in the news - okanagan historical...

Kelowna Branch ExecutiveAnn Bostock 236-420-0604 Cathy & Chris Jennens 250-862-2801 Domenic Rampone 250-764-8564

Colleen Cornock 250-868-3647 Lois Marshall 250-762-6403 Evelyn Vielvoye 250-765-7220

Don Ford 250-212-1440 Margot Pridham 236-420-0708 Dorothy Zoellner 250-764-4154

Bob Hayes 250-763-8859

Fall SocialDate: Saturday, October 28, 2017Place: Missionwood Retirement Resort 1075 Barnes Ave Kelowna, BC V1W 5A8Time: 1:30 - 3:00 pmGuest Speaker: Caroline MacHardyPrice: $10.00 each

Tickets available at Mosaic Books, Okanagan Heritage Museum

or call 250-862-2801

OHSOkanagan Historical Society

KELOWNA BRANCH

In the News...OHSOkanagan Historical Society

KELOWNA BRANCH

In this issue:

President’s Welcome .................................. 2

Okanagan HistoricalSociety Bursaries ......................................... 2

Monday Courier Column ......................... 3

Membership Renewals ............................. 3

OHS Family Christmas Tree Event ......... 4

Okanagan Historical Society Picnic ...... 4

“81st Report” of the Okanagan Historical Society .................................... 5, 6

We Will Remember Them ................... 7, 8

President’s Welcome

Dear Membership,

Since the last newsletter, we have been busy with the Kelowna annual general meeting in March, the OHS Executive annual general meeting in Summerland in April, and the Family and Friends Pioneer Picnic at Parkinson Recreation Centre in July. We partnered with the ISCU Fat Cat Children’s Festival in July, where the people and history of our region was highlighted with programming focused on our diverse cultures. We also supported other community events such as Heritage Week in February, and the recent Benvoulin Heritage Festival, celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the church.

Coming shortly is the Fall Social (see insert) in October at Missionwood Retirement Resort.

The Kelowna Branch has also taken time this year to consider our mandate, and how best to represent and support our membership. I encourage you to contact me if you would like to become involved, with one of our events, or with our Society as a whole. I look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully submitted,

Lois MarshallPresidentKelowna BranchOkanagan Historical Society

President’s Message

The Okanagan Historical Society will again be sponsoring two bursaries through the Central Okanagan Bursary and Scholarship Society (COBSS) THE BUCKLAND BURSARY. The Kelowna Branch OHS looks after this bursary. The funds come from the sales of the book called “Ogopogo’s Vigil” written by Frank Buckland Senior, a former Director and President of the Kelowna Branch OHS In the 1940s. The bursary is presented to a secondary school student going on to post secondary studies in history, geography or journalism. The interest from the sale of the book has been invested and pays for the bursary. THE KELOWNA BRANCH OF THE OKANAGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY AWARD. This award is presented to a grade 12 student pursuing further education, with preference given to someone studying history, natural history, journalism or geography at a local post secondary institution. We look forward to reading the applications and wish the students all the best in their chosen future studies.

Okanagan Historical Society Bursaries

Monday Courier Column

Please submit stories for the Monday Edition of the Kelowna Courier to:

[email protected] or phone 236-420-0708. Single articles to record your memories can be a maximum of 1,000 words. If more words are need-ed and hence a longer article-it can be published on two consecutive Mondays. A photo or diagram should accompany your work if possible-and will be returned to you.

Thank you for your help in preserving our history!

Membership Renewals

Kelowna Branch OHS-Monday Newspaper Column

Membership in the Kelowna Branch, Okanagan Historical Society, runs from March until March of the followng year. Our membership is

$10.00 per person per year

Do you know that if you attend the Kelowna Branch Annual General meeting and dinner, $10 from your ticket covers the cost of Branch Membership?

