Among the many vacation destinations a visitor can consider in British Columbia, there is one travel constant that never fails to memorably reward visitors. It's a place where, regardless of season, world-class amenities are always available to enjoy. It's a place where the climate is mild and sunshine is something to be expected. It's a spot blessed with spectacular mountain scenery, where nature cradles pristine lakes and trims them with warm, sandy beaches and blossom dusted hillsides. It's a haven for recreation all year round - enjoy golfing, boating, windsurfing, swimming, fishing, hiking, and camping. It's Kelowna B.C.! It's often referred to as the Hawaii of Canada.

Kelowna is located in the beautiful Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. This is a major fruit-growing region and has lots of vineyards producing world-class wines. The settled area lies in the valley along the shores of Lake Okanagan, which is about 120 miles (nearly 200 km) long and between 3 to 6 miles (5 to 10 km) wide.

Kelowna has a metropolitan population of about 100,000. It offers a variety of recreational activities, has many fine restaurants and lots of shopping. There are unending miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, trail riding and family walks. There are about eighteen golf courses within a short drive, and most will be open until the end of October. There are centers for family outings, mini-golf and kids' attractions. For Internet users, a local web site (http://www.castanet.net) provides current news, weather and local happenings. The climate in autumn is usually still fairly warm with crisp nights. Rain is not normally a problem as the area is arid. It is a good idea to bring clothing that is suitable for weather in the 50s and 60s F (13 to 18 C).

Motel prices are reasonable, with a selection to meet all budgets. There is a provincial sales tax of 7.5% (or 8% on hotels) as well as GST, which is 7%. Visitors from outside of Canada can apply for a GST rebate. The Canadian dollar hovers around 65 cents US.

An international airport, just north of town serves the area with direct flights from Seattle.

Services during the feast are held at the Kelowna Community Theatre, 1375 Water Street. The first service will be held in the evening on Friday, October 10 and will start at 7:30 PM. The following day's service will be at 2:00 PM.

Rainer Salomaa