Urgent: 200 Lake Okanagan Residents Still Displaced Two Years Post-Wildfire

BREAKING: Nearly 200 residents of Lake Okanagan Resort (LOR) are still displaced, two years after the devastating McDougall Creek wildfire, due to a critical lack of water service. As of today, residents are urgently appealing to the Regional District Central Okanagan (RDCO) for immediate assistance, but progress remains stalled.

Residents have faced significant barriers since the privately owned water treatment facility was destroyed in the fire. The foreign ownership group has failed to respond to numerous attempts for engagement, leaving the community in a precarious situation. “While we continue to face barriers in compelling the private owner to reinstate water, we have been fortunate to see leadership from other levels of government,” stated Heather Ormiston, a council member with Strata KAS520 at LOR.

Despite outreach efforts, the provincial government has classified the issue as a private legal matter. Ravi Kahlon, the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, acknowledged the challenges, stating, “I recognize that this is a challenging situation… Unfortunately, this may need to be done through the courts.”

Residents are feeling the weight of the situation. “We are not asking for charity… We are asking for the same basic right to water service that other RDCO communities already have,” Ormiston emphasized. Without water, there can be no recovery, rebuilding, or return for families still in limbo.

In the face of these challenges, the LOR community is taking proactive steps. Residents have hired an architect to explore options for a community-owned water treatment facility. They are also developing a review-ready septic plan and consulting with professionals to consider pathways towards independence from the private utility. “We have already invested our own money and effort toward solutions,” Ormiston noted, highlighting the community’s determination.

The residents are urging the RDCO to step up and demonstrate its commitment to community engagement by planning and operating a new publicly owned water treatment facility. They argue that the RDCO has the authority and precedent to create new water services, as seen in other areas like Falcon Ridge and Killiney Beach.

“The RDCO can be the hero of this story,” Ormiston stated, emphasizing the historical significance of the area and the potential for future development. The community is ready to collaborate with RDCO staff and elected officials to expedite this urgent need for water service.

As of now, residents await a formal response from the RDCO Board regarding their proposal, hoping for immediate action that could finally allow them to return home. This situation remains critical as residents continue to fight for the basic infrastructure they deserve.

Black Press Media has reached out to the RDCO for comments regarding the ongoing situation, but no response has been received yet. The community’s call for action is clear and urgent; time is running out for those still displaced.