City of Penticton

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Penticton, from the Interior Salish word snpintktn, is commonly translated as "a place to stay forever," or more accurately, "a place where people live year-round." For over 7,000 years, Penticton has been home to the Syilx First Peoples, who were instrumental in helping the first European fur traders travel through the Okanagan in the early 1800s.

A young Irish immigrant named Thomas Ellis took the meaning of snpintktn to heart and in 1865 became the first European to settle in Penticton. Becoming one of the province's most successful cattle ranchers, Ellis acquired territory that stretched from Naramata all the way south to the American border. When he retired in 1892, Ellis sold off a large portion of his property to developers who laid out a small townsite at the foot of Okanagan Lake. Penticton had been born.

Located in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada, collectively known as the Okanagan Valley, Penticton is easily accessible from major urban centres. By highway, the City is 5 hours from Seattle, WA or Vancouver, BC and 8 hours from Calgary, AB.

The City is surrounded by 2 fresh water lakes and gentle rolling mountains. Penticton has the most attractive climate of all Canadian cities, according to Environment Canada. Over 2100 hours of sunshine and only 15 inches of rain annually give this area a comfortable climate year round.