The territory now known as Lake Country lies within the ancestral, traditional, and unceded lands of the sqilxʷ/Syilx (Okanagan) Nation. Archaeological evidence from the region indicates continuous Syilx presence for over 6,000 years, with artifacts including stone tools and projectile points recovered from sites near the lake shores. The Syilx people fished, hunted, gathered camas and berries, and maintained seasonal villages throughout this landscape long before European contact. The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) remains an active presence in the area today, with reserve lands adjacent to Lake Country and three Indigenous sculptures installed along Pelmewash Parkway in recognition of this enduring connection.

European settlers began arriving in the late 1800s, drawn by the land’s agricultural potential. The mild climate, access to lake water, and fertile benchland proved ideal for fruit growing, and by the early 1900s, apple orchards and cherry farms covered the hillsides above Wood and Kalamalka lakes. The communities of Winfield, Oyama, Okanagan Centre, and Carr’s Landing each developed their own identities — general store, post office, church, fruit packing house — while remaining connected by the original rail line that ran the length of the valley.

Wine came later. In 1972, George and Trudy Heiss planted Canada’s first Pinot Gris vines above Okanagan Lake, establishing what would become Gray Monk Estate Winery. That single decision changed the trajectory of agriculture in Lake Country — and, many would argue, in all of BC. Today, the Scenic Sip Wine Trail follows the same hillside benchland where Heiss planted those first vines, passing eight wineries with views that rival anything in the Napa Valley.

Lake Country was officially incorporated as a district municipality in May 1995, uniting the four communities under a single government. Since then, growth has been relentless: the population grew 22% from 2016 to 2021 alone, ranking third in all of BC. The old CN Rail corridor — once used to ship Okanagan fruit to markets across Canada — was converted into the Okanagan Rail Trail, now one of the region’s most beloved multi-use pathways.