{"id":2101,"date":"2022-11-30T19:18:52","date_gmt":"2022-12-01T03:18:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peachlandwpa.org\/?p=1889"},"modified":"2023-11-28T14:49:32","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T22:49:32","slug":"2022-agm-recap-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peachlandwpa.org\/2022-agm-recap-2\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s a wrap-PWPA\u2019s 2022 AGM finds unity in our community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s a wrap-PWPA\u2019s 2022 AGM finds unity in our <\/strong>community commitment to conserve and secure our <\/strong>watershed!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The end of the calendar year is a time for reflection. Last week PWPA held its final business meeting of 2022, the Annual General Meeting (AGM), our 6th annual, and it was a grass roots gathering of like minded members, guests, supporters and enthusiasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over forty participants gathered at the Little School House, an optimistic fun-fact is that local government elected representatives and Healthy Watershed Committee members account for about 10% of our guests! Kudos to Mayor Patrick van Minsel, and Councillors Brophey, Ingram and Condon for showing some community love!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PWPA\u2019s guest speaker was Dave Gill, General Manager of Ntityix Resources since fall 2013. NRLP is a natural resource company owned byWestbank First Nation and \u2018title-holder\u2019 of 13% of Peachland\u2019s community watershed by way of a Community Forest license. Dave spoke of the new forestry harvesting standards used by his crew, including foresters, Damon Lawrence and Coulter Roberts, also in attendance. Dave mentioned having to \u2018disobey\u2019 the very low standards of BC\u2019s Forestry acts to do a better job in our watersheds than the minimum requirements of government. Reforesting with all native species, not just nursery raised conifers, harvesting for wildfire preventions, not just profits, introducing climate change unknowns and not always harvesting the volumes that the government quotas want (the Allowable Annual Cut) are a few examples of the better syilx forestry standards now implemented in our source water areas. Read more about it here: https:\/\/www.ntityixresources.com\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our mayor van Minsel surprised PWPA with his remarks, he announced that the district is actively investigating the expansion of our jurisdiction, control and say in our water supply and backcountry. This is an exciting avenue to pursue, we look forward to hearing more about the legal options researched by council and staff to have more control over something that affects us all so greatly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It appears, what we all have in common is the love of the land and respect for nature. Whether it is by means of new inventive forestry practices that accesses traditional knowledge and wisdom, or by legal jurisdiction and boundary expansion or by actions including conservation, advocacy, even civil disobedience, there is a massive commitment on the part of Westbank First Nation, the District of Peachland, the PWPA and valley residents for continued watershed \u2018C-P-R\u2019: conserve, protect and restore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PWPA appreciates your volunteerism, enthusiasm and concerns; your donation supports the work happening in communities across our watershed, this Okanagan Valley BC, and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will be back in meeting mode full swing by mid-January. Until then, you can join us at our \u2018\u2019Christmas Cookies, Crafts, Cocoa and Conservation Conversations\u2019\u2019 party at the Little School House, December 18, 1-4pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read about it here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have a wonderful festive season, and excellent New Year and PWPAwishes once again to acknowledge our appreciation, thanks for helping create a swimmable, drinkable, fishable future for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PWPA cannot wait to see you all again, until then, keep speaking, advocating and acting for our water and forests, there\u2019s nothing worse than silence in the face of all the apathy that is occurring in our lands.
Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the AGM Year in Review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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