Other

The Kelowna Memorial Arena is an ice hockey arena built in 1945. It was constructed by efforts of World War II veterans as a monument to fallen comrades. It was built with the memorial fund given to the city due to World War II. The Okanagan military museum is connected to the arena. It has a capacity of 2,600. The smaller ice surface of 180' X 80' is used for Kelowna Minor Hockey and the Okanagan College Hockey League. The Okanagan Military Museum is located in the Memorial Arena building in Kelowna at 1424 Ellis Street. The Okanagan Military Museum Society which oversees the museum is dedicated to the preservation of our military and naval history, within a local context, as a valuable contribution to our community. The museum has a significant collection of military artifacts such as military small arms, uniforms, insignia, badges and equipment. The collection includes relics and artifacts from the Boer War, World War I and II, the Korean War, the Cold War and contemporary military operations. The British Columbia Dragoons regiment is well represented as the Okanagan's military presence along with the RCMP.

The memorial is a single granite spire set atop three separate granite bases.

The Brigadier Angle Walkway, from Bernard Avenue to William R. Bennet Bridge in City Park, was named in honour of Brigadier H.H. (Harry) Angle, DSO, MID, ED.

Brigadier H.H. Angle was born in England in 1906 and moved to Kelowna at the age of 16. In 1932, he joined the Okanagan Mounted Rifles Militia, the forerunner to the British Columbia Dragoons (BCD). He sailed for England with the BCD in November 1941 and spent much of the next two years training with the Regiment for the eventual invasion of the European continent. As Lieutenant-Colonel he commanded the British Columbia Dragoons from April 1943 to February 1944, and then again from September 1944 to January 1946, earning the DSO. Following the end of the Italian campaign, he led his troops into battle in North-West Europe and into the final battle of the Delfzijl Pocket, liberating the Netherlands from German occupation. The British Columbia Dragoons moved to the Veendam area after this final battle and were instrumental in the establishment of municipal affairs in the area, thus establishing a bond between Kelowna and Veendam that continues to be celebrated to this day. He returned to Kelowna with the Regiment in 1946 where he was honoured with the “Freedom of the City” in recognition of the honour he brought to Kelowna through his stellar military service. In 1947, he served as magistrate for Kelowna, but was called upon the following year to serve as a military observer in Pakistan and sent to India in 1949 as Chief Military Adviser to a United Nations mission dealing with a border dispute between India and Pakistan. Tragically, Brigadier Angle was killed in an airplane crash in India in July 1950.

The Brigadier Angle Armoury, of the British Columbia Dragoons, was named in honour of Brigadier H.H. (Harry) Angle, DSO, MID, ED.

Brigadier H.H. Angle was born in England in 1906 and moved to Kelowna at the age of 16. In 1932, he joined the Okanagan Mounted Rifles Militia, the forerunner to the British Columbia Dragoons (BCD). He sailed for England with the BCD in November 1941 and spent much of the next two years training with the Regiment for the eventual invasion of the European continent. As Lieutenant-Colonel he commanded the British Columbia Dragoons from April 1943 to February 1944, and then again from September 1944 to January 1946, earning the DSO. Following the end of the Italian campaign, he led his troops into battle in North-West Europe and into the final battle of the Delfzijl Pocket, liberating the Netherlands from German occupation. The British Columbia Dragoons moved to the Veendam area after this final battle and were instrumental in the establishment of municipal affairs in the area, thus establishing a bond between Kelowna and Veendam that continues to be celebrated to this day. He returned to Kelowna with the Regiment in 1946 where he was honoured with the “Freedom of the City” in recognition of the honour he brought to Kelowna through his stellar military service. In 1947, he served as magistrate for Kelowna, but was called upon the following year to serve as a military observer in Pakistan and sent to India in 1949 as Chief Military Adviser to a United Nations mission dealing with a border dispute between India and Pakistan. Tragically, Brigadier Angle was killed in an airplane crash in India in July 1950.

