After a decade-long community campaign, Vernon residents will soon see shovels hit the ground on their long-awaited cultural centre.
Provincial officials and municipal leaders plan to gather this month to officially break ground on the Vernon Cultural Centre, a $28-million facility that’s set to transform the city’s downtown core and creative landscape.
The project represents one of the most significant public infrastructure investments in Vernon’s recent history, bringing together gallery space, educational programming, and community gathering areas under one roof.
“This centre will serve as the beating heart of Vernon’s cultural community,” said Mayor Victor Cumming in a statement released last week. “We’ve worked alongside residents, artists, and community groups to design a space that truly reflects what our city needs.”
For local artist Nadine Wilson, who has advocated for the facility since 2015, the groundbreaking marks a turning point. “We’ve been working from makeshift studios and scattered venues for years,” Wilson told me during a recent community consultation. “Having a purpose-built space means we can finally showcase Vernon’s creative talent properly.”
The 25,000-square-foot facility will include exhibition galleries, multipurpose creation spaces, and areas designed specifically for Indigenous cultural programming. Plans also feature a 200-seat performance venue that local theatre groups have lobbied for since their previous space closed in 2018.
Funding for the project comes from multiple sources, with the provincial government contributing $9 million through its Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Program. The federal government added $12 million through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, while the remaining funds come from municipal reserves and community fundraising efforts.
According to project documents, construction will take approximately 22 months, with completion targeted for summer 2025. City planners expect the centre to draw an additional 20,000 visitors annually to Vernon’s downtown, providing an economic boost to nearby businesses.
Vernon Chamber of Commerce President Dan Rogers sees the cultural centre as more than just an arts venue. “This is really an economic development project dressed in cultural clothing,” Rogers explained. “When we attract visitors who come for cultural experiences, they also shop in our stores, eat in our restaurants, and sometimes even decide to move here.”
The centre’s location at 3300-31st Avenue places it strategically in Vernon’s downtown core, part of a broader revitalization effort that includes recent streetscape improvements and façade restoration projects. City planners hope the facility will anchor a growing cultural district in an area that has struggled with vacant storefronts.
Not everyone has supported the project’s journey. Some residents voiced concerns about the price tag during public consultations, questioning whether arts funding should take priority over other infrastructure needs. A 2021 petition opposing the project gathered nearly 400 signatures from taxpayers concerned about potential cost overruns.
Councillor Kari Gares, who initially voted against the project’s budget allocation in 2020, has since changed her position. “After seeing the economic impact projections and hearing from young families who plan to use the space, I’ve come to see this as an investment in our future, not just an expense,” Gares said during last month’s council meeting.
The project also faced delays during the pandemic when construction costs soared, forcing designers to scale back some elements of the original concept. The rooftop garden and secondary performance space were removed from plans in 2022, though project managers hope these might be added in future phases if additional funding becomes available.
Indigenous participation has been central to the centre’s development. The Okanagan Indian Band provided input on dedicated spaces for Indigenous artists and cultural programming throughout the planning process. The building’s design incorporates elements that reflect Syilx Okanagan territory and storytelling traditions.
“This space acknowledges that cultural expression happens in many forms,” said Jennifer Saunders, executive director of the Arts Council of the North Okanagan. “We’re creating a place where traditional knowledge and contemporary art practices can live side by side.”
For Vernon’s younger residents, the centre promises new opportunities. Local high school teacher Michael Richards has advocated for youth involvement in the project since its inception. “My students currently have nowhere to showcase their digital media projects or installation art,” Richards said. “This centre gives them a professional venue and the chance to see themselves as part of Vernon’s creative future.”
The groundbreaking ceremony will include traditional Syilx Okanagan protocols, performances by local musicians, and the burial of a time capsule containing community artwork and messages. Public attendance is welcomed, with the event scheduled for October 21 at 11 a.m.
As Vernon joins other Interior communities like Kelowna and Kamloops in developing dedicated cultural infrastructure, project supporters believe the investment will pay dividends beyond the arts sector.
“When we create spaces for culture to thrive, we’re actually building community resilience,” noted Saunders. “People connect across differences when they share creative experiences. That’s something Vernon needs now more than ever.”
