How it happens4:37Kelowna, BC, is the first Canadian city recognized by UNESCO for its cuisine
The United Nations has officially recognized Kelowna, BC as a great place to eat and drink.
The quaint lakeside town in the Okanagan Valley has designated Creative City of Gastronomy by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
It is the first city in Canada to earn that nickname.
“We have a rich agricultural base, lots of orchards, vineyards, farms, wineries, craft beverages… you know, the four seasons,” said Robert Louie, chief of the Westbank First Nation, which borders Kelowna. How it happens presenter Nil Kuddlesal.
“It’s just a beautiful place to live, so why not enjoy some of the best food and flavors that will be recognized around the world?”
Traditional indigenous foods.
Westbank First Nation collaborated with the City of Kelowna, Okanagan College and several food industry partners to apply for the UNESCO title.
While Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley are known for their lush wineries, orchards, and fine restaurants, Louie also has a significant traditional component to the city’s culinary landscape.
“I’m indigenous, so I prefer a lot of our foods, traditional foods,” she said. “And by that I mean wild animals, deer and elk, moose and berries.”
Kelowna, he says, is located within the traditional territory of the Syilx people, whose land stewardship is key to preserving food culture.
“We cannot contaminate the waters and we cannot contaminate the land,” he stated.
“When you have good food and good drinks produced on the land, you have to have a healthy environment, that everyone takes special care of and cares for.”
he points to the return of sockeye salmon to Okanagan Lake and its tributaries as an example.
For decades, a dam at the mouth of the lake blocked their passage, but a new fishway built by the Syilx Okanagan Nation is now allowing salmon to complete their historic migration.
“This is something we used to survive on: fish, salmon,” Louie said, noting that indigenous fisheries will now open again. “This is something that will really be considered a good and positive thing.”
In British Columbia’s interior, an initiative supported by the Okanagan Nation Alliance has brought sockeye salmon to Okanagan Lake for the first time in nearly a century. As Brady Strachan reports, a new generation of young people is helping to restore salmon spawning grounds while reconnecting with their culture.
Creative City of Gastronomy is a category of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), created in 2004 to “support cities that take advantage of culture and creativity as drivers of development.”
Kelowna joins four other Canadian cities in the network: Montreal, Creative City of Design since 2006; Quebec City, Creative City of Literature since 2017; Toronto, Creative City of Media Arts since 2017; and London, Ontario, Creative City of Music from 2021.
“This recognition confirms what Okanagan Valley residents have known for decades: Kelowna is a world-class center for agriculture, culinary arts and beverages.” Mayor Tom Dyas said in a written statement..
“These industries fuel our vibrant local scene, strengthen our economy and inspire others across the country.”
Stéphane Facon, owner and executive chef of Kelowna’s Bouchons Bistro, says the Okanagan Valley is a special place for food.
“We have a climate that allows us to have all the vegetables and fruits we could want,” he said in an interview translated from French. “This is the only region in Canada where we can have that. That allows cooks and chefs to use all local products.”
He says he hopes UNESCO recognition will mean more people come to enjoy cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients.
“We are not trying to get three Michelin stars. That is impossible. But we are consistent in the quality and service we provide to our customers,” Facon told Radio-Canada. “That’s why it’s always good to have international recognition, to be able to attract more clients.”
Louie tells the region needs as many tourists and new customers as it can get after several summers of devastating forest fires and a recent drought.
“We’ve had some unfortunate years and we need a boost,” he said.
“And the drive is really the beauty of what we have. We have Okanagan Lake. We have the mountains around us. We have a beautiful valley. It’s second to none. It’s a beautiful place to live. And I think the world needs to know that.”