This memorial was named "Memorial Hall" in 1947, in honour of those who did not return and those who did return from the Second World War. The following is an excerpt from Royal Canadian Legion - BC/Yukon Branches - Commemorative History Booklet: Branch 189 of The Royal Canadian Legion was granted its Charter in 1946. It had 25 members at that time and meetings were held in the old apple packing plant located on the corner of Oyama and Trasks Roads in Oyama. Apple crates were the furniture of the day. In 1946, the Town of Oyama proposed that an addition be added to the old Community Hall located on the adjacent corner from the packing house. The name would be changed to "Memorial Hall" in honour of those who had not returned from World War II and those who had. A grant was obtained from the Government to help pay for the project and all the apple growers in the Oyama area also wanted to help with the fundraising. They donated ? cents from the sale of each box of apples, a very generous amount in those days. The extension was completed in 1947. Throughout this time period, the legion members were looking for a permanent meeting room. The Army was selling off buildings and the Legion hoped to acquire one. Negotiations with CN Rail were undertaken to put one of these buildings on their property. The community suggested that the Legion move into the basement of the newly renovated Memorial Hall. In 1949, the Legion was able to lease the lower north end of the Memorial hall. The room at the time consisted of a dirt floor with cinder block walls and of course apple crate furniture. A beer license was issued to the Branch and the recruitment drive for new members was on. In the early 1950's with help from volunteers from the Memorial hall and the Branch, a cement floor was laid. The project was overseen by Mr. Bill Witzke, a master of cement. By the late 1950's the Legion membership had increased so much that additional space was required. The upper lounge was built with all volunteer labour. Today, 59 years later, the Legion still leases from the Community the space it started out in.

Sappers Bridge, a 250 foot Double Single Bailey Bridge, on the main arm of the Kettle River is named in honour of the sappers who landed at Dieppe during the Second World War. It is a memorial to the Engineers who lost their lives as a direct result of the Dieppe Raid in 1942.

Construction of the bridge was led by 44 Field Engineer Squadron, 21 Field Engineer Squadron, 33 Field Engineer Squadron and 409 Engineer Company, US Army Corps of Engineer. The bridge was dedicated in August 1992 on the 50th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid. It was used to access a disabled children's camp across the Kettle River.

The three-pillared gates are adorned with numerous plaques commemorating those young men and women from Kelowna District who served in South Africa 1899 - 1902, in the Second World War and in Korea. The names of those who paid the supreme sacrifice are engraved on plaques affixed to the vertical pillars of the gate. Other plaques identify various area in the world where Canadians served in times of international conflict.

This war memorial is dedicated to those who served and paid the supreme sacrifice in the First World War. It is a stone shaft bearing the inscriptions of the names of those from Kelowna and District who paid the supreme sacrifice. The upright stone shaft is surrounded at the base by small stone pedestals each bearing the inscriptions of major First World War battles in which Canadians bravely fought. The following is an excerpt from Histories - BC/Yukon Branches - The Royal Canadian Legion - Kelwona Branch 26 On August 7, 1921, this First World War memorial was dedicated by the Venerable Archdeacon Thomas E. Greene, with over 2,500 citizens participating, including South Africans and First World War Veterans. There are 134 names carved into the memorial.

This memorial is dedicated to all those who served in the South African War, First and Second World Wars, Korean War, Persian Gulf as well as Peacemakers.

The four sides and the base of the granite obelisk display engraved plaques commemorating those who served in the Armed Forces of Canada during the First and Second World Wars and in Korea. The names of 25 residents of Rutland and Ellison who paid the supreme sacrifice are individually engraved on plaques affixed to one side of the memorial. This memorial is refurbished by Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans, Kelowna Unit 276. This Memorial Park also contains a Memorial Walk consisting of a line of cement stones, each engraved with the names of a citizen of Rutland and Ellison who paid the supreme sacrifice during times of international conflict.