history

A Vernon man, and the city, is hoping Victoria will buy 234 acres of Okanagan Lake shoreline in Okanagan Landing for further recreational pursuits. (Colliers International photo)

Vernon man urges province to buy Okanagan Lake property

Mike Brown launches petition for government to purchase historic Okanagan Landing property

A Vernon man, and the city, is hoping Victoria will buy 234 acres of Okanagan Lake shoreline in Okanagan Landing for further recreational pursuits. (Colliers International photo)
An image from the Royal BC Museum’s digitized collection of historical photographs shows an Interior Salish woman and child weaving baskets. The image is one of thousands posted in an online database. (Courtesy of the Royal BC Museum)

B.C. museum releases more than 16,000 historical photos of Indigenous life

Digitized images preserved and shared with Indigenous communities

An image from the Royal BC Museum’s digitized collection of historical photographs shows an Interior Salish woman and child weaving baskets. The image is one of thousands posted in an online database. (Courtesy of the Royal BC Museum)
The Bridge Work Camp was set up in Summerland during the construction of the Trout Creek Railway Bridge. From 1912 to 1913, there were a total of 10 work camps between Summerland and Osprey Lake. The Main Camp was located beside Lewes Avenue, close to today’s Dirty Laundry Winery. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Camps once housed workers along Kettle Valley Railway

Total of 10 camps were established between Summerland and Osprey Lake

The Bridge Work Camp was set up in Summerland during the construction of the Trout Creek Railway Bridge. From 1912 to 1913, there were a total of 10 work camps between Summerland and Osprey Lake. The Main Camp was located beside Lewes Avenue, close to today’s Dirty Laundry Winery. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
The Piggeries was once a popular hunting area near Summerland. (Photo courtesy of B.C. Forests Service)

Piggeries was a popular hunting spot near Summerland

Name came from three early hunters in the area

The Piggeries was once a popular hunting area near Summerland. (Photo courtesy of B.C. Forests Service)
Helmut West founded Okanagan Sausage in 1967. (Submitted Photo)

Sausage factory fire sparks Okanagan history lesson

Former sausage maker leaves a legacy

Helmut West founded Okanagan Sausage in 1967. (Submitted Photo)
Giant’s Head Mountain in Summerland once had a slaughterhouse and a skating rink. (Summerland Museum photo)

Summerland mountain once had slaughterhouse, skating rink

Rink from 1909 was created by Summerland pioneer James Ritchie

  • Jun 7, 2020
Giant’s Head Mountain in Summerland once had a slaughterhouse and a skating rink. (Summerland Museum photo)
Crews building structure at former Summerland train station site

Crews building structure at former Summerland train station site

West Summerland Station will pay tribute to railway history, serve as trail marker

Crews building structure at former Summerland train station site
The Okanagan sternwheeler parked at the Okanagan Landing Stationhouse, which operated in 1914 but is now a museum in Paddlewheel Park. The Okanagan anding Statiohouse Museum is open for weekends in June, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. by donation. (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives photo 2803)

Okanagan Landing museum opens doors

Float back in time to 1914 when sternwheelers transported goods up and down the valley

The Okanagan sternwheeler parked at the Okanagan Landing Stationhouse, which operated in 1914 but is now a museum in Paddlewheel Park. The Okanagan anding Statiohouse Museum is open for weekends in June, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. by donation. (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives photo 2803)
The former Summerland Arena served the community of Summerland from 1951 until the present arena was opened in 1976. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Arena served Summerland for 26 years

Warm winters meant short ice seasons in early 1950s

The former Summerland Arena served the community of Summerland from 1951 until the present arena was opened in 1976. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
In 1993, Summerland’s downtown featured an Old English theme. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Summerland once had Old English theme

Design guidelines were introduced in late 1980s

In 1993, Summerland’s downtown featured an Old English theme. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
R.C. “Dick” Palmer, his father R.M Palmer and his brother Frank Palmer were all active in horticultural research. R.C. Palmer worked in Summerland and was the third superintendent of the Summerland Research Station. He was named Summerland’s Good Citizen of the Year in 1949. (Photos courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Palmer worked with apple breeding program in Summerland

