Dorothy Barker, Norma Hlina, and Derek Arnold’s The Apple of His Eye: The Sorrento Centre Story documents the agricultural foundation, community evolution, and institutional reinvention of the South Shuswap lakeshore. The chronicle outlines how pioneer promoter T.G. King acquired lakefront benches in 1910, naming the settlement after the Italian resort town and subdividing the terrain into commercial apple orchards that attracted English gentry families. The authors detail how early orchardists established cooperative packing houses, water flumes, and transport connections through the Notch Hill railway station, while building close civic ties with neighboring settlements in Blind Bay, Balmoral, and Eagle Bay. The narrative traces the eventual collapse of the commercial fruit industry during the Great Depression and the subsequent mid-century conversion of the historic King estate into an enduring ecumenical conference, cultural, and educational centre.

Balmoral (B.C.), Blind Bay (B.C.), British Columbia Sorrento, Church history, Eagle Bay (B.C.), Fruit-culture British Columbia Sorrento History, History, Notch Hill (B.C.), Shuswap Lake Region (B.C.) History, Sorrento (B.C.) History, Sorrento Centre (Sorrento, B.C.) History

Includes bibliographical references and archival photographs.

Includes bibliographical references and archival photographs.