Connecting Community

If you live in the North Okanagan, you don’t need a report to tell you that our community is changing. But data can help us pause and ask what’s shifting, and where we’re seeing resilience, progress, or warning signs. Our 2025 Vital Signs Update is a brief snapshot of the trends shaping quality of life right now—from housing and health care to safety, environment, and belonging.

2026 Smart & Caring Community Grants program will be open from March 1 to March 31, 2026. With approximately $300,000 expected to be available in funding, the Community Foundation is eager to support initiatives that create meaningful change in the North Okanagan region.

Please join us in welcoming Amy Timleck to Community Foundation North Okanagan as our new Donor Relations & Grants Coordinator!

A holiday gathering hosted by the Vernon Chamber of Commerce sparked a ripple effect of generosity, raising $1,000 in cash and food donations for the Salvation Army Vernon Food Bank. Inspired by the moment, Community Foundation North Okanagan matched the funds — and with the help of local donors, turned that match into $5,000 more in support for families in need.

On November 25, Community Foundation North Okanagan marked 50 years of connecting generosity with community need. Nearly 200 people joined us to reflect on our shared history, celebrate the partners and volunteers who made it possible, and look ahead to the next chapter of community impact.

Four Southern Interior community foundations—including the Community Foundation North Okanagan—have united to launch the Okanagan Wildfire Coexistence Fund with a collective gift of $65,000. The fund will support researchers at UBC Okanagan in developing a province-wide network of wildfire cameras and weather sensors to strengthen early detection and response. Together, these tools will help communities adapt to the growing risks of wildfires and build long-term resilience.