Winter 2024

eNews

President's Message

Fall has been very kind to us. The many coloured leaves lit up the valley for weeks, the cottonwoods gracing riparian areas literally shimmered, looking as if they were lit from within. The moderate temperatures allowed the leaves in the orchards and vineyards to display their many hues, and to drop to the ground in a timely fashion. Vegetable growers had time to achieve maximum harvest. I am sure growers breathed a sigh of relief!

This gentle fall found me busy with various projects. I find doing fall garden chores the perfect time for reflection, reflecting on how an idea can become a reality, reflecting on the people who put energy into realizing the reality, reflecting on the volunteers who have carried the reality forward, and reflecting on how the ODS acknowledgement to the land we care for and the Indigenous people living here came about.

Some of you will remember when, way back in the late 1980’s a small group of people who were concerned about the disappearing antelope brush ecosystem came together to form the Osoyoos Desert Society. Our humble beginnings consolidated when Ruth Schiller, Doug Fraser, Harold King, Joan King, and Fred Peters applied for and received a Certificate of Incorporation under the BC Society Act in 1991. After years of work involving numerous people and overcoming many hurdles, in 1999 the Osoyoos Desert Centre opened. A visit to the Centre reveals the efforts of subsequent volunteer Board members, Executive Directors, staff and volunteers at large. The Centre is living proof of what a few people can put in motion, how it can be carried forward and, if given chance, how resilient nature is.

Why do I pay tribute to our beginnings?

As time passes, as people move on, as new people become involved, and as projects or ideas become established, there is a tendency to lose the knowledge of how it all began. I think gentle reminders are valuable, particularly in difficult times. Knowing the struggles of our forebears can provide the determination to stay on course, to steadily work toward the goal. If our founding members and their cohorts had let the many barriers put in their way defeat them, we would still be just an idea. Their determination and resilience led to success.

Which leads me to the resilience of the Syilx Nation and Indigenous people worldwide. The acknowledgement came about after a tragic, but predictable event which was devastating to Canada’s Indigenous people and deeply affected many non-Indigenous members of our communities. It made me reflect on what Indigenous people, worldwide, have been subjected to. We cannot undo the past and we should not carry guilt for the mistakes past leaders made, but we can learn from them, and it is this learning that led me to thinking hard on our need for an acknowledgement. The tragic event was the finding of graves of the Kamloops residential school’s lost children. We cannot undo that, but we are caring for a small piece of land in the territory of the Syilx Nation. Perhaps nature’s resilience and the resilience of Indigenous people are inextricably linked.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar, here is the ODS acknowledgement:

Osoyoos Desert Society acknowledges that for thousands of years people of the Syilx Nation have cared for and lived off the unceded land now known as the Osoyoos Desert Centre. Descendants of these ancient people live here in a continuous thread, from the past to the present. The thread has been bent, stretched, and stressed but not broken. Their resilience has carried them through many challenges. We honour their sharing this bountiful land and will strive to be good neighbours.

As the year draws to a close with short days and long nights, I am grateful that we have such dedicated volunteers who help maintain the ODC throughout the year, the volunteer committee which launched the rebirth of Romancing the Desert, and the volunteers without which the evening would not have been so successful. It was a magical evening and again, demonstrated how ideas become realities.

I am ever grateful to Jayme Friedt, the ODS Executive Director, her mental energy is always coming up with new ideas to move the ODC forward and somehow, she finds the resources to make those ideas a reality. Last, but definitely not least, I am grateful to be working with a volunteer Board of Directors who are always at the ready to help at the Centre and who diligently carry forward the Osoyoos Desert Society’s vision and mission.

OUR VISION

A world in which there is unwavering care for ecosystems everywhere.

OUR MISSION

To inspire curiosity, understanding and active concern for healthy ecosystems through education, conservation, research and community leadership.

May the holidays have many bright moments lighting the dark of winter and may 2025 bring some lovely surprises.

Lee

Lee McFadyen

President, Osoyoos Desert Society

Romancing the Desert Returns!

