Step inside this museum, and you will feel the passion of the volunteers who founded it. Discover uniforms, insignia, badges, and one of the best firearms collections in Canada. Investigate artifacts from the Boer War, World War I and World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, and contemporary military operations. The Okanagan Military Museum is devoted to the preservation and greater awareness of Okanagan military heritage, and reveals how locals contributed to events on the world stage.
Hours
| Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday | 10:00am – 5:00pm |
| Sunday, Monday, Thursday & Friday | Closed |
ADMISSION
Admission is by donation.
Suggested donation $5 per person/$15 per family
Vince Bezeau Military Library and Archives
Located at the Okanagan Military Museum
Feature Exhibit
Sub Hunter: Commander C.A. King
Commander Clarence Aubrey King is remembered as the Okanagan’s ‘Ace Submarine Hunter.’
Now Open
From the time he was 13 years old, in 1899, until the end of WWII, King spent most of his life at sea. When WWII broke out, King was a 53 years old veteran naval officer. He joined the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve to serve at sea again.
King and his young, inexperienced crew members fought to protect vital supply convoys from being destroyed by German submarines. Commander King was known for his aggressive pursuit in destroying subs, but also for his compassion for stopping, at great risk, to rescue surviving enemy sailors. He fought the machines, not the men. Commander King’s coordinated and determined leadership saved lives and essential goods from destruction at sea. At the end of the war, King settled in the Okanagan, where he was a valued community member, serving on hospital, school, library and church boards in Oliver and Osoyoos.
Commander C.A. King aboard the HMCS Swansea, November 1944. OMM-P-1231
This exciting exhibition takes a look at submarine warfare, the Battle of the Atlantic, Commander King’s life and the challenges of living and fighting on the open sea: harsh weather, enemy attacks, fragile equipment and living in tight quarters. Discover first-hand accounts of what it’s like to destroy a submarine, peer through a periscope and immerse yourself in life aboard a ship.
About the Okanagan Military Museum
The Okanagan Military Museum is devoted to the preservation and greater awareness of Okanagan military heritage, and reveals how locals contributed to events on the world stage. A visit to the Okanagan Military Museum fosters a greater connection to the Okanagan men and women who served.
The Okanagan Military Museum Society [OMMS] formed in 1987 and opened the Okanagan Military Museum on November 11, 1999. Operations of the OMM merged with the Kelowna Museums Society in 2006, however the OMMS board is still active and works with the Kelowna Museums Society in many aspects of the operation of the museum.
Our Collections
The Okanagan Military Museum is home to one of the best firearms collections in Canada. It hosts a significant collection of uniforms, insignia, badges, and equipment, including artifacts from the Boer War, World War I and World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, and contemporary military operations. The Okanagan Military Museum is also home to the Vince Bezeau Military Archives and Library is open to researchers.
Kelowna Museums’ Upcoming Events and Workshops
na̓ʔk̓ʷulamən: Indigenous Plants and Herbal Balms
na̓ʔk̓ʷulamən: Indigenous Plants and Herbal Balms
Learn about the plants of the Okanagan and how they are used in syilx culture! Pick up your sample of hand-made herbal balm, inspired by the Indigenous plants of the Okanagan.
Rediscovering Chinatown – Asian Heritage Month with UBC
Rediscovering Chinatown – Asian Heritage Month with UBC
Rediscover the history of Kelowna’s Chinatown and the cultural forces that drove its creation on a virtual tour of the Okanagan Heritage Museum. Staff and UBC Okanagan students will help […]