Community partners gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Glenmore Protective Services Campus (GPSC), a transformative $49 million investment in regional safety and resilience. Located along John Hindle Drive in Kelowna's northern gateway, the GPSC will be a shared site for Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) and the Kelowna Fire Department and will serve as a multi-agency hub for emergency response, training, and collaboration. 

Partners from the City of Kelowna, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Kelowna Fire Department, and Central Okanagan Search and Rescue gather to celebrate groundbreaking for the $49 million Glenmore Protective Services Campus. 

"This campus is a great addition for the people of Kelowna and the Central Okanagan, it means faster emergency response, stronger coordination, and greater peace of mind for families and communities," said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. "This is about building a safer, more resilient future for everyone who calls this place home. We're happy to support this project to help ensure our first responders have the tools and space they need to keep people safe."  

Community safety is a top City of Kelowna Council priority. In 2023, Council approved an ongoing one per cent Public Safety Levy to provide more stable and predictable funding for additional police, fire and bylaw resources. Fire Services continues to be one of the City's largest investment areas in the general operating budget. 

"The Glenmore Protective Services Campus is a significant investment in the safety and resilience of our community," said Mayor Tom Dyas. "What began as a plan to replace the Glenmore Fire Hall has evolved into a state-of-the-art campus that will strengthen emergency response, provide modern training facilities, and bring key agencies together to better protect Kelowna and the Central Okanagan." 

The new campus will see the aging Glenmore Fire Hall No. 5 replaced with a state-of-the-art facility which includes advanced alerting systems, integrated CAD and GIS platforms, and training props for live-fire and rescue scenarios. The site is strategically located near a growing residential area, the Glenmore landfill, University of British Columbia Okanagan, and the Kelowna International Airport.  

"This is more than just a fire hall - this purpose-built hub reflects a modern approach to fire emergency services which prioritizes not just operational excellence but the well-being of those who serve," said Larry Watkinson, Deputy Chief of the Kelowna Fire Department. "Equipping our crews with the tools and environment they need to perform at their best will significantly enhance their ability to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies - ensuring the safety of our residents and securing the long-term strength of our fire services."  

The campus will also include a base facility for Central Okanagan Search and Rescue - its first permanent home since forming in 1954 and becoming one of the province's busiest search and rescue teams. 

"COSAR couldn't have survived this long without the support of the community. We've spent more than 70 years working out of garages, barns, and borrowed halls," said COSAR President Amos Rossworm. "For the first time we'll have all our equipment in one secure location, giving us the space we need to focus on the 100 or more tasks we take on every year. Having a permanent home is a game changer." 

The GPSC is designed to meet modern safety and post-disaster standards, with features including: 

• A 25,000-square-foot fire station with four double-length apparatus bays, training rooms, dispatch and office space, and public meeting areas.  
• A 9,500-square-foot COSAR facility with five apparatus bays, a radio room, equipment storage, and support amenities. 

The Government of B.C. granted the Regional District of the Central Okanagan $4 million from its Growing Communities Fund, which RDCO has allocated to the COSAR portion of the campus - with an additional $6 million donation being received from the Barry Lapointe Foundation for the COSAR facility. The City of Kelowna is contributing $39 million towards the GPSC project. 

Construction is expected to be completed in 2027. To learn more about the Glenmore Protective Services Campus, visit kelowna.ca/glenmoreprotectiveservices.