Penticton’s history catching on with youth at Heritage Week display

PENTICTON – Interest in Penticton and the South Okanagan’s history is growing amongst the region’s younger generation.

Okanagan Historical Society Penticton local President Karen Collins says she is seeing new appreciation in the area’s youth for history as the society teams up with several other groups to host a display of artifacts and stories about the region’s history at Cherry Lane Mall this week.

The display is part of Heritage Week observances which runs Feb. 13 to Feb. 19.

“We've had a number of people in their teens and early 20s who stopped for a look. I had several comments from people saying, ‘We need more of this,’ and others who were saying, ‘Wow, we should be doing this more often,'” Collins says.

The mall display contains several private collections of seldom seen items, many of which are in pristine shape. Tube radios, household items from the 1920s and 1930s, historical society journals and histories of many of Penticton’s institutions, including schools and the hospital, are on display.

“Penticton has a lot of really terrific heritage, and many people don’t know what that is. There’s tons of great stuff to look at, and some great stories here,” she says.

The historical society teamed up with the Penticton Museum, the Genealogy Society and the Stamp Club to put on the display. 

The Okanagan School of Arts and the Shatford Centre are also involved in the project, which is supported by Cherry Lane Mall who provides the location for the non-profit entities to display their collections.

The Stamp Club is also hosting a children’s section in an effort to pique youthful interest in stamp collecting.

The display opened to brisk attendance Monday, Feb. 13, Collins says, following the presentation Friday, Feb. 10 of the historical society’s Long Time Family Business Award to Berry & Smith Trucking. Part of that acknowledgement, included in the display at Cherry Lane Mall,  is a video celebrating the company’s 60 years in Penticton, although in reality the company has been in the city for 63 years.

“We are the only society in the Okanagan that does anything on this large a scale for Heritage Week. It’s the best visiting session anywhere, and a great way to get people thinking about their heritage,” Collins says.

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