The Museum & Archives of Vernon

10/14/2026

Have skills to share and a soft spot for local history?

We're looking for additional volunteer board members to help keep The Museum & Archives of Vernon thriving. Experience in finance, marketing, fundraising or administration is especially welcome.

Reach out at [email protected] to learn more. We'd love to hear from you!

10/11/2026

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving filled with warmth, laughter, and the bounties of the season! 🦃🍽️🍁

10/11/2026

Sometimes, its the little things that ruin the inventory work-flow. 🙂‍↕️

Our dedicated collections team and volunteers are working hard to make sure all of our objects are properly catalogued. It's a journey, but we're getting there!

10/07/2026

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀

The VSAN - Vernon Seniors Action Network has launched a new community reporting initiative to help identify sidewalk, crosswalk, pathway, and accessibility problems throughout Vernon.

Residents are encouraged to report concerns that make it difficult or unsafe to move around the community, particularly for seniors, people using mobility devices, parents with strollers, and individuals with disabilities.

Examples of concerns that can be reported include:
• Uneven or damaged sidewalks
• Missing or difficult curb ramps
• Crosswalk safety concerns
• Obstacles on sidewalks or pathways
• Poor signage or wayfinding
• Other accessibility issues in public spaces

The information collected will help VSAN identify common concerns and support ongoing discussions with the City of Vernon and community partners about accessibility improvements.

The reporting form asks for the location of the problem, a brief description of what happened, when it was noticed, and suggestions for improvement. Providing contact information is optional.

To complete the reporting form, visit https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAANAAcPSI35UM0pCMEpTVlZTOVNWVThFNEU1UVhXV1BTOC4u

10/06/2026

Please note that our upcoming Hometown Histories Speaker Event with local forager Mikaela Cannon is sold out! Since this workshop requires space to move around and interact with Mikaela's specimens, we will not be able to accommodate sales at the door.

Thank you for supporting the Vernon Museum and the Vernon Branch of the Okanagan Historical Society!

10/05/2026

Tip: Never stop reading!

Come check out our gift shop for lots of local North Okanagan stories and books!

10/04/2026

Did you know that carp have been causing trouble in the Okanagan for more than a century? From early efforts to introduce new fish species to Okanagan Lake, to an attempt to trap and eradicate 40,000 carp, these fish have a surprisingly long history in the Valley.

But there's a part of the story we're still trying to piece together. We've heard that a Vernon business in the 1970s harvested carp to use as fertilizer. Does this sound familiar? Do you remember hearing about a local business doing this, or know anything about what they did with the carp?

If you have any information, we'd love to hear from you! Please email [email protected].

Read our latest blog post to learn more about the fishy history of carp in the Okanagan.

Despite their doleful looks, common carp have become widespread and are considered one of the most damaging aquatic invasive species.

10/04/2026

Just a little tip, never stop reading.

Come pick up a new book for your shelf, and help us keep local history around for generations to come at the MAV gift shop. We've got lots of local options to choose from! 📚

09/30/2026

𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟯𝟬 | 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Today, we recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools in Canada.

Museums and archives have a responsibility to care for the records and belongings in their collections thoughtfully, to acknowledge the histories they preserve, and to support opportunities for learning and understanding.

At the MAV, we continue to review our collections and records, learn from the history of the syilx Okanagan people and this region, and consider how our work can contribute to a more accurate and respectful understanding of our shared history.

We invite our community to take time today to learn more about the history of residential schools and the experiences of Survivors, their families, and communities. 🧡

09/27/2026

What’s in a name? More than you might think!

From George and Dorothy to David and Camille, the names found in Vernon’s history reflect changing tastes, cultural influences, immigration, and broader social trends in Canada.

Discover the stories behind some of the names represented in the MAV collections in our latest blog post.

Trends in first-name popularity can offer a glimpse into the social and cultural changes taking place around us.