For more than 60 years, the Summerland Museum and Archives has helped preserve the history of the community. Today, it is also finding new ways to connect people with that history—both inside the museum and out in the community.

Among those helping lead that work is curator Petra, who grew up in Summerland and returned home during COVID just as a position became available at the museum.

When we arrived for our visit, Petra was sharing a recently donated artifact and inviting us to guess what it was. After a few unsuccessful attempts, she revealed the answer with enthusiasm: part of a musket flintlock mechanism that had been found in a local lake and brought to the museum.

It was a small moment, but one that captured the curiosity and excitement she brings to her work.

That energy is reflected in the museum’s broader approach to community engagement.

“We can be a bit of a blind spot for people,” says Petra. “It’s a large building with not a lot of windows, so for some it’s maybe a bit mysterious what’s happening inside. We’ve really put a lot of effort into outreach and show them that our history is fun, and that there’s a little bit of everything here for everyone.”

For Andrew, a volunteer board member since 2021, that outreach reflects an important evolution in what a museum can be.

“It’s not just a funny, dusty old museum,” he says. “There’s a lot of activity here. We’ve got to get away from the idea of a static museum with just things in it. We can offer much more than that, and we do it through our staff, board, and students.”

Helping make that possible are the museum’s student staff.

A recent $10,000 Cascadia Credit Union grant from the Summerland Credit Union Legacy Fund, held at the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen, is supporting summer and winter internship positions that strengthens both the museum’s day-to-day operations and its public outreach.

For approximately eight years, the museum has welcomed interns seeking hands-on experience in museums and heritage work. These positions give recent graduates the opportunity to build practical skills while contributing to meaningful projects. Past interns have helped organize collections, tackle archival backlogs, and support initiatives such as the museum’s Oral History Project by conducting interviews with longtime residents.

One recent interview featured a 100-year-old veteran, preserving memories that might otherwise have been lost. For Petra, that’s one of the most rewarding aspects of the work.

“Those opportunities don’t last forever,” says Petra. “Being able to record someone’s memories and experiences firsthand is incredibly valuable. If we don’t capture those stories now, there may not be another chance.”

The internship program also benefits the students themselves. Many former interns have gone on to pursue further studies or secure positions at museums, archives, and other cultural institutions, using the experience they gained in Summerland as a stepping stone into the field.

At the same time, students play a highly visible role in the community. Whether attending markets, participating in festivals, creating social media content, or helping with programs and projects, they often serve as an approachable first point of contact between the museum and the public.

Their contributions bring fresh perspectives and new ideas, while helping the museum reach audiences who may never have visited before.

As the museum looks ahead to future renovations and continued growth, investments in people remain essential. Support for student positions helps ensure the museum can continue caring for its collections, engaging the public, and building connections throughout the community.

Thanks to investments in people, the Summerland Museum and Archives can continue doing what it does best: connecting the community with the history, experiences, and discoveries that make this place unique.