Vernon, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia
, Canada
. Named after Forbes George Vernon
, a former MLA
of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 (2006), while its metropolitan region, Greater Vernon, has a population of 55,418 (2006). With this population, Vernon is the largest city in the North Okanagan Regional District. A resident of Vernon is called a "Vernonite".
In 2005, on an episode of The Early Show
, Vernon was ranked as one of the top six most desirable communities to retire to in North America by Consumer Reports
.
. Growth occurred quite rapidly in the few decades following the first trading posts. Discoveries of gold in surrounding creeks generated a small rush of miners, which in turn drew cattle farmers. Native presence prompted Oblate missionaries. Father Durieu built a cabin near the junction of Swan Lake and Long Lake Creeks about 1863, joining Luc Girouard, a gold miner and the first white settler in the area. By 1890, a charter was granted for the construction of a branch line from Sicamous to Okanagan Landing. In the surrounding district, wheat growing had become an important industry, second only to cattle ranching. Fruit farming was introduced by Lord Aberdeen on the Coldstream Ranch lands, attracting many British families to this area.
New subdivisions on East Hill, Mission Hill, and other areas near the city core accommodated the rapid population growth of this period. By the early 1900s, Vernon was recognized as the economic hub of the Okanagan. This period of growth and development came to an end in 1913, when an economic depression slowed the movement of capital for land development, although the establishment of the military camp in Vernon in 1913 and the growing importance of the food packaging industry softened the economic blow.
During both World Wars, Vernon was an important training ground for Canadian troops. The military camp, #110 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre, trained thousands of soldiers from 1940-45. The 19th Infantry Brigade made its headquarters here, comprising 3rd Battalion Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment), Winnipeg Light Infantry, Prince Albert Volunteers, 26th Field Company Royal Canadian Engineers, 25th Field Ambulance and various support units. Some 6 km to the east of the camp on the edge of the Coldstream Ranch was the Battle Drill
School. This camp trained Canadian soldiers in advanced fighting skills from 1942-45. It was the first FIBUA (Fighting In Built Up Areas) training centre in the world. To this day, unexploded artillery and mortar shells used in training are still turned up by the frost and development of the surrounding hills. Internment camps were also located in Vernon during the World Wars; in WWI for Ukrainian Canadians (this camp is now the site of W.L Seaton Secondary School) and in WWII for people of Japanese descent (mostly from Vancouver).
After WWII, the camp was mothballed. In 1949 it was reopened and became an Army Cadet Training Centre for the Royal Canadian Army Cadets
which it continues as to this day, Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre. This training centre teaches approximately 1400 cadets: citizenship, leadership, orienteering and map using, canoeing, sports events, bushcraft, music, safe firearms handling and shooting, rock climbing, mountaineering, first aid training, drill each summer. The ACSTC (Army Cadet Summer Training Centre) is operational for 10 weeks with course cadets taking courses up to 6 weeks in duration. The cadets come from nearly all parts of Canada. During the balance of the year the training centre serves various reserve and cadet units on weekends or longer training. It is the oldest ACSTC in Canada. Other ACSTCs include: Rocky Mountain ACSTC (NW of Cochrane, Alberta), Whitehorse CSTC, (Whitehorse, Yukon), Blackdown ACSTC (Borden, Ontario), Connaught ACSTC (Ottawa, Ontario), Valcartier ACSTC (CFB Valcartier
Quebec), Mont St-Sacrement CSTC, (St-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, Quebec) and Argonaut ACSTC (CFB Gagetown
, New Brunswick). Approximately 78,000 young Canadians have attended Vernon ACTSC in the past 61 years. Vernon ACSTC celebrated its 60th Anniversary in the summer of 2009.
Three provincial highways can be found in Vernon: Highway 97 which passes through Vernon, Highway 97A which begins in Vernon, and Highway 6 which ends in Vernon. In recent years, each of these highways has undergone major renovations, including a new $22-million interchange
system and four lane expansion at the Highway 97 and Highway 97A junction.
The City of Vernon, in conjunction with the District of Coldstream
and the North Okanagan Regional District
, operates Vernon Regional Transit
through BC Transit
. This transit system is responsible for all local full-service and handyDART
public bus transportation. However, there are very few buses services the area, and they do not run on a very tight schedule. Most residents get around by automobiles, and in the summer many of them walk. Greyhound Canada also serves Vernon for out-of-town destinations from their downtown bus terminal.
Vernon is served by the Vernon Regional Airport (IATA: YVE, ICAO: CYVK) in the Okanagan Landing area. Currently, the airport has no scheduled air service, and is primarily used by civilian aircraft.
The Greater Vernon area is also served by Kelowna International Airport
, located approximately 40 kilometres (about a 1/2 hour to 40 minute drive) south on Hwy 97. Numerous airlines provide scheduled passenger and cargo services to points throughout British Columbia and Alberta
, as well as to Toronto
, Ontario
and Seattle, Washington (USA). Some airlines also offer service to locations as far away as Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Most people that are traveling long distances have to drive to Kelowna International Airport and then fly from there to Vancouver International Airport, where they take their flight to the location they are traveling to. Calgary International Airport
is another convenient connecting point, as it's also about a one-hour flight from Kelowna
.
