Meet Shelby and Greg Alexander, their toddler Sawyer and baby #2 on the way. These professional working parents share why they love raising their family in Penticton.
“It’s the quality of life you have here,” says Shelby. “We no longer have that 9-5 commuting grind we had in Vancouver. Now we have more time for family.”
Greg’s commute went from one hour in Vancouver to a five-minute drive – or he can walk to work if the weather is nice. Since moving to Penticton, he says he has more energy and time for his family.
Shelby is able to work remotely from home since switching careers from broadcast journalism to working as a communications-marketing specialist with British Columbia United Way.
New data shows more families and professionals are calling Penticton home, drawn by jobs, lifestyle and the area’s natural beauty. The latest data from the City of Penticton’s Welcome Home initiative shows 62.4 per cent of new residents are within working age (16-65), with the majority coming from the Lower Mainland.
Better work-life balance
“There’s more time for family. We can pack a picnic dinner on a work night and head to the beach or the park. There is a better work-life balance," says Shelby.
Penticton provides for a variety of career opportunities too, she added. It was Shelby who was offered a job in Penticton that prompted the then dating couple to make the move from Vancouver to Penticton. Greg quickly found a job as a financial planner with RBC in downtown Penticton.
The couple got married, worked and played hard, saving up money to buy their first home – a duplex. Then they had Sawyer and knew Penticton is where they wanted to raise their family.
According to the latest City data, more families are choosing Penticton as their home. Of those most recent arrivals to Penticton within the last two years, 23% were children under age 18.
Plenty of support for new moms
When Shelby was pregnant, she discovered all the resources available to her are right here in Penticton, including Willow Midwives, Interior Health’s Baby Talks, OneSky’s pregnancy support program and Beehive Yoga Studio, to name just a few.
“You would assume that a bigger city would have more resources, but I’ve found Penticton has so much for pre and post-natal care and support. As well, the mom community is so inclusive and welcoming.”
The largest challenge, she said, was finding childcare. Shelby recommends getting on waitlists even before you are pregnant. There are several centres within Penticton, including OneSky’s Edmonton Avenue and one opening at the community centre in 2025. In addition, two additional childcare centres are currently under construction.
Housing is more affordable
In 2024, the Alexanders were able to make a dream come true, purchasing their first single-family home in a beautiful neighbourhood near downtown.
“We realize what a privilege homeownership is,” says Shelby. For their friends in the Lower Mainland, most rent and owning a home is a distant dream. “We were able to buy a home in Penticton for well under $1 million. That just isn’t possible in the Lower Mainland.”
Now they have a yard and rec room for their kids to play. They are walking distance to KVR Elementary and Penticton Secondary. They see themselves living in this home for the next 20 years.
“This reminds us of our childhood homes we grew up in, where we had trampolines in the backyard and enjoyed our deck and our own bedrooms. To be able to realize that dream in our mid-30s is amazing. We worked really hard and saved for this but you do get more bang for your buck here.”
Penticton is family-focused
Being a city between two lakes, and having four seasons of fun, there are lots of ways to get outside and play as a family.
“We spend a lot of time at the beach,” says Shelby.
There are a lot of top quality parks and playgrounds in Penticton, but two stand out as Sawyer’s favourites: Lakawanna Park and Skaha Lake playground.
Lakawanna Park (across from Okanagan Lake) and Skaha Lake playground both feature a huge play space with varied play equipment, slides and tunnels as well as splash pads.
Family festivals and programs
The City of Penticton, along with Downtown Penticton Business Improvement Association, have done a great job at providing family-focused festivals and events, including the new Frost Fest Winter Carnival, which their family enjoyed.
“We try to take part in local events like HaHaHa Kidzfest and Family Day at the SOEC (South Okanagan Events Centre).”
Penticton also offers indoor activities geared towards parents and tots, from the YMCA Family Play Time to Tumble Bees at Penticton Community Centre, where they open the gym with toys and gymnastics equipment for toddlers. There’s also swim lessons and other drop in programs.
“Sawyer loves it and it’s a great way for us moms to connect.”
If you are new to town, she suggests tapping into those social media mom groups and/or volunteer.
“I’ve met some of my best friends through a mamas Facebook group and we would do mom and baby meetups. Creating a network and socializing is so important to fight isolation when you are a new mom.”
Shelby also volunteered with South Okanagan Mamas for Mamas, where she met more friends. They’ve lived in Penticton for more than seven years and both say it’s one of the friendliest cities in B.C., likely due to the laidback lifestyle creating better mental health overall.
The Alexanders will welcome their second baby this summer. Congrats! We're glad you chose Penticton to raise your family.
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