Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History

06/19/2026

Bucket Brigade Race 1990

Contestants competing in a "Bucket Brigade" race during the 1990 Sam Steele Days celebration in Cranbrook. 0014.0046 1990 - Image courtesy of Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History (CBIRH)https://basininstitute.org/collection/1/19/270/

06/18/2026

Celebrating Pride Season in the Basin

Pride gatherings began as large protests for 2SLGBTQI+ rights. In Canada, the first demonstrations happened in Ottawa and Vancouver in 1971. By 1973, cities like Montreal, Ottawa, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg held Pride events. Now, Toronto's Pride weekend in June is among the largest in North America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A0AtOwXkdk&t=1s

Wishing everyone a joyful Pride Season!

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06/17/2026

St. Eugene Mission, 1910

A small group of Ktunaxa individuals is gathered at the St. Eugene Mission near Cranbrook, British Columbia. The St. Eugene Mission Village was constructed at the intersection of two major public roadways. The limited number of trees visible in the image results from the community's practices of horse grazing and firewood collection. This 1910 postcard is available in the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History (CBIRH) Image Bank, Collection No. 0019.0112: https://basininstitute.org/collection/1/24/671

06/16/2026

Celebrate Indigenous Heritage With Us

We invite you to join the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History (CBIRH) in celebrating Indigenous culture throughout June for National Indigenous History Month (NIHM) and National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD) on June 21, 2026. The featured imagery—a fiddle, a feather, and a narwhal—symbolizes elements from the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultures, set against the warm light of the summer solstice. We honour and celebrate the richness of our First Nations Peoples. https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1466616436543/1534874922512

06/10/2026

Living Legends

We are excited to continue our partnership with School District No. 5 (SD #5) and the Legacy of Learning Project, showcasing Living Legends in our exhibits. The Cranbrook Girls’ Bugle Band is currently featured in a rotating exhibit at the SD #5 Board Office. Thank you to our sponsors as we advance this priceless initiative to preserve school history in our region.

06/05/2026

Cranbrook Girls' Bugle Band Remembers

It all began in 1941, when a spirited group of girls picked up their bugles and drums as part of the Canadian Women’s Training Corps of Cranbrook, rallying under the watchful eye of Major Grey. When the WWII war’s dust settled, the band marched right into Cranbrook High School, this time with Pop Price at the helm. For decades, they were Cranbrook’s Good Will Ambassadors, filling parades and hearts with music and mischief, until, after a long and fruitful run, they finally set down their instruments in 2023. Collection no. 0039.0037 1955- Image courtesy of Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History (CBIRH). https://basininstitute.org/collection/1/44/1188

06/03/2026

Captain Armstrong Navigates Turbulent Waters

As spring flooding affects communities such as Fairmont, B.C., we can observe the Columbia River’s high water levels, debris, and swift current. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGjnAFiDcl8

This event reflects on the historic efforts of captains who navigated these turbulent waters to deliver goods throughout the Columbia Basin. Notably, Steamboat Captain and White-Water Boat Pilot Francis Patrick Armstrong (1859-1923) guided vessels through the Rocky Mountain Trench and along the Columbia River during his career.

05/29/2026

Boating on Kootenay Lake

Step back in time to a tranquil boating scene on Kootenay Lake, Nelson, BC, when regattas drew crowds, and life moved at a gentler pace. Collection No. 0131.0551, 1915. Image courtesy of Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History (CBIRH). https://basininstitute.org/collection/7/109/21380/ To bring a piece of history home, select your favourite images through our website or email [email protected] for personalized assistance.

05/27/2026

Preventing the Burn

With wildfire season underway in the Columbia Basin, protecting the environment and ourselves through preventative measures this spring/summer season is essential to curbing wildfires. Climate change, human activity, and deforestation have prolonged fire seasons. Be FireSmart this year and work together to help prevent fires and protect this stunning landscape. Collection No. 0014.0051 1974 https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prepare/firesmart

05/21/2026

Hockey Night In The Kootenays

Late Cranbrook author Anthony Dransfeld's Hockey Stories are available for purchase at our online store. The Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History (CBIRH) proudly presents Hockey Night In The Kootenays…And Other Sports Stories. Published by Wild Horse Creek Press https://basininstitute.org/product/hockey-night-in-the-kootenays-and-other-sports-stories/

Anthony Dransfeld tells the Hockey stories from the past in Hockey Night in the Kootenays