• On May 11, Mayor Dyas officially proclaimed 2026 as the Year of Sport in Kelowna, as the city prepares to welcome multiple major sporting events in the coming months, including the 2026 Memorial Cup that is now underway. 
• Meet Me on Bernard 2026 kicked off on May 15 and will run until September 7, 2026. To accommodate the annual event, the 200 and 300 blocks of Bernard Avenue will be closed to motorists. 

Short-Term Rentals

• In April, the Government of BC announced that it had approved the City of Kelowna's request to opt out of the principal residence requirement for short-term rentals and to accelerate the effective date. As such, a special one-time regulation brings Kelowna's opt-out status into effect on June 1, 2026. 
• The City of Kelowna has updated the short-term rentals page on its website to outline the new rules and provide residents with information on the next steps.  

Transportation

• The City's popular free Bike Valet program is now in operation, with service available for locals and visitors during select hours until September 4.
• Construction at the Mission Recreation Transit Exchange will see temporary changes to parking availability and pedestrian access for visitors to the H20 and Capital News Centre.
• Phase two of the Stewart Road West Road Improvement project began in mid-May, meaning several road closures in the area will remain in place until at least August 2026.

^{City Park pathway ribbon cutting. Pictured (L-R): Councillor Luke Stack; Councillor Maxine DeHart; Mayor Tom Dyas; Councillor Loyal Wooldridge; Councillor Gord Lovegrove}

Parks & Outdoor Spaces

• The City Park pathway reopened on May 15, following improvements to the pathway and the waterfront focused on safety, accessibility, and sustainability. 
• Improvements continue at Knox Mountain Park, with Knox Mountain Drive remaining closed to vehicles until June to allow for construction on the Royal View Transmission Main to be completed. Several new trails have opened, and improvements to existing trails are underway throughout the park. 
• The Cook Road boat launch opened in mid-May, following spring dredging work; additional upgrades to the boat launch are set to begin in winter 2026.
• The City's work on DeHart Community Park was recently recognized with a Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) Community Excellence Award for Environmental Sustainability.
• Several new water features and upgrades have been added to Ben Lee Park, providing residents and visitors with more fun this summer. 

Arts & Culture

• Applications are now open for a new community art opportunity at the Rutland Transit Exchange. Interested artists can apply online until June 8.

Visit the City of Kelowna's website for more news and to sign up for updates.