After a seven-year hiatus, we were thrilled to bring back one of our most iconic events. What turned out to be a gorgeous night under a (near) full moon, Romancing the Desert returned in spectacular fashion just in time to celebrate the ODC's 25th anniversary. It was an unforgettable evening with guests exploring our extraordinary desert habitat while savouring delicious bites and sips. We are so grateful for the overwhelming response from our community. Tickets sold out in a flash (including our corporate tables!) and our event sponsors and suppliers were thrilled to jump on board in support. Adding to the enchanting atmosphere was the beautiful harp accompaniment by Ingrid Schellenberg. The live and silent auction featuring many spectacular items donated by local businesses was expertly presided over by our master of ceremonies Bob Nicholson. Thank you to everyone involved! It truly was a great success and your contributions helped raised over $7,600 in support of accessibility improvements at ODC! 

Many thanks to Patrick Parenteau for capturing these

wonderful snapshots of the evening!

Thanks so much also to our live and silent auction sponsors:

Backroads Brewing 

Bartier Bros. Vineyard & Winery

Best Western Plus Osoyoos Hotel & Suites

Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery 

Bosley’s 

Brodo Kitchen 

Brome Bird Care

Bruce Turnbull Nature Captured Photography

Canadian Tire

Chateau Victoria Hotel

Convivia Bistro

Corks & Cactus Tours

Destination Osoyoos

Dubh Glas Distillery 

Fairview Mountain Golf Club

Fairwinds Golf Club

Firehall Brewery 

Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery

GN’R Alpaca Boutique

Greg Reely Photography

Kevin’s No Frills

Kismet Estate Winery

Lakeside Cellars

Meadowlark Nature Festival

Moon Curser Vineyards

Nester’s Market

Nighthawk Vineyards

Osoyoos Golf Club

Over the Fence Winery

Owl Pub

Pacific Shores Resort and Spa

Pappa’s Firehall Bistro

Paul Lockington 

Peter McDonald 

Phantom Creek Estates Winery

Pharmasave

Pottery by Darlene 

Rashmi Bakshi 

Rattlesnake Canyon Amusement Park 

Sage Pub

Salon 85 

Save On Foods

Silver Sage Winery

Smitty’s Restaurant

T. L. Lumber 

Trevor Reeves Photography

Tumbleweed Spirits

Venables Theatre

Walnut Beach Resort

Movie and an Expert is Back!

At long last, we were able to bring back Movie and an Expert this year with two screenings at the Osoyoos Secondary School Theatre. First in February was the award-winning Geographies of Solitude, a beautifully filmed exploration of Sable Island’s unique ecosystem, featuring special guest speaker Don Gayton. We followed that in April with Kiss the Ground, an inspiring documentary on regenerative farming with local pioneer organic farmer Lee McFadyen. Designed to be interactive, these events provide an opportunity to connect with each other and explore important environmental topics through film. Plans are in the works for more Movie and an Expert events early next year. More info coming soon! Hope to see you there!

For the Birds!

It's always great fun every spring taking part in the Meadowlark Nature Festival with our workshop, "For the Birds!" Participants receive step-by-step instructions and build their own take-home bluebird nest box, contributing directly to one of conservation's most inspiring success stories. Western Bluebirds are cavity nesters that depend on natural holes in old trees or those created by ecosystem engineers like woodpeckers. Deforestation and habitat loss pushed their populations into steep decline by the 1970s, threatening their survival. Recognizing the need to help protect them, organizations like the North American Bluebird Society and the BC Bluebird Society (formerly the Southern Interior Bluebird Trail Society) began installing nest boxes throughout the bluebird’s natural range. Today bluebird populations have made a remarkable comeback and the Western Bluebird is now a shining example of what can be achieved when we work together to protect wildlife.

ODC Nature Talks

Our 2024 Nature Talks offered an engaging exploration of the unique ecosystems and wildlife in British Columbia. Starting with a focus on grasslands Mike Dedels of the Grasslands Conservation Council kicked things off with a discussion of the significance of BC’s grasslands, delving into the ecological services provided by grasslands, the threats it faces, and the conservation efforts underway. Snake biologists Jenna Hardy and Robin Jans from Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre (pictured left) joined us to spotlight local snake species such as Rattlesnakes and Gopher snakes, bringing along with them one of their slithery ambassadors. Lia McKinnon of the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society shared her experiences working with reintroducing the Burrowing Owl to BC’s grasslands,

highlighting successes and challenges in this critical conservation effort. Their ambassador Pluto also made a much-anticipated appearance. Showcasing the Okanagan’s natural heritage, ecologist Don Gayton presented an interactive discussion on how fire historically shaped BC’s grasslands and the risks posed by modern wildfires. ODC Conservation Guides also delivered a couple of great talks. Vriti Bakshi (pictured right) hosted a high-tea-inspired talk on edible plants, complete with samples of her custom brews; and Anika Wulff explored the weird critters that call BC home, shedding light on fascinating adaptations and quirky behaviors of local wildlife. Unfortunately, and not without a bit of irony, Ripley Shubert's talk on drought resistant plants in our dry environment was rained out. (It would have been a great talk Ripley!!) Together, these events open a fascinating dialogue on the wonders and challenges of BC’s diverse ecosystems, giving everyone a chance to learn, connect, and get inspired to support conservation. Thank you to everyone who took part!

