After numerous delays and $22.8 million West Kelowna’s new city hall is officially open

The new city hall and library in West Kelowna had several setbacks and went millions of dollars over the projected cost, but it officially opened today. West Kelowna city council, Okanagan Regional Library board members, Westbank First Nations representatives, and others officially celebrated the opening of the city hall and library building with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The city hall was initially expected to cost $14.8 million back in 2016, but the building was rejected twice by voters through an alternative approval process and a referendum. READ MORE:Why we really need you to sign up to our newsletter https://infotel.ca/opinion/jonesie/jonesie-how-canadian-news-became-victims-in-its-own-story/it105120 Following the voter rejection, the city started saving $700,000 per year to build up a fund so it could move forward with the project without voter approval. The city announced it would build the combination city hall and library back in 2020 with an opening date expected for December 2022. Today’s grand opening is 18 months behind schedule and the building had a final cost of roughly $22.8 million. The city teamed up with the library to design the building and it includes offices for the local MP and MLA, as well as pilot projects from ICBC and Service BC on the second floor. “For the past 17 years, the City has been conducting administrative services out of temporary facilities so to celebrate this civic centre building that our community can be proud of is truly outstanding,” West Kelowna mayor Gord Milsom said in the release. “We couldn’t be more grateful to commemorate this moment together with the library, with Westbank First Nation leaders, with our MP and MLA, and with ICBC and Service BC.” READ MORE: Another delay in opening of West Kelowna city hall https://infotel.ca/newsitem/another-delay-in-opening-of-west-kelowna-city-hall/it103938 The chief executive officer for the Okanagan Regional Library Danielle Hubbard said this building will be a centre for people to learn and engage with civic issues. "We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of the West Kelowna Library in conjunction with the opening of the new West Kelowna City Hall,” Hubbard said in the release. “This partnership represents a significant milestone for our community, providing a central hub for learning, culture, and civic engagement. We look forward to welcoming residents to these new facilities and continuing our mission to foster a love of reading and lifelong learning." To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas mailto:jtomas@infonews.ca  or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .