The Museum & Archives of Vernon (MAV) invites the community to an afternoon of local history on Saturday, November 21, featuring the Vernon Branch of the Okanagan Historical Society’s (OHS) Annual General Meeting, followed by a special presentation exploring the lives and stories of those buried in Vernon’s first cemetery.
The afternoon begins at 2 p.m. with the Vernon Branch of the OHS’ AGM. From 3 to 4 p.m., local researcher and historian Lawrna Myers of the Vernon & District Family History Society (VDFHS) will present Echoes beneath the Earth: The Forgotten Souls of Vernon’s Pioneer Cemetery. This presentation is the last instalment in the Hometown Histories speaker series for the 2026 season.
Established in early 1885 on land donated by settler Luc Girouard near what is now Alexis Park Drive, the Pioneer Park Cemetery was Vernon’s first burial ground. As the community grew, the cemetery eventually proved inadequate, and a new cemetery opened on Pleasant Valley Road in 1902. Beginning in 1913, burials were gradually relocated to what is now the Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Today, the original site is known as Pioneer Park Cemetery, a reminder of Vernon’s earliest years and the people who helped shape the community.
Myers will share the research behind Echoes beneath the Earth, a book researched and published in 2025 by the VDFHS that documents the cemetery and works to bring the stories of its forgotten residents back into the historical record.
The Vernon & District Family History Society plays an important role in preserving and sharing the region’s history through genealogical research, cemetery documentation, historical records, and resources that help individuals discover their family connections to the North Okanagan and beyond. Its ongoing work helps ensure that the lives of past and present residents are documented and remembered for future generations.
Myers is an honorary member of the VDFHS, a former board member of the Museum & Archives of Vernon, and a dedicated volunteer on numerous local history projects. She has been involved in local initiatives honouring veterans, including Project Roll Call and the No Stone Left Alone program
Copies of Echoes beneath the Earth: The Forgotten Souls of Vernon’s Pioneer Cemetery will be available for purchase at the event for $30, with payment accepted by cash, cheque, or e-transfer.
Community members are welcome to attend the Annual General Meeting, the presentation, or both. Admission to the 3 p.m. presentation is by donation, with all proceeds supporting the VDFHS. Please RSVP to ohsvernonbranch@gmail.com by November 19, 2026, so appropriate seating can be reserved.