, a school district that includes 14 elementary schools and 5 high schools. The high schools are: Vernon Secondary School, Kalamalka High School, Clarence Fulton High School, W.L. Seaton Secondary, and Charles Bloom Secondary. Vernon Secondary School, otherwise known as VSS is in the neighborhood of East Hill. Kalamalka High School, otherwise known as Kal, is in the neighboring municipality of Coldstream which is near Kalamalka Lake. Fulton High School is near the airport in South Vernon. Seaton High School, also known as Seaton, is located directly off 27th Street which merges into Highway 97. Charles Bloom Secondary is in the town of Lumby, which is about 20 minutes East of Vernon on Highway 6. The high schools have many school rivalries, with all five schools competing in annual grad pranks as well as healthy competition in sporting events. Vernon is also home to multiple independent schools such as the Vernon Christian School which has both an elementary (preschool-grade 6) and secondary campus with a middle school (grades 7-9) and high school (grades 10-12) www.vcs.ca
For post-secondary education, Vernon is home to Okanagan College
, a multi-campus full degree granting college. Many summer courses and yearly courses are offered there. Other smaller community and specialty colleges exist within Vernon.
largest and North America's
second largest Winter Carnival
.
Also, in summer, there is the Sunshine festival, held on the main street.
During the August long weekend for the past 9 years The Komasket Music Festival has taken place on the land of the Okanagan Indian Band. During this weekend a multi-cultural village is created in the town of Vernon and draws a crowd from across the nation as well as introducing international acts including this year's headliner The Wailers (reggae legend Bob Marley's backing band) to the area for the first time (in 2009 the festival brought 80's hip-hop icons Arrested Development (group)). It was started by the local music act known as Samsara and promotes family, community, world music and freedom. Being on sacred native land there is a no alcohol policy which creates a much safer and family orientated vibe.
Vernon is also home to a state of the art performing arts centre, The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. The society presents three series of entertainment including dance, theatre and child oriented. The performing arts centre also hosts hundreds of touring musical acts, local talent and community based events on a yearly basis. Vernon also boasts one of the most successful film societies in Canada. Films are presented every second Monday at Vernon's Towne Cinema (www.vernoncinema.com). The Vernon Film Society also produces two film festivals per year. One is a festival dedicated to the presentation of documentary films from around the world. The Second film festiva is also an international film festival dedicated to the presentation of mainstream movies that fall into the "Arts" genre.
Vernon's Towne Cinema is the home of The Vernon Film Society and is a classic example of a 1930's Art Deco style theatre. Built in 1929-30, the Towne Cinema began its life as The National Ball Room, presenting live entertainment on stage, hosting banquets and stage plays. It was the main venue in Vernon for entertaining the troops during the Second World War and was heavily involved in selling war bonds and the collection of aluminum from its customers for the war effort. Children could bring an old aluminum pot or pan and receive a ticket for a free movie, the aluminum going towards the construction of war planes and other military materials so necessary for the achievement of victory over the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler. The Towne Cinema has enjoyed 80 years of success entertaining movie fans in this Okanagan city and hopes to enjoy 80 more.
The Vernon Community Arts Centre is located in Polson Park near downtown Vernon. This community centre is a studio-based facility and is operated by the Arts Council of the North Okanagan. The VCAC offers year-round programming for youth and adults such as art classes and workshops, an artist in residence program and independent study sessions.
Vernon also hosts the Creative Chaos art fair. Many artisans come and sell: jewellery, chocolates and candies, unique clothing, and other household items and/or decorations. The fair usually lasts three days and many of the citizens of Vernon partake. One of the main draws of the fair is the food fair. The food fair is held in the ice-less ice rink in the middle of the Rec Centre. A number of vendors are there selling many different cultural foods. The Creative Chaos art fair is a highlight in Vernon.
Vernon's downtown core is home to a large public art display in the form of its mural project. This artwork depicts interpretations of period photographs from Vernon's early history. The collection of most of the approximate 26 murals was created under the direction of lead artist Michelle Loughery
. The mural project is in a continual state of growth, with new pieces of art being added at regular intervals. One of the most notable murals is a depiction of Sveva Caetani
, daughter of Italian noble Leone Caetani
. She was an Italian immigrant who survived captivity by her mother to become a famed artist and local art instructor.
Vernon is known for its lakes and beaches in the summer, and skiing and hockey in the winter. It is therefore a year-round tourist destination and weekend get-away for people from Vancouver
and Calgary
. During the summer Vernon hosts a large SloPitch tournament (Funtastic).
The Vernon area is home to several golf courses. Among these is the prestigious Predator Ridge Resort
, a 36-hole golf resort and community. This resort is one of only two public golf courses in Western Canada to have been ranked by Score Magazine as one of Canada's top 25 golf courses over the last 8 years. Predator Ridge Resort also hosted the Skins Game twice - first in 2000 featuring Fred Couples
, Sergio García
, Phil Mickelson
, and Mike Weir
, then in 2008 featuring Mike Weir
, Fred Couples
, Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie
and Camilo Villegas
.
