April 18 – September 12, 2026
Battling the Blaze explores the history, evolution, and realities of wildfire and structural firefighting in the Okanagan—one of Canada’s most fire-prone regions. Through historical artifacts, photographs, multimedia, and oral histories, the exhibition highlights the people, practices, and communities shaped by fire over the past century.
Visitors will trace the development of firefighting from early volunteer brigades to modern fire departments, discovering the tools, techniques, and strategies that have evolved to meet increasingly complex fire challenges. The exhibition also examines Indigenous fire stewardship, showing how traditional cultural burning practices supported land health and biodiversity, and how these practices are being revived today.
In addition, Battling the Blaze addresses contemporary issues in firefighting, including mental health, trauma, and community resilience. Visitors will gain insight into how climate change, urban growth, and land management influence fire behavior, and how communities are preparing for and responding to fire in a changing world.
Experience the stories, tools, and personal accounts that define firefighting in the Okanagan, and explore how history, culture, and human courage come together to confront one of the region’s greatest natural challenges.
