A REGIONAL HERITAGE STRATEGIC PLAN for OKANAGAN - SIMILKAMEEN

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1 A REGIONAL HERITAGE STRATEGIC PLAN for OKANAGAN - SIMILKAMEEN The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is preparing a Regional Heritage Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan will identify important themes in the history of the Okanagan and, through public consultation, identify the heritage values and historic places that are important to the community. Based on these values, the Plan will outline the vision, goals and direction for the conservation and development of the region s heritage resources, for the benefit of all communities in the region. The Strategic Plan will provide the insight and strategies that will ensure that what the community finds valuable about Okanagan- Similkameen and its historic places is a clearly articulated part of future planning and development in the region. If you care about the Okanagan-Similkameen region and its heritage you are ready to participate in this process. OPPORTUNITIES FOR INPUT The goal of the Regional Heritage Strategic Plan consultation process is to hear from citizens in Okanagan-Similkameen about what their connection to the region is and why this place is important to them. This will involve an ongoing conversation with people in the community at workshops, through discussions with citizens and organizations, and through the online questionnaire and comments submitted by the public. In the Fall, Open Houses will be held where we will present what we ve heard, along with a draft of the Strategic Plan for review and comment. Please continue to check the RDOS website for ongoing information about the Regional Heritage Strategic Plan. lbourque@rdos.bc.ca Telephone: Fax: Mail: Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen 101 Martin Street, Penticton, BC V2A 5J9 Online at

2 IDENTIFYING HERITAGE VALUES and STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR HERITAGE What do you care about in the Okanagan-Similkameen region? Why? Heritage Values The ecological, aesthetic, historic, scientific, cultural, social or spiritual values held by a community for past present or future generations. These questions are designed to understand and document the community s heritage values what people care about in the Okanagan-Similkameen region, and why they care about them, and why they feel that recognizing and conserving heritage is important to their community and the region. Heritage features can be many things: buildings, groups of buildings, sites, landscapes, views, industrial or agricultural features, natural features, trees, roads, trails, spiritual places, events or rituals, stories, artworks, memories anything a community identifies as having heritage value. How can we move forward with heritage conservation in Okanagan-Simlkameen? RDOS Themes Vision of Paradise Diverse Landscapes Local Ingenuity Valley Settlement To Market! Integrating an Isolated Region Close-knit Communities Do the themes as a group properly represent the heritage of Okanagan-Similkameen? Are there other themes that should be included? Strategic planning focuses on understanding what is currently being done with regard to the region s heritage, articulating a vision for heritage in the future, and identifying ways of achieving the vision and measuring progress. HOW TO PARTICIPATE Review the presentation boards and answer questions related to heritage values based on broad themes. Identify heritage places that are meaningful to you. Provide input into a vision for heritage in Okanagan- Similkameen. Help to identify strategies for future heritage conservation in the region. Fill out the online questionnaire Submit comments online, by mail or by .

3 WHAT HAVE WE MISSED? Are there any broad themes or big stories about your area or the Okanagan-Similkameen region as a whole that have been missed? Are there values, places, heritage features or stories that that don t seem to find a home within the suggested themes? If you are naming a feature, try to state why you think it is important too.

4 STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR HERITAGE How can we move forward with heritage planning and conservation in Okanagan-Simlkameen? This portion of the workshop will focus on understanding what is currently being done with regard to the region s heritage, articulating a vision for heritage in the future, and identifying ways of achieving the vision and measuring progress. IT ALL STARTS WITH A VISION Heritage conservation and planning in the RDOS is a long-term process that begins with developing a vision, a long-range guide and consensus about heritage in the RDOS. The vision will be informed by input from the community and will guide the strategies for heritage to be developed as part of this Regional Heritage Strategic Plan. Having identified what you value and care about in Okanagan-Similkameen, what is your vision for the future of heritage values and heritage places in the region? How would your vision include the heritage values and places you have identified? What is your highest hope or perfect idea for heritage in your area? For the wider Okanagan- Similkameen region? How do you see heritage developing in 5 years time? In 10 years time? What are the greatest assets or strengths that help make your area and the Okanagan-Similkameen region a Vision of Paradise?

5 DEVELOPING HERITAGE STRATEGIES Understanding what is currently underway with regard to heritage in the region, and ideas about how to move forward will assist in developing step by step strategies for heritage conservation and planning in the future. 1. WHERE ARE WE NOW? What are some of the things that are happening now in relation to heritage in Okanagan-Similkameen? What are some current and proposed initiatives, such as the heritage register or local heritage projects? What are the groups and committees involved in heritage? Who are the funding partners involved? What are some successes and challenges for heritage in the region? 2. WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO... Raise public awareness and appreciation for heritage? Conserve key tangible and intangible heritage places or things? Ensure heritage continues to be seen as an important part of planning in Okanagan- Similkameen? Ensure that heritage becomes integrated with economic and community development and to tourism? Support local groups and associations involved with heritage? Ensure heritage stays relevant and at the top of the agenda?