Plein Air Painting Workshop

We were very happy to have celebrated artist Dale Matthews give a plein air painting workshop at ODC this year. Joining Dale were several talented students - a couple of them even traveling from Washington - eager to learn about capturing the great outdoors on canvas. Thank you Dale!

Night Walk

A perennial favourite at ODC our A Walk in the Dark night tour was once again sold out. ODC Conservation Guides Kaylee Lesmeister and Hayley McMillan presented an excellent program highlighting the remarkable adaptations of the nocturnal and crepuscular creatures that call our desert environment home. They even included sound effects! Unfortunately we didn't see any critters but it was once again, a magical moonlit stroll.

We Got Bats!

This year ODC began collaborating with BC Community Bat Programs working towards establishing a Bat-Friendly Community in RDOS Area A. In September BC Bats' Okanagan Region Coordinator Paula Rodriguez de la Vega stopped by ODC to present a "Got Bats?" information session. The session focused on what to do if you have bats on your property, how to safely live with them, best management practices to exclude

bats and information on bat box design and how and where to install them on your property. Bats are vital to the ecosystem, providing pest control and aiding in pollination and seed dispersal. Many of the 14 species found in the Okanagan Similkameen are at-risk due to habitat loss, climate change, and white-nose syndrome. ODC will continue to work with BC Community Bat Programs in the coming years. Next summer we will become caretaker of a brand new Bat Eco-kit with all sorts of fun teaching tools, activities and games to build awareness of bats and their important role in biodiversity in the Okanagan Similkameen. The kit will be made available for schools and other groups to sign out. Watch for more information on this to come!

Oh Canada!

Every year, ODC board member Deb Sherwood and honorary lifetime member, long-time volunteer, and past board member Roger Horton embrace the festive spirit at the annual Osoyoos Cherry Fiesta and Canada Day celebrations. This year was no exception! Riding in style in Ivor and Heather Langley’s 1965 Skylark convertible, Deb and Roger were joined by even more friends and family to represent ODC and show support for this great community event. The day was filled with laughter, connection, and celebration — a truly fantastic time for all involved! Later that day ODC hosted some family fun and games with face-painting and a scavenger hunt along our boardwalk.

BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative

ODC is proud to work with Destination BC on the BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative, a program designed to help tourism businesses adopt sustainable practices and adapt to the challenges posed by climate change such as wildfires, floods and extreme weather. A key component of the initiative is providing expert guidance to help organizations develop customized sustainability roadmaps. Early in the year, ODC worked closely with coaches to create a comprehensive plan for improvements in renewable energy, water management, and waste management. Our initial focus was on renewable energy, where we identified the need to upgrade our solar system to support future infrastructure enhancements at ODC. We were also fortunate to leverage another valuable aspect of the initiative — the provision of micro-grants for sustainability projects. This summer we were awarded a BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative micro-grant which will enable us to upgrade and improve our solar power in the off-season. We are continuing to work with the program as we head into 2025 and are now focusing on improving water and waste management at ODC. Thank you Destination BC for all your hard work in this area!

School Fieldtrips

Education is at the heart of ODC's mission. We are incredibly grateful to FortisBC for their long-standing support of school field trips to the ODC over the years. This year we hosted 400 students from Okanagan Similkameen school district #53, Okanagan Skaha school district #67, Outma Sqilx’w Culture School, Arrowleaf Learning Home School, Holy Cross School, Nelson Waldorf School, Selkirk College Environmental Planning department, UBC Geography department and UBC Forest and Conservation Science department.

We are fortunate to work with the student co-op programs of UBC, Okanagan College, UVic and Simon Fraser to give science students the opportunity to work in the field. Each year we get an amazing crop of enthusiastic and engaging guides. Kudos to Ripley Shubert, Anika Wulff, Vriti Bakshi, Kaylee Lesmeister and Hayley McMillan (pictured below, left to right), our talented 2024 Conservation Guides who did such a great job conveying the wonders and fascinations of the antelope-brush shrub-steppe ecosystem with all the eager learners. Congratulations on a job well done! Huge thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs program for helping ODC fund these positions. That funding is vital to our operations.

