On Friday, June 26, the City of Kelowna Mayor and Council officially unveiled Kelowna’s Signature Sign in Stuart Park. Designed as a welcoming gathering place for locals and visitors, the sign strengthens Kelowna’s waterfront as a destination for connection, celebration, and shared experiences, while complementing its natural beauty.
“Kelowna’s Signature Sign is a meaningful addition to our waterfront that transforms an underused space in Stuart Park into an inviting, interactive landmark for residents and visitors,” said Mayor Tom Dyas. “Designed to reflect our city’s character, it will support downtown vibrancy, tourism, and everyday community connection, while helping increase foot traffic to nearby businesses and supporting local economic activity. I am grateful to the partners who helped bring this project to life, and I look forward to seeing it become a recognizable landmark in Kelowna.”
Pictured (left to right): Councillor Charlie Hodge, Councillor Mohini Singh, Councillor Luke Stack, Councillor Maxine DeHart, Mayor Tom Dyas, Councillor Rick Webber, Indigenous consultant Coralee Miller, and Councillor Gord Lovegrove.
The sign features illuminated life-sized letters, approximately 8-feet high by 68-feet long, which display the “Kelowna” wordmark. The letters are spaced far enough apart to invite public interaction, including a natural focal point and seating element in the “O” for photos. Interactive lighting is integrated into each letter and will change to match sunrise, sunset and current weather conditions.
The design acknowledges the importance of Indigenous representation and the cultural stories that contribute to the community’s identity. The design features rolling wave-forms echoing the Okanagan hills across the lake and, on the reverse side, backlit perforated panels displaying artwork curated by Indigenous consultant Coralee Miller. Their art features symbols of nature and represents our continued connection, relationship and accountability to the health and well-being of the water, the land, wildlife and each other.
“This project reflects Kelowna’s commitment to creating vibrant public places where people can gather, create memories and celebrate their connection to Kelowna,” said Derek Edstrom, Divisional Director of Partnerships and Investments. “We are excited for the community to discover the sign for themselves and hope it’ll be a source of community pride for years to come.”
The sign can be accessed via a new paved pathway from the Waterfront promenade and includes new plantings, plaza space to support the sign, and a camera podium. Earlier this year, the site was regraded and received new soil, sod, and an irrigation system to support the expected increased use and additional programming opportunities for the community.
Content and images sourced from the City of Kelowna press release.