[BCMA] Okanagan Historical Society Centennial Celebration

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv]

Dear BC Museum/Heritage community,

I am happy to circulate this information on behalf of the Okanagan
Historical Society. If anyone is in the Okanagan area, we would be
delighted to have you attend or help share the news to anyone you think
might be interested.


The Okanagan Historical Society (OHS) is thrilled to announce its
Centennial Celebration, taking place on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at
the Mary Irwin Theatre (inside the Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston
Ave., Kelowna). This landmark event marks 100 years of preserving and
sharing the stories of the Okanagan region.
Doors open at 6:00 pm, welcoming guests with a variety of dessert
selections, a cash bar, book sales, a silent auction, and the opportunity
to meet and mingle with history lovers from across the valley. The
evening's formal program begins at 7:00 pm, featuring cowboy poetry by OHS
member Ken Mather, special acknowledgements, and a compelling keynote
address from Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band.

OHS Annual ReportChief Louie will present on the theme "From Cowboys and
Indians to Reconciliation," offering timely reflections on regional
history, Indigenous leadership, and the ongoing journey toward truth and
reconciliation. "This event is both a celebration of our shared past and a
call to continue working together toward a more inclusive historical
understanding," said Lois Marshall, President of the Okanagan Historical
Society. "We are honoured to welcome Chief Louie and our many friends and
supporters as we mark this important milestone."

The OHS, incorporated in 1925, is one of British Columbia's oldest
organizations dedicated to preserving local history. In addition to
publishing an annual historical report since the end of the Second World
War, the Society supports a wide variety of heritage-based projects,
preservation initiatives, and public events. It frequently collaborates
with museums, archives, and other heritage-focused organizations throughout
the region. Today the Society operates through seven active branches
located in Salmon Arm, Armstrong-Enderby, Vernon, Kelowna, Summerland,
Penticton, and Oliver-Osoyoos.

Tickets for the Centennial Celebration are $25 for OHS members and $40 for
non-members and are available now at
www.theboxoffice.ca/upcoming-events/centennial-celebration. OHS members
must obtain a coupon code from their local branch to access the member
rate. The discount cannot be applied at the door or online without this
code. To find your local branch contact, visit
www.okanaganhistoricalsociety.org/branches.php.

In addition to the evening celebration, attendees are invited to the OHS
Annual General Meeting, which will take place from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the
Okanagan Regional Library - Kelowna Branch (1380 Ellis St.), located next
door to the Rotary Centre for the Arts. The AGM is free and open to the
public.

*Accessibility and Parking*

The Mary Irwin Theatre includes six wheelchair accessible seats and is
located within the Rotary Centre for the Arts.

Parking is available at the Library Parkade, which can be accessed from
Ellis Street or Doyle Avenue, or via nearby street parking.

A well-lit and accessible walkway connects the Library Parkade to the
Rotary Centre for the Arts. After exiting the Parkade, turn right and
follow the ramp down and to the right onto the walkway. It is approximately
a half-block walk to the RCA's south entrance.

*Media Contact:*
Gwyneth Evans
Vernon Branch, Okanagan Historical Society
ohsvernonbranch at gmail.com

To confirm membership for the OHS Centennial Event, please email
OHSCentennialEvent at gmail.com


Thank you kindly,
Gwyneth Evans
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