OCNews

The Kelowna 2026 BC Summer Games is shaped by volunteers, and Okanagan College students are helping lead the charge

Months before athletes arrive in Kelowna for the 2026 BC Summer Games, animation students and alumni from Okanagan College have already been designing the visual elements behind the event’s look and feel.

The students’ work will appear across the Games, when they take place July 22 to 26, from pin designs and sponsor signage to banners, merchandise and venue graphics seen by thousands of Games participants, volunteers and guests as well as visitors to the community.

For many, the project offered a first look at professional creative work with the hands-on learning within the OC program offering tight deadlines, constant revisions, collaboration and designing for a public audience rather than a grade.

“This project provided a collaborative environment where the work we did was not representing us individually but helping shape the identity of the Games and the community surrounding it,” said student animator Tyron Barnett-Lake.

Barnett-Lake worked on volunteer recruitment posters and merchandise concepts, including a first aid volunteer campaign piece he says became one of his favourite designs. Coming from an animation background, he said the project forced him to rethink how design functions outside entertainment spaces.

“In animation, we study design principles through the lens of film and entertainment,” he said. “I was quite surprised at how well those skills transferred.”

That transition was part of the appeal for Amanda Adams, Creative Services Chair for the Games and instructor in Okanagan College’s Animation Program.

“We’re in a really neat spot as a program,” Adams said. “We have a great group of talented, motivated students and alumni who are eager to dive into real-world experience and build their portfolios.”

The project also pushed students to think beyond personal style and creative ownership, working with an industry partner and facing real-world challenges including shifting expectations, feedback rounds, and tight timelines. Work experience within programs is fundamental at the College, with programs featuring different forms of what’s called work integrated learning as well as strong connections to industry partners. 

“This is a great example of our students working directly with community partners on a real-world project that is beneficial to the community at large and also great experience for our students,” said OC Provost and Vice President Academic Dr. Samantha Lenci.  “Congratulations to this group of students, alumni and instructors for this incredible project.”

This summer, the creative team’s assets will become part of the Games experience itself, appearing on banners, signage, merchandise and volunteer campaigns across the city. Behind every design is a student learning how creative work shapes a sense of place, where process, collaboration and adaptability matter as much as the final design.

The Games will depend on that same collective effort.

As many as 2,500 volunteers are needed to help bring the Kelowna 2026 BC Summer Games to life, with roles ranging from food prep and service and transportation to photographers, writers, media teams, venue support and participant services.

“It is a very rewarding experience to invest time in your community,” Barnett-Lake said. “You’ll make connections with a lot of great people; you’ll have the opportunity to collectively work towards something and celebrate its success.”

By this summer, student volunteer will become part of the Games experience. Organizers are hoping the wider community will step in and contribute as well. Volunteer recruitment for the Kelowna 2026 BC Summer Games is now underway. To find your place, visit the Kelowna 2026 BC Summer Games volunteer page