Oliver is an agricultural community with a population of about 4,500 residents, with a surrounding area population of over 9,000. Oliver has become the place to retire with mild winters, beautiful Okanagan Lake and scenic trails and parks.
The cultural profile of the community includes members of the Osoyoos Indian Band, Portuguese, East Indian, German, Russian, Chinese and persons who have relocated here from all parts of Canada.
In 1996, Oliver celebrated its 75th anniversary as a community.
Oliver: Wine Capital of Canada
Nestled in the beautiful south Okanagan, Oliver can proudly call itself the Wine Capital of Canada, offering more than 20 of British Columbia's internationally recognized wineries. With over 200 wineries from Osoyoos to Kelowna most offer wine tasting: you can sip your way through the Okanagan Valley.
The Town of Oliver is named after “Honest” John Oliver, who became the 19th Premier of British Columbia following the death of his predecessor in 1918 and held the position of Premier until his own death in 1927. During his term in office, he was instrumental in developing the original fruit growing industry in the South Okanagan Valley, centered in what later became our community, and which adopted the Premier Oliver’s name as its own.
The core of Oliver was incorporated as a Village municipality in December 1945. After decades of modest growth and expansion, Oliver was re-incorporated as a Town in 1990. Oliver’s estimated municipal population (in 2009) is 4,783. Along with its surrounding rural area (administered by the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen) the community of Oliver comprises a total trading area of approximately 9,000 people.
The Town of Oliver delivers a full range of municipal services to its residents including land use planning, public works. solid waste collection, cemetery, bylaw services and business licensing. Oliver staff also provides fire protection services and water supply to most rural residents as well as to properties inside Oliver. In addition, Oliver partners financially with the Regional District to provide parks and recreation services, heritage conservation and landfill operations to residents both inside Oliver and in the surrounding rural areas.
From the Town of Oliver![]()