Volunteers empower museums to preserve and present heritage. At Kelowna Museums Society, over 100 volunteers are at work every year.
How will you share your skills?
Volunteers welcome guests at the front desks of our 3 museums, or serve as hosts at special events. Some work with historical materials, conduct research, catalogue collections, and clean objects. Others participate in exhibition creation or family programs.
Volunteers with particular knowledge or abilities get the satisfaction of applying their skills to meaningful projects. These volunteers include people with traditional skills, model railway or radio hobbyists, carpenters, artists, writers, photographers, videographers, and even apiarists!
An area of interest for everyone!
People with a particular interest in military history, local sports, and Okanagan’s fruit and wine industries enjoy mobilizing that knowledge in museum projects. Between the Okanagan Heritage Museum, Okanagan Military Museum, Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame, and Okanagan Wine and Orchard Museum, Kelowna Museums Society presents topics that speak to a wide range of interests.
Want to learn more?
Contact the Museums Services Coordinator at 250-763-2417, or [email protected].
Kelowna Museums Locations
Okanagan Heritage Museum
Kelowna’s flagship museum, the Okanagan Heritage Museum, invites visitors to discover how the Okanagan Valley was formed, to gain insights into the world of our syilx hosts, to learn about the arrival of traders and settlers and so much more.
Okanagan Military Museum
Devoted to the preservation and greater awareness of Okanagan military heritage, the Okanagan Military Museum features uniforms, insignia, badges, firearms and fascinating stories of how locals have contributed to events on the world stage.
Laurel Packinghouse
One of Kelowna’s most historic and beloved buildings, the Laurel Packinghouse is the oldest and largest packinghouse in BC. Part atmospheric rental venue, part museum, this is a building that charms both locals and visitors alike.
Kelowna Museums’ Upcoming Events & Workshops
Tombstone Tours: Best of the Buried
Join us for the “Best of the Buried,” a greatest hits tour! This one-hour tour condenses the most captivating stories from our previous cemetery tour series into a single experience. Wander the grounds of the Pioneer Cemetery and uncover the tales of Kelowna’s most intriguing residents, both in life and in death. Discover the legacy of the men and women who shaped our community and connect with the rich history that lies beneath our very own feet.
Tu Museo en Tu Idioma – Spanish Tour of the Okanagan Heritage Museum
¡Tu museo te da la bienvenida! Participa en una visita guiada en español para adentrarte en las historias, el patrimonio cultural y muchas sorpresas en el Okanagan Heritage Museum. Se incluirán temas como el patrimonio cultural de las Pueblos Originarios, historias de los primeros colonos y la increíble biodiversidad de la zona.
nsyilxcen: The Journey Continues
Continue your journey with the nsyilxcen language and gain a deeper understanding of syilx culture. Through a series of dynamic classes, students with a beginner understanding of nsyilxcen will engage with each other and their instructor as they continue their learning. This class is presented in partnership with Wildrose Native Traditions and is for everyone, regardless of heritage.