Adventures to Remember!

A big thank you to everyone who supported our 25th Anniversary Raffle. Your contributions make a big difference! We raised $8,500 to put towards improving accessibility at ODC!

Congratulations to our winners:

Karen Wilson (pictured), Penticton

Rocky Mountaineer Journey

Brenda Matthews, Kelowna

Westjet Gift of Flight

Mat Hassen, Osoyoos

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Gift Card

Thank you to our raffle sponsors for their generous donation of prizes:

Inclusive Trails: Improving Accessibility at ODC

Accessibility at Osoyoos Desert Centre is crucial in making this unique and ecologically significant natural habitat available for everyone to explore. Although accessibility issues can’t always completely disappear, supportive infrastructure and people can make a difference to those who are dealing with barriers. ODC is committed to playing a leading role in making our natural environment and outdoor spaces accessible to all. 

By improving our pathway surfaces, upgrading our parking area with designated accessible parking spaces, and replacing our aging washroom with new accessible washroom facilities, ODC will better accommodate individuals with mobility challenges.

Throughout our 25th anniversary year, we’ve been dedicated to raising funds to achieve this important goal. Thanks to the generosity of our community, including proceeds from our raffle and Romancing the Desert event, as well as contributions from government, foundations, corporations, and individuals, we’ve already raised $25,000—halfway to our $50,000 target!

Your support, no matter how big or how small, makes an impact and will help ensure that this unique and remarkable desert environment can be shared and appreciated by everyone for generations to come.

If you're able to make a tax deductible donation

to accessibility improvements at ODC

Our Heart and Soul - our Volunteers!

We are incredibly fortunate to have a team of passionate, hard-working and dedicated individuals who contribute to so many essential aspects of our day-to-day operations at ODC. From weeding and invasive plant management to keeping our demonstration garden vibrant, maintaining our site, buildings and equipment, and welcoming visitors at our admissions desk, our volunteers are truly the heart and soul of the Osoyoos Desert Centre. We couldn’t do it without you — thank you for everything you do!

Admissions Volunteers

JoAnne Birch, Amreet Gill, Deirdrie Holmes, Saran Kanda, Julie King, Kaylee Lesmeister, Alicia Osland, Isla Petreny-Mackenzie, Linda Smith, Kathie Westphal and Janice Wilson

Garden Party Volunteers

Shirley Boyle, Paul and Mary Doyle, Fred Hamilton, Julie King, Lee McFadyen, Cheryl Place, Jim Place, Trevor Reeves and Eomonn Thomas

Building and Maintenance Volunteers

Peter Beckett, Gordon Bennett, Mat Hassen, Roger Horton, Trevor Reeves, Larry Stone and Ernie Westphal

Romancing the Desert Organizing Committee

JoAnne Birch, Deirdre Holmes (Chair), Hayley McMillan

Romancing the Desert Volunteers

Peter Becket, Gordon Bennett, Patrick Bouillet, Annika Friedt, Gradon Friedt, James Friedt, Mat Hassen, Robert Holmes, Roger Horton, Angela Huxham, Lee McFadyen, Joanne Muirhead, Bob Nicholson, Brock Paton, Bob Sherwood, Deb Sherwood, Jodi Strasdine and Trevor Reeves

To the best Board of Directors ever, enormous thanks!

Peter Beckett, Angela Huxham, Lee McFadyen, Joanne Muirhead, Trevor Reeves, and Deb Sherwood. Your dedication to the Osoyoos Desert Centre is so appreciated!

The More the Merrier!

If you want to join the fun and volunteer at ODC

please click on the link below. We'll be in touch asap!

HATS OFF TO OUR CHAMPIONS!

Grants, donations and sponsorship from individuals, foundations, government and corporate funders are our lifeblood. We simply would not exist without them. As fellow supporters of conservation, we ask that you, in turn, please support them when you can.

Government, Foundation and Major Corporate Funders

Individual and Corporate Donors

Osoyoos Desert Society Members

OSOYOOS DESERT CENTRE

BOX 123 OSOYOOS BC VOH 1V0

250.495.2470 | mail@desert.org | WEBSITE