Education and Health

• Child Care

  Please visit our community child care resources page for more information. 

• Public Schools

  Vernon Public Schools invites parents of students to examine the choices offered in School District No. 22.  In the area, there are 5 comprehensive secondary schools and 14 elementary schools that can meet your child’s needs.  All schools offer strong academic, Fine Arts and Applied skills programs that will allow your child to develop to his/her potential.

  Use Schools Locator link to find out what school is located in your catchment area. This would be the school you or your child would typically attend. Or you can view catchment maps. Please note: this information is provided as a tool to assist in determining attendance areas. It is recommended that the school catchment maps and school locator be used together to confirm a school boundary.

  • 14 Elementary Schools from K-7 including one unitrack French Immersion School for grade 1-7.
  • 5 Secondary Schools from 8 - 12, with one French Immersion School.
  • Alternative Education Program with sites in Vernon, Lumby, and Westside
  • International Programs
  • Aboriginal Education Programs
• Okanagan College

  Okanagan College is the second largest trade training intuition in British Columbia. The College offers a wide range of academic, vocational, trades, apprenticeship and continuing education programs and courses. The Vernon Campus of Okanagan College has a wide variety of education and training programs that offer:

  • Small class size - you will never be a number!
  • Interactive connections with instructors and professors
  • Lower tuition rates than universities
  • Free tutoring
  • Art & Science courses transferable to universities 

  Whether you want to upgrade your skills, train in trades or professional certificates, take first and second year university transfer courses or pursue a career in business or health, they will help you get on track for a new career.

  Okanagan College offers a selection of programs and services at its Vernon Campus. The programs include university transfer, career and technical programs, academic upgrading, trades training, and non-credit community education programs.  

• UBC - Okanagan

  The University of British Columbia – Okanagan (UBC-O) is located a short 30 minutes to the south in nearby Kelowna. The campus, which opened in 2005, now has over 10,000 students with approximately 17% being international. UBC-O offers a variety of post secondary educational opportunities including more than 50 bachelor programs from Medicine (MD) to Engineering (BASc) to Fine Arts (BFA).

  Located 30 minutes south of Vernon, The University of British Columbia - Okanagan UBC-O is one of only two Canadian institutions consistently ranked among the world’s 40 best universities. UBC-O offers a variety of programs including:

  • Arts (BA)
  • Education (BEd)
  • Engineering (BASc)
  • Fine Ars (BFA)
  • Human Kinetics (BHK)
  • Management (BMgt)
  • Media Studies (BMS)
  • Medicine (MD)
  • Nursing (BSN)
  • Sciences (BSc)

Health

• Health Care

  Comprehensive health care services are provided in Vernon by Interior Health Authority. Our newly-expanded hospital (Vernon Jubilee Hospital) is one of the core facilities offering acute and emergency care, ambulatory care, medicine and surgery, psychiatry, maternity and pediatrics.

  Interior Health also provides several other health services within the community, including mental health and addictions services, public health nursing, Aboriginal health, home and community care programs, residential and assisted living facilities as well as laboratory and diagnostic services.

   Interior Health facilities in Vernon is enhanced by private walk-in clinics, doctors offices, dentists, optometrists, and other health professionals who can be found through any online directory services.  To find a doctor who is taking new patients, search through the College of Physicians website.

  If you are moving to BC from another province or country, you will want to learn more about BC's publicly-funded health care system that ensures all eligible BC residents have access to medically necessary health care services through the Medical Services Plan and to eligible prescription medications, medical supplies, and pharmacy services through the PharmaCare program.

  To apply for a Medical Service Plan card, visit the Service BC centre in downtown Vernon. The Service BC centre offers many services in addition to the medical services plan, including driver's licenses and child care subsidy forms.

• Hospitals, Walk-in Clinics and Doctors

  The Vernon Jubilee Hospital is located at 2101 – 32 Street, on highway 97 on the south end of the city.  The Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH) is responsible for providing core medical and surgical specialty services to patients throughout its service area. Hospital services include core physician specialties, 24 hour emergency and trauma services, acute and obstetrical care. 

  The Vernon Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC), which is located at 3105 28 Avenue, is available for concerns such as (but not limited to) minor injuries, sprains & strains, infections, less serious child illness & injury, high fever and cuts wounds or skin condition. It is recommended to phone (250-541-1097) and talk to one of their registered nurses prior to proceeding to the UPCC. 

  To find a doctor who is taking new patients, visit the BC College Physicians and Surgeons' website