The City of Penticton has released the results of the 2025 Community Survey, which show an increase in resident satisfaction with quality of life and City services. The findings will be formally presented to Council during the Regular Meeting on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
Conducted between May 20 and June 1, the survey received responses from 1,635 residents, a 17 per cent increase from 2023. This included 484 randomly selected participants and 1,151 voluntary respondents, ensuring a broad and representative snapshot of community sentiment.
Among the key findings:
• 73 per cent of residents rated the overall quality of life in Penticton as “very good” or “excellent,” an 8-point increase from 2023.
• 29 out of 31 City services were rated as “Primary Strengths” in both importance and performance.
• Top-rated services included Fire and Emergency Response, Drinking Water Quality, and Sanitary Sewer.
• 22 services saw improved performance ratings compared to 2023, and all 31 services saw increased importance ratings.
• Residents identified parks and sports fields, community cleanliness, and emergency services as top investment priorities.
• Support for community vibrancy and culture was strong, while concerns remained around crime reduction and housing accessibility.
“This year’s results are a clear reflection of the community’s resilience and the City’s ongoing commitment to service excellence,” said Anna Melnick, Communications and Engagement Manager. “We’re especially encouraged to see strong support for our emergency services, infrastructure, and recreational spaces. These insights will help guide our strategic planning and ensure we continue to meet the evolving needs of our residents.”
The survey also revealed that residents prefer to maintain or enhance service levels through growth, user fees, or taxes, rather than reducing services—consistent with previous years.
There were notable changes in residents’ investment priorities compared to 2023. While community cleanliness, police services, addressing social issues, and fire and emergency services topped the list in 2023, the 2025 survey saw parks and sports fields, community cleanliness, fire and emergency response, and sanitary and storm sewer infrastructure emerge as the most frequently selected priorities.
Ratings for Penticton as a place to raise children continued their upward trend, while perceptions of the city as a place to find work declined by 10 per cent compared to 2023.
Overall, residents’ views of the City’s performance remained stable, with a gradual increase in the belief that the City is doing a good job.
The full results will be used to inform the City’s 2026–2030 Financial and Corporate Business Plan and are available for public review at on our Community Survey webpage. Council Report can be found on our Council Agenda webpage
