Project Description
The Greater Vernon Cultural Centre will construct a new cultural facility in downtown Vernon, in which the local museum and art gallery will operate. It will be approximately 31,000 square feet and will include much-needed flexible/multi-use spaces for cultural activities, programming, and community gatherings that will be used by the local indigenous (Syilx) community, multi-cultural organizations, new immigrants, and the broader Greater Vernon community.
The new Centre will create new space to allow for decolonization and indigenization through the co-curation of the museum's exhibitions and address the community's need to protect its cultural and heritage stories, and collections of art, archives, and artifacts. It will provide a much-needed venue for cultural activity, stimulate downtown revitalization, and diversify the local economy.
Borrowing approved of up to $28 million.
The update of the vision for the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre is complete
The RDNO has $28 million secured through long-term borrowing, $5 million through donations and grants, and $13 million in reserves and short-term borrowing. Additional funding is still being sought to reduce the impact on reserves.
Work is awarded and ordering begins. Site work expected to start in early 2026.