This town of 24,000 is the major business centre for the northern Okanagan. It is located at the junction of four valleys, the Priest, the Pleasant, Coldstream and Mission. The pleasant Valley stretches 75 north past Armstrong and Enderby to Sicamous on Shuswap Lake. The town is also bordered by three lakes: Okanagan, Kalamalka and Swan and has great sandy beaches accessible to all. The natives called this place "Hun-cul-deep moose-chin" or jumping over place. The city is named for George Forbes Vernon the Chief Commission of Lands and Works. In the 1860s George Vernon and his brother Charles where settling in. Cornelius O’Keefe was driving cattle all the way from Oregon to the Cariboo to provide beef for gold-seekers. O’Keefe realized that the area’s natural meadows with benchgrass that was chest-high, he could raise cattle right there. By 1867, he had bought land and breeding stock and went on to become the area’s leading cattle baron. The first orchard in the area was planted in 1891 by Scottish-born Lord Aberdeen and his wife, who bough 5,367 hectares from George Vernon and renamed it Coldstream Ranch. It went on to become one of the largest producers of fruit in the British Empire, and Lord Aberdeen also became Canada’s Governor General. An abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities include the Silver Star Mountain Resort, Sovereign Lakes Cross Country Ski Area and four golf courses: Predator Ridge, Vernon Golf & Country Club, Spallumcheen and Hillview Golf. Vernon and Coldstream are recognized as attractive areas in which to live, and the resulting steady growth creates an excellent environment for investment and innovative businesses. Located halfway between Vancouver and Calgary, our businesses are well positioned to access many markets, with plenty of room for new ventures. Vernon Schools School District 22: Web Site: www.educationcanada.com/edbc/sd22-vernon.htm Okanagan University College Web Site: http://www.ouc.bc.ca/ On the Lake Innerspace Diving OK Landing Marine Killiney Regional Park Okanagan Forest Park Too Much Fun Club (TMFC - Private Club) Parker Cove Adventure Bay Beachcomber Bay Kinsmen Beach Park Vernon Yacht Club Paddlewheel Park Photo Tour: www.rockies.net/~harcom/tour.htm Annual Restoration Festival: www.rockies.net/~harcom/index.htm Okanagan Landing Camp Hurlburt Cameron Point Otter Bay Ellison Park Web Site: www.ohwy.com/bc/e/ellisonp.htm Alexis Beach Coyote Creek Ranch On Kalamalka Lake Kekuli Bay Provincial Park Kalamalka Country Club Pumphouse Beach Kalamalka Beac Park and Rotary Pier Kalavista Park Jade Bay Juniper Bay Kalamalka Lake Park Events Vernon Winter Carnival (February) Creative Chaos Craft Fair (June) Vernon Racing Days Begin (June) Downtown Street Festival(June) Canada Day Celebration (July) Funtastic Slowpitch Festival (July) Midsummer's Eve of the Arts (July) Okanagan Landing Regatta (July) Restoration Music Festival (August) Fall Fashion Gala (September) Okanagan Wine Festival (October) Downtown Christmas Light-Up (December) Real Estate Statistical Information Central Okanagan Statistics To find out more click one of the following links: Carr's Landing Fintry Glenmore Glenrosa Kelowna Kelowna North Kelowna South Lakeview Heights Lower Mission McKinley Landing Naramata North Glenmore Okanagan Centre Okanagan Falls Okanagan Lake Oyama Peachland Penticton Summerland Upper Mission Vernon Westbank West Kelowna Westside Winfield Please Note: The information contained herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is believed to be true but should be verified. Copyright © 2000 Shaida Langley - RE/MAX Kelowna. All rights reserved. Please read disclaimer.