Kelowna and London, Ontario Begin Cultural Partnership
2:30 pm Monday, July 20, 2026
Kelowna is teaming up with London, Ontario, creating a bond between the two cities recognized by UNESCO.
The largest city in the Okanagan was named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in October 2025.
London received its designation as a UNESCO City of Music in 2021.
Now, both cities are engaging in a cultural exchange to highlight each other’s unique talents.
A key part of this exchange includes sending local country music artist Jonathan Williams to London for 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, a not-for-profit that supports musicians.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with London to provide funding to help cover Jonathan’s travel expenses 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.”
At the Home Country Music and Art Festival, there will be promotional materials featuring information about Kelowna’s UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy designation.
“The exchange of artists, ideas and experiences is exactly what the UNESCO network was designed to encourage. We hope this marks the start of a long-term relationship between our two cities and serves as a model for future collaborations among Canada’s Creative Cities,” said Cory Crossman, director of the London Music Office and London City of Music focal point for UNESCO.
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