vernon's growth quickened in 1891 after the canadian pacific railway was opened in the okanagan and shuswap regions of british columbia. shortly after, the river boat "s.s. aberdeen" was launched in 1893 to connect vernon to other parts of the okanagan. fruit trees first grew in vernon by the early 1890s, while water supplies were supplied to the community by canals by 1906. in 1908, the okanagan mounted rifles military program was created, bringing a number of people to the area during world war i and world war ii for lessons.