An image of Franz Ferdinand visiting the Okanagan in 1893.
The man whose death ignited the First World War visited in 1893
What: History and Sociology Speaker Series
Who: Maury Williams, professor emeritus of history, UBC Okanagan
When: Wednesday, April 3 starting at 6:45 p.m.
Where: Okanagan Regional Library, 1380 Ellis Street, Kelowna
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, began a round-the-world journey in 1892. After extended visits in India, Australia, and Japan, he arrived in Vancouver in September 1893.
From there he journeyed to the Okanagan where he spent a week hunting near Penticton; he also briefly visited Kelowna. Ferdinand would later become a key figure in history as his assassination in 1914 sparked the beginning of the First World War.
The community is invited to join UBC Okanagan Professor Emeritus Maury Williams at a special history presentation on April 3. Williams will use photographs from Ferdinand’s 1893 visit to share the story of his journey.
This talk is organized by UBC Okanagan’s history and sociology department, in partnership with the Okanagan Regional Library. It will focus on Ferdinand analysis and impressions of life in the Okanagan.
This event is free and open to the public. To register or find out more, visit: franzferdinandokanagan.eventbrite.ca
About UBC’s Okanagan campus
UBC’s Okanagan campus is an innovative hub for research and learning in the heart of British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley. Ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world, UBC is home to bold thinking and discoveries that make a difference. Established in 2005, the Okanagan campus combines a globally recognized UBC education with a tight-knit and entrepreneurial community that welcomes students and faculty from around the world.
To find out more, visit: ok.ubc.ca.
