Nathan Ondrus (right) shows Jane MacKay the large rainbow trout she’s just reeled in. MacKay, a resident of Mariposa Gardens, was participating in the fifth annual Fishing Forever event at the Strohmann family’s stocked fish pond on Anarchist Mountain. This year’s event was organized by Accessible Okanagan and it aims to bring the fishing experience to those with disabilities. (Richard McGuire photo)

Around an idyllic pond on Anarchist Mountain, fishing lines dangle in the still water on Saturday afternoon.

Some of the people fishing are in wheelchairs. Others – family and friends of those with disabilities – are standing. Everyone is fishing together.

This is the fifth year the Fishing Forever event has been held in the Osoyoos area, at the fishpond owned by Brian and Carolyne Strohmann, which is stocked with rainbow trout.

Fishing Forever aims to give people with disabilities the chance to get out into nature, in an accessible environment, to enjoy the pleasure of fishing.

“I can come here and out fish these guys,” said Anand Kannan, a paraplegic from West Kelowna, as he motions to other people with no apparent disabilities.

Fishing is a great equalizer, and those in wheelchairs can catch just as many fish – more in Kannan’s case – as those who are mobile.

Mike Stiles, a quadriplegic from Osoyoos who is also an avid sportsman, makes the same point.

“I feel that fishing is kind of a universal activity,” said Stiles. “It doesn’t matter how young or old, even if you have a severe disability. All catch the same fish, so for a person who is disabled, that can be very empowering.”

The event, which originated with the B.C. Wildlife Federation, was brought to the Osoyoos area by avid fisherman Norm Eady, working with Stiles.

Eady was made aware of Fishing Forever by Al Springer, from Peachland, who had started a similar event there.

In its initial years, it was organized by the Osoyoos Wildlife Federation, which Eady led at the time. Since then, however, Eady has left that group due to internal issues, and this year he was content to come and just fish.

This year the event was run by Accessible Okanagan, a group that Stiles is vice chair of, in conjunction with the B.C. Wildlife Federation.

Stiles said the event was made possible with donations from Osoyoos Legion Branch 173, the Rotary Club of Osoyoos, Alliance Mobility Solutions from Kelowna, Spinal Cord Injury B.C. and the Strohmann family.

This year there were more people than in previous years. A contingent of seniors from Mariposa Gardens, most in wheelchairs, also held lines in the water.

Jane MacKay, a Mariposa resident, sat at the end of the dock in her wheelchair dangling her line in the pond. Moments later she was hauling in a large rainbow trout with help from Osoyoos sportsman Nathan Ondrus.

The look on her face was a mix of surprise, excitement and wonder, but she was having a good time.

Kannan, who came with family members and friends, has been coming to the Osoyoos event in most recent years.

Growing up in the Kelowna area, he was always an outdoorsman. But 10 years ago, he had an accident while hunting on an ATV, which broke his back.

“It instantly changes your life,” he said. “I used to be an outdoors person, very active, x-ray tech at the hospital for 25 years. I had to change my lifestyle.”

It’s definitely been harder to fish since his accident, but an accessible pond like the Strohmann’s makes it a lot easier, he said.

As one of the original founders of Accessible Okanagan, and currently a board member, Kannan promotes recreational activities for those in wheelchairs or with disabilities.

Accessible Okanagan, he said, makes it possible for those with disabilities to get back out and do activities ranging from hand cycling to camping, fishing, ice fishing, golf and more.

Stiles points out that Accessible Okanagan was originally focused on spinal cord injuries, but it now encompasses all disabilities.

“We’re getting more recognition over the years and it is much needed,” he said.

As Stiles speaks, his young daughter Claire comes up to ask him if he knows where her water bottle is. As she leaves, he comments on what it meant to him to be able to watch her catch three fish last year.

“We can all, as a family, disabled or not, we can still enjoy this day here,” he said.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times

Abdi Khalif, of Vancouver, examines the first fish he’s ever caught, a rainbow trout. With him at the Fishing Forever event, is more experienced fisherman Anand Kannan, of West Kelowna, who has been in a wheelchair as a paraplegic for the past 10 years, and Kannan’s wife Kim. (Richard McGuire photo)

Abdi Khalif, of Vancouver,shows off the first fish he’s ever caught, a rainbow trout. Khalif was participating in the Fishing Forever event on Saturday, in which people with disabilities fished at a stocked pond alongside family members and friends who don’t have those disabilities. The event was organized by Accessible Okanagan and was held at the pond belonging to Brian and Carolyne Strohmann on Anarchist Mountain.(Richard McGuire photo)

An assortment of people, some in wheelchairs and others standing, fished for rainbow trout on Saturday in the stocked pond belonging to Brian and Carolyne Strohmann on Anarchist Mountain. The occasion was the fifth annual Fishing Forever event that aims to make the fishing experience accessible to those with disabilities. Families and friends also attended, and this year there was a contingent of seniors from Mariposa Gardens. (Richard McGuire photo)

Jane MacKay, a resident of Mariposa Gardens, reels in a large rainbow trout at Saturday’s Fishing Forever event. This year was the first that has included a contingent of seniors from Mariposa Gardens. The event aims to make fishing accessible to those with disabilities. (Richard McGuire photo)

An assortment of people, some in wheelchairs and others standing, fished for rainbow trout on Saturday in the stocked pond belonging to Brian and Carolyne Strohmann on Anarchist Mountain. The occasion was the fifth annual Fishing Forever event that aims to make the fishing experience accessible to those with disabilities. Families and friends also attended, and this year there was a contingent of seniors from Mariposa Gardens. (Richard McGuire photo)

An assortment of people, some in wheelchairs and others standing, fished for rainbow trout on Saturday in the stocked pond belonging to Brian and Carolyne Strohmann on Anarchist Mountain. The occasion was the fifth annual Fishing Forever event that aims to make the fishing experience accessible to those with disabilities. Families and friends also attended, and this year there was a contingent of seniors from Mariposa Gardens. (Richard McGuire photo)