A new Fred Couples Signature golf course is now open. "The Rise" showcases unsurpassed views of the Okanagan Lake and of Vernon itself.
One of the most popular winter sports in Vernon is skiing
. Blessed with two major ski locations, each winter locals and tourists alike flock to Silver Star Mountain Resort
and Sovereign Lake Nordic Club. Known as one of the top ski resorts in North America, Silver Star
also has a large cross-country skiing
area which hosted a 1991 FIS Cross-Country World Cup
event. As another world class ski area, Sovereign Lake is the region's premier cross-country skiing
location with over 50 kilometers of skiing terrain. This Nordic Club gained worldwide exposure as the host of a 2005 FIS Cross-Country World Cup
event.
Curling
also has a strong following in Vernon, with local curlers being found at the Vernon Curling Club. In past years, Vernon has hosted several major national curling events, including the 1979 Canadian Senior Women's Curling Championship
, the 1992 Canadian Junior Curling Championships
, and the 2004 Canadian Senior Curling Championships
. Its first international event, the 2008 Ford World Women's Curling Championship
was held at the Vernon Multiplex
.
Tennis
Another popular sport in Vernon is Tennis with many courts in picturesque locations . The Vernon Tennis Association (VTA) was started in October 2008 to bring together all tennis players of all skill levels within the Vernon area and to offer both competitive and social programs that are not being offered currently to players. Presently the VTA operates programs 15 hours per week in "partnership" with Greater Vernon Parks, Recreation and Culture.
VTA website
Hosting several beaches, Kalamalka Beach (Kal Beach) is amongst the most popular near Vernon. A large pier built by a local service club is used for sun bathing and jumping. In the evenings the beach is used extensively for beach volleyball
. Kin Beach and Paddle Wheel Park Beach on Okanagan Lake
are also among the most popular of the twenty or so larger beaches in Vernon. If you find the larger beaches too crowded, it is possible to find your own private piece of beach real estate, as there are hundreds, if not thousands of small accessible beaches across the landscape, and even your own private lake if you look hard enough.
SunValley Speedway
brings stock cars, including a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
national event, to their facility north of Vernon.
Cougar Canyon
is near Vernon, with both a popular rock climbing
site and an ecological preserve. Another place for cliff jumpers and campers is Ellison Provincial Park, located about 30-40 minutes out of South Vernon.
Vernon has also seen success in junior hockey. The Vernon Vipers
(former the Vernon Lakers) are one of the most decorated junior teams in Canadian history having won the Royal Bank Cup
(formerly the Centennial Cup) 6 times, four coming in the 1990s. They won while hosting the tournament in 1990, repeated in 1991, again in 1996, in 1999 and most recently won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010; giving arguably the most dominant performance of any franchise in a single decade since the introduction of the Centennial Cup in 1971. To date, the Vernon Vipers have won 4 Royal Bank Cups, 2 Centennial Cups, 4 Abbott Cups, 5 Doyle Cups, 8 Mowat Cups and 9 League Titles.
The Vernon Tigers Junior B Lacrosse Club was established in 2000, coinciding with the inception of the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League
. Since that time, they have won three league titles and two provincial silver medals.
, Austria Modesto, California
, United States Saint-Lambert, Quebec
, Canada Tavullia
, Italy Tome
, Japan
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Named after Forbes George Vernon
Forbes George Vernon
Forbes George Vernon , Lieutenant British Army, was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Canadian province of British Columbia from 1875 to 1882, and from 1886 to 1894, representing the riding of Yale...
, a former MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 (2006), while its metropolitan region, Greater Vernon, has a population of 55,418 (2006). With this population, Vernon is the largest city in the North Okanagan Regional District. A resident of Vernon is called a "Vernonite".
In 2005, on an episode of The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
, Vernon was ranked as one of the top six most desirable communities to retire to in North America by Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union since 1936. It publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides...
.
History
In the early years, parts of the Okanagan Valley were inhabited by the Interior Salish people. They were hunter-gatherers, who are a direct relation to the Coastal Salish known for their Totem Poles. The Interior Natives were a quiet, non-warlike culture which was over-run by the fur traders first arriving in 1811. The earliest development, aside from pit-houses which dot the area, occurred alongside Swan LakeSwan Lake, British Columbia
In the Canadian province of British Columbia, Swan Lake may refer to:* Swan Lake , a lake north of Vernon** Swan Lake Indian Reserve No...
. Growth occurred quite rapidly in the few decades following the first trading posts. Discoveries of gold in surrounding creeks generated a small rush of miners, which in turn drew cattle farmers. Native presence prompted Oblate missionaries. Father Durieu built a cabin near the junction of Swan Lake and Long Lake Creeks about 1863, joining Luc Girouard, a gold miner and the first white settler in the area. By 1890, a charter was granted for the construction of a branch line from Sicamous to Okanagan Landing. In the surrounding district, wheat growing had become an important industry, second only to cattle ranching. Fruit farming was introduced by Lord Aberdeen on the Coldstream Ranch lands, attracting many British families to this area.
