Local History

Vernon’s Larry Kwong became the first player of Asian descent to play in the NHL with the New York Rangers 75 years ago, March 13, 1948. (Photo courtesy Chad Soon)

75 years ago today: Vernon player makes hockey history

Larry Kwong became first person of Asian descent to play in NHL when he suited up for the NY Rangers

 

Hand-tinted photograph of Vernon’s Kalamalka Hotel circa 1945. The hotel graces the cover of a new book, Room at the Inn, featuring stories of 40 historic hotels in B.C.’s southern Interior. (Museum and Archives of Vernon Photo #3633)

Historic Okanagan hotels feature prominently in new book

Room at the Inn looks at 40 historic hotels in B.C.’s southern Interior from the 1890s to the 1950s

 

A First World War internment camp in Vernon, at the site of what is now MacDonald Park, is the subject of a locally written and printed book, entitled, The most difficult of our camps, Vernon Internment Camp 1914-1920. (Contributed)

UPDATE: Vernon First World War internment camp book going to schools

The Vernon Internment Camp 1914 – 1920 book was officially unveiled on Tues, Feb. 21.

 

This is the original Air Cadet foundation agreement signed in 1942 for Vernon’s 223 Red Lion Squadron, which celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2022. (Contributed)

Vernon squadron celebrates 80 years

Original agreement for 223 Red Lion Squadron program signed at Vernon High School in 1942

This is the original Air Cadet foundation agreement signed in 1942 for Vernon’s 223 Red Lion Squadron, which celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2022. (Contributed)
May Kermode played piano for silent movies for Vernon’s old Empress Theatre in the early 20th Century, a story and find revealed by the Vernon and District Family History Society, which celebrates 40 years in operation with a special open house Saturday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church. (Contributed)

Vernon and District Family History Society soaks up 40 years

Organization dedicated to family research to hold open house at Peace Lutheran Church Nov. 26

May Kermode played piano for silent movies for Vernon’s old Empress Theatre in the early 20th Century, a story and find revealed by the Vernon and District Family History Society, which celebrates 40 years in operation with a special open house Saturday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church. (Contributed)
Nanaimo city council, at a meeting this week, voted to repeal a bylaw relating to public morals which prevented people from making use of any “profane, obscene, blasphemous or grossly insulting language.” (City of Nanaimo image)

B.C. city repeals 130-year-old bylaw banning drunken singing

City of Nanaimo retains bylaw banning nuclear weapons, but takes several other bylaws off the books

Nanaimo city council, at a meeting this week, voted to repeal a bylaw relating to public morals which prevented people from making use of any “profane, obscene, blasphemous or grossly insulting language.” (City of Nanaimo image)
The Canada Post Building at 3101-32nd Ave. in 2000. Michelle Loughery’s Multicultural Mural is almost complete. (Museum and Archives of Vernon photo #21630)

Vernon history in pictures

A look back as Vernon artist Michelle Loughery puts the finishing touches on one of her terrific murals

The Canada Post Building at 3101-32nd Ave. in 2000. Michelle Loughery’s Multicultural Mural is almost complete. (Museum and Archives of Vernon photo #21630)
Front exterior view of the Roasted Chicken House restaurant, located at 3208-25th Ave.in 1992, what would today be the Sterling Centre. A Ukrainian restaurant and an eatery featuring tastes of Texas were also housed in the building at different times. (Museum and Archives of Vernon photo #10491)

Vernon history in pictures

Remembering a once popular building that housed several different restaurants over the years

Front exterior view of the Roasted Chicken House restaurant, located at 3208-25th Ave.in 1992, what would today be the Sterling Centre. A Ukrainian restaurant and an eatery featuring tastes of Texas were also housed in the building at different times. (Museum and Archives of Vernon photo #10491)
Diana, Princess of Wales bends laughs at something over the shoulder of British Columbia Premier Bill Bennett while Prince Charles looks on. Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, were in Kelowna, B.C., May 3, 1986 for a brief visit as part of their eight day stay in Canada. (CP PHOTO/Ron Poling)

May 3, 1986: Princess Diana visits Kelowna

The royal couple arrived just days before Expo ‘86

Diana, Princess of Wales bends laughs at something over the shoulder of British Columbia Premier Bill Bennett while Prince Charles looks on. Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, were in Kelowna, B.C., May 3, 1986 for a brief visit as part of their eight day stay in Canada. (CP PHOTO/Ron Poling)
A 1949 group shot of teachers from the Vernon Junior Senior High School. For a list of names, please contact gwyn.evans@vernonmuseum.ca with “photo number 8378” in the subject line. (Museum and Archives of Vernon photo #8378)

Vernon history in pictures

Teacher, teacher, won’t you teach me? Junior-Senior Secondary teachers in Vernon gather for group photo in 1949

A 1949 group shot of teachers from the Vernon Junior Senior High School. For a list of names, please contact gwyn.evans@vernonmuseum.ca with “photo number 8378” in the subject line. (Museum and Archives of Vernon photo #8378)
A group photo of the Vernon Bank of Montreal staff taken in 1914. For a list of names, please contact gwyn.evans@vernonmuseum.ca with “photo number 39” in the subject line. (Museum and Archives of Vernon photo #39)

Vernon history in pictures

A staff photo with smiling employees from a Vernon bank in 1914

A group photo of the Vernon Bank of Montreal staff taken in 1914. For a list of names, please contact gwyn.evans@vernonmuseum.ca with “photo number 39” in the subject line. (Museum and Archives of Vernon photo #39)
The Choirboy and the Bellydancer is a memoir written by Christine Potter. It is a love story of the Fort Langley couple who met in the U.K as teenagers and moved to Canada in late ‘90s.

