EarthCare Society

EarthCare recently delivered an astronomy presentation to grade nine students at KLO middle school in Kelowna. EarthCare is also developing more educational modules that will compliment the existing grade nine science curriculum. For more information on this program or if you want to help out please call our office at 861-4788.

At right, Evan Caswell, Philippe LeFebvre, and Camille Clarke deliver a presentation on Astronomy to Grade nine Science students at KLO middle school in Kelowna.
You can download part of the Presentation here.

Too Much Garbage: Buried in Product Packaging

Larry Pynn
Vancouver Sun
Saturday, March 04, 2006

Much of what the public throws away that could be reused or recycled, including furniture, ends up going into the landfills. Read More....

Eager to learn about the Canadian Wilderness

Charlie Hodge, Executive Director of the Canadian EarthCare Society and a Capital News columnist, leads a tour group of Japanese students around the Sibell Maude-Roxby Bird Sanctuary last week. Read More....

EarthCare Wins Mayor's Environmental Achievment Award for the Most Environmentally Dedicated Group in Kelowna

Mayor Walter Grey and Mark Watt (environment manager) presented Charlie Hodge, Executive Director, and Lloyd Manchester, board director, with the award on Friday May 27, 2005 at a Mayor's Environmental Expo banquet.

On Saturday, April 30th EarthCare held a successful Rain Barrel Awareness Day. Many thanks to the the Glenmore-Ellison Improvement District for donating the use of their facility.

Bill Barisoff blames the furore on the "silly season" just prior to an election, but people like Kelowna's Lloyd Manchester of EarthCare say the public should be aware the government plans to permit private resorts to be built inside provincial parks. Read more...

The Provincial Government has reneged on a promise to honour the Okanagan Shuswap Land Use plan (OKSLRMP). They have refused to establish 29 of the 49 parks agreed to under the OKSLRMP. These 29 parks are distributed throughout the Okanagan Shuswap region. Please take the time to ensure that the Parks created in the Okanagan Shuswap become the legacy for all citizens to enjoy in perpetuity. Read more...

Kelowna Residents Need To Register Early To Receive Notificaton Of Pesticide Sprays

If you registered last year for the City of Kelowna’s ‘Pesticide Notification Registry’, you still need to re-register this year to remain on the list. EarthCare has been assured by the City that should residents be late in responding, you will still be able to register your property. We encourage all concerned citizens to register early with the City so you can receive proper notification and take the appropriate precautions. Read more...

It’s taken a year of searching to find a suitable piece of property, but establishment of an Okanagan Wildlife Recovery Centre is a step closer to reality.

With an agreement reached between land owner Willie Rometsch and the Canadian EarthCare Society, executive director Charlie Hodge says he is realizing a dream. Read more...

The Kelowna based Canadian EarthCare Society has named the City of Kelowna as the 2004 winner of the organization’s Business/Organization of the Year Award for environmental recognition.

“I’m sure our selection surprises some, including the City, however EarthCare believes the City has made a dramatic shift in its thinking about pesticides and that deserved acknowledgement,” EarthCare Executive Director Charlie Hodge said. Read more...

EarthCare congratulates Kelowna for renewing Pesticide Notification Registry

The Canadian EarthCare Society (EarthCare) is “extremely pleased” that Kelowna City Council has renewed its Pesticide Notification Registry program for 2005. In 2004, 284 residents signed up for notification. As well, Council has reaffirmed that no doctor's note will be required to register next year, and residents may also request previous day notification. Read more...

EarthCare asks stakeholders to tell the government to honour the Okanagan Shuswap Land Resource Management Plan

Dear Regional Districts of the Central and North Okanagan, and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District,

The Canadian EarthCare Society (EarthCare) is writing to you regarding the Okanagan Shuswap Land Resource Management Plan (OKSLRMP). This plan was negotiated from July 1995 to September 2000 and approved by the Provincial Government in January 2001. EarthCare was one of the 30 stakeholders who agreed to the plan.

Currently 29 of the 49 parks agreed to under the OKSLRMP have not been implemented - as per the original land use agreement. The current Provincial Government has rationalized its decision by stating, “In order to avoid the need for future legislative amendments when the decision is made to build the road, this area has not been converted to Class A park at this time.” Read more...

PHASE ONE
Phase One involves the creation of a wildlife recovery facility and rehabilitation area that will act as a first point emergency hospital
for injured wildlife.

PHASE TWO
Phase Two of the Okanagan Wildlife Recovery Centre Project involves the establishment of a two-part public educational component. This public area will be situated in a separate location from the hospital/recovery area. Read more (PDF)...

Who We Are: The Okanagan Wildlife Recovery Centre (OWRC) is a Canadian EarthCare Society project. EarthCare has a current five-member Board of Directors, and is based in the City of Kelowna. EarthCare initiated the OWRC project in November 2003.

