The South Okanagan-Similkameen grasslands are the site of a proposed national park. (File photo)
Parks Canada has announced four public information sessions next week to share the feedback from its recent public consultations on the proposed national park reserve in the South Okanagan-Similkameen.
Local sessions are on May 14 in Oliver from 12 to 8 p.m. at the Venables Theatre, and in Osoyoos on May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sonora Community Centre.
Meetings are also in Keremeos on May 15 at the Victory Hall from 4 to 8 p.m., and at the Shatford Centre in Penticton from 12 to 8 p.m. on May 16.
Parks Canada said its staff will be on site to answer questions.
When public consultations ended in March, Parks Canada said it would present a “What We Heard” report at the public meetings.
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It’s public consultation included 36 meetings with stakeholder groups and around 2,750 responses to its online survey.
The report, which will be published on its website on May 13, will include a summary and analysis of the public consultations, and will “inform future recommendations regarding the proposed national park reserve,” Parks Canada stated.
“The valuable input of all will be taken into consideration in the assessment of the establishment of the proposed national park reserve.”
Parks Canada’s goal is to have an agreement on a final boundary for the proposed national park reserve by summer 2019, the organization stated in a news release.
“Afterwards, steps would be undertaken towards the formal establishment of a national park reserve in the South Okanagan-Similkameen.”
