history

Reid Graham (left to right) of the Manitoba Historic Resources Management Branch, Todd Kristensen of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta and Robin Woywitka of MacEwan University excavate an archeological dig in the Fort McMurray, Alta., area in a handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Brittany Romano **MANDATORY CREDIT**

‘Very early’: Scientists date when humans first came to Alberta’s oilsands region

First signs of people around Fort McMurray appear to be 11,000 to 13,000 years ago

Reid Graham (left to right) of the Manitoba Historic Resources Management Branch, Todd Kristensen of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta and Robin Woywitka of MacEwan University excavate an archeological dig in the Fort McMurray, Alta., area in a handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Brittany Romano **MANDATORY CREDIT**
The opening of Vernon's popular Peanut Pool at Lakeview Park was delayed due to vandalism. (Brieanna Charlebois - Morning Star)

A dip into the history behind Vernon’s Peanut Pool

LETTER: Pool was a true multi-use facility

The opening of Vernon's popular Peanut Pool at Lakeview Park was delayed due to vandalism. (Brieanna Charlebois - Morning Star)
Nun cho ga, the mummified baby woolly mammoth shortly after discovery. (Yukon Government/Submitted)

Mummified baby woolly mammoth discovered in Yukon was likely weeks old when she died

Nun cho ga being preserved in freezer storage while next steps are determined

Nun cho ga, the mummified baby woolly mammoth shortly after discovery. (Yukon Government/Submitted)
KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence is the new home of the World War II de Havilland Mosquito (Brittany Webster - Capital News)

Historic Mosquito warplane finds new home in Kelowna

The de Havilland Mosquito is also known as Mossie or the Wooden Wonder

  • Jun 30, 2022
KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence is the new home of the World War II de Havilland Mosquito (Brittany Webster - Capital News)
Summerland Singers and Players will stage a murder mystery play aboard the Kettle Valley Steam Railway’s steam train in July. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Murder mystery set aboard Summerland steam train

Story inspired by actual events from early 1920s

Summerland Singers and Players will stage a murder mystery play aboard the Kettle Valley Steam Railway’s steam train in July. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
Nun cho ga, the mummified baby woolly mammoth shortly after discovery. (Yukon Government/Submitted)

Nearly complete, 30,000-year-old mummified baby woolly mammoth discovered in Yukon

Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin elders named the mummified mammoth Nun cho ga meaning “big baby animal.”

Nun cho ga, the mummified baby woolly mammoth shortly after discovery. (Yukon Government/Submitted)
(Vancouver archives)

Bowser plans birthday celebration for Mike, B.C.’s famous bartending dog

Pooch became a small-town Vancouver Island sensation in the ’30s and ’40s for his tavern exploits

(Vancouver archives)
The man in the photo is believed to be a “Johnny” based on the written note: “to Margaret, from Johnny.” (Justyn Atherley/Special to The Star)

‘To Margaret from Johnny’: Aldergrove man finds mystery photo in his attic

Local mystery adds to uptick in unsolved documents, says museum president

The man in the photo is believed to be a “Johnny” based on the written note: “to Margaret, from Johnny.” (Justyn Atherley/Special to The Star)
This is the second oldest map of the Okanagan Valley, created by fur trader Archibald McDonald in 1827. It shows Nicola’s Prairie and the river was called the Nicola River, now Aeneas Creek. (Summerland Museum photo)

Grand Chief Nicola played important role in Okanagan history

19th-century leader’s land once included most of the region

  • Jun 23, 2022
This is the second oldest map of the Okanagan Valley, created by fur trader Archibald McDonald in 1827. It shows Nicola’s Prairie and the river was called the Nicola River, now Aeneas Creek. (Summerland Museum photo)
People walk up stairs to the entrance of the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, B.C. Premier John Horgan announced June 22 they are stopping their $789-million plan to rebuild the ageing building, and sending things back to public consultation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Province cancels controversial $789M Royal BC Museum rebuild

Premier says public engagement will now determine the future of the ‘seismically unsafe’ building

People walk up stairs to the entrance of the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, B.C. Premier John Horgan announced June 22 they are stopping their $789-million plan to rebuild the ageing building, and sending things back to public consultation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Dick Brown at 16. (Submitted photo)

Victoria man surprised to learn he authored 1966 note in B.C. beach time capsule

Letter found 56 years later by Rathtrevor Beach tourists

Dick Brown at 16. (Submitted photo)
Getting from Summerland to Penticton in the early years was no easy task. The first road to Penticton was the Brigade Trail, now known was Shingle Creek Road. For a while, it was known as “The Back Road to Penticton.” When the railway was being built on the upper bench above Okanagan Lake, there was a road. In 1913, the road along the lake was constructed. Three workers were killed when a silt cliff collapsed. This was done, prior to lake levels being regulated, so this road was subject to flooding. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Travelling through the history of transportation in the South Okanagan