New subdivisions on East Hill, Mission Hill, and other areas near the city core accommodated the rapid population growth of this period. By the early 1900s, Vernon was recognized as the economic hub of the Okanagan. This period of growth and development came to an end in 1913, when an economic depression slowed the movement of capital for land development, although the establishment of the military camp in Vernon in 1913 and the growing importance of the food packaging industry softened the economic blow.
During both World Wars, Vernon was an important training ground for Canadian troops. The military camp, #110 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre, trained thousands of soldiers from 1940-45. The 19th Infantry Brigade made its headquarters here, comprising 3rd Battalion Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment), Winnipeg Light Infantry, Prince Albert Volunteers, 26th Field Company Royal Canadian Engineers, 25th Field Ambulance and various support units. Some 6 km to the east of the camp on the edge of the Coldstream Ranch was the Battle Drill
Battle drill
An Infantry battle drill describes how platoons and squads apply fire and maneuver to commonly encountered situations. They require leaders to make decisions rapidly and to issue brief oral orders quickly....
School. This camp trained Canadian soldiers in advanced fighting skills from 1942-45. It was the first FIBUA (Fighting In Built Up Areas) training centre in the world. To this day, unexploded artillery and mortar shells used in training are still turned up by the frost and development of the surrounding hills. Internment camps were also located in Vernon during the World Wars; in WWI for Ukrainian Canadians (this camp is now the site of W.L Seaton Secondary School) and in WWII for people of Japanese descent (mostly from Vancouver).
After WWII, the camp was mothballed. In 1949 it was reopened and became an Army Cadet Training Centre for the Royal Canadian Army Cadets
Royal Canadian Army Cadets
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in...
which it continues as to this day, Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre. This training centre teaches approximately 1400 cadets: citizenship, leadership, orienteering and map using, canoeing, sports events, bushcraft, music, safe firearms handling and shooting, rock climbing, mountaineering, first aid training, drill each summer. The ACSTC (Army Cadet Summer Training Centre) is operational for 10 weeks with course cadets taking courses up to 6 weeks in duration. The cadets come from nearly all parts of Canada. During the balance of the year the training centre serves various reserve and cadet units on weekends or longer training. It is the oldest ACSTC in Canada. Other ACSTCs include: Rocky Mountain ACSTC (NW of Cochrane, Alberta), Whitehorse CSTC, (Whitehorse, Yukon), Blackdown ACSTC (Borden, Ontario), Connaught ACSTC (Ottawa, Ontario), Valcartier ACSTC (CFB Valcartier
CFB Valcartier
Canadian Forces Base Valcartier is a Canadian Forces Base located in the municipality of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, approximately north of Quebec City...
Quebec), Mont St-Sacrement CSTC, (St-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, Quebec) and Argonaut ACSTC (CFB Gagetown
CFB Gagetown
Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, referred to as CFB Gagetown is a large Canadian Forces Base located in southwestern New Brunswick.- Construction of the base :...
, New Brunswick). Approximately 78,000 young Canadians have attended Vernon ACTSC in the past 61 years. Vernon ACSTC celebrated its 60th Anniversary in the summer of 2009.
Transportation
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
system and four lane expansion at the Highway 97 and Highway 97A junction.
The City of Vernon, in conjunction with the District of Coldstream
Coldstream, British Columbia
Coldstream is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada, located at the northern end of Kalamalka Lake in the Okanagan Valley. Incorporated on December 21, 1906, Coldstream celebrated its centennial in 2006. The municipality is directly southeast of Vernon and is considered part of...
and the North Okanagan Regional District
Regional District of North Okanagan, British Columbia
The Regional District of North Okanagan is a regional district in the Canadian province of British Columbia, Canada. The Canada 2006 Census population was 77,301. The land area is 7,512.58 km²...
, operates Vernon Regional Transit
Vernon Regional Transit
Vernon Regional Transit System provides bus service to destinations in Vernon, Coldstream and North Okanagan area of British Columbia, using fully accessible low floor transit buses....
through BC Transit
BC Transit
BC Transit is a provincial crown agency responsible for coordinating the delivery of public transportation within British Columbia, Canada, outside of Greater Vancouver...
. This transit system is responsible for all local full-service and handyDART
HandyDART
HandyDART is an accessible transit service in British Columbia that uses vans or small buses to transport disabled or elderly passengers who cannot use the normal transit system...
public bus transportation. However, there are very few buses services the area, and they do not run on a very tight schedule. Most residents get around by automobiles, and in the summer many of them walk. Greyhound Canada also serves Vernon for out-of-town destinations from their downtown bus terminal.
Vernon is served by the Vernon Regional Airport (IATA: YVE, ICAO: CYVK) in the Okanagan Landing area. Currently, the airport has no scheduled air service, and is primarily used by civilian aircraft.
The Greater Vernon area is also served by Kelowna International Airport
Kelowna International Airport
Kelowna International Airport is a Canadian airport located approximately 10 minutes or northeast of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, on Highway 97....
