A Centennial Tribute
Seniors Choice Newsmagazine
August 2005
- By Rudy Loeser -
There were not many of us around when this Kelowna was incorporated in 1905, even though, heaven knows, some of us sometimes feel as though we had been here. Nor will too many of us be playing tennis when they open this year's Centennial Time Capsule in 2105 - unless some bright researcher comes up with the real elixir of youth. God forbid. 600 people lived here at incorporation and it did not take them long to become entrepreneurial. Sawmills opened up like flowers in spring, not far from fruit-packing plants and canneries, even though it took the railway until 1925 to begin service to this town. It was a good time, and a golden age of agriculture and logging. Did you know that there were fields upon which now stand endless rows of houses, fields on which their owners grew tobacco which was made into cigarettes right here, and grew tomatoes which were sent far afield, and onions and garlic. And there were enough forests to sustain eleven sawmills and enough jobs to go around to feed the population. Perhaps we should encourage you all to pick up some of the highly readable historical accounts of our short history (don't get cranky.
For anyone who arrived from Europe within the last 100 years, a century is a short history.) Go to Mosaic and browse through their history section. Pick up "Times and Tales by Bill Knowles", and "Sun, Sage and Sand", by Ursula Surtees, "Boards, Boxes and Bins" by Sharron Simpson, and the latest one, "Roger John Sugars Diaries", by his son John Sugars. Better still, why not have your friends and offspring give you presents of books on your next birthday. Make them bring you the books about the history of this city that now celebrates its Centennial, the city you live in and that has, presumably, been a good place in which to grow into your " golden age".
So there came the day when some bright people got together in the centre court of Orchard Park Shopping Mall to talk to the press about their plans to make a meaningful contribution to the future. There were Hizzoner Mayor Walter Gray and with him Reid Oddleifson, the City's manager of recreation services, there were Norbert Gelowitz, Manager of the Mall and his marketing manager Natalie Walstrom. Last, but by no means least, there was Kelowna's internationally known sculptor Gert Maas, who designed the time capsule into which will be placed mementos, artifacts and communiqu?s reflecting Kelowna today, between now and November 15, when the capsule's two components will be closed, one to be opened in 25 years, the other one hundred years from now. All citizens are invited to make suggestions and contributions. It was a nice, unique way to kick off July 1st, this country's birthday. Our hats off to the City, to Orchard Park Mall, and to Gert Maas.
A mockup of the capsule itself can be seen between now and August 25th in various locations around the city. You're invited to log onto wwwkelowna2005.ca or call 860-5100 for more information and times.
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