Jeremy Dresner, RDOS Energy and Climate Resilience Supervisor, shared information about climate adaptation efforts. Dresner engaged booth visitors by asking them to identify their climate adaptation priorities using a pompom voting game. A total of 319 people voted, revealing some important insights into the climate priorities of the region. The top priority, with 86 votes, was wildfire management, an initiative the RDOS has been working on for several years through its FireSmart program. Other high-priority issues included sustainable food and agriculture (51 votes), emergency preparedness (43 votes), and water conservation (35 votes).          

The RDOS FireSmart team was also at the Penticton Home & Reno Show. “41 homeowners signed up for hazard assessments throughout the South Okanagan, and approximately 150 people entered the draw to win emergency kits and FireSmart gear,” said Kerry Reiss, RDOS FireSmart Coordinator. “The Home & Reno Show was a great success for the RDOS FireSmart program and helped spread the word about wildfire preparedness.”

At the RDOS Emergency Services booth, staff and volunteers promoted household emergency preparedness through a raffle. “Thank you to everyone who visited the RDOS Emergency Services booth to learn more about protecting homes, properties, and families during emergencies,” said Greg Bonderud, RDOS Emergency Program Coordinator. “And a special thank you to all the volunteers from Emergency Support Services (ESS) and Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT) who helped promote these programs.”

Other programs featured included RDOS Mosquito and Pest Control, WildSafe BC, and Make Water Work. RDOS participation at the Penticton Home & Reno Show was part of larger public engagement processes that help inform regional governance priorities.

Activities such as the pompom game reaffirmed that residents and property owners in the region are engaged in local governance and supportive of environmental sustainability, climate resiliency, emergency preparedness, and community well-being. Understanding these priorities allows the RDOS to work toward addressing local concerns and building a resilient future for the region. To learn more about building climate resiliency in the region, please contact Jeremy Dresner, RDOS Climate and Resilience Supervisor.

For further information about RDOS programs and services, please visit www.rdos.bc.ca or contact RDOS Communications.

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Mark Pendergraft, Chair
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

Contacts:

Jeremy Dresner
RDOS Energy and Climate Resilience Supervisor
250-490-4382

Jeremy Dresner, RDOS Energy and Climate Resilience Supervisor

 

Greg Bonderud, RDOS Emergency Program Coordinator