Opened in 2020, the Laurel Square is an outdoor gathering space in the heart of Kelowna’s Cultural District. Located next to the Laurel Packinghouse in the downtown core, this interpretive green space tells the story of Kelowna’s agricultural history with special features including an irrigation flume to demonstrate how early irrigation was managed in the area, a giant ‘Codling Moths & Ladders’ game, ‘Shunty’ the historic shunting truck and more. The landscaping features plants indigenous to the Central Okanagan — selected in consultation with Elders from Westbank First Nation.

An initiative of the Kelowna Museums Society and the City of Kelowna, the Laurel Square is a great place to sit and read, to catch up with a friend, play a game with the kids and learn about the agricultural history that has been so vital to our region. We hope you’ll come and enjoy this special green space in the heart of urban Kelowna!

The first large scale Okanagan vineyards were planted in the 1920s. Early experiments in commercial wine production resulted in a startling diversity of product which was described by no one as a ‘fine vintage.’ Over the years, growers and wineries experimented with terroir, variety and technique. Experienced wine makers moved to the Okanagan and the wine got better and better. Today, history is being made as the orchard and wine industries continue to shape the Okanagan. Find out how each of us is part of that unfolding story.

Beginning in the 1890s, land companies began to divide ranches and grain fields into irrigated orchard plots and tempt eager new growers into buying them. Within 25 years, packinghouses and canneries hummed and clattered in the rapidly growing industrial district north of downtown Kelowna. Conveyors groaned with colourful fruit while workers sorted and loaded apples, cherries, apricots, pears, peaches, and plums. Women working the packing line were called “Apple Wrapper Flapper,” and skillfully packed 160 boxes a day. The evil-looking cherry pitting machines were nothing to spit at, and box makers banged out 100 fruit crates every hour.