Downtown Kelowna, B.C., had an brisk vibe on Friday.
The streets and waterfront promenade have been further busy as 1000’s of tourists descended on town from throughout Canada, some even from overseas.
“I’m from Switzerland, Bern, Switzerland,” stated Richard Stern.
Stern, like 1000’s of others, travelled to Kelowna for the 2025 Montana’s Brier, a 10-day Canadian curling championship occasion that’s waking up an in any other case sleepy time of 12 months.
“What’s essential about these occasions just like the Brier, it’s beginning off our season,” stated Lisanne Ballantyne, president and CEO of Tourism Kelowna. “It’s simply going to assist maintain the momentum going into spring and summer time for all of our tourism associated companies.”
The native tourism trade is anticipating an earlier-than-normal increase as many guests plan on staying the whole 10 days and spending cash within the Central Okanagan.
“I’m a client,” stated Maureen Kozar, visiting from Manitoba. “I can be checking all these little boutique retailers as I stroll across the streets, so that’s what I can be spending my cash on.”

In keeping with Tourism Kelowna, the financial impression is predicted to be important.

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“The estimated financial impression may very well be wherever from $12 million to $14 million of latest spending simply right here in our space alone,” Ballantyne stated. “It’s big and while you consider the ripple impact of that going out throughout the area.”
Eating places like Central Kitchen and Bar are already feeling the impression.
“A lot of telephone calls, reservations. We’re already seeing workforce members, Group BC was in final night time,” stated restaurant co-owner Jared Lee. “It’s huge. I imply, we’re coming off of final 12 months which appeared slower within the tourism trade.”
Native accommodations are additionally benefitting in an enormous approach.
In keeping with Tourism Kelowna, the occasion quantities to about 9,000 room nights over the 10-day interval.
“We have now undoubtedly seen a little bit of an uptick in our occupancy, ” stated Jason Guyitt, the final supervisor of the Eldorado Resort. “It’s bringing folks that possibly not usually come to the Okanagan at the moment of 12 months. It has truly introduced some folks right here. You possibly can really feel the vitality and the thrill.”
The Brier wraps up on March 9.

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