Community Notice: Evacuee Reception and Registration Centres Update

Update as of 12:00pm August 7, 2026

way’ Members,

Please see the attached list below of ESS reception Centres in the region for today, August 7th.

• OKIB Reception centre at Fairfield Hotel, 5300 Anderson Way, open from 10:00 am to 7:00pm
• City of Vernon ESS at Kal Tire Place, 3445 43 Avenue, Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
• Westbank Reception Centre at Westbank Lions Community Centre, 2466 Main Street, West Kelowna, 9:00am to 7:00pm
• The Penticton Indian Band ESS Centre at Little Paws is now closed

BC Services at Fairfield Hotel today

BC Services will be at the Fairfield hotel today until 7pm to help evacuees replace birth certificate to applicants free of charge (including courier service) that have been affected by the 2026 wildfires. Currently, no other certificates are available at no cost. 

Upcoming OKIB ESS Reception Centre location change:

Please be advised that the OKIB ESS Reception Centre will be moving to a new location on Sunday. The new location is at Creekside Conference Centre – 3310 37^th ave, Vernon and will be open from 10:00am to 7:00pm.

To help facilitate this move, the Fairfield Hotel location will be open from 10:00am and close early tomorrow at 5:00pm  

OKIB ESS Reception Centre Process

The reception will open at 10:00am until 7:00pm. Upon arrival please check-in with the Meet & Greet volunteers who are wearing orange vests and are located in the Lobby.

The Meet & Greet volunteers will collect your name and contact information, and will ask you how much notice you will need to return to the reception centre.

You will then be contacted to return to the reception centre to meet with a volunteer to process your ESS supports when a Registration and Referrals Volunteer is available

A gathering place for band members to gather and visit is available at the Prestige Vernon Hotel, 4411 32nd St. across from London Drugs

When referrals are set to expire here is the process:

If you received an e-transfer for all of your ESS supports you will you receive a phone call to the phone number you gave on your registration.

The ESS Volunteer will be confirming that your current supports are adequate and if so, your supports will be extended to August 12th and you will receive an e-transfer to cover shelter and food.

If you received any ESS supports with a pink referral form for a hotel or groceries, you will need to attend the reception centre at the Fairfield Inn to extend your supports August 12, 2026

If there are any changes to your current ESS supports you will need to return to the OKIB ESS Reception Centre

Please see information for the City of Vernon ESS Reception Centre:

The City of Vernon’s Emergency Support Services (ESS) Reception Centre at Kal Tire Place continues to welcome evacuees impacted by the wildfire.

ESS Reception Centre – Kal Tire Place, 3445 43 Avenue, Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Emergency Support Services (ESS) are available online (ess.gov.bc.ca) and by phone (1-800-387-4258) for eligible evacuees. Assistance can be accessed without visiting the Reception Centre.

Please see the information for the Westbank ESS Reception Centre:

• Location: Westbank Lions Community Centre, 2466 Main Street, West Kelowna
• Hours: Opens daily at 9:00 am and closes at 7:00 pm
• Assistance Provided: Registration for evacuees, referrals for food, clothing, lodging, and essential incidentals via e-transfers or vouchers once registered.
• Online registration assistance: BC Services app verification.

For more information: https://www.coemergency.ca/