There will be 3 opportunities to attend presentations on “Everything you want to know about a national park in the South Okanagan-Similkameen”.
Chloe O’Loughlin from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society will be talking about the benefits of a national park to businesses, communities and the region. This meeting will be of particular interest to business owners, tourism operators and elected officials.
There will be ample time set aside for questions and answers.
Date: Tuesday Feb 21, 2012 Time: 2:30- 3:30 Location: Shatford Centre 760 Main Street, Penticton B.C.
Date: Wednesday 22nd Feb, 2012 Time: 2pm – 3pm place: Sonora Centre – 8505 68th Ave Osoyoos B.C.
Date: Thursday 23rd Feb, 2012 Time: 11am-12noon place: Oliver Community Centre Room #2 Oliver B.C.
Info above supplied by SO Chamber of Commerce
This National Park issue is like cancer that keeps coming back. Why can’t we give it a rest !!!We all know each sides of the story. Parks has already made a decision.
@ Alice, considering this is one of the top 3 endangered eco systems in Canada, with more then 30 red listed species, and with the disappearence of the Wetlands near Willowglen, flattened for future housing, and the new highway extension being a possibility by the bluff, I will have to disagree with you, that we take care of our eco-system.
Agree with Tina…let it go. The people most affected do not want this park, just take a drive through the Similkameen Valley. Who cares what the people in the north or Lower Mainland want, or Vernon or Trail for that matter, they do not live here. It will not increase tourism or jobs. eg…presently 42 National Parks in Canada with 4000 employees, a lot of these office/administration jobs so please tell me where the 500 jobs would come from. If you people want to do something improve the star gazing spot on the top of Mt. Kobau and promote it, the beautiful view etc. etc.
Just suck it up and forget it, we do not want it, a Park will not bring tourists or jobs, we take very good care of our eco system and do not need a bunch of outsiders telling us what to do.
It looks like they don’t want anyone with a job to be able to attend these meetings.
anyone remember Ross Fitzpatrick? refresh your memory at www. thenewsleader.ca/letterstoeditor022608.shtml.
as Ed metioned, and I think is important, can someone please outline the main reasons of opposition to a park. Is there a main spokesperson for the opposition camp? Can someone clearly outline the land use, environmentla, economic reasons why this is a bad move for Oliver? I’m not absolutely for/against a park, just don’t know why it is so bad
ed has shown the poor arguments that are used to oppose a park.
more tourists = more litter?? sure.. if we don’t provide garbage cans. i would say the opposite, teaching people about the natural beauty of rare ecology encourages them to litter. i’ve been to banff many times, and never would say there was “litter and exhaust” everywhere.
“more resources burned at a greater pace”? can you explain? how about encouraging people to vacation in beauitful areas in their own country rather than jetsetting to mexico or hawaii every time they need a break. that would save some resources.
can someone please provide some solid evidence for not creating a park? I’m open to it – just have not heard it yet..
How interesting to note that the majority of comments on this article seem to be against the park…
How much time, effort and (taxpayers) money should we waste on this issue?
I truly believe that most people have not been fully informed of the negative consequences of a national park in their backyard. If people only knew how much the cost of living went up in Banff when the park came through, or how restricted the people there are (way more needless rules and regulations)… There are so many areas that people do not realise would be affected. MOREOVER – these “pro-park” people also do not realise how much is already done in our area to protect the wildlife and nature that surrounds us. (And this, perhaps, is the greatest arguement – they should attend some BC Wildlife events, as I think they would be shocked.).
It is obvious that the editor of ODN is pro park. I wish he would inform himself of the opposing view. (Fully, with someone who actually knows the ins and out, not just the cover page of why a park is not a good idea.).
Just let the park die. I am sick of my tax dollars (which could be used in other much needed areas) being wasted on this issue.
Also – a national park would bring more tourism. More tourism = more litter, more exhaust from cars, more resources being burned at a greater pace…. (Etc etc etc). And this would be better for our area and our environment how?
Publisher: Ed – such statements really make you look foolish. I posted a notice of a series of meetings and you take that I am opposed to your side of the arguement. In fact I believe you don’t think there is another side to this story. Which is a pretty black and white way of going through life.
I think these people have a perfect right to speak on the issue and you might notice you are able to speak freely by the ODN publisher (editor) you deride.
im still waiting for an GOOD argument to not create park? jobs, tourism, preservation of rare ecology, ensuring land does not get developed like an area such as Westbank..
I wonder if opponents can say that a national park in Banff has not been successful? It has ensured town boundaries are controlled, brought in millions (billions?) of revenue, created a global destination. I say we created something that can be passed down to younger generations so they are guaranteed the same beautiful land we were
I wish to point out that these meetings are being sponsored by Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Not Parks Canada. Following is a quote from thier site ” Our vision is to keep at least half of Canada’s public land and water wild — forever. We focus on protecting large, connected areas of Canada’s wilderness” So I do not expect to hear anything near a two sided, fair, unbiased program when I attend.
Gee Jarred, what with the “promises” of all the hoards of new tourists that will come to this area if the Nat. Pk. is created, I see the need for perhaps eight lanes to bring all that new business here .
somebodt has had seven years and large amounts of tax dollars to tell us all we need to know to me this sounds like a confession that they have not been completly open in the past so is it going to be any more accurate or truthful this time or more of the same heiferdust
It wont be a waste if we can actually get the idea up and running again, a provincial park would actually perhaps protect the mcintyre area from being paved over for some passing lanes
I agree, what started out as a “feasibility study” seven years ago has turned into we know what is best for you. It truly has been a waste of millions of tax dollars.
How can it be “everything you want to know”… or whatever when they are only telling one side of the story?
Just let it go, for goodness sakes! I hope that the park issue is DEAD. What a waste of tax dollars…