If you cannot attend our AGM in March, please send your renewal/new member ship to:

OKANAGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, KELOWNA BRANCH, P.O. BOX 22105, CAPRI POST OFFICE, KELOWNA, BC V1Y 9N9

With your Branch membership you receive a twice yearly newsletter which contains information on our activities and other interesting articles and pictures.

Please support us by keeping your membership up to date.

Okanagan Historical Society PicnicJuly 16, 2017

Okanagan Historical Society Picnic

Remember when you and your family used to head out to find the perfect tree?

Enjoy a hot chocolate and warm up at the bon fire before walking around and choosing your perfect tree.

This will be a wonderful family event; make some memories and spend some time in the fresh air.

Date: Saturday and Sunday, December 16 & 17

Time: 10 am – 3 pm

Location: 3130 Hall Road

Directions: Head east along KLO Rd, over Mission Creek. Take first left on Hall Rd. Drive less than 5 min (1.6 km) and you’ve reached your destination.

All Christmas trees are 5-6 feet tall semi-cultured fir trees.

OHS Family Christmas Tree Event: December 16-17

Parkinson Recreation CentreJuly 16, 2017, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

The Kelowna Branch held its annual Pioneer Picnic on Sunday July 16, 2017, at the Parkinson Recreation Centre. This year we recognized Canada’s 150th anniversary.

Tables and chairs were set up along the creek, allowing people to enjoy their lunch while visiting in the shade.

OHS thanks our volunteers who made the event a success, Evelyn Vielvoye for the wonderful photographic and book display, Dendy Orchards for cherries, Safeway for ice cream, and our local dignitaries who attended and spoke at the pic-nic.

Finally, we would like to thank the City of Kelowna for their support in allowing us to use the Parkinson Recreation Centre for the picnic for all these years. This is the last year that OHS is able to hold the picnic free of charge. The Board is currently looking at options which would allow us to continue with the picnic. More to come in the spring newsletter.

Enjoying the Okanagan Historical Society Picnic

By Robert M. Hayes

The “81st Report” (2017) of the Okanagan Historical Society is now available for purchase, just in time for Christmas. The current “Report” runs to 220 pages of text and photographs. There are a number of well-written articles about World War I (1914 – 1918) and World War II (1939 – 1945) and their impact on the Okanagan Valley: • “Enderby’s Trench Comfort Club” by Bob Cowan • “The Mystery of Olive Millicent de Satge de Thoren” by Mary Trainer • “A Very Special Plaque” by Leonard J. Gamble • “Canada in the First World War – 100 Years Later 1917 – 2017” by Sharron J. Simpson • “Canoe Victory Hall: Victorious Again” by Estelle Noakes • “World War I: Hedley Boys” by Andy English and Jennifer Douglass • “Mara Lake Internment Camp” by Joan Cowan • “Air Battle over Belgium - May 4, 1916” by Eddy Lambrechy and David Gregory • “Japanese Maple, Prisoner of War in the Okanagan Valley” by Ken Koyama

The “81st Report” also has some fine articles about local First Nations: • “I am David” by David Gregoire • “Okanagan’s Path to Native Education” by Hannah Clark

Various Okanagan pioneers and their families have their stories recounted in the “81st Report”: • “Edward Richter” by Olly Sumner Richter • “Memories of Princeton’s Founding Mother: Susan Allison” by Sue MacGregor • “The Shirley Family History – A century of Service” by Brad Shirley

As well, this book contains a number of articles with specific references to Kelowna and district: • “The Evolution of the Grape Growing & Winemaking Industry in the Okanagan Valley” by Lynn

and John Bremmer • “The 1927 Polio Epidemic” by Robert M. Hayes • “Central Okanagan’s Old Cemeteries, Burial Sites, History, Genealogy and Stories” by Sharron J.

