Could Kelowna be Canada's first City of Gastronomy?

Kelowna is making waves on the global stage as it competes to become Canada’s first UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) City of Gastronomy.

“For a global entity like UNESCO to ask Kelowna to submit an application is huge,” Tourism Kelowna CEO Lisanne Ballantyne told Kelowna10. “When this designation has been done in other cities, those cities have experienced an increase in tourism, an increase in economic development, an increase in post-secondary students coming, and an increase in businesses starting.”

The potential designation comes at a critical time for Kelowna, as the tourism industry continues to recover and evolve. Ballantyne sees this as a unique opportunity to position the city as a year-round destination.

“If you get this kind of a designation and we start attracting even more restaurants, more culinary experiences, and more elements tied to gastronomy, it’s going to spread out our tourism,” she explained. “More and more people will be coming here for four seasons, not just one season.”

The Canadian Commission for UNESCO can nominate up to two cities nationally to proceed to the international selection process. While Kelowna’s competition remains uncertain, the city’s inclusion in the running underscores the exceptional talent and quality within its culinary scene.

“Getting a City of Gastronomy designation speaks volumes for the talent we have here in the culinary world—for the types of businesses, restaurants, and post-secondary institutions that feed into that system,” Ballantyne said. “It tells the world that we are literally world-class and that this is a very special place to come.”

Kelowna’s application to the Creative Cities Network is due at the end of February. UNESCO is expected to announce its new designations later this year.