the upper benches were not utilized or forgotten. Downtown Summerland (Siwash Flat) was originally part of the Penticton Indian Reserve No. 3 (exchanged between 1904–06 following a mutually agreeable land deal). The subject lands eventually became known as West Summerland. Present day Lower Town was the original town site of Summerland. In the early 1900s the Summerland Development Company with Sir Thomas Shaughnessy (President) and J.M. Robinson (Manager) primarily responsible for the initial decisions on its development. From the Company, the community received water, septic tanks, electricity, a post office, a school and a sawmill. Settlers from across the prairies, eastern Canada and England were drawn to the Summerland area. By 1907, Summerland had access to Peachland and Penticton with a well-established road system, and a ferry service connecting the community with the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake (Naramata). West Summerland (present day Downtown Summerland) experienced increased importance also in part due to a 1922 fire which destroyed many of the lakeside buildings in Lower Town. Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Summerland had a population of 12,042 living in 5,084 of its 5,426 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 11,615. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. Ethnicity Religion According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Summerland included: Irreligion (6,680 persons or 57.1%) Christianity (4,760 persons or 40.7%) Sikhism (125 persons or 1.1%) Buddhism (40 persons or 0.3%) Hinduism (40 persons or 0.3%) Judaism (10 persons or 0.1%) Other (50 persons or 0.4%) Education Summerland's public school system is operated by School District 67 Okanagan Skaha which operates two elementary schools (Giants Head and Trout Creek), one middle school (Summerland Middle), and one secondary school Summerland Secondary School. Summerland has two private schools (a Montessori school) and Unisus, a day and full-time boarding school with students from the local Okanagan area and from countries around the world. Tourism Summerland is popular because of its situation on Okanagan Lake and sandy beaches, a destination for three major Canadian population centres (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton). Both tourism and tourist attractions are a significant industry. Agriculture, featuring fresh tree fruits (peaches, cherries, apricots, apples and pears), and canneries, were the economic engine of the region until the late 20th century. Stone fruit and apples are now produced mainly for the fresh market (local and export).