Horticulturalist initiated the apple breeding and the clonal rootstock programs in 1920s

  • May 21, 2020
R.C. “Dick” Palmer, his father R.M Palmer and his brother Frank Palmer were all active in horticultural research. R.C. Palmer worked in Summerland and was the third superintendent of the Summerland Research Station. He was named Summerland’s Good Citizen of the Year in 1949. (Photos courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
Gertrude Angwin traveled to Mineola and volunteered nursing care in 1918. Mineola was the centre of the influenza epidemic. (Summerland Museum photo)

Spanish influenza affected British Columbia

Epidemic a century ago had three distinct waves

  • May 17, 2020
Gertrude Angwin traveled to Mineola and volunteered nursing care in 1918. Mineola was the centre of the influenza epidemic. (Summerland Museum photo)
Conkle Mountain in Summerland is part of the Penticton group of volcanos. The name originates from pioneer William Conkle. He sold his cattle ranch in Summerland in 1891 and moved to Rock Creek. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Summerland mountain part of a group of volcanos

Conkle Mountain in Summerland is one of 16 in the Penticton group of volcanos

Conkle Mountain in Summerland is part of the Penticton group of volcanos. The name originates from pioneer William Conkle. He sold his cattle ranch in Summerland in 1891 and moved to Rock Creek. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
Kelowna History: Police chief kills two in Mayfair Hotel murders of 1932

Kelowna History: Police chief kills two in Mayfair Hotel murders of 1932

A look back at one of the most shocking events in Kelowna’s history

Kelowna History: Police chief kills two in Mayfair Hotel murders of 1932
Summerland has faced disease outbreak in the past

Summerland has faced disease outbreak in the past

Spanish influenza, from 1918 to 1920, took a toll on the world

Summerland has faced disease outbreak in the past
Vehicles parade through Cloverdale in 1946. The actual parade is unknown as there were six in Cloverdale that year – May Day, the Rodeo, the Kinsmen’s Gymkhana (June 29th), the Fall Fair, August Memorial Service, and the Wild West Show. (Image courtesy of Surrey Historical Society)

BCHF conference once again slated for Cloverdale

Surrey Historical Society to host 2021 history conference

Vehicles parade through Cloverdale in 1946. The actual parade is unknown as there were six in Cloverdale that year – May Day, the Rodeo, the Kinsmen’s Gymkhana (June 29th), the Fall Fair, August Memorial Service, and the Wild West Show. (Image courtesy of Surrey Historical Society)
Sir Thomas Shaughnessy played role in founding of Summerland

Sir Thomas Shaughnessy played role in founding of Summerland

George Barclay’s Trout Creek Ranch was purchased in early 1900s

Sir Thomas Shaughnessy played role in founding of Summerland
THE KAT RANCH The KAT Rancha, in the North Beach area, operated from 1941 until 1958. The partners were Larry Kelly, Ted Atkinson and Eileen Tomlin, hence the name KAT. (Summerland Museum photo)

KAT Ranch operated in North Beach area between Summerland and Peachland

Partners grew peaches, tomatoes and zucca melons on property

THE KAT RANCH The KAT Rancha, in the North Beach area, operated from 1941 until 1958. The partners were Larry Kelly, Ted Atkinson and Eileen Tomlin, hence the name KAT. (Summerland Museum photo)
The St. Stephen Anglican Church building in Summerland was constructed in 1909. The stone church has become a landmark in the community. (Summerland Museum photo)

Summerland has long tradition of faith

First church in the community was set up in the late 1800s

The St. Stephen Anglican Church building in Summerland was constructed in 1909. The stone church has become a landmark in the community. (Summerland Museum photo)
A can of dehydrated vegetable mix packaged at the historic Bulmans Cannery in Vernon, possibly before the Second World War, has become a YouTube hit. (New England Wildlife and More screen photo)

Okanagan soup canned nearly 90 years ago gets taste test

YouTube shows man taking contents from old Bulmans Cannery vegetable mix and making, eating soup

A can of dehydrated vegetable mix packaged at the historic Bulmans Cannery in Vernon, possibly before the Second World War, has become a YouTube hit. (New England Wildlife and More screen photo)