Penticton Museum & Archives

10/14/2026

Join us for the next Brown Bag Lecture on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 12-1pm in the museum/library auditorium (785 Main St.). Ken Johnson will share his thoughts on taking care of our home planet.

In the wake of plans to colonise Mars as a refuge for the human race, this talk focuses on the reawakened awareness of and appreciation for our home planet, Earth, and what we can do and are doing to revitalise it, right here at home.
Ken Johnson is a TV Journalist. In 25 years with the CBC, he was Producer and Executive Producer of numerous information and documentary programs.

The Brown Bag Lecture Series is held every Tuesday at lunchtime (noon to 1 pm) from September to April. Each week a guest lecturer speaks about a subject in their area of expertise. Topics include local history, travel, culture, and natural history.
Admission is by suggested donation of $2 per adult and $1 for children.

10/10/2026

Nothing like watching a moment in the life of an otter!

10/10/2026

Sad news museum friends... This morning when I went to feed the gerbils, I found Melanie, the brown one, had died overnight. She was getting up there in gerbil years. Over the last few months that she was having more trouble moving around, sometimes slipping on the surfaces, so it was not an unexpected event. Gerbils can live 2-4 years.

Some folks may wonder why we had gerbils in the museum. It's true they are not local animals. A pocket mouse would be a better representative of a desert-adapted rodent. But it's easier to keep and care for a gerbil in captivity compared to a pocket mouse.

This event raises the question about the ethics of museums keeping animals in captivity. There is an educational aspect of having a desert-adapted animal for visitors to learn about. Keeping live animals also helps us connect with other living creatures, building empathy and care. Ultimately, if we have animals in the museum, it means we are taking on the trust and responsibility for caring for living individuals.

That said, we will be working towards bringing in a new companion for our remaining gerbil, Mochi, the black one. Gerbils are social animals and need to have a companion.

Here is a photo of Melanie, and some artwork inspired by her presence in the museum. Rest in peace, Melanie.

10/07/2026

Join us as we learn about how the Okanagan bounty is shared around the world by the Okanagan Gleaners at the next Brown Bag Lecture on Tuesday, October 13, 12-1 pm in the museum/library auditorium (785 Main St).

Join us for an inspiring presentation by Val Fenn to learn about the remarkable work happening right here in the Okanagan. Located in Oliver, Okanagan Gleaners is a unique, 100% donor- and volunteer-driven Christian organization that has been dedicated to “Feeding the Hungry in Christ’s Name” since 1994.
Discover how surplus produce—fresh vegetables that might otherwise go to waste—is rescued and donated from local and regional farms. With the help of dedicated local and visiting volunteers, the food is processed into nutritious dried vegetable soup mixes and distributed to people in need around the world, including most recently Ukraine.

The Brown Bag Lecture Series is held every Tuesday at lunchtime (noon to 1 pm) from September to April. Each week a guest lecturer speaks about a subject in their area of expertise. Topics include local history, travel, culture, and natural history. Admission is by suggested donation of $2 per adult and $1 for children.

09/30/2026

Take a step back to the Ice Age with Robert Young to hear about the animal perils encountered by prehistoric humans at our next Brown Bag Lecture on Tuesday, October 6, 12-1 pm in the museum/library auditorium (785 Main St.).

Recent discoveries indicate First People’s have been in the Americas for nearly 10,000 years longer than previously thought. These people lived with a wide range of very dangerous animals and would have to have been hardier than anticipated. Join Robert Young as he shares his knowledge gained over 30 years in the field and working with several museums, such as the Royal Tyrrell Museum, and Royal Alberta Museum. Robert Young is Associate Professor of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of British Columbia – Okanagan.

The Brown Bag Lecture Series is held every Tuesday at lunchtime (noon to 1 pm) from September to April. Each week a guest lecturer speaks about a subject in their area of expertise. Topics include local history, travel, culture, and natural history. Admission is by suggested donation of $2 per adult and $1 for children.

09/30/2026

If you can't make it to the Walk for Children, consider these suggested ways to participate in the National Day for Truth and REconciliation suggested by the Okanagan Nation Alliance. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GgQxH6tDD/

🧡 September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to honour Survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and recognize the ongoing impacts of the residential school system.

As we approach September 30, there are many meaningful ways to observe the day. Whether through learning, listening, remembering, supporting Indigenous voices, or taking action, each of us has a role in carrying truth and reconciliation forward.

We invite you to take time to reflect, learn, and honour this important day with care and intention. 🧡

09/30/2026

The Penticton Museum & Archives will be closed for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Maybe we'll see you at the Okanagan Nation Alliance's Walk for the Children in honour of the children who never made it home.
Start: 10 am - 12 pm at the Safeway parking lot
Make our way to the Syilx Indian Residential School (SIRS) Monument located beside the kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ Hatchery on En’owkin Trail.
Please note this event is participate at your own risk.

09/29/2026

Aven and Willa, you left your homework at the Museum.
You can pick it up anytime.
Well, actually you can pick it up from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.

09/23/2026

Educators! You may possibly have elections on your mind these days. Check out the educational kit "Having a Voice" from the Penticton Museum & Archives' lending library. Designed to fit the Grade 5 Social Studies: Canadian Issues and Governance curriculum by the Royal BC Museum and Elections BC. For more information: https://rbcm.ca/learning-department/outreach-kits/having-a-voice-voting-rights-and-democracy-in-bc/

09/23/2026

Join us for the next Brown Bag Lecture as Pamela Peck takes us to a South Sea Island on Tuesday, September 29, 12-1 pm in the museum/library auditorium (785 Main St).

Come with Pamela to an outer island in the Fijian archipelago to meet the people and learn how their “Fijian way of life” is threatened by the forces of socioeconomic change from the outside world. Will they forget how to build a grass hut in the process? Pamela will show you how they built one for her.

Dr. Pamela Peck is a cultural anthropologist whose professional interest is education for a global perspective and the application of Social Science knowledge to addressing the practical concerns of everyday life.