SILT is so grateful to the staff and customers of Penticton IGA for their outstanding support during this year’s Earth Month fundraising campaign. Through customer donations collected at the tills throughout April and a community barbecue hosted by SILT and IGA volunteers, an impressive $2,285.38 was raised to support SILT’s conservation efforts.

The funds will be directed to Phase 3 of the nʔaʕx̌ʷt - Ginty’s Pond restoration project in Cawston, helping to enhance and protect this important wetland.

Penticton IGA’s remarkable community support was just $100 short of being #1 of all IGA locations across British Columbia participating in the charitable campaign.



SILT extends sincere thanks to store manager Ken Last, assistant store manager Marie Wild, Georgia Main Food Group’s Tom Truchan, and everyone who contributed! Your generosity is helping conserve and restore important habitats throughout the Southern Interior.

SILT is pleased to welcome Carlo Carbajal to its Board of Directors.

Carlo serves as Director of Innovation at Cascadia Credit Union in Summerland, and he also has a strong record of community service, including his work with JCI Penticton, where he was awarded a Senatorship in recognition of his contributions.

Born and raised in the South Okanagan, Carlo has a deep appreciation for the region’s natural landscapes. Having spent much of his life camping and fishing throughout the Southern Interior, he understands the importance of conserving local habitats and wildlife for future generations. Carlo and his wife are now raising their two children in Penticton, continuing their family’s connection to the outdoors and the community.

SILT is excited to welcome Carlo’s expertise and passion for conservation as the organization continues its work to protect and steward important natural areas throughout the Southern Interior.

Welcoming Wildlife Back to nʔaʕx̌ʷt-Ginty’s Pond

Tucked into the Similkameen Valley, SILT’s 6.3-hectare nʔaʕx̌ʷt-Ginty’s Pond Conservation Property, acquired in 1990, was once part of a dynamic river system, an oxbow of the Similkameen River that supported a rich diversity of plants, wildlife, and cultural values. Decades ago, the construction of a dyke cut the pond off from the river. In recent decades, parts of the wetland began to deteriorate, gradually infilling with cattails.

Since 2019, the Southern Interior Land Trust (SILT) has been working with the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, BC Wildlife Federation, and the Province of BC to restore Ginty’s Pond. The first two phases of restoration are complete, and wetland species are flocking in—including marsh birds, trumpeter swan, and sora, as well as Columbia spotted frogs and western painted turtles- and the endangered yellow-breasted chat has been heard in the newly created riparian thickets.

Pond restoration has also renewed meaningful connections to nature: local indigenous people are harvesting cattail for cultural practices, the improved views of open water and wildlife are outstanding and, in winter, local kids and families gather to skate the natural outdoor rink.



Looking Ahead: Phase 3

Phase 3, the final phase, starts this fall and will focus not only on deepening the remainder of the pond but also on deepening our understanding of how wildlife is responding to the pond's healing.

You are invited to be part of the story!

As Phase 3 begins, there will be opportunities to help by:

• Monitoring the site through our iNaturalist project to document the plants and animals.
• Sponsoring the purchase of native trees and shrubs needed to restore the woodland thickets.
• Volunteer for a community planting event this fall.
• Contributing to restoration & conservation efforts by donating at www.siltrust.ca/donate

Phase 3 activities in 2026 have been partly funded with the support of the Watershed Security Fund, the BC Ministry of Water, Land & Resource Stewardship, the South Okanagan Naturalist Club, and the generosity of individual donors like you! Thank you all!