Mara is a vibrant community in the North Okanagan. The initial permanent European settlers in the Mara district were largely from an area in Austria called Kaernten, a region around Budapest, Hungary. They came shortly after the CPR railway crossed to Vancouver in 1885 and followed railway workers involved with the construction of the railway. All were excited by what they found in this part of the North Okanagan: a wide river valley, fertile soil, timber and water.
They stayed, applied for a homestead and shared their discovery with friends and family. The Mara valley soon filled with migrants from Canada, Italy, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and the United States. Read More....
