to the success of the early
orchards. Their experiences
in the Okanagan and the
beauty of the Lake Country
region convinced many to stay
and to build a life here.
Once established, many of
these young pioneers returned
to Japan to marry and to
bring their new wives back to

the Okanagan. The story of
these early pioneers, and
their courage in meeting the
daily challenges of life in a
new land, is an important
part of our history.
   The District of Lake
Country is located in the
Okanagan Valley, extending
between Vernon and Kelowna,

with an area of 122 square
kilometers and a population
of approximately 11,000.
Inhabited by the Syilx people
for thousands of years,
settlers from other parts of
the world began to arrive in
the late 1800s, with a large
influx in the early 1900s
with the development of the

orcharding industry. The
District has a significant
Japanese-Canadian population
of long-time residents, whose
parents or grandparents
arrived in the period 1907 to
1930.
   The District of Lake
Country is made up of four
community wards: Oyama,