Founding family donates temporary parkland in West Kelowna
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One of the founding families of the Westside is carrying on its legacy by dedicating family land in Rose Valley for temporary public park use.
The Mar/Marr family’s B.C. history began in the early 1920s in Revelstoke before moving to Kelowna in the later part of the decade. The family ran the Golden Pheasant Restaurant on Bernard Avenue. During the Great Depression, the Golden Pheasant Restaurant provided free soup after closing hours to those in need.
The Mar family in Westbank, circa 1950 Left to right – Jok (younger brother to Fee), Quentin (Fee’s son), Fee (older brother to Jok), May (Jok’s daughter) and Henry (Fee’s son). (Submitted photo/City of West Kelowna)In the 1950s, Fee and Jok purchased a homestead of approximately 400 acres on the Westside in the area that is now known as Rose Valley. They grew asparagus, had a variety of fruit trees and raised domestic animals and birds. You can still see a few fruit trees and asparagus on the remaining land, which is the undeveloped parcel of approximately 25 acres, east of Mar Jok Elementary School. The school itself is named in honour and remembrance of Jok.