Simpson • “Dave Brewer and Brewer’s Pond on Silver Star Mountain” by Linda Peterat •

“Lives Remembered”: short tributes to local residents:

• Blanche Marie Bedford (nee Douillard) (1914 – 2017) • Ellen “Nel” A. Black (nee Ritchie) (1929 – 2016) • Eileen Blanleil (nee Gaspardone) (1937 – 2016) • William John “Bill” Cameron (1925 – 2016) • Andrew Johnston Cook (1930 – 2016) • Eunice Marie Coxon (nee McDonagh) (1925 – 2016) • Louis Peter “Lou” Dedinski (1926 – 2016) • Dorothy Joan dePyffer (nee Carew) (1926 – 2017) • Owen Paul Dickie (1955 – 2017)

Continued on next page

“81st Report” of the Okanagan Historical Society

• Dr. Robert Brian “Bob” Emslie (1923 – 2017) • Hylda Marjorie “Marj” Favali (nee Thomson) (1923 – 2017) • Marie Theresa Harrop (nee Hamilton) (1917 – 2017) • Otto Hemmerling (1924 – 2016) • Douglas Bruce Herbert (1920 – 2016) • Winifred Hoover (nee Luckett) (1923 – 2015) • Arthur Stephen Wynn Hughes-Games (1921 – 2016) • Suemori “Suey” Koga (1922 – 2016) • Sharon Marguerite Laing (nee Gibbons) (1941 – 2017) • Hilda Cecilia Lesmeister (nee Weisbeck) (1928 – 2017) • Cynthia Marietta Lightbody (nee Anderson) (1937 – 2016) • Russell Ross McDonagh (1920 – 2017) • Francis Mae Nahm (nee Lander) (1927 – 2015) • Geoffrey Paynter (1947 – 2016) • Frank John Pells (1921 – 2016) • Douglas Alexander Sutherland (1924 – 2017) • Wayne Sutherland (1938 – 2016) • George Edward “Ted” Swordy (1937 – 2017) • Ayame “Joan” Tanaka (nee Ueda) (1922 – 2016) • Ethel Mildred Truant (nee Webber) (1918 – 2016) • James Edward Vint (1924 – 2016) • Joyce Emma Young (nee Ralph) (1919 – 2016)

The “81st Report” is an excellent source of Okanagan history. It is available from Bob Hayes (250 – 763 – 8859) for the cost of $25.00 (no taxes). The “81st Report” is also available at Kelowna’s Okanagan Heritage Museum, 470 Queensway Avenue.

“81st Report” of the Okanagan Historical Society. . . continued from previous page

More Fun yet at the Okanagan Historical Society Picnic

We Will Remember ThemBy Robert M. Hayes

The Kelowna Branch OHD extends its condolences to the friends and families of these long time Cen-tral Okanagan residents:

BEDFORD, Blanche Marie (nee Douillard): October 14, 1914 (Assiniboia, SK) – Jan. 29, 2017 (Kelowna) Daughter of Ludger Pierre and Marie Verginia (nee Boudreau) Douillard Came to Kelowna in the mid-1930s Predeceased by husband John Wilfred “Jack” Bedford

CALDOW, Dr. Gordon Lothian: April 27, 1933 (Salmon Arm) – July 26, 2017 (Hereford, England) Son of Kelowna / Glenmore pioneers Robert and Mary (nee Jamieson) Caldow Predeceased by wife Beryl

CALDOW, Robert Joseph “Bob”: September 20, 1927 (Kelowna) – April 23, 2017 (Kelowna) Son of Kelowna / Glenmore pioneers Robert and Mary (nee Jamieson) Caldow Lifelong resident of the Central Okanagan Predeceased by wife Roberta (nee Ritchie)

COXON, Eunice Marie (nee McDonagh): July 29, 1925 (Winfield) – July 15, 2016 (Armstrong) Daughter of Winfield pioneers Verner R. And Harriet S. (nee Lidstone) McDonagh Lifelong resident of the Okanagan Predeceased by husband William Stanley “Bill”

