Armstrong
- For the American city, see Armstrong (Iowa)
Armstrong is a city of about 4800 people (2016) in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. It is perhaps most famous as the home of the Armstrong Cheese factory, which closed in 2004.
Understand
Armstrong is a rural community and commercial center in the North Okanagan, with agriculture, grain farming of alfalfa and wheat, logging, and ranching being traditional economic activities. It is set amidst the dairy and farmlands of the Spallumcheen Valley (a name derived from a Shuswap language word with multiple meanings: "beautiful valley","flat meadow,""meeting of the waters" and "prairie-banked river").
History
Armstrong was named after E.C. Heaton Armstrong, a London banker who helped finance the Shuswap and Okanagan Railway in 1892 and local development at the turn of the century, relocating the townsite originally at Landsdowne to the confluence of the Valley's rail lines, and the city's current site.
The influence of Dutch immigrants settling in the valley after the Second World War is represented by their cheese-making knowledge, allowing Armstrong to become well known for the cheese it produced.
The city is also known for hosting the Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede, which has been in annual operation since 1899. The IPE has a midway and popular retail show, but is very much still a country fair, with contests being held to judge animals, cooking, sewing, hobbies and other items. The exhibition offers a variety of entertainment options ranging from concerts, competitions, and the famous mini-chuckwagon races.
Get in
The only highway through town is provincial highway 97A which travels from Vernon to the south and Sicamous to the north of Armstrong.
The closest major airport is in Kelowna to the south.
By bus
- Ebus, toll-free: +1 877-769-3287. Travels daily between Kamloops and Kelowna with stops in Chase, Sorrento, Salmon Arm, Enderby, Armstrong, and Vernon. Service provider also operates routes between Vancouver and Kamloops, and between Vancouver and Kelowna.
Get around
By public transit
- BC Transit (Vernon Regional Transit System), ☏ +1-250-545-7221. Operates bus route 60 from Monday to Saturday that travels between Vernon and Enderby with stops in Armstrong. Travel time to Armstrong is 35 min from Vernon and 28 min from Enderby. On Wednesdays, BC Transit (Shuswap Regional Transit System) operates bus route 41 between Enderby and Salmon Arm. Fare is $2.50 on bus route 60.
See
- 1 Armstrong-Spallumcheen Museum & Art Gallery, 3415 Pleasant Valley Road, ☏ +1 250 546-8318, asmas@telus.net. M-Sa 10AM-4PM. Contains a museum, art gallery and archives for Armstrong and area. The site of the old Armstrong Machine Shop has over 30 historical displays, replicas of the railways, a schoolhouse, a grocery store, a blacksmith shop, and a comprehensive archive of photographs, newspapers and maps. The Old School House is one of the original educational institutions in British Columbia. By donation.
- 2 The Village Cheese Company, 3475 Smith Drive, ☏ +1 250 546-8651, fax: +1 250 546-8659, vcheese@villagecheese.com. An artisan cheese production facility that models itself after an estate winery. Features tours and tastings.
- 3 Caravan Farm Theatre, 4886 Salmon River Rd, toll-free: +1-866-546-8533. Where professional actors who have long provided entertainment throughout the Okanagan produce a number of annual events and festivals.
Do
- 1 Armstrong-Spallumcheen Memorial Park. Features a skateboard park, where people hold jams and demos. Also features an outdoor pool.
- 2 Nor-val Arena, 3351 Park Dr, ☏ +1 250-546-9456. An indoor skating rink that is available for roller blading during warmer months.
- 3 Hassen Memrorial Arena, 3315 Pleasant Valley Rd, ☏ +1 250-546-9456. Another indoor skating rink that is available for roller blading during warmer months.
Buy
- 1 Armstrong Farmers Market, 3010 Wood Ave, Info@armstrongfarmersmarket.ca. An outdoor market that operates weekly from April to October. It is a key attraction at the Interior Provincial Exhibition Fairgrounds on Saturday mornings. A Winter Farmers Market also occurs at the Odd Fellows Hall located across the street from Interior Provincial Exhibition Fairgrounds, operating Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Eat and drink
- 1 The Wild Oak Cafe & Community Market, 2539 Pleasant Valley Rd, ☏ +1 778-442-2028. Tu-Sa 9AM-4PM. Fresh muffins, soups, salads and sandwiches using fresh local ingredients when in season.
Sleep
- 1 Armstrong Inn, 3400 Smith Dr, ☏ +1 250-546-3056, toll-free: +1-866-546-3056, armstronginn@gmail.com. Single rooms, double rooms, kitchenettes and an executive suite all with queen size pillow top mattresses. From $119.
Go next
- Head north to the Shuswap region.
- Head south to see the rest of the Okanagan including Vernon, Kelowna, and Penticton.
- Kamloops is a short drive north on Highway 97.
| Routes through Armstrong |
Sicamous / Salmon Arm via  ← Enderby ← |
N  S |
→ Vernon → Kelowna via  |