Tag Archive for: clean air

Ernie Sheridan

Real Estate Agent

What do you love about the Okanagan? 

I love its natural beauty. I think it’s one of the most beautiful places in Canada, if not the world. The diversity is so great. Here we are in the desert, the only desert in Canada and yet we have high alpine skiing close by. The mountains to the east are beautiful, the valleys that surround us are beautiful. I love it all. The Okanagan sells itself because of its natural beauty.

What do you worry about when you think about the Okanagan and the environment in the future? Why is a healthy environment important to you?

I’m concerned about protecting the environment for all who live here. What’s good for the environment is good for its inhabitants, all of its inhabitants, not just the people.

What do you think about a household levy of $10/average/year? What could the benefits of a South Okanagan Conservation Fund be?

I’m in favour of the conservation fund. It’s a small amount of money you’re asking people to contribute to have a clean living environment – cleaner air, less invasive species, green spaces for people to enjoy. People need to look at the natural world around them and cherish what we have here in own back yard.

Hillary Ward and Eric Newton, with baby Emily

Okanagan Biologists and new parents

What do you love about the Okanagan? 

Hillary: What I love about the Okanagan is the abundance of nature and natural areas that are available for us to experience.

What do you worry about when you think about the Okanagan and the environment in the future? Why is a healthy environment important to you?

Hillary: I think in the Okanagan we’re facing real problems with increasing development in the area and so protecting natural spaces is a key priority to be focused on for the Okanagan.

What do you think about a household levy of $10/average/year? What could the benefits of a South Okanagan Conservation Fund be?

Hillary: We absolutely support the idea of a levy to preserve natural spaces in the Okanagan. Growing up in Victoria I’ve seen what the conservation fund there has done for that area. It’s an excellent example of what can be done here in the Okanagan. It’s really such a small dollar amount that you’re asking people for and you’re contributing to something that is going to last a lifetime.

Natalie Minunzie

Long-time Okanagan resident

What do you love about the Okanagan? 

It’s the most beautiful landscape I’ve ever seen. It’s got colour, the hills, the open spaces, the blue sky and the clear air. I love everything about this place.

What do you worry about when you think about the Okanagan and the environment in the future? Why is a healthy environment important to you?

I have lived here for 16 years and I’ve seen incredible changes. There are more and more people coming here and we really have to start acting now. We have the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen. It’s so important we work together to preserve it. It’s important to develop a sense of stewardship especially among young people. People have to understand why they are preserving habitat so they can take steps in the future to make sure it survives.

What do you think about a household levy of $10/average/year? What could the benefits of a South Okanagan Conservation Fund be?

I think the $10 levy is extremely modest, I think it’s well within most people’s reach. It will also help leverage more money, and so it has even greater potential of doing a great deal of good.