UBCO opens time capsule created on campus 25 years ago

UBC Okanagan got a blast from the past on Thursday.

A time capsule buried 25 years ago by staff at Okanagan University College was opened today and its contents were revealed.

It was sealed and placed in the campus library during the opening weekend celebrations of OUC, which is now the UBCO campus.

“We at UBC owe tremendous thanks to the women and men of Okanagan University College for creating this campus, and to Okanagan College before that for establishing a post-secondary education system throughout the region,” said Deborah Buszard. Deputy vice-chancellor of UBCO.

“We continue to build on a very great thing. The collaborative relationship we have with Okanagan College is important to UBC Okanagan, and it is important for us to reflect on the foundation of our two institutions.”

Buszard and Okanagan College president Jim Hamilton pulled items from the time capsule that was sealed in 1993.

Contents included newspapers, ball caps, t-shirts, a penny collection, college recruiting tapes and brochures, a Kelowna bus schedules, a calendar, key chains and mugs.

As a number of VHS tapes and CDs were pulled from the capsule, Hamilton couldn’t help but laugh at the changes in technology over the last quarter century.

There were also two wrapped presents, one of which is for the 2018 board chair while the second is for whoever has that role in 2043, when a new time capsule will be open.

Both campuses will take turns displaying the contents of the time capsule until 2020, which will mark the 15th anniversary of when the two schools were established separately.