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Biologist to show Okanagan Mountain Park recovery since 2003 fire season

Published 12:54 pm Thursday, February 26, 2026

By John Arendt

The Okanagan Mountain Park Fire was clearly visible in August, 2003. The fire reached 25,600 hectares in size and more than 33,000 people were evacuated from their homes.(Phil Maranda - Special to the Summerland Review)

The Okanagan Mountain Park Fire was clearly visible in August, 2003. The fire reached 25,600 hectares in size and more than 33,000 people were evacuated from their homes.(Phil Maranda - Special to the Summerland Review)

A biologist will present pictures and results from Okanagan Mountain Park, showing the changes in the park and its wildlife since the 2003 fire season.

Les Gyug, a biologist who specializes in wildlife ecology, will speak at the Okanagan Similkameen Parks Society annual general meeting.

The meeting will be held March 6 at 7 p.m. at the Summerland branch of the Okanagan Regional Library.

Gyug, who is also a long-time member of the Central Okanagan Naturalists’ Club, will show pictures and results collected from the park over the past 33 years and will focus on the recovery of the park since the 2003 fire season.

The annual meeting will also include financial statements from the past year and the election of the 2026 board of directors.

The parks society works to acquire and preserve parklands for the health, recreation, education and natural enjoyment of the public, to seek preservation of habitat for wildlife, and to protect natural biotic areas for scientific study.

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