Landing history afloat

The MV Okanagan: the last CPR tug on the lake

Cartoon of Sean Phillips dressed for the pirate party on the Okanagan tug

Before highways, a fleet of Canadian Pacific boats tied the Okanagan together, and Okanagan Landing was their shipyard. The MV Okanagan was the biggest, and the last, of the CPR tugs on Okanagan Lake. She still floats today, and her owners, good friends of Sean’s, have hosted some legendary Landing get-togethers on board, pirate party included.

Her story

Built for the lake in 1946–47. Designed and built by West Coast Shipbuilders in Vancouver, then shipped in pieces to the Okanagan Landing shipyard and put together here.
Working years, 1947 to 1972. She pushed railway barges loaded with Okanagan fruit and freight between Penticton and Kelowna, and broke ice in winter. Her last run was on May 31, 1971.
A second life. After years moored at Fintry she was bought and restored in 1981, ran charters out of Kelowna, and later served as a floating restaurant.
Back in the North Okanagan. Today she’s moored near Vernon, a working piece of the same history you’ll find at the Stationhouse Museum.

Not the same boat as the sternwheeler. The SS Okanagan was a CPR sternwheeler built at the Landing in 1907. The MV Okanagan is the diesel tug that came later. Locals often call her “the Okanagan tug.”

Party photos

Pirate party day on the tug, September 2026: the Jolly Roger up on the funnel, costumes on deck and Okanagan Lake for a backdrop.

Photos: Sean Phillips. Tap any photo to scroll through them all.

Sources: Wikipedia, “MV Okanagan”; Okanagan Landing & District Community Association. Checked October 2026.

Live where the history happened

Sean lives in the Landing and knows every marina, dock and lakeside complex here. Text him to talk about homes on the water.

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Questions any time of day? Sarah, Sean’s AI assistant, answers 24/7 at 604-227-4810.

Common questions

Answered by Sean Phillips, REALTOR®, Coldwell Banker Executives Realty. Updated October 2026.

What is the MV Okanagan tug in Vernon?

The MV Okanagan is the last CPR tug on Okanagan Lake, built in 1946–47 and still floating today near Vernon. She was also the biggest of the CPR tugs on the lake. West Coast Shipbuilders in Vancouver designed and built her, then shipped her in pieces to the Okanagan Landing shipyard, where she was put together.

Is the MV Okanagan the same boat as the SS Okanagan sternwheeler?

No, the MV Okanagan tug is a different boat from the SS Okanagan, a CPR sternwheeler built at Okanagan Landing in 1907. The MV Okanagan is the diesel tug that came later, built in 1946–47. Locals often call her "the Okanagan tug."

What did the MV Okanagan tug do on Okanagan Lake?

On Okanagan Lake, the MV Okanagan pushed railway barges of Okanagan fruit and freight between Penticton and Kelowna, and broke ice in winter. She started work in 1947, and her last run was on May 31, 1971. After years moored at Fintry, she was bought and restored in 1981, ran charters out of Kelowna, and later served as a floating restaurant.