, located approximately 40 kilometres (about a 1/2 hour to 40 minute drive) south on Hwy 97. Numerous airlines provide scheduled passenger and cargo services to points throughout British Columbia and Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, as well as to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Seattle, Washington (USA). Some airlines also offer service to locations as far away as Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Most people that are traveling long distances have to drive to Kelowna International Airport and then fly from there to Vancouver International Airport, where they take their flight to the location they are traveling to. Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport, , is the international airport that serves Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the surrounding region; it is situated approximately northeast of downtown Calgary...
is another convenient connecting point, as it's also about a one-hour flight from Kelowna
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
.
Climate
Education
Vernon is currently served by School District 22 VernonSchool District 22 Vernon
School District 22 Vernon is a school district in Okanagan region of British Columbia. It includes Vernon, Lumby and Coldstream.-Schools:...
, a school district that includes 14 elementary schools and 5 high schools. The high schools are: Vernon Secondary School, Kalamalka High School, Clarence Fulton High School, W.L. Seaton Secondary, and Charles Bloom Secondary. Vernon Secondary School, otherwise known as VSS is in the neighborhood of East Hill. Kalamalka High School, otherwise known as Kal, is in the neighboring municipality of Coldstream which is near Kalamalka Lake. Fulton High School is near the airport in South Vernon. Seaton High School, also known as Seaton, is located directly off 27th Street which merges into Highway 97. Charles Bloom Secondary is in the town of Lumby, which is about 20 minutes East of Vernon on Highway 6. The high schools have many school rivalries, with all five schools competing in annual grad pranks as well as healthy competition in sporting events. Vernon is also home to multiple independent schools such as the Vernon Christian School which has both an elementary (preschool-grade 6) and secondary campus with a middle school (grades 7-9) and high school (grades 10-12) www.vcs.ca
For post-secondary education, Vernon is home to Okanagan College
Okanagan College
Okanagan College is a public, post-secondary institution with over 120 certificates, diplomas, degrees and programs including Apprenticeship & Pre-apprenticeship Trades programs. It is located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada...
, a multi-campus full degree granting college. Many summer courses and yearly courses are offered there. Other smaller community and specialty colleges exist within Vernon.
Arts and culture
Each winter, Vernon plays host to the Vernon Winter Carnival. First held in 1961, it is now Western Canada'sWestern Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
largest and North America's
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
second largest Winter Carnival
Winter carnival
A Winter carnival is an outdoor celebration that occurs in wintertime.Winter carnivals, or festivals, are popular in places where winter is particularly long or severe, such as Scandinavia, Canada and the northern United States...
.
Also, in summer, there is the Sunshine festival, held on the main street.
During the August long weekend for the past 9 years The Komasket Music Festival has taken place on the land of the Okanagan Indian Band. During this weekend a multi-cultural village is created in the town of Vernon and draws a crowd from across the nation as well as introducing international acts including this year's headliner The Wailers (reggae legend Bob Marley's backing band) to the area for the first time (in 2009 the festival brought 80's hip-hop icons Arrested Development (group)). It was started by the local music act known as Samsara and promotes family, community, world music and freedom. Being on sacred native land there is a no alcohol policy which creates a much safer and family orientated vibe.
Vernon is also home to a state of the art performing arts centre, The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. The society presents three series of entertainment including dance, theatre and child oriented. The performing arts centre also hosts hundreds of touring musical acts, local talent and community based events on a yearly basis. Vernon also boasts one of the most successful film societies in Canada. Films are presented every second Monday at Vernon's Towne Cinema (www.vernoncinema.com). The Vernon Film Society also produces two film festivals per year. One is a festival dedicated to the presentation of documentary films from around the world. The Second film festiva is also an international film festival dedicated to the presentation of mainstream movies that fall into the "Arts" genre.
Vernon's Towne Cinema is the home of The Vernon Film Society and is a classic example of a 1930's Art Deco style theatre. Built in 1929-30, the Towne Cinema began its life as The National Ball Room, presenting live entertainment on stage, hosting banquets and stage plays. It was the main venue in Vernon for entertaining the troops during the Second World War and was heavily involved in selling war bonds and the collection of aluminum from its customers for the war effort. Children could bring an old aluminum pot or pan and receive a ticket for a free movie, the aluminum going towards the construction of war planes and other military materials so necessary for the achievement of victory over the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler. The Towne Cinema has enjoyed 80 years of success entertaining movie fans in this Okanagan city and hopes to enjoy 80 more.
The Vernon Community Arts Centre is located in Polson Park near downtown Vernon. This community centre is a studio-based facility and is operated by the Arts Council of the North Okanagan. The VCAC offers year-round programming for youth and adults such as art classes and workshops, an artist in residence program and independent study sessions.
Vernon also hosts the Creative Chaos art fair. Many artisans come and sell: jewellery, chocolates and candies, unique clothing, and other household items and/or decorations. The fair usually lasts three days and many of the citizens of Vernon partake. One of the main draws of the fair is the food fair. The food fair is held in the ice-less ice rink in the middle of the Rec Centre. A number of vendors are there selling many different cultural foods. The Creative Chaos art fair is a highlight in Vernon.
