 | 0.92% | 20 | 0.39% | 75 | 1.54% | 70 | 1.5% | ||||
| Southeast Asian[c] | 35 | 0.61% | 35 | 0.65% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 20 | 0.43% | ||||
| African | 30 | 0.52% | 10 | 0.18% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | ||||
| South Asian | 25 | 0.43% | 45 | 0.83% | 35 | 0.68% | 10 | 0.2% | 15 | 0.32% | ||||
| Latin American | 10 | 0.17% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0.21% | ||||
| Middle Eastern[d] | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0.18% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0.21% | ||||
| Other/Multiracial[e] | 30 | 0.52% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0.2% | 10 | 0.21% | ||||
| Total responses | 5,765 | 99.59% | 5,420 | 99.85% | 5,150 | 99.04% | 4,885 | 100.04% | 4,655 | 100.02% | ||||
| Total population | 5,789 | 100% | 5,428 | 100% | 5,200 | 100% | 4,883 | 100% | 4,654 | 100% | ||||
| Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses | ||||||||||||||
Religion
editAccording to the 2021 census, religious groups in Peachland included:[10]
- Irreligion (3,165 persons or 54.9%)
- Christianity (2,465 persons or 42.8%)
- Judaism (30 persons or 0.5%)
- Buddhism (15 persons or 0.3%)
- Indigenous Spirituality (15 persons or 0.3%)
- Sikhism (10 persons or 0.2%)
- Other (60 persons or 1.0%)
Government
editFederally, Peachland is, since 2015, within the electoral district of Central Okanagan — Similkameen — Nicola. The current MP is Conservative Dan Albas, elected in the previous constituency of Okanagan—Coquihalla during the 2011 Canadian federal election, following former MP Stockwell Day's retirement from public life. The local MLA for the area is Dan Ashton. The municipal government of Peachland consists of the mayor and six at-large councillors, elected to three-year terms.
One former councillor, Jean Fraser, was elected in 1995 and served several consecutive terms. In her last election she received the highest number of votes in the municipality's history. Fraser retired from council on November 13, 2011, as she felt the work she could do on council was complete. The current mayor is Patrick Van Minsel who defeated Cindy Fortin by a landslide vote in the 2022 municipal election.[15]
Climate
editThe climate of Peachland is very similar to that of neighboring Kelowna, but with a greater moderating influence from Okanagan Lake. This is partly due to its proximity to the water, as well as the greater width of the lake in this area (up to 5 kilometres). As most of the city is built into a mountainside, it is typically shielded from cold northerly winds and also has an overall southern exposure. This helps warm the area slightly during spring, summer, and fall, but particularly in winter. Proximity to the lake results in more moderation relative to Okanagan cities that are farther away from it. Average January high temperatures in Peachland are nearly 1.5 degrees warmer than in Kelowna, while the reverse is true in July.[16][failed verification]
The city's southern orientation provides protection from winds from the north while also encouraging those from the south, which blow across the lake directly toward the city and can cause mild lake-effect snow. The steep mountainside on which Peachland is built can enhance this effect somewhat via the action of orographic lift.[17][failed verification] Ordinarily, precipitation in the Okanagan generally decreases from north to south, with the city of Vernon receiving approximately 4 more inches of rain and snow per year than the city of Penticton and 2 more inches than Kelowna.
| Climate data for Peachland | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.0 (60.8) |
15.0 (59.0) |
20.0 (68.0) |
25.5 (77.9) |
33.5 (92.3) |
35.0 (95.0) |
37.5 (99.5) |
37.8 (100.0) |
35.0 (95.0) |
24.0 (75.2) |
16.0 (60.8) |
12.0 (53.6) |
37.8 (100.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 1.9 (35.4) |
4.3 (39.7) |
9.7 (49.5) |
14.9 (58.8) |
19.8 (67.6) |
23.3 (73.9) |
27.2 (81.0) |
26.4 (79.5) |
20.9 (69.6) |
13.5 (56.3) |
6.2 (43.2) |
1.6 (34.9) |
14.1 (57.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.2 (31.6) |
1.4 (34.5) |
5.4 (41.7) |
9.7 (49.5) |
14.3 (57.7) |
18.0 (64.4) |
21.4 (70.5) |
20.8 (69.4) |
15.8 (60.4) |
9.6 (49.3) |
3.7 (38.7) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
10.0 (49.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.4 (27.7) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
1.1 (34.0) |
4.5 (40.1) |
8.7 (47.7) |
12.6 (54.7) |
15.6 (60.1) |
15.3 (59.5) |
10.6 (51.1) |
5.6 (42.1) |
1.1 (34.0) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
5.7 (42.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −23 (−9) |
−21 (−6) |
−16.1 (3.0) |
−3 (27) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
4.0 (39.2) |
7.0 (44.6) |
6.0 (42.8) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−14 (7) |
−23.5 (−10.3) |
−25 (−13) |
−25 (−13) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 43.3 (1.70) |
24.3 (0.96) |
23.6 (0.93) |
24.6 (0.97) |
34.8 (1.37) |
41.9 (1.65) |
31.8 (1.25) |
26.1 (1.03) |
23.5 (0.93) |
28.6 (1.13) |
45.2 (1.78) |
45.8 (1.80) |
393.4 (15.49) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 19.6 (0.77) |
14.2 (0.56) |
18.6 (0.73) |
24.4 (0.96) |
34.8 (1.37) |
41.9 (1.65) |
31.8 (1.25) |
26.1 (1.03) |
23.5 (0.93) |
28.4 (1.12) |
31.8 (1.25) |
14.5 (0.57) |
309.5 (12.19) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 23.8 (9.4) |
10.1 (4.0) |
5.0 (2.0) |
0.1 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.1) |
13.3 (5.2) |
31.3 (12.3) |
83.9 (33.0) |
| Source: Environment Canada [18] | |||||||||||||
Events and industries
editPeachland is home to several events and industries. Hainle Vineyards, the first ice wine maker in North America,[19] operates its organic winery in Peachland. Peachland is the location of the annual Peachland World of Wheels Car Show and the home of the legendary lake monster Ogopogo. Peachland is home to Zipzone Adventure Park, one of the highest zip lines in Canada and the world.
Notable people
editSee also
editNotes
edit- ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
- ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
References
edit- ^ "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- ^ Peachland, BC at StatCan.ca
- ^ "Peachland". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ Peachland.ca Archived 2007-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Peachland at BritishColumbia.com
- ^ Distance from Vancouver to Peachland
- ^ Peachland on WineBC.com
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ "Historical Municipal Census Data: 1921–2011". BC Stats. Archived from the original on December 31, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ The District of Peachland 2014 Municipal Election Official Results
- ^ "About Peachland". www.peachland.ca. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
- ^ "About Peachland". www.peachland.ca. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
- ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 Station Data". Environment Canada. 25 September 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- ^ Hainle Vineyards History Archived July 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
External links
edit
- Official website
Peachland travel guide from Wikivoyage
