CHBC 60th anniversary: Penticton over the decades

As CHBC marks its 60th anniversary on the air, we are taking a look back at the communities we cover and how they’ve changed over the past six decades.Penticton experienced a housing boom during the 1950s and 60s that led to the start of major development.Main Street was the centre of the vibrant downtown core and tourism was a pivotal part of the town’s economy, much like it is today.At that time the biggest employers in the south Okanagan were the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the forestry and agricultural sectors.“Downtown was always very strong in the 50s and 60s with the advent of the new shopping centres, the shopping plaza, then came Cherry Lane and then came Peach Tree so the city started expanding,” Penticton MLA Dan Ashton said.The post-war population boom led to busy decades of construction and large infrastructure projects like Penticton Regional Hospital, the Memorial Arena, and City Hall.The Peach Bowl Convention Centre, now the Trade and Convention Centre, opened in 1965. Today it’s double its original size.The biggest transportation project on the books was the construction of the four-lane channel parkway in the 1970s, which provided a route through Penticton. The expansion of Penticton Regional Airport also made the city a transportation hub for the region.“Now Vancouver was just 55 minutes away, and so the whole south Okanagan was able to be served by that,” said historian and former museum curator, Randy Manuel.The labour market shifted over the late 20th century.“It’s gone more into light manufacturing, wineries and that aspect of agricultural is probably actually busier now than when the orchards were here,” Manuel said.In 2006 residents voted in favour of the construction of the South Okanagan Events Centre which boosted the city’s convention market.“The South Okanagan Events Centre has certainly brought in more visitors, plus it’s also met a social need in the community that we didn’t have before,” said former mayor Beth Campbell.The face of the young city was changed forever, and through it all CHBC was there to document history as it unfolded.“When CHBC came on the air, we were one of the first people to have a TV, and I remember father going out onto the roof with coat hanger, aluminum wire, and tinfoil to be able to improve the reception,” Manuel said.“CHBC has been absolutely incredible for this valley,” Ashton added.