Vernon's downtown core is home to a large public art display in the form of its mural project. This artwork depicts interpretations of period photographs from Vernon's early history. The collection of most of the approximate 26 murals was created under the direction of lead artist Michelle Loughery
Michelle loughery
Michelle Loughery is an internationally acclaimed muralist from British Columbia, Canada.-Early career:Michelle was born in the community of Michel-Natal in the Elk Valley in southeastern British Columbia, but her family was relocated to the nearby mining town of Sparwood when the community of...
. The mural project is in a continual state of growth, with new pieces of art being added at regular intervals. One of the most notable murals is a depiction of Sveva Caetani
Sveva Caetani
Sveva Caetani , was a Italian-Canadian artist.She emigrated to Canada in 1921 with her father, Leone Caetani, and her mother, Olfeia Fabiani...
, daughter of Italian noble Leone Caetani
Leone Caetani
Leone Caetani , Duke of Sermoneta , was an Italian scholar, politician and historian of the Middle-East....
. She was an Italian immigrant who survived captivity by her mother to become a famed artist and local art instructor.
Sports and recreation
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
. During the summer Vernon hosts a large SloPitch tournament (Funtastic).
The Vernon area is home to several golf courses. Among these is the prestigious Predator Ridge Resort
Predator Ridge Resort
Predator Ridge Resort is a 1200-acre 36-hole golf resort located in the Okanagan Valley outside of Vernon, British Columbia. Predator Ridge Resort was acquired by Wesbild Holdings Ltd in 2007...
, a 36-hole golf resort and community. This resort is one of only two public golf courses in Western Canada to have been ranked by Score Magazine as one of Canada's top 25 golf courses over the last 8 years. Predator Ridge Resort also hosted the Skins Game twice - first in 2000 featuring Fred Couples
Fred Couples
Frederick Steven Couples is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. A former World No. 1, he has won numerous events, most notably the 1992 Masters Tournament. In August 2011 he won his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship...
, Sergio García
Sergio García
Sergio García Fernández is a Spanish professional golfer who plays on both the United States PGA Tour and the European Tour. He has spent much of his career in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings...
, Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson
Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed...
, and Mike Weir
Mike Weir
Michael Richard Weir, CM, O.Ont is a Canadian professional golfer on the PGA Tour. He spent over 110 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 2001 and 2005. He is best known for winning the Masters in 2003....
, then in 2008 featuring Mike Weir
Mike Weir
Michael Richard Weir, CM, O.Ont is a Canadian professional golfer on the PGA Tour. He spent over 110 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 2001 and 2005. He is best known for winning the Masters in 2003....
, Fred Couples
Fred Couples
Frederick Steven Couples is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. A former World No. 1, he has won numerous events, most notably the 1992 Masters Tournament. In August 2011 he won his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship...
, Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie
Colin Montgomerie
Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31...
and Camilo Villegas
Camilo Villegas
Camilo Villegas is a Colombian professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and the European Tour.-Early years:Villegas was born in Medellín, Colombia, and took up golf as a child...
.
A new Fred Couples Signature golf course is now open. "The Rise" showcases unsurpassed views of the Okanagan Lake and of Vernon itself.
One of the most popular winter sports in Vernon is skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
. Blessed with two major ski locations, each winter locals and tourists alike flock to Silver Star Mountain Resort
Silver Star Mountain Resort
Silver Star Mountain Resort is a ski resort located near Silver Star Provincial Park in the Shuswap Highland of the Monashee Mountains, northeast of the city of Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Silver Star's snow season runs from late November to mid-April weather permitting...
and Sovereign Lake Nordic Club. Known as one of the top ski resorts in North America, Silver Star
Silver Star Mountain Resort
Silver Star Mountain Resort is a ski resort located near Silver Star Provincial Park in the Shuswap Highland of the Monashee Mountains, northeast of the city of Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Silver Star's snow season runs from late November to mid-April weather permitting...
also has a large cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
area which hosted a 1991 FIS Cross-Country World Cup
FIS Cross-Country World Cup
The FIS Cross-Country World Cup is an annual cross-country skiing competition, arranged by the International Ski Federation since 1981. The competition was arranged unofficially between 1973 and 1981, although it received provisional recognition on the 31...
event. As another world class ski area, Sovereign Lake is the region's premier cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
location with over 50 kilometers of skiing terrain. This Nordic Club gained worldwide exposure as the host of a 2005 FIS Cross-Country World Cup
FIS Cross-Country World Cup
The FIS Cross-Country World Cup is an annual cross-country skiing competition, arranged by the International Ski Federation since 1981. The competition was arranged unofficially between 1973 and 1981, although it received provisional recognition on the 31...
event.
Curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
also has a strong following in Vernon, with local curlers being found at the Vernon Curling Club. In past years, Vernon has hosted several major national curling events, including the 1979 Canadian Senior Women's Curling Championship
Canadian Senior Curling Championships
The Canadian Senior Curling Championships is an annual bonspiel held to determine the national championships in senior curling for Canada. Seniors are defined as being people over the age of 50. The Championship team plays at the World Senior Curling Championships the following year.-Men's:-Women's:...
