Doreen Olson gathered 1,546 signatures on a petition supporting a national park reserve in the South Okanagan. That’s 644 more than a recent competing petition opposing a national park reserve. (Richard McGuire file photo)

A surge of signatures in the closing days of a petition supporting a national park reserve in the South Okanagan pushed the final number to 1,546.

The electronic petition was initiated through the House of Commons by Doreen Olson, coordinator of the South Okanagan Similkameen National Park Network (SOSNPN). Olson is from the Kaleden area.

The cutoff date for signatures was Friday at 8:37 a.m. B.C. time – four months after the petition was launched at the end of November.

The number of signatures was 644 more than a rival petition opposing the park, which started and closed two weeks earlier and gathered 902 signatures.

That e-petition was launched by Oliver-area gun seller and enthusiast Tony Iannella.

Asked about the surge of support as the deadline drew near, Olson said there “was a little push.”

“We reminded people that the petition was ending and if they hadn’t signed, that they should sign,” said Olson.

Iannella’s petition was presented in the House of Commons by MP Richard Cannings, who said he also intends to present Olson’s. Her petition is currently awaiting certification by House of Commons personnel.

Olson said the 644-signature margin between the two petitions didn’t surprise her because more people support than oppose a national park reserve.

“I think that’s pretty consistent with all the other polls and petitions,” she said.

Both petitions gathered most of their support from B.C., but each had some support from outside the province.

Olson’s petition collected 1,431 B.C. signatures, 42 from Ontario and 34 from Alberta. Support from other provinces was in the single digits and there were four who signed from outside Canada.

Her petition cites the benefits of a national park reserve to the region and calls on the Government of Canada “to expedite the creation of the South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Reserve.”

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times