6 HERITAGE VALUES Heritage Values The ecological, aesthetic, historic, scientific, cultural, social or spiritual values held by a community for past present or future generations. 1. WHAT DO YOU CARE ABOUT IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY OR AREA? 2. IN THE WIDER OKANAGAN-SIMILKAMEEN REGION? 3. WHY? Discussions about heritage values are often organized around a series of themes unique to a region or place. Themes are key ideas that describe major historical forces or processes, and help to recognize and develop ideas about heritage values. Themes are useful in helping conceptualize past events and for placing sites, people and events into their historical context. Do the themes as a group properly represent the heritage values of your area? Do they represent the heritage of Okanagan- Similkameen? Are there other themes that should be included? A. VISION OF PARADISE Photo courtesy of the Osoyoos Museum. The Okanagan-Similkameen is a place built on a unique blend of local culture, intellectual insight and the regional landscape - a vision of paradise from earliest times. A strong and thriving First Nations culture is sustained through the keeping of history passed down through generations. Community arts councils and organizations support local culture, and schools, universities, science and research centres and the internet economy abound. Spiritual and religious traditions and ceremonies are supported while the region s natural beauty and seasonality is reflected in the recreational use of the landscape year-round, in parks and in the backcountry. Local heritage institutions keep the past relevant to the future, wine and food appreciation and agri-tourism thrive, and the community s volunteers form the backbone of this liveable region. How does your local culture - thinking. places of learning, recreational life, and spiritual places - contribute to your area of Okanagan-Similkameen? What local and regional features represent your vision of paradise? Why are they important?

7 B. DIVERSE LANDSCAPES The Okanagan-Similkameen region is one of the most geographically diverse areas in BC, with a range of biogeoclimatic zones not seen elsewhere. The physical landscape ranges from extensive desert grasslands to forested mountains, with extreme climate variations in summer and winter. The area is abundant with precious metals, and with water, the most valuable resource of all. The physical variation of the land, the climate and significant lakes and rivers have given rise to a wide variety of human activities in the region. The region is home to some of the greatest concentrations of species diversity and species at risk in Canada and is recognized as one of Canada s most endangered natural systems. Photo courtesy of the Osoyoos Museum. Why are the diverse landscapes of the region important to the heritage of Okanagan-Similkameen? What particular local and regional features represent this theme? Why are they important? C. LOCAL INGENUITY Part of the story of the region is the successive waves of people arriving, beginning with the arrival of the indigenous people following the retreat of the continental ice sheet. With local ingenuity, the people of the region drew on nature s bounty to sustain life. Photo courtesy of the Osoyoos Museum. For thousands of years, the Okanagan people were self-reliant and well provided for through their own ingenuity; travelling the breadth and depth of their territory, hunting and fishing, growing and harvesting, crafting and trading. Despite loss of their territory, indigenous peoples have persevered, developing contemporary models of entrepreneurship and selfsufficiency. Newcomers also responded to the challenges and opportunities. Mid- 19th Century gold rushes, later mining, cattle ranching, forestry and agriculture all drew whole new populations - including many Americans, and people of Chinese decent - into the region. Why is the theme of local ingenuity important to the heritage of Okanagan-Similkameen? Why is the ingenuity of the indigenous peoples important to the heritage of Okanagan-Similkameen? What particular local and regional features represent this theme? Why are they important?

8 D. VALLEY SETTLEMENT This theme expresses the story of the successive waves of people arriving in the Okanagan and Similkameen river valleys and the mountain corridors of the region, beginning with the ancestors of today s indigenous people. Resource development in the 19th century drew whole new populations. Mining and agricultural towns developed that have evolved into today s urban areas, and the backcountry opened up for rural settlement. Following the general trend around the province, the Okanagan- Similkameen experienced a large influx of people after the Second World War. The region is marked most recently by the arrival of retirees and seasonal residents. Why is the theme about the arrival and settlement of people in town and rural areas important to the heritage of Okanagan-Similkameen? What particular local and regional features represent this theme? Why are they important? E. TO MARKET! The Okanagan peoples economy included trade in valuable goods found in the region, an entrepreneurship that continues to this day. The trade in fur marked the beginning of an economy linked with the newcomers, followed by placer and hard rock mining, cattle ranching and forestry. A warm growing season and plentiful water created fruit growing (orchards, then vineyards) in the valleys. Fruit marketing coops and fruit stands followed. Rails, then highways, forged the connection between the Okanagan- Similkameen and the markets of the Lower Mainland. The emergence of the fine wine industry and wine tourism marked the marriage of the region s agricultural and tourist economies. Why is the theme about local and regional economic development important to the heritage of Okanagan- Similkameen? What particular local and regional features represent this theme? Why are they important?

9 F. CONNECTING AN ISOLATED REGION Connections were forged in the Okanagan-Similkameen, a physically isolated region off the original trans-continental route, both through transportation and communication channels and regional governance. Early corridors included Indigenous peoples seasonal pathways (including south of the border). Fur trading and cattle driving routes followed, along with road network development including the Dewdney Trail, Dewdney Wagon Road and the Crowsnest Highway. Other transportation corridors included lake ferries, the Kettle Valley Railway and regional airports. The region was connected by early governance of water use, policing and health care, the development of community services and infrastructure and the long-held First Nations administrative autonomy. Why is the theme about transportation and governance important to the heritage of Okanagan- Similkameen? What particular local and regional features represent this theme? Why are they important? G. CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITIES This historically isolated region has bred a culture of close-knit communities within the Okanagan-Similkameen. The communities have unique beginnings and histories, and distinctly different cultures that are cherished by their citizens for their uniqueness. These communities support local festivals, fairs, traditions and seasonal rituals. Parks, waterfront amenities and recreational traditions are part of every community, as are local shopping and businesses opportunities on busy Main Streets. Not to be overlooked is Okanagan-Similkameen s appeal for retirees and seasonal visitors responding to the region s close-knit communities. Why is the idea of close-knit communities important to the heritage of Okanagan-Similkameen? What particular local and regional features represent this theme? Why are they important? Why is your community s own sense of being in a place of good fortune an important aspect of its heritage? Photo courtesy of the Osoyoos Museum.