heritage stories of oliver
Our compilation of Heritage Stories about Oliver and the surrounding region include First Nations, natural history, mining, the development of Oliver as a town, immigration and culture, health care and more!
The ODHS regularly updates our content for historical accuracy and evolving information.
For more information, visit the Archives Research Library, or visit the Museum and explore our exhibits.
heritage Story:
Oliver’s origins
Oliver is nestled between mature forested mountains and is located at the northern tip of the Sonoran Desert. The landscape consists of a complex array of habitats and our region supports one of the most diverse assemblages of species in Canada, many of which are not found elsewhere in the country.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the ancestors of First Nations people have lived in BC since the last ice age, ten to twelve thousand years ago. In 1919...
Heritage story:
Fairview MIne
Located in the hills approximately 5 km west of Oliver lies what remains of the former gold mining boom town of Fairview. The town was given its name for the overlook of the valley it had, which was described as a ‘fair’ view.
Records indicate that Fairview first caught the eye of gold miners in the early 19th century, when two men known as Reed and Ryan came to pan for gold at what is now known as Reed Creek, to the southeast of the Fairview townsite…
heritage story:
health care in Oliver
In the early years of Oliver’s history there was a heavy reliance on health care services from outside of town, as the closest hospital was in Penticton. Dr. Malcom White was present in Fairview; however, when Oliver started in 1921, Dr. Garnet Harvey Kearney arrived to become the new town’s first doctor.
Dr. Kearney, originally from Ontario, came to British Columbia following the First World War to pursue his medical career. He had served as both a ship’s doctor…
heritage story: CHINESE culture
There has been a long history of Chinese presence in British Columbia, with the earliest mentions being of artisans and traders who came to Vancouver Island from China in 1788. It would be another 70 years before people from China began to come to British Columbia in a more permanent capacity, as many Chinese people came…
heritage story: Immigration in BC
Chinese Canadians have a long and rich history in British Columbia. But it was not until 1858, when gold was found on the Fraser River, that the first major migration of Chinese people came to British Columbia…
heritage story:
world Wars & Oliver veterans
Oliver has a long connection to the military, starting with the Soldiers Settlement Act of 1919, when returning veterans from WWI were encouraged to buy farmland in the area. Many prominent local residents were also veterans, and these people helped to build the community into what it is today.
heritage story: irrigation
The Ditch was the catalyst for Oliver’s founding and still supplies water to the community today, enabling orchard fruit and grape production. Learn more about this important historic irrigation system: enjoy our virtual exhibit “The Ditch: Lifeblood of a Community” hosted by the Virtual Museum of Canada.
research material
DATABASES & general Resources
Resources include databases on genealogy, BC historical newspapers, Syilx and First Nations languages and territories, BC cemeteries and headstones, Royal BC Museum teaching materials, the BC Archives collection, and more!
online Maps
Below are links to recreational trails. For historical maps of the Oliver area, visit the Archives.
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100% of all donated funds go towards preserving and presenting Oliver’s history through artifact care, tours, research, and programming. In addition, donations over $20 will receive an official donation receipt for income tax purposes.
Thank you for helping us to preserve local history.