CPAWS-BC

08/18/2026

Meet some of the people behind Artvocacy. 🌿

Over the past seven months, a group of Okanagan artists has been doing something a little unexpected — learning about conservation, spending time on the land, meeting with elected officials, and making art that speaks up for the places they love.

In September, you can see what they made.

The Artvocacy Exhibition opens September 19th as part of the Penticton Arts Council's Artiverse festival in Penticton. Come meet the artists, see the work, and be part of the conversation about the future of these amazing, unique, and irreplaceable ecosystems.

📍 September 19 · 4–9 PM
Leir House, 220 Manor Park Avenue, Penticton
Entry by donation 🎨

08/11/2026

The CPAWS-BC team is growing 🌱

We’re hiring a Conservation Planning Specialist! If you have a passion for mapping, land-use planning, conservation advocacy, and building relationships with diverse communities and stakeholders in BC, this role could be the perfect fit for you!

The Conservation Planning Specialist will work closely with the Land and Freshwater Conservation team to deliver CPAWS-BC’s crucial land-based conservation work.

Their work will support the organization’s participation in land planning and management processes and spaces, including land use planning, forest landscape plan, management and advisory boards, and through mapping and spatial analysis. They will engage directly with partner organizations, coalitions, governments and First Nations to support strong conservation outcomes across British Columbia.

This position is permanent and full-time, and can be worked hybrid or remotely within BC.

To learn more about this position and apply, please visit our website at

The Communications Specialist supports the planning and ex*****on of communications campaigns by creating compelling social media, website, and print content. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role works closely with Conservation Program staff to build the profile and momentum for CPAWS-BC.....

08/10/2026

Do you wonder how your outdoor recreation organization can work with municipal government to advocate for nature?
With B.C.’s municipal election campaign beginning in September, this is a good time to introduce your club to local candidates and help them understand the issues that matter to your members.

Join us on Tuesday, August 11 from 12-1 pm PT, for Lobbying 101: How to get your club’s priorities on the ballot this fall.

This practical webinar will cover how to explain your organization’s value, turn your priorities into clear and realistic asks, connect recreation issues to broader community goals, and build productive relationships with candidates and elected officials. Whether your club is looking for funding, trying to improve trail access, advocating for nature or simply hoping to build a stronger relationship with local government, this session will offer practical ideas for getting started.

Our panellists are Prairie Chiu, Director of Engagement and Advocacy at Vantage Point; Usoff Tsao, "Rural Mayor" Electoral Area A, Wells Gray County; and Jennifer Cooke, Youth Engagement Coordinator at CPAWS-BC.

Can’t attend live? Register anyway. All registrants will receive the recording, a summary of key takeaways and useful resources.

Register here: https://loom.ly/wK81sRQ

Back to All Events Lobbying 101: How to get your club’s priorities on the ballot this fall Tuesday, August 11, 2026 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Google Calendar ICS Don’t let lobbying’s shady reputation scare you off! Strip away the political buzzwords, and lobbying is simply making sure the decis...

08/06/2026

Young Leaders In Conservation Highlight 🚨
Siya is half way through her community summer project as part of the Young Leaders in Conservation Program. Her nine-week local advertising campaign: Weird and Wonderful BC, focuses on misunderstood or feared species found throughout the BC Interior!

Here is what she has to say: “Inspired by my own journey from fear to appreciation, the campaign aims to encourage others to learn more about the wildlife that shares our communities and landscapes. Through education and storytelling, it highlights the fascinating adaptations, behaviours, and ecological roles of species that are often overlooked or misunderstood.

Many of BC's native species face negative perceptions through no fault of their own. Animals such as rattlesnakes, coyotes, bears, bats, and spiders are frequently feared, and in some cases harmed, as a result of human-wildlife interactions. The goal of Weird and Wonderful BC is to foster greater understanding of these species while providing practical information on how to safely and responsibly coexist with them when encounters inevitably occur.

CPAWS-BC has given me the incredible opportunity to bring this project to life through the Young Leaders in Conservation Internship Program. Their support has made it possible to deliver local conservation education, engage the community, and encourage conversations about how we can better understand and coexist with the diverse wildlife around us.”

Image Description:
Image 1: Siya holding up the first ad instalment of the Weird and Wonderful BC campaign in the Merritt Herald.
Image 2: Weird and Wonderful BC campaign infographic.

07/30/2026

We've been writing. ✍️🌿

Two new blog posts are live on the CPAWS-BC website about ARTVOCACY!

Brynna shares the story behind Artvocacy — how a conservation program and an arts council came together in the Okanagan, what happens when you invite artists to speak up for nature, and why creativity and advocacy belong together.

