The City of Vernon is receiving $3 million through the Strategic Priorities Fund to deliver active transportation and safety improvements along Kalamalka Lake Road. The funding is provided under the federally funded Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) Community stream, which supports infrastructure projects that are beyond the financial capacity of a single local government.
“This investment will help make Vernon a safer, more connected and accessible community,” said Mayor Victor Cumming. “These improvements will enhance active transportation connections, renew critical infrastructure, and provide residents with safer, more convenient options to walk, cycle and travel throughout the city. I want to thank the federal and provincial governments, UBCM, and our funding partners for their support. Through strong partnerships, we can continue building infrastructure that enhances quality of life and supports our community's future growth.”
The Kalamalka Lake Road project will strengthen active transportation connections between East Hill and the Okanagan Rail Trail, improve access to local businesses at the Shops at Polson, and enhance mobility for area residents. Planned improvements include upgrades to road geometry, crossings, and multi-use path connectivity to improve transportation safety for all users. Specific details about the project, including the construction schedule, will be shared later this fall.
Today, the federal and provincial governments, along with the Union of BC Municipalities, announced a federal investment of more than $152 million to support 54 community infrastructure and capacity-building projects. The City of Vernon’s project is one of the 54 projects receiving funding through this announcement. See the full list of projects.
The BCSF Community stream is a transfer-based program that provides $2.5 billion per year in funding to communities across Canada. The Province of British Columbia receives over $326 million annually from this stream, which is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities and distributed to local governments through the Community Works Fund, Strategic Priorities Fund, and Metro Vancouver Regional Fund.
Quick facts
- British Columbia’s 2026-27 allocation under the Build Communities Strong Community stream is over $326 million.
- The total federal contribution towards the 54 projects is $152,313,226.
- The 29 capital projects are receiving a total of $145,945,502.
- The 25 capacity building projects are receiving a total of $6,367,764.
- The funding provided for these projects comes through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ application-based Strategic Priorities Fund.
- The Build Communities Strong Fund Community stream provides predictable, long-term and stable funding to local governments for investment in infrastructure and capacity-building projects. This program is funded by the Government of Canada and administered in British Columbia by the Union of BC Municipalities.