This new book dives deeper into Kelowna's past

Sharron J. Simpson has released the second edition of The Kelowna Story: An Okanagan History, expanding on the city’s past and offering new insights into how the community has evolved over time.

Published nearly 15 years after the original edition sold out, the updated volume adds new material, photos, and fresh perspective on a city that’s grown significantly.

"I have written three other books about Kelowna history, so I just added more material. And in the legacy book there is 300-plus pages and lots of photos of Kelowna's history," Simpsons told Kelowna10. "It's been almost 15 years since the first one was published and a lot has happened in those 15 years."

But Simpson’s book goes beyond dates and names. While historical figures like Lord and Lady Aberdeen make an appearance, it’s the stories of everyday people that sit at the heart of the book — orchardists, labourers, and settlers who shaped the community without fanfare.

“The people who came to Kelowna originally and settled here weren't all noble or royal; they were just regular people," Simpson said. "People came and worked really hard to plant orchards to learn how to irrigate them. And really, it's the history, told through the lies and those ordinary people. I think that's really the underpinning of our history."

Simpson, whose family has deep roots in the region, brings a personal lens to the project. She said her long-standing connection to Kelowna gave her a unique perspective on its evolution.

"Maybe I look at the whole through a historical eye that's a different eye than newcomers do, but it's very important to me that we preserve our history and recognize our history and honour it by preserving it," she said.

One of Simpson’s motivations for revisiting the book was Kelowna’s population growth — and the impact that growth has had on the city’s shared identity.

"In the 15 years between the two editions of the book, Kelowna grew from 117,000 to 165,000 people. So all of us know people coming into town, means that we no longer have a collective memory about our community," she said. "People come into town and they come for a reason, and then they think once they're here, oh, well, I don't know how it became that way. I really want to give people an opportunity to learn about how Kelowna became Kelowna."

Simpson hopes readers will find not just history, but also delight in the lesser-known stories that bring the past to life.

"I've targeted people who are funny, who accomplished remarkable things, like, you know, how did you get from one end of the lake to the other in the 1800s? Who rowed a boat? Can you imagine rowing from Vernon to Penticton?," she said.

"Kelowna was the last of the valley cities to have a railroad. So we relied on on the sternwheelers, and they pulled into the docks. And that's a really colorful history. And I think it's fun to learn that."

The Kelowna Story: An Okanagan History is available at bookstores throughout the Okanagan. Simpson will also present the book and discuss her research on Saturday, June 7, at 2 p.m. at the Kelowna Public Library, 1380 Ellis St.