A passionate defender of the North Okanagan’s heritage is preparing for new adventures.
Ron Candy has stepped aside as Greater Vernon Museum curator and executive director after almost 24 years so he can pursue other interests.
“He is going to be missed,” said Francois Arseneault, museum board member.
“He has achieved a tremendous amount of work for the community.”
Candy was best known for trying to inspire residents about heritage and to connect the past to modern-day issues.
“He helped give a lot of interest to kids, particularly in the summer when cadets came to town. He explained how the history of the camp was tied with the history of Vernon.”
The Ontario-born Candy first got involved with history when he took a job on the restoration crew at Barkerville, in B.C.’s Cariboo, in 1974.
Based out of Barkerville, Candy started travelling the province and assisting other communities with conservation of heritage items. But in 1992, he took up duties with the Greater Vernon Museum in 1992.
One of Candy’s goals was to make artifacts accessible to the community and that was partly done through satellite museums at the Vernon Army Camp, Okanagan Landing, the Vernon Curling Club, the District of Coldstream and Silver Star.
In 2011, he was recognized for distinguished service by the B.C. Museums Association.
It’s anticipated the museum could have a new curator by September.
“They will inherit a phenomenal staff and they will have to look at (development of) a new museum. It has to happen,” said Arseneault of the inadequate space in the current facility.
In the interim, Ken Mather, the former O’Keefe Ranch manager, will oversee day-to-day operations at the museum.