Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.
The Vernon Public Art Gallery, which will be moving into the new Cultural Centre (Vernon Matters file photo)
By Liam Verster
Art and Culture Donation

Vernon Public Art Gallery receives $1M donation

Apr 25, 2025 | 10:54 AM

The local art scene in Vernon is getting a significant boost.

The Vernon Public Art Gallery said the Galbraith Family Foundation had pledged a $1,000,000 legacy gift donation to the gallery.

These funds were intended to be used for the construction of the gallery’s new home in the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre, which is slated to begin in the summer.

The donation was made by the Galbraith family on behalf of their father, George, and in honour of their mother, Caroline.

“Mom would be absolutely thrilled. Art always played a big part of her life,” son Kyle Galbraith said in a release.

Climate Action Ripple Effect
CARE program re-branded to boost project impacts, reach
6h ago
Capital Project List
Over $39.5M in Greater Vernon capital projects planned for 2026
9h ago
Parking Permits
Vernon's parking pass to be sold through HotSpot in 2026
16h ago

Ian Galbraith, another son of George and Caroline, said the Vernon Public Art Gallery allowed their mother to “meet new friends, excercise her creativity and critical thinking, and get engrossed in the community.” He added the new gallery will be a place to bring people together as well.

“The Galbraith family are extremely generous in our community, and we recognize this leadership gift as a significant catalyst to our new facility and the fund-raising campaign overall,” Sarah Kennedy, Vernon Public Art Gallery’s Board Chair, said.

“This Gallery’s move into a permanent space will allow us to better collect, preserve and exhibit art.”

The Galbraith Family will be recognized for this contribution by having the new gallery’s primary exhibition space named the Caroline Galbraith Exhibition Hall.

Construction of the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre in downtown Vernon was expected to begin in the summer of 2025. A campaign was launched earlier this month to raise awareness about the project and collect donations to help offset the costs.

by Liam Verster
View Comments

Other Matters

Climate Action Ripple Effect
CARE program re-branded to boost project impacts, reach
The Climate Action Ripple Effect (CARE) program has re-branded and is looking for new mentors.The program, run by School District 22, is marking its fifth anniversary with new branding, an updated website, and strategies to boost student and community climate education, engagement and impacts.CARE sees Vernon and area ...
6h ago
Read More
change at the top
John Rustad quits as B.C. Conservative leader, local MLAs react
John Rustad has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party of B.C., saying he quit to avert a "civil war" in the Opposition ranks.His departure came one day after he refused to resign in the face of a caucus revolt in which 20 MLAs representing a caucus majority said they had lost confidence in his leadersh...
8h ago
Read More
Capital Project List
Over $39.5M in Greater Vernon capital projects planned for 2026
Greater Vernon will see a lot of investments into assets in the coming year.A report to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee (GVAC) stated that it had over $39,500,000 worth of projects planned for 2026, though those would be majorly offset by a $20-million grant for one of the projects.The projects planned for 2026 i...
9h ago
Read More
Festive weekend
Parade with a purpose brings holiday cheer and road closures to Kelowna
Kelowna residents can expect some festive fun and traffic delays this weekend as the 6th annual Parade with a Purpose takes over downtown. The parade, which supports youth mental health through the KGH Foundation, will start at City Park at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, and travel down Bernard Avenue to Bertram Street be...
11h ago
Read More
$6,443 Raised
Vernon Public Art Gallery surpasses GivingTuesday goal
The local art scene has gotten a big boost from a sponsor and members of the public.As part of GivingTuesday, VantageOne Credit Union pledged to match $2,500 in community donations to the Vernon Public Art Gallery.The gallery had hoped to raise that sum through community donations, but the public made their support cle...
12h ago
Read More
Parking Permits
Vernon's parking pass to be sold through HotSpot in 2026
Parking permits will be available in less than a month, and can only be secured through the city's parking provider.Vernon will be selling its annual parking passes through HotSpot starting at 10 a.m. January 2.People will be able to purchase their permits through the Apple and Google apps, or via the HotSpot website.H...
16h ago
Read More
Housing Market Update
Local housing prices decline as sales slow
The North Okanagan housing market saw a bit of a slow down last month with one realtor saying the decline was more than usual for this time of year.The Association of Interior Realtors says there were 107 units sold in the latest reporting month, which was down 10.2 per cent from the sales recorded in November of 2024....
Dec 04, 2025
Read More
Alpine Opening Delay
SilverStar opening date pushed back, again
The local ski hill will not be opening this weekend.SilverStar Mountain Resort had planned to open it's alpine runs on November 28, but pushed the opening back to December 5.SilverStar said Wednesday, Dec. 3, that it would be pushing the opening back again due to poor snow conditions.The resort did not say when it plan...
Dec 03, 2025
Read More
more spaces
Kelowna to get 182 more child care spaces
More families in Kelowna will soon have access to affordable child care, with 182 new spaces coming to activity centres in Glenmore and Mission. The provincial and federal governments are investing more than $16 million to help lower costs and reduce waitlists. The new centres will serve children from infants to school...
Dec 03, 2025
Read More

What Matters

Climate Action Ripple Effect
CARE program re-branded to boost project impacts, reach
6h ago
Capital Project List
Over $39.5M in Greater Vernon capital projects planned for 2026
9h ago
Parking Permits
Vernon's parking pass to be sold through HotSpot in 2026
16h ago
Housing Market Update
Local housing prices decline as sales slow
Dec 04, 2025
B.C. Conservatives say 'professionally incapacitated' Rustad removed as leader
Dec 03, 2025