The telegraph revolutionised global communication! Sending a message from Canada to the UK went from taking weeks of sending a letter by sea to taking a few hours by tapping a few buttons. But how does the telegraph work, and why was it so important to Summerland?

Summerland is a town largely shaped by transportation. The Kettle Valley and Canadian Pacific Railways' development in Summerland vastly changed the rate of development of the down, allowing more people to enter and development the town. Furthermore, the Okanagan Lake was the source of some large shipping lanes across western Canada. The introduction of the Telegraph allowed for people on these modes of transport to communicate to each other, and more easily coordinate communication, such as between rail and boat.

Beyond simply Summerland as well, the Telegraph allowed for Canada to actually communicate with the UK and Europe at large with ease, coordinating visits or event much easier than previously possible.

Stop by the Summerland Museum Saturday, August 2nd from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM for our full history of the Telegraph event for even more information!