Agriculture is never a solo effort. The Growers Supply Building reflects the cooperative systems that helped Kelowna’s orchard industry thrive — on lands that have been stewarded by the Syilx Okanagan people since time immemorial.

Established in 1937, Growers Supply Co. Ltd. was created in response to a growing need within the fruit industry. Independent growers lacked reliable access to tools, materials, and support, and this building became a centralized hub to meet those needs — supplying everything from equipment to soil and seed.

Located at the heart of Kelowna’s former packinghouse district, alongside sites like the Laurel Packinghouse and Old Cannery, this building played a key role in supporting the region’s agricultural economy. It reflects a time when collaboration and shared infrastructure were essential to sustaining growth.

As the industry evolved, so did the site. In 1964, a larger warehouse and retail space was constructed to meet increasing demand. Decades later, as agricultural operations shifted, the property was reimagined once again.

Today, elements of the original Growers Supply Building live on within the Rotary Centre for the Arts. Timber beams, concrete walls, and structural details remain visible — a physical reminder of the building’s industrial past, now repurposed as a space for creativity and community.

While these systems of agriculture and industry reshaped the area, they exist within a landscape long shaped by the Syilx Okanagan people’s relationship to land, food systems, and shared knowledge — connections that continue today.

This site tells a story of cooperation, adaptation, and transformation — from supporting growers, to supporting artists, and continuing to bring people together in new ways.