Kelowna council rezones farmland for new Sikh temple - revisit

Council voted 6-2 in June 2025 to rezone farmland at 2809 Benvoulin Rd. to support plans by the Gurdwara Guru Amardas Darbar Sikh Society for a new Gurdwara. Plans at the time showed a two-storey building of 25,133 sq.-ft. with 120 parking stalls. The building would be used for both regular worship services along with celebrations and special events such as weddings and festivals. In early 2023, city planners recommended council not move the rezoning application forward, saying the Benvoulin corridor was important to farming in Kelowna. Council voted 6-3 at the time to change the city’s official community plan so the property was brought within Kelowna’s permanent growth boundary. Councillors voting in favour of the final rezoning of the 2.5 acre property from agriculture to educational/institutional were Lovegrove, Mohini Singh, Maxine DeHart, Rick Webber, Charlie Hodge and Mayor Tom Dyas. Opposed were Stack and Ron Cannan.

Coun. Mohini Singh said the gurdwara will meet the spiritual needs of its growing congregation.