Okanagan Lake Bridge
- Largest Floating Bridge in Canada - overall length 7/8 mile
- Lift Span is 265 feet long and can be raised to provide 60 feet of vertical clearance.
- The Okanagan Lake Bridge was officially opened by H.R.H. Princess Margaret and Premier W.A.C. Bennett on July 19, 1958.
- It was a toll bridge up until April 1, 1963.
- Total construction time - 2 years.
Ellison Field Air Terminal
Kelowna Airport´s history began in 1946, when its land was purchased. The first ´airport´ here was known as Ellison Field, and consisted of a small terminal and a grass runway of around 3.000 feet in length. The Ellison Field opened for operation in 1947.
August 11, 1960, was one of the hottest days in Kelowna's history, when George Hees, Conservative Minister of Transport, fired a Very pistol to officially open Kelowna Airport. Improvements to Ellison Airfield were made by the federal government through the constant lobbying of Mayor Dick Parkinson.
William Andrew Cecil Bennett
One of Kelowna's most
remarkable citizens was the late William Andrew Cecil Bennett, the hardware
merchant who became British columbia's Social Credit Premier in 1952 and
ruled the province for 20 continuous, productive years. Mr. Bennett died in February, 1979.
William Richard Bennett
Following in his father's
political footsteps William Richard Bennett was first elected as a South
Okanagan MLA in September, 1973, representing Social Credit. He became
a Premier in December, 1975, and was re-elected in May of 1979.
Bill Bennett was born in Kelowna in 1932 and has always been active in sports, business and community affairs.