Choir boy and belly dancer settle in B.C. after roller coaster love story

Christine and Christopher met as teens in the United Kingdom

The Choirboy and the Bellydancer is a memoir written by Christine Potter. It is a love story of the Fort Langley couple who met in the U.K as teenagers and moved to Canada in late ‘90s.
Fleming family Christmas in 1938. Pictured are Betty Fleming and her daughter Betty Jane Fleming. Note the Christmas cards pinned to the curtains! (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives Photo #31238)

Vernon history in pictures

A look at a couple of members of a well-known Vernon family at Christmas in 1938

Fleming family Christmas in 1938. Pictured are Betty Fleming and her daughter Betty Jane Fleming. Note the Christmas cards pinned to the curtains! (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives Photo #31238)
Ten years ago, an RCMP member stood near this spot in Armstrong and alerted local media to a vicious attack on an 18-year-old girl Halloween night near the railway tracks in the background. Years later, the Taylor Jade Van Diest Memorial Trail was created in the girl’s memory, as she died from injuries in the attack Nov. 1, 2011. (Roger Knox - Black Press)

Remembering Halloween murder of Armstrong teen 10 years later

Taylor Van Diest, 18, was viciously attacked in her hometown

Ten years ago, an RCMP member stood near this spot in Armstrong and alerted local media to a vicious attack on an 18-year-old girl Halloween night near the railway tracks in the background. Years later, the Taylor Jade Van Diest Memorial Trail was created in the girl’s memory, as she died from injuries in the attack Nov. 1, 2011. (Roger Knox - Black Press)
Vernon author Don Klepp has compacted more than 100 years of hockey in Vernon into 200 pages in his new book Vernon’s Hockey History 1894-2021. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Rich Vernon hockey history captured in pages of new book

Vernon author Don Klepp’s book is called Vernon’s Hockey History 1894-2021

Vernon author Don Klepp has compacted more than 100 years of hockey in Vernon into 200 pages in his new book Vernon’s Hockey History 1894-2021. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
The Women’s Institute Hall on Kalamalka Lake Road in Coldstream is no more, giving way to the wrecking ball. The 88-year-old building will be replaced with a new community hall and child care facility. (Google)

Historic Coldstream hall comes down

The Women’s Institute Hall on Kalamalka Road opened in 1933; will make way for new hall and child care facility

The Women’s Institute Hall on Kalamalka Lake Road in Coldstream is no more, giving way to the wrecking ball. The 88-year-old building will be replaced with a new community hall and child care facility. (Google)
Shannon Zaitsoff and his daughter, Sarah, successfully back up their wagon between cones at the 109th IPE in 2008. Of course, this would be the week thousands would flock to Armstrong for the annual fair but, for the second straight year the popular event has been cancelled by COVID. (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives photo #24084)

North Okanagan history in pictures

A look at an Armstrong-Spallumcheen tradition from the last decade

Shannon Zaitsoff and his daughter, Sarah, successfully back up their wagon between cones at the 109th IPE in 2008. Of course, this would be the week thousands would flock to Armstrong for the annual fair but, for the second straight year the popular event has been cancelled by COVID. (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives photo #24084)
Dr. Sarah Beaulieu (left) from the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford confers with Charolette Myers Hanaghan (centre) and Lawrna Myers while unearthing building floors and artifacts connected with the First World War Monashee Internment Camp at the camp’s location east of Cherryville. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

WATCH: Digging into history east of Cherryville

Abbotsford anthropologist and team search for indications of what life was like

Dr. Sarah Beaulieu (left) from the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford confers with Charolette Myers Hanaghan (centre) and Lawrna Myers while unearthing building floors and artifacts connected with the First World War Monashee Internment Camp at the camp’s location east of Cherryville. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
The Vernon Juvenile ‘A’ Tiger lacrosse team won the 1952 B.C. championship and gathered for a team picture outside the Vernon Civic Arena. The team included (back row from left): George Claughton, Don Hein, Harold Baumbrough (captain), Dave Kineshanko. Middle row (from left): Ben Douglas (coach), Norm Ogasawara, Gerry Sparrow, John Desimone, Mickey Ogasawara, Sigi Ogasawara (manager). Front row (from left): Stu Robertson, John Baziw, John Erechuk (goal), Alan Drage, Murray Claughton. Missing from photo: Stan Chorney (goalie). (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives photo #19931)

Vernon history in pictures

The Vernon Tigers were the toast of juvenile lacrosse in B.C. in 1952

The Vernon Juvenile ‘A’ Tiger lacrosse team won the 1952 B.C. championship and gathered for a team picture outside the Vernon Civic Arena. The team included (back row from left): George Claughton, Don Hein, Harold Baumbrough (captain), Dave Kineshanko. Middle row (from left): Ben Douglas (coach), Norm Ogasawara, Gerry Sparrow, John Desimone, Mickey Ogasawara, Sigi Ogasawara (manager). Front row (from left): Stu Robertson, John Baziw, John Erechuk (goal), Alan Drage, Murray Claughton. Missing from photo: Stan Chorney (goalie). (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives photo #19931)
It was one of the darkest days in Vernon’s history. A view of the ruins of the Okanagan Hotel (3301-30th Avenue) which was destroyed by fire on Aug. 10, 1909. A total of 11 men died in the blaze. (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives photo#004)

Vernon history in pictures

A very sad moment from Vernon’s history more than 100 years ago

It was one of the darkest days in Vernon’s history. A view of the ruins of the Okanagan Hotel (3301-30th Avenue) which was destroyed by fire on Aug. 10, 1909. A total of 11 men died in the blaze. (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives photo#004)