Kelowna's past lives on around town
Today marks the beginning of Heritage Week, with local advocates of the preservation of old buildings holding a number of events around Kelowna. Activities include a popular History Mystery Bus Tour, a Heritage Tea at the Hotel Eldorado and the annual Heritage Awards. For a full list, see okheritagesociety.com But heritage isn't all about the past. Kelowna's old buildings and stories live on into the present.
To see how well you know our city's history, and how closely you've been paying attention to local news in the past year, here's a Heritage Week quiz that connects the old with the new-ish.
1. St. Aidan's Church, built in 1933 in Rutland but long since fallen into disrepair, is to be renovated and expanded through this innovative city agreement as a: a) marijuana retail outlet b) strip club c) Buddhist Temple
2. At Christmas, Kelowna's New Vintage Theatre presented a sold-out, multi-show re-telling of A Christmas Carol with this notable city character cast as the regretful ghost of Marley: a) millionaire Arthur B. Knox b) politician John Hindle c) general Rodney Keller
3. The BNA pub in downtown Kelowna, recently granted permission to add a bowling alley, is named for:
a) British-North America Tobacco Company b) Banana and Nuts Association c) Boozy Newcomers Alliance
4. Last fall, a new display was erected in City Park commemorating this oncethriving ethnic enclave in downtown Kelowna: a) Little India b) Chinatown c) Jamaicaville
5. In the Mission, this historic property, said to have been the city's first house of ill repute, is being preserved and rehabilitated as part of a new shopping complex at Lakeshore Road and Collett Road: a) Surtees property b) Bennett property c) Pandosy property
6. The City of Kelowna has about 300 of these, including one that will continue to stand as part of a new condo development at Ethel Street and Saucier Avenue: a) public art pieces b) heritage trees c) dog parks
7. This spring, a main part of the old Paramount Theatre on Bernard Avenue will re-open as a: a) flea market b) hostel c) craft brewery
8. Ben Stewart, who last week won the Kelowna West by-election, owns a winery on which stands this remarkable building, constructed in 1873: a) the Okanagan's first brewery b) first home built by European settlers on the Westside
c) first ferry terminal
9. The downtown armoury, a boardwalk in City Park, and a military training centre in the Maritimes are all named for this Kelowna man, considered to be the first Canadian peacekeeper to die on duty: a) H.H. Angle b) H.R. Haldeman c) J.K. Rowling
10. This venerable building marked its 50th anniversary last year, as directors of the volunteer group that owns it squabbled about whether to renovate or replace the aging facility: a) Kelowna Badminton Club b) Kelowna Gospel Mission c) Rutland Centennial Hall
Answers: 1c; 2a; 3a; 4b; 5a; 6b; 7c; 8b; 9a; 10c