, the 1992 Canadian Junior Curling Championships
Canadian Junior Curling Championships
The Canadian Junior Curling Championships is an annual curling tournament held to determine the best junior-level curling team in Canada. Junior level curlers must be under the age of 20 as of December 31 in the year prior to the tournament....
, and the 2004 Canadian Senior Curling Championships
Canadian Senior Curling Championships
The Canadian Senior Curling Championships is an annual bonspiel held to determine the national championships in senior curling for Canada. Seniors are defined as being people over the age of 50. The Championship team plays at the World Senior Curling Championships the following year.-Men's:-Women's:...
. Its first international event, the 2008 Ford World Women's Curling Championship
2008 Ford World Women's Curling Championship
-Draw 2:March 22, 18:00-Draw 3:March 23, 10:30-Draw 4:March 23, 16:00-Draw 5:March 23, 20:00-Draw 6:March 24, 8:30-Draw 7:March 24, 1:00 PM-Draw 8:March 24, 18:30-Draw 9:March 25, 8:30...
was held at the Vernon Multiplex
Vernon Multiplex
The Wesbild Centre is a 3,006 seat multi-purpose arena located in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. The is an additional standing room capacity of 500...
.
Tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
Another popular sport in Vernon is Tennis with many courts in picturesque locations . The Vernon Tennis Association (VTA) was started in October 2008 to bring together all tennis players of all skill levels within the Vernon area and to offer both competitive and social programs that are not being offered currently to players. Presently the VTA operates programs 15 hours per week in "partnership" with Greater Vernon Parks, Recreation and Culture.
VTA website
Hosting several beaches, Kalamalka Beach (Kal Beach) is amongst the most popular near Vernon. A large pier built by a local service club is used for sun bathing and jumping. In the evenings the beach is used extensively for beach volleyball
Beach volleyball
Beach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....
. Kin Beach and Paddle Wheel Park Beach on Okanagan Lake
Okanagan Lake
Okanagan Lake is a large, deep lake in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. The lake is 135 km long, between 4 and 5 km wide, and has a surface area of 351 km². The lake's maximum depth is 232 meters near Grant Island...
are also among the most popular of the twenty or so larger beaches in Vernon. If you find the larger beaches too crowded, it is possible to find your own private piece of beach real estate, as there are hundreds, if not thousands of small accessible beaches across the landscape, and even your own private lake if you look hard enough.
SunValley Speedway
SunValley Speedway
Motoplex Speedway, formerly known as SunValley Speedway, is a paved tri-oval auto racing facility located in Spallumcheen, just north of Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. The facility features an 9,200-seat ½ mile NASCAR-sanctioned tri-oval arguably the best track in the Pacific North West...
brings stock cars, including a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series , commonly abbreviated as NCATS, is a national NASCAR racing series in Canada that is based from the old CASCAR Super Series which was founded in 1981.-History:...
national event, to their facility north of Vernon.
Cougar Canyon
Cougar Canyon
Cougar Canyon is a canyon near Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park, near the City of Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.It is a long canyon running along the eastern side of Kalamalka Lake. The Canyon is very popular with the local rock climbing community...
is near Vernon, with both a popular rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
site and an ecological preserve. Another place for cliff jumpers and campers is Ellison Provincial Park, located about 30-40 minutes out of South Vernon.
Vernon has also seen success in junior hockey. The Vernon Vipers
Vernon Vipers
The Vernon Vipers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Wesbild Centre.-History:...
(former the Vernon Lakers) are one of the most decorated junior teams in Canadian history having won the Royal Bank Cup
Royal Bank Cup
The Royal Bank Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held to determine the Canadian Junior A champion. The winner of the tournament wins the Royal Bank Cup...
(formerly the Centennial Cup) 6 times, four coming in the 1990s. They won while hosting the tournament in 1990, repeated in 1991, again in 1996, in 1999 and most recently won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010; giving arguably the most dominant performance of any franchise in a single decade since the introduction of the Centennial Cup in 1971. To date, the Vernon Vipers have won 4 Royal Bank Cups, 2 Centennial Cups, 4 Abbott Cups, 5 Doyle Cups, 8 Mowat Cups and 9 League Titles.
| Club | League | Sport | Established | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon Vipers Vernon Vipers The Vernon Vipers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Wesbild Centre.-History:... |
BCHL | Ice hockey Ice hockey Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take... |
1961 | Wesbild Centre |
The Vernon Tigers Junior B Lacrosse Club was established in 2000, coinciding with the inception of the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League
Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League
The Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League is a box lacrosse league sanctioned by the British Columbia Lacrosse Association in British Columbia, Canada. The TOJLL's Kamloops Venom became the leagues first Provincial Champions in 2010...