DOEKSEN, Bessie F. (nee Gordon): May 8, 1925 (Kelowna) – May 27, 2017 Daughter of David Aitken and Bessie (nee Folds) Gordon Lifelong resident of Kelowna and long time member and supporter of the Okanagan Historical Society, Kelowna Branch Predeceased by husband Rijn

ELLIOT, George Alan: June 7, 1925 (Kelowna) – September 5, 2017 (Kelowna) Son of pioneers George and Dolly (nee Monford) Elliot and a direct descendant of the pioneer Bailey family Lifelong resident of the Central Okanagan Predeceased by wife Beatrice Isobel “Bea” (nee Van Idour)

EMSLIE, Dr. Robert Brian “Bob”: November 5, 1923 (Kelowna) – March 3, 2017 (Kelowna) Son of early Kelowna residents James Henry and Hilda Arlene (nee Edgell) Emslie Lifelong resident of the Central Okanagan Predeceased by first wife Mona (nee Herbert) Survived by wife June

FRANCE, Dr. Kenneth Alan: 1922 (Kelowna) – July 4, 2017 (Kelowna) Son of Oliver and Mabel (nee Vowles) France, early Kelowna residents Lifelong resident of the Central Okanagan Predeceased by wife Anne

HALL, Donald William Henry “Buster”: October 22, 1921 (Kelowna) – September 24, 2017 (Kelowna) Son of George and Jessie (nee Hancock) Hall, early Okanagan Mission residents Lifelong resident of the Central Okanagan Survived by wife Lois

HARDING, Kenneth Frederick: May 24, 1926 (Kamloops) – May 9, 2017 (Kelowna) Son of Percival Francis and Rosina May (nee Duggan) Hardy Came to Kelowna at the age of two years Long time member of the Okanagan Historical Society Survived by wife Gwen (nee Reece)

HARROP, Marie Theresa (nee Hamilton): November 21, 1917 (Wellsdale, AB) – Mar. 11, 2017 (Kelowna) Came to Enderby in 1920 and later to Fintry Predeceased by husband Arthur Harrop

HARTLEY, Gordon Dadwell: August 30, 1931 (Trail, BC) – July 27, 2017 (Kelowna) Came to Kelowna in 1956 Long time active member of the Central Okanagan Heritage Society (COHS) Survived by wife Wilma

LESMEISTER, Hilda Cecilia (nee Weisbeck): January 14, 1928 (Claybank, SK) – March 23, 2017 (Kelowna) Daughter of John and Perpetua (nee Berger) Weisbeck Came to Kelowna in 1929 Predeceased by husband Walter “Wally” Lesmeister

PARKES, Albina Agatha “Bea” (nee Ivanschitz): December 27, 1927 – April 7, 2017 (Kelowna) Long time resident of the Central Okanagan Predeceased by husband Robert Cooper “Bob” Parkes

ROGERS, Robert “Bob”: March 25, 1928 (Kelowna) – May 13, 2017 (Kelowna) Son of Kelowna pioneers Robert Winslow and Kate Elizabeth (nee Murrell) Rogers Life long resident of the Central Okanagan Survived by wife BeverleySTREGGER, William A: November 12, 1931 – September 20, 2017 (Kelowna) Son of George and Rosina Magdalena (nee Oster) Stregger Came to Kelowna with his family in 1945 Survived by wife Nora

TUCKER, Gordon Stewart Douglas: August 23, 1931 (Kelowna) – September 27, 2017 (Kelowna) Son of Kelowna pioneers Harold and Edith Emily (nee Perrett) Tucker Life long resident of the Central Okanagan Survived by wife Jean

WOSTRADOWSKI, Anna Maria (nee Bach): May 7, 1919 (Friedenstall, Alberta) – May 6, 2017 (Kelowna) Long time resident of the Central Okanagan Long time member of the Kelowna Branch, OHS, including many years on the Branch Executive

We Will Remember Them...Continued from previous page

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