Project Coordinators are Charlie Hodge and Suzanne Pugh, who work with various volunteer workers and task-focused committees. The OWRC is dedicated to providing support for injured wildlife throughout the Okanagan Valley. The organization’s primary goal is to establish a facility to assist in the care and medical rehabilitation of injured wildlife leading to their eventual release back to their natural habitat.
.Read more (PDF)...

Sharon Shepherd
Councillor, City of Kelowna
Parks Chairperson, Regional District of Central Okanagan

Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you last week and discuss the project plan the Canadian EarthCare Society has of establishing a wildlife recovery centre here in the central part of the Okanagan Valley. As you are now aware, no such facility exists in the Central Okanagan – and the need is overwhelming. Read more...

EarthCare expresses concern over RDOS resolution limiting new protected areas in Okanagan-Shuswap Land Use Plan

As a stakeholder in the Okanagan Shuswap Land Use Resource Management Plan (OKSLRMP), the Canadian EarthCare Society is disappointed and concerned with your resolution of January 6, 2004. That resolution makes a request to the provincial government stating, “that the Province does not legislate any new protected areas within the Land Use Planning Area until the Land and Resources Planning Committee has been able to come to an agreement on how to mitigate the impact that the new National Park proposal will have on other resource users.” Read more...

EarthCare celebrates successful lobby effort to maintain forest recreation access in BC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2004
EarthCare is celebrating a victory this week following Tuesday’s Throne Speech by Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo. During her speech the Lieutenant Governor said the province, “will reinstate funding to maintain forest recreation roads and recreation sites in the Heartlands.”

“We are extremely pleased that EarthCare has been successful in changing the government’s mind on this issue,” says Lloyd Manchester, Director of the Canadian EarthCare Society (EarthCare) based in Kelowna. EarthCare has fought long and hard to maintain and preserve the forest recreation system of roads and campsites in this province, arguing that forest recreation is an extremely important value in B.C. and is a significant contributor to the economic, social, and cultural environment in the province. read more

EarthCare alarmed at gov't report recommending use of eagles and other raptors for captive sport

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2004
The Canadian EarthCare Society is alarmed and disturbed by a report being considered by the provincial government that recommends deregulating the ban on eagles, red hawks, merlins and at least two raptor species considered ‘vulnerable’ - for use in falconry hunting.

The government commissioned report, prepared by former provincial deputy director Bill Munro, would allow for immature bald eagles to be captured from the wild and then used as hunting implements. The capture of wild eagles and Horned owls is considered the first for North America and represents just two of many changes in the report. In total the changes would make falconry in B.C. the least restrictive of any Canadian jurisdiction.

“It borders on insane. Just when we thought the ‘leaders’ in Victoria could not be any less respectful of our eco-system and our environment they go and pull this one out of the hat. This is archaic and completely contrary to the protection of these magnificent animals. In what way does this report, and some of its absurd recommendations, do anything to benefit eagles, red tailed hawks or a species such as the Peale’s peregrine falcon - which are vulnerable,” EarthCare executive director Charlie Hodge asks. read more

School district tact on pesticide use applauded February 4, 2004
Kelowna Capital News

He may not agree with all of its recommendations, but Lloyd Manchester of the Canadian Earthcare Society is lauding both a consultant’s report and efforts by the Central Okanagan school board to deal with the issue of pesticide use.

“The school board is being a lot more progressive than it has in the past,” said Manchester. “Before it was always a confrontation but now they seem to be looking at the situation in a new way.”

The school board slapped a moratorium on pesticide use in and around local schools last spring and hired Mario Lanthier of CropHealth Advising and Research to develop an integrated pest management plan. read more

Longtime environmental advocate Lloyd Manchester has been presented the prestigious B.C. Wild Earth Award.

A provincial award from fellow environmentalists was presented to Kelowna’s Lloyd Manchester, senior policy advisor for the Canadian EarthCare Society. The B.C. Wild Earth Award was presented to the EarthCare founder at the B.C. Environmental Network’s annual general meeting in Vancouver last Saturday evening.

EarthCare executive director Charlie Hodge said the award is considered the most prestigious recognition in the province by conservationists and environmentalists... read more

~ PRESS ~

NEWS ARCHIVE

Katimavik Volunteers

Katimavik Volunteers

See the Previous Katimavik Volunteers

Cosmetic Pesticides:
an idea whose time has gone

EarthCare Recognizes Its Supporters For 2005

Eager to learn about the Canadian Wilderness

EarthCare celebrates successful lobby effort to maintain forest recreation access in BC

~ PRESS ~

NEWS ARCHIVE

Katimavik Volunteers

Katimavik Volunteers

See the Previous Katimavik Volunteers

Cosmetic Pesticides: an idea whose time has gone

EarthCare Recognizes Its Supporters For 2005

Eager to learn about the Canadian Wilderness

EarthCare celebrates successful lobby effort to maintain forest recreation access in BC

Cosmetic Pesticides:
an idea whose time has gone