WINTER PROGRAM SERIES

In February and March the Osoyoos Desert Society will once again be hosting its popular Winter Program Series. This year’s series includes four programs – three programs featuring a documentary film combined with a presentation by a local expert, and one event featuring a behind-the-scenes tour.

The series kicks off February 21st with a film and lecture about wolves. The documentary The Rise of Black Wolf follows a wolf pack in Yellowstone Park and provides an up-close look at the world of wolves. After the film, ecologists John and Mary Theberge will discuss wolves in Canada. They will share findings from their long-term study of wolves in Ontario’s Algonquin Park and give an update on their current wolf research.

The second program in the series, scheduled on February 28th, features the film GMO OMG. The documentary sheds light on genetically modified food by telling the story of a father’s exploration of GMOs and their impact on the world around him, including his three young children. Following the film, local organic farmer and naturalist Lee McFadyen will be on hand to provide an insider’s perspective on farming and food issues in the South Okanagan.

On March 21st the Winter Program Series hits the road for an excursion to the South Okanagan Rehabilitation Centre for Owls (SORCO), located north of Oliver. Participants will be treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Centre’s new rehabilitation facility and a presentation about its rehabilitation and release process. The tour also includes a visit to the site’s Burrowing Owl breeding facility and information about efforts to re-introduce this endangered owl in British Columbia. Advance registration is required for the program at SORCO and reservations can be made by contacting the Osoyoos Desert Society at mail@desert.org or 250-495-2470.

The final program in the series, Water Ways, will be held March 28th at Watermark Beach Resort. The program features a documentary focusing on water followed by a question and answer session presented by the Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society. Participants will have an opportunity to learn more about the issues impacting Osoyoos Lake and current efforts underway to maintain the water quality of the lake.

Admission for the Osoyoos Desert Society’s Winter Program Series is by donation. Programs run from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Watermark Beach Resort, except for the March 21st program which will be held at SORCO. For more information, or to register for the SORCO tour, contact the Osoyoos Desert Society at mail@desert.org or 250-495-2470.

The Osoyoos Desert Society is a non-profit society founded in 1991 to conserve the biologically rich and diverse habitats of British Columbia’s Southern Interior. Through habitat conservation, restoration and education, the

Society strives to generate public knowledge, respect and active concern for ecosystems worldwide.