Boats and trains were once dominant forms of travel

Getting from Summerland to Penticton in the early years was no easy task. The first road to Penticton was the Brigade Trail, now known was Shingle Creek Road. For a while, it was known as “The Back Road to Penticton.” When the railway was being built on the upper bench above Okanagan Lake, there was a road. In 1913, the road along the lake was constructed. Three workers were killed when a silt cliff collapsed. This was done, prior to lake levels being regulated, so this road was subject to flooding. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
Leah discovered a small glass cream bottle that contained a note written more than 50 years ago. (Submitted photo)

B.C. family discovers 56-year-old message in bottle on Vancouver Island beach

Buried treasure inadvertently dug out of 4-foot deep hole in sand

Leah discovered a small glass cream bottle that contained a note written more than 50 years ago. (Submitted photo)
Editors of Okanagan Women's Voices, Dr. Jeannette Armstrong, Dr. Lally Grauer and Dr. Janet MacArthur present an online panel discussion June 16. (Contributed)

Okanagan women’s voices speak up for Indigenous History Month

Museum’s Reading for Reconciliation Series

Editors of Okanagan Women's Voices, Dr. Jeannette Armstrong, Dr. Lally Grauer and Dr. Janet MacArthur present an online panel discussion June 16. (Contributed)
In 1911 , the final location of the route of the Kettle Valley Railway was still undetermined. Some people speculated that the route of the railway would go through Garnet Valley and then into Meadow Valley. A number of developments were considered. J.M. Robinson contemplated the townsite of Appledale, another was Meadowland. But the most ambitious plan was by Ralph Deans ( 1873-1916). His proposal included almost 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of land and a hydroelectric dam at the mouth of the Trout Creek Canyon. The proposed dam would capture all of the Trout Creek canyon water before being lost to the gravels at Faulder. (Summerland Museum photos)

Okanagan communities were created in anticipation of railway

Appledale and Meadowland near Summerland were set up in early 1900s

In 1911 , the final location of the route of the Kettle Valley Railway was still undetermined. Some people speculated that the route of the railway would go through Garnet Valley and then into Meadow Valley. A number of developments were considered. J.M. Robinson contemplated the townsite of Appledale, another was Meadowland. But the most ambitious plan was by Ralph Deans ( 1873-1916). His proposal included almost 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of land and a hydroelectric dam at the mouth of the Trout Creek Canyon. The proposed dam would capture all of the Trout Creek canyon water before being lost to the gravels at Faulder. (Summerland Museum photos)
Families filled the South Okanagan Event Centre May 27-29, 2022 for Jurassic Quest (Brittany Webster - Black Press)

Roaring crowds for animatronic dinos at Penticton’s Jurassic Quest

Kids were able to enjoy bounce houses, ride dinosaurs, and meet a baby dino

  • May 30, 2022
Families filled the South Okanagan Event Centre May 27-29, 2022 for Jurassic Quest (Brittany Webster - Black Press)
syilx artist Duane Marchand will perform on Thursday, June 2, 2022, to mark the start of Indigenous History Month programming at the Museum and Archives of Vernon. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Syilx sounds kickstart Indigenous History Month at Vernon museum

Duane Marchand will perform at the museum Thursday, June 2

syilx artist Duane Marchand will perform on Thursday, June 2, 2022, to mark the start of Indigenous History Month programming at the Museum and Archives of Vernon. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Pharis and Jason Romero filmed their latest video with Rick Magnell in the historic 153 Mile Store. (Rick Magnell video capture)

VIDEO: Juno-award winning folk duo showcase B.C. history in new song

Video filmed in historic 153 Mile Store was the ‘perfect place’

Pharis and Jason Romero filmed their latest video with Rick Magnell in the historic 153 Mile Store. (Rick Magnell video capture)
Nanaimo’s No. 1 mine. (Submitted photo)

May 3, 1887: Remembering 150 lives lost in B.C.’s worst-ever mining disaster

City of Nanaimo lowering flags to commemorate Esplanade Mine explosion that killed 150

Nanaimo’s No. 1 mine. (Submitted photo)
Traffic in 1915 was not the same as it is today. This picture shows the edge of what is now Summerland’s Main Street. At that time, the majority of transportation was done by horse-drawn wagons rather than gasoline-powered cars and trucks. Electric vehicle charging stations at public spots in downtown Summerland did not exist until nearly a century later. The first charging stations opened in April, 2013. The house in the background is the Alex Steven home, which still overlooks the downtown core. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Summerland has been transititioning its transportation

Horse-drawn wagons, automobiles and now electric vehicles used on streets in community

Traffic in 1915 was not the same as it is today. This picture shows the edge of what is now Summerland’s Main Street. At that time, the majority of transportation was done by horse-drawn wagons rather than gasoline-powered cars and trucks. Electric vehicle charging stations at public spots in downtown Summerland did not exist until nearly a century later. The first charging stations opened in April, 2013. The house in the background is the Alex Steven home, which still overlooks the downtown core. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)