About Cooper Antiques

Ron Candy has spent more than forty years working in museums and heritage spaces across British Columbia, immersed in history, objects, and the stories they carry.

 

His career began in the 1970s at Barkerville Historic Town, where he worked in heritage restoration and supported conservation efforts across the province. Ron later served for over two decades as Curator and Executive Director of the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives, where he became known for making local history accessible, relevant, and engaging, especially for younger generations. Throughout his career, his focus has always been the same: helping people connect with the past in ways that feel meaningful and alive in the present.

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​Objects tell their stories if you take the time to listen.

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That lifelong relationship with objects eventually led to the creation of Cooper Antiques.

 

At its heart, the shop reflects what Ron loves most about history: not just preservation, but storytelling. Each piece carries clues about where it came from, how it was used, and the people whose lives it once touched. Ron brings a deep curiosity and a gift for sharing the fascinating details that turn objects into stories.

 

Cooper Antiques is also shaped by its community of vendors. More than a dozen passionate collectors and sellers contribute their own knowledge, interests, and discoveries, creating a space that is constantly evolving. Together, they offer a shop where curiosity is encouraged, conversation is welcomed, and well-loved objects are given another chapter.

 

The result is a place grounded in experience, humour, and respect for history, where antiques feel approachable, lived in, and full of personality.