Vernon Teen Wins Environmental Flows 2026 Indigenous Youth Logo Contest

Sept.10, 2026

Syilx Territory, Kelowna, B.C. – A Vernon teenager’s artwork will take centre stage at the Environmental Flows 2026 Conference this October in Kelowna after being selected as the winning design in the conference’s Indigenous Youth Artist Logo Contest.

At just 17 years old, Bronwyn Frost, a Métis artist from Vernon, B.C. and a member of the Métis Nation British Columbia, was chosen from a strong field of entries submitted by Indigenous youth artists from throughout the Okanagan and broader Syilx territory.

The contest was presented by the Okanagan Basin Water Board, the Okanagan Nation Alliance, and the Canadian Water Resources Association, which invited Indigenous youth to create an original logo representing the theme of environmental flows.

“For this design I was inspired by free-flowing water. I wanted to create a logo that demonstrated how water should be captured in an illustration, which is water that is unrestricted and unconfined. “said Frost. “I also wanted to give a glimpse of what water is home to, and what water provides for us. Water is essential to all living things, and I have drawn the salmon to symbolize the necessity and importance of it. Finally, I have also drawn the outline of Okanagan and Kalamalka lakes. I've grown up with these lakes, and I thought adding them to this design would make it personal and give it a deeper connection — not only to myself, but to all of the Okanagan.”

As the contest winner, Frost received a $500 prize, two professional coaching sessions with Syilx artist and Environmental Flows 2026 Lead Artistic Advisor Evelyn Alec, and will receive 100 per cent of profits from print sales featuring the logo at the conference.

“Bronwyn Frost is the kind of artist who reminds you why creativity matters,” said Alec. “She has an incredible ability to take an idea and turn it into something beautiful, thoughtful, and uniquely her own. Her talent spans many artistic styles and mediums, but what impresses me most is her ability to problem solve, adapt, and create with intention. She is truly an exceptional artist, and I’m so proud to see her recognized as the winner of the Environmental Flows 2026 Logo Competition.”

The contest challenged Indigenous youth aged 14 to 30 to share a visual expression of what it means for siwłk water to move freely and what is lost when it cannot. Frost’s winning logo will be incorporated throughout the conference, appearing on promotional materials, conference merchandise, signs, and other event assets.

Maria Derickson (skʷəkʷusnt skʷułt), a multidisciplinary artist, was selected as the contest’s runner-up and received a $200 prize.

The Environmental Flows 2026 Conference, taking place in Kelowna from Oct. 7-9, 2026, is the third in a series of gatherings focused on advancing sustainable water management.

Building on successful conferences held in 2018 and 2024, the event brings together local, national, and international experts, Indigenous leaders, water practitioners, researchers, and community members to explore solutions for protecting water resources. This year’s theme is Connecting Flows, People, and Ecosystems.

About Environmental Flows

Environmental flows refer to the quantity, timing, and quality of water that must flow through a river or other water body to sustain its ecosystem and the communities that depend on it; this means having the right amount of water to sustain salmon in our watershed. Too much and it floods, too little and we are in drought. In the Okanagan, environmental flows are not just about cubic meters per second; they are about the tmixʷ, all living things, and the responsibility to ensure the water moves in a way that sustains life.

Environmental Flows 2026

Learn more about the conference, check out the keynote speakers, register to attend or become a sponsor at ef2026.ca.

About the OBWB

The OBWB is a local government agency established in 1970 to address the region’s most pressing water issues. It represents a collaborative partnership between the three Okanagan regional districts, the Okanagan Nation Alliance, the Water Supply Association of BC, and the Okanagan Water Stewardship Council.

The OBWB’s mandate is to protect and enhance water resources in the Okanagan Basin — a transboundary (Canada and US) watershed nearly 200 km long and covering 8,000 km². This unique watershed contributes to the Columbia River and includes six major valley-bottom lakes: Wood, Kalamalka, Okanagan, Skaha, Vaseux, and Osoyoos. Surrounded by mountains and growing communities, the region faces complex and mounting water challenges, from climate change and population growth to ecosystem degradation and water scarcity.