“Come Hell... B.C. Under Water," Film Screening & Panel Discussion, UN World Water Day 2022

On March 16, 2022, as part of UN World Water Day celebrations, the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB)'s Okanagan WaterWise outreach and education program presented a special online screening of CBC The Fifth Estate's “Come Hell... B.C. Under Water.”
This moving documentary examines the devastation in B.C. after the catastrophic flooding of November 2021, made worse with earlier drought and fire, years of intense forestry and out-dated infrastructure, and the impacts this has had on farmers, First Nations and neighbouring communities.
We've seen all these issues play out here in the Okanagan too. As such, the screening was followed by a panel discussion with some of those working in the Okanagan for urban utilities, in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and on regional water management.
Panelists included:
MARK DOWHANIUK - Infrastructure Manager for City of Vernon, speaking on what the city is doing to address flooding, wildfires and other extreme weather events;
DAVE GILL - General Manager of Ntityix Resources shared what the Westbank First Nations forestry company is doing to promote sustainable practices, address wildfires, protect water quality and fish, through selective logging, cultural burning, and more;
KIRSTEN HANNAM - Systems Agro-Ecologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Summerland Research and Development Centre, spoke to what farmers are experiencing and what is being done to help them prepare and meet the challenges for food security;
KARI ALEX - Fisheries Biologist with Okanagan Nation Alliance, shared the impacts of flooding, drought, wildfires and extreme heat on efforts to bring salmon back to the valley, and efforts to help this important species; and
ANNA WARWICK SEARS - Executive Director with the OBWB talked about efforts to update the Okanagan Lake Regulation System, flood mapping, and more.
For those looking for more information on what they can do to protect their home and help their community, please visit www.OkWaterWise.ca.

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