Kelowna and London, Ontario Begin Cultural Partnership
4:30 pm Monday, July 20, 2026 Kelowna is teaming up with London, Ontario, creating a connection between these two UNESCO recognized cities. The largest city in the Okanagan received its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in October 2025. Meanwhile, London was named a UNESCO City of Music in 2021. Now, both cities are initiating a cultural exchange to highlight their unique strengths. A key part of this exchange involves sending local country music artist Jonathan Williams to London for performances at the Home Country Music and Art Festival on July 24 and 25. “Jonathan Williams’ selection is a proud moment for our community,” said Tascheleia Marangoni, executive director of Creative Okanagan, an organization that supports musicians. “We are thrilled to join with London to provide funding to help sponsor Jonathan’s travel and have him perform at Home Country. This opportunity not only showcases his incredible talent – it also elevates Kelowna and the Okanagan within Canada’s creative landscape and the global UNESCO Creative Cities Network.” During the Home Country Music and Art Festival, there will be promotional materials featuring information about Kelowna’s UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy status. “The exchange of artists, ideas and experiences is exactly what the UNESCO network was designed to encourage. We hope this is just the start of a long-lasting relationship between our two cities and a model for future collaborations across Canada’s Creative Cities,” said Cory Crossman, director of the London Music Office and London’s focal point for UNESCO City of Music.Source link
