Transportation historians like to highlight the big CPR sternwheelers, and the role they played in the development of the Kootenays and Okanagan during the influx of settler populations in the years leading up to the First World War. The smaller CPR freight boats, less glamorous, often get left...
Syilx people (Okanagan), traditionally used these tule mat teepees for summertime housing. The mats are constructed of tule mats that could be rolled up for easy and light travel. During the spring, summer, and into the fall, Syilx people would dig, gather, hunt and fish. The reeds will expand...
Which birds might I see today? Finches It is quite likely that you already know the birds I’m going to show you this time around. They are colourful, plentiful in numbers, sing beautifully and will come to feeders readily. They are the familiar finches, House Finches and American Goldfinches....
Cedar root baskets are used by many different tribes in various regions. Cedar is popular among the Coastal Salish but also with the Interior Salish. Cedar root baskets are valued not only for the aesthetic appeal but for the many uses that they provide. These baskets carried roots and berries and...
Which bird might I see today? Warblers As the days lengthen and warmer temperatures creep northward over the North American continent, deciduous leaves unfold, insects emerge – and the warblers return from wintering in the south to nest and raise young. These little birds endure a long migration,...
Following an earlier blog post on Spion Kop I received an e-mail from Vancouver resident Douglas Broome1. He sent such an interesting followup to the post about Spion Kop that I asked if I could share it with our readers. It follows below: “My parents [Ernie and Helen Patterson Broome]...
Which birds might I see today? Migrating ducks Did you know that about 30 different species of ducks can be seen in our valley sometime during the year? Like the ever-present Mallard, which everyone recognizes, about half of these species stay here throughout the winter months, wherever they can...
Main Street: at the heart of our community is the theme of 2015 Heritage Week in Canada. This theme is very timely in Lake Country where the District is celebrating its 20th anniversary of incorporation. It seems fitting to present comments from the District of Lake Country’s first mayor,...
The Birds of Winter: which bird might I see today? Chickadee If you have a bird feeder up in winter you are probably visited by chickadees. These endearing little birds are here year round and winter is one of the best times to see them. In our valley we have four species of chickadee:...
Do you need a recipe for some wartime Christmas Cheer? How about trying a “George and Frank Cocktail” or a “Marpole Slug”? Recently, Museum volunteer, Elaine Pybus, discovered this cocktail recipe in a letter written in 1945 and found in the Rainbow Ranche collection. The...
The name Oyama was chosen by the suggestion of the mother of Post Master, Dr. W. H. Irvine. The post office was established in 1906 and required a name. At this time, news reports of Field Marshal Oyama Iwao’s military accomplishments from the Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905, had been circulating in...
Which birds might I see today? Red-tailed Hawks As the leaves fall and temperatures cool, hawk migration goes into high gear. Those species of hawk that came here to breed in the summer go south and those that bred in the High Arctic come for the winter. But the hawk you are most likely to see in...