Leir House Cultural Centre

About Leir House

• Arts Organizations

  Leir House Cultural Centre is managed by the Penticton & District Community Arts Council and is home to the following groups:

  • Penticton Arts Council Offices+ Galleries: Main Floor.
  • Penticton Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts: 2nd Floor.
  • Penticton Potters' Guild: Lower Level.
  • PDCAC’s Artists in Residence (AiR) Program artists: Deb Tougas, Diana Skelhorne, Karla Avendano are on the main floor. George Traicheff is on the lower level. Barb Peeren and Cathie Peeren are in the Carriage House. 
• Rentals

  The downstairs Community Room was recently renovated with support from the Hamber Foundation, Community Foundations of South Okanagan Similkameen and Canada, the City of Penticton, and generous donors in our community. It is a spacious room with tables and chairs for small group meetings and workshops. 

  Please note that the Leir House is a heritage building. Connect with us if you have concerns regarding accessing the building. 

  Please contact us for more information.

• History

  Construction of the Leir House began in 1927 under the supervision of Hugh Charles Leir. He kept the mill he owned running during the depression by setting his workers to the task of building a new family home. The walls of the house are solid 2x4's laid on end and it's one of the only stone-faced buildings in Penticton.

  The Leir family grew to include 11 children. Mrs. Leir was known for organizing the first Teen Town in B.C. and Leir House was a gathering place for young people.

  In 1951 the house was sold to the Penticton Regional Hospital and used as a nurses' residence. In 1979 the Penticton and District Community Arts Council advocated that the City of Penticton purchase Leir House as a Cultural Arts Centre.

  In 1980 the Leir House Cultural Centre was officially opened with a gala reception attended by the public. Five of the 11 Leir children and many of their children and grandchildren were in attendance. 

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