Penticton

Infobox City
official_name = Penticton
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Canada
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = British Columbia
subdivision_type2 = Regional District
subdivision_name2 = Okanagan-Similkameen
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jake Kimberley
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established_title3 = Incorporated
established_date3 = 1908
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 42.02
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population_as_of = 2006
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population_total = 31,909
population_density_km2 = 759.5
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timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
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latd=49 |latm=29 |lats=28 |latNS=N
longd=119 |longm=35 |longs=19 |longEW=W
elevation_m = 385
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postal_code = V2A
area_code = 250
website =
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Penticton is a city in the Okanagan Valley of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada between Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake. Its 2006 population was 31,909 (41,574 in the greater area). The name Penticton is derived from a word in the Okanagan language, and it is roughly translated as "a place to stay forever" . It is also the sister city of Ikeda, Hokkaido, Japan.

Economy

Penticton's primary economic strengths are tourism, wine production and fruit orchards.

Events

Penticton hosts many events annually, among them the Canadian Ironman Triathlon, the Okanagan Wine Festival, the Penticton Peach Festival, the Pentastic Hot Jazz Festival, and the "Elvis Festival" which was featured in the Summer 2006 issue of "British Columbia Magazine".

Recreation

Penticton is home to recreational opportunities such as skiing at the Apex Mountain Resort ski area, boating and fishing on Skaha Lake and Okanagan Lake, golfing on one of the area's many courses, hiking or biking the Kettle Valley Railway Trail, and sport climbing at Skaha Bluffs. Penticton is home to the BCHL hockey team Penticton Vees who play throughout the winter months, as well as the PCSL soccer team Penticton Pinnacles, who play from May until July.

In September 2006, residents voted 80.3% in favour of the construction of the South Okanagan Event Centre. The $73 million arena, sports complex and convention centre could possibly serve as a summer or early fall training facility for the Vancouver Canucks as well as the home of the BCHL's Penticton Vees, so named in honour of the senior hockey team that in 1955 won the Ice Hockey World Championships. It will likely boost the city's convention market and become a popular stop on concert tours and for other special events.

Penticton is the hub of wine tourism in the Okanagan Valley with access to 88 wineries within an hour's drive. Nearby Naramata Bench will have 23 wineries by the end of 2007.

The Kettle Valley Railroad(KVR) Trail Network—with trail heads leading to more than 160 km of flat, railbed trails for hiking and biking adventures—can be accessed from Penticton. This trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail.

Education

It is the seat of the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District and School District 67 Okanagan Skaha. There are two secondary schools, Penticton Secondary School and Princess Margaret Secondary School, as well as many elementary and middle schools. Penticton Christian School, a private school, offers kindergarten through Grade 12. [http://www.pentictonchristianschool.ca/]

Climate

Penticton has a temperate, semi-arid climate and averages slightly more than 300 mm (12") of precipitation annually. Penticton has very warm summers (daytime temperatures above 30 °C are commonplace, but humidity is low and nights are cool). Winters are brief with mean daily temperatures averaging just below freezing for about 8 weeks out of the year. The average daily maximum remains above zero the entire year. Penticton is sheltered from cold Arctic air in winter by the surrounding mountain ranges, making blizzards and freezing rainstorms very rare. In addition, the frost-free season averages more than 140 days a year.

Transportation

Penticton Regional Airport (YYF) was constructed during World War II to serve as an emergency landing strip, and was later lengthened to 1829 meters to accommodate Boeing 737 aircraft.

Air Canada Jazz provides air service to Vancouver, British Columbia, while Pacific Coastal Airlines provides air service to Vancouver and Calgary, Alberta.

*Penticton was the location of the headquarters of the Kettle Valley Railway.

Notable people from Penticton

*George Bowering, poet, first ever Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate
*Brett Hull, NHL hockey player, graduate of Penticton High School
*Brendan Morrison, NHL hockey player, graduate of Penticton High School
*Paul Kariya, hockey player
*Duncan Keith, hockey player
*Spencer Krug, musician from the band Wolf Parade
*Andy Moog, hockey player
*Mike Reno, musician from the band Loverboy
*Mark Allan Robinson, political activist
*Alexis Smith, actress
*Justin Pogge, hockey player
*Bob Nicholson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hockey Canada

Media

Radio stations

*CJMG 97.1 Sun FM
*CKOR 800 AM
*CBTP 93.7 FM
*CJMG 97.1 FM
*CIGV 100.7 FM

ee also

*List of mayors of Penticton, British Columbia
*Penticton Indian Band

External links

* [http://www.tourismpenticton.com Tourism Penticton]
* [http://www.penticton.ca The City Of Penticton]
*wikitravel|Penticton
* [http://sd67.bc.ca/ School District 67 - Okanagan Skaha]
* [http://www.bestoftheokanagan.com Penticton visitor information provided by the Penticton Hospitality Assn.]
* [http://www.rdos.bc.ca/ Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen - Rural Government]