. Since that time, they have won three league titles and two provincial silver medals.
| Club | League | Sport | Established | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon Tigers | TOJLL Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League The Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League is a box lacrosse league sanctioned by the British Columbia Lacrosse Association in British Columbia, Canada. The TOJLL's Kamloops Venom became the leagues first Provincial Champions in 2010... |
Lacrosse Lacrosse Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh... |
2000 | Wesbild Centre |
Notable Vernonites
- Sean HarveySean HarveySean Harvey is a former Mayor of the City of Vernon, British Columbia. He served as mayor from 1999 to 2005, and also served as a director on the North Okanagan Regional District board.-Spending scandal:...
, disgraced ex-Vernon mayor - Ken HollandKen HollandKenneth Mark Holland is a retired Canadian professional goaltender and current General Manager and executive Vice President of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Holland was drafted in the 12th round, 188th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1975 NHL Entry Draft...
, general manager of the Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... - Daniel PowterDaniel PowterDaniel Richard Powter is a Canadian recording artist. He is known for his hit "Bad Day", which spent five weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Powter became the only act to register the #1 hit of the year but chart no other Hot 100 hit.- Life and career :Powter grew up in Vernon, in the...
, singer-songwriter of US Billboard #1 hit song from 2005 Bad DayBad Day (Daniel Powter song)"Bad Day" is a song written and performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter. It was released as the first single from his second album Daniel Powter and achieved the #1 spot in the U.S. and Ireland. In the U.S... - Eric Brewer, ice hockey player for the Tampa Bay LightningTampa Bay LightningThe Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
- Andrew EbbettAndrew EbbettAndrew Ebbett is a ice hockey centre for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:Undrafted, Ebbett played collegiate hockey with the University of Michigan of the CCHA. After captaining the Wolverines in his senior year, Ebbett was signed as a free agent by the Ottawa...
, ice hockey player for the Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... - Tracy GarneauTracy GarneauTracy Garneau is a Canadian ultramarathoner. She was the 2010 UltraRunning Female North American runner of the year.-Running career:Garneau began running at age eleven in her hometown of Vernon, British Columbia. She ran several marathons before running her first ultramarathon in 2004 by competing...
, Ultramarathon runner - Eric GodardEric GodardEric Godard is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Texas Stars.-Playing career:Godard played junior hockey with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League...
, professional hockey player for the Pittsburgh PenguinsPittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
. - Larry KwongLarry KwongLarry Kwong, born Eng Kai Geong , was the first Chinese Canadian to play in the National Hockey League. He was also the first NHL player from Vernon, BC, and the Okanagan region...
, first Chinese Canadian ice hockey player in the NHL - Jerred SmithsonJerred SmithsonJerred Smithson is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League. Smithson scored the game-winning goal in Game 5 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs to beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2...
, professional hockey player for the Nashville PredatorsNashville PredatorsThe Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. - James Green (linebacker)James Green (linebacker)James Green is a Canadian Football League defensive back who is currently playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in the third round of the 2009 CFL Draft. Green was later released by the Argonauts on June 17, 2010. He was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos on...
, professional football player for the Toronto ArgonautsToronto ArgonautsThe Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
. - Thomas J. Foord, founder of Kal TireKal TireKal TireTypePrivateFounded1953, Vernon, British Columbia, CanadaHeadquartersVernon, British Columbia, CanadaKey peopleThomas J...
and Member of the Order of British ColumbiaOrder of British ColumbiaThe Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
. - TJ SchillerThomas James SchillerThomas James Schiller, or T.J. Schiller , in the interior of British Columbia. T.J is a Canadian freestyle skier. Schiller combines amplitude with style and is best known for his signature switch 1080 mute grab...
, professional skier - Raymond WladichukRaymond WladichukRaymond Wladichuk is a professional Canadian football defensive back who is currently a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
, professional football player for the Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-CatsThe Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium... - Noah Morrison, professional skier
- Zachary Goldsmith, professional cinematographer
- Megan Fretz, television actress
- Marley Olfert, musician
Sister cities
Vernon has “sister city” agreements with the following cities: Frankenburg am HausruckFrankenburg am Hausruck
Frankenburg am Hausruck is a municipality in the district of Vöcklabruck in Upper Austria, Austria.Sister Cities:Vernon, British Columbia...
, Austria Modesto, California
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
, United States Saint-Lambert, Quebec
Saint-Lambert, Quebec
Saint-Lambert is a Canadian city in the province of Quebec located opposite Montreal on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Saint-Lambert was named for either the early French Canadian hunter Lambert Closse or for Roman Catholic Bishop Lambert of Maastricht...
, Canada Tavullia
Tavullia
Tavullia is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 70 km northwest of Ancona and about 15 km southwest of Pesaro...
, Italy Tome
Tome, Miyagi
is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.Previously a district consisting of eight towns, on April 1, 2005, they, along with the town of Tsuyama formerly of Motoyoshi District, merged to form a new city. As of 2010, Tome city had an estimated population of 84,070 and a population density of...
, Japan
External links
- Official website - City of Vernon
- NORD - North Okanagan Regional District
- Vernon Community Arts Centre
- Comprehensive List of Vernon Beaches
- North Okanagan Radio Amateur Club (NORAC)