Cynthia Franz reflects on attending the 2-Eyed Seeing Land Ceremony at the Meadowlark Festival in May — what it felt like to step off her phone, into the ponderosa pine and antelope brush, and into a circle of strangers who all left as something more.

Read both at the link in our bio. 🔗

And come see the art that's been growing alongside these ideas — September 19th at 220 Manor Park Avenue, Penticton, as part of the Artiverse festival. 🎨

📍 Artvocacy Exhibition · September 19 · 4–9 PM · Entry by donation

07/28/2026

What have Artvocacy participants been up to this summer? A lot. 😅

While working on their keystone projects, this incredible group has also been out in the world — advocating, exploring, and connecting. Here's a peek at what some of them (not all pictured!) have been doing:

🏛️ Meeting with decision-makers — Participants and constituents met with MLA Donegal Wilson () and MP Helena Konanz () to share why protecting nature in the Okanagan matters to them personally.

🎪 Tabling at the Creative Aging Festival in Kelowna — Participants set up a booth to talk about CPAWS-BC, the South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Reserve, and species at risk in the region.

💧 Ghost Waterways Walk in Penticton — Led by Chandra, participants learned about the history of water in Penticton — the rivers, streams, and waterways that once flowed through the city and have since disappeared. A powerful reminder that what we see isn't always what was.

🥾 Hiking and spending time on the land together — Because sometimes the best advocacy is just getting outside with friends and decompressing with nature.

Come see what these artists have been working on at the Artvocacy exhibition on September 19th if you're in Penticton!

📍 Artvocacy Exhibition — September 19, 4–9 PM
220 Manor Park Avenue, Leir House, Penticton
Part of the Artiverse festival · Entry by donation

If you want to speak up for the South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Reserve, you can sign our petition at cpawsbc.org/takeaction/sos

07/27/2026

Badgers and coyotes team up to hunt together. Spotted Lake turns into perfect mineral pools every summer. Rattlesnakes, burrowing owls, and species found nowhere else on Earth call this place home. 🐍🦡🦇

The South Okanagan-Similkameen is one of the most extraordinary ecosystems in Canada and it's also one of the most endangered. The proposed National Park Reserve would permanently protect it, in partnership with the syilx Okanagan Nation.

This park has been in the works for over twenty years. Now is the time to show your support, so that progress doesn't stall.

Sign the petition. Link in bio. 🌿

07/27/2026

Our friend Bruce the Lynx took a trip to Lower Post to learn more about IPCAs and Dene Kʼéh Kusān. Add your name to our petition in support of this amazing protected area! 🐾👉 https://biggestwildest.ca/

Needing some coffee, I stopped in Lower Post to chat with Harlan Sc...

07/24/2026

This spring, something special happened in Penticton. 🎨

Artvocacy participants gathered for masterclasses in writing, painting, and photography — learning from incredible mentors, spending time on the land, and asking themselves: what does it mean to make art that speaks up for nature?

Now, they're turning that question into their answer. Each participant is working on a keystone project — an original artwork that ties together everything they've learned and speaks up for the landscapes, species, and communities of the Okanagan. In September, we'll be inviting the public and local decision-makers to see that work, and to be part of the conversation about the future of this place.

Come see it on September 19th if you're in Penticton! 🌿

📍 Artvocacy Exhibition — September 19, 4–9 PM
220 Manor Park Avenue, Leir House, Penticton
Part of the Artiverse festival · Entry by donation

Photo 1: Brynna with Artvocacy participants in Penticton (featuring Theo, the cutest floofy puppy)
Photo 2: Lyse Deselliers painting workshop
Photo 3: Catherine Pierre discussing basket making with traditional materials
Photo 4: Brynna with Miwa and Cynthia on a hike!
Photo 5: Artvocacy participants post-photography workshop with Tara Nicholson and Heiko Ryll!
Photo 6: Writing workshop with Don Gayton and Erin Scott
Photo 7: Photography masterclass

07/23/2026

97 people stopped to make their mark this weekend at Gyro Park in Penticton. 🎨

Artvocacy participant Lyse Deselliers () set up a tent at the market and invited passersby to add a brushstroke to a 36"×36" community painting in support of the South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Reserve.

The finished painting will be installed on a fence at the south entrance of Penticton on Lakeside Road... a public celebration of this extraordinary landscape and the community that loves it.

This is what Artvocacy looks like in action. Artists using their practice to start conversations, build community, and speak up for the lands they call home. A huge thank you to Aly, Josh, Tristan, and Deb Tougas, and everyone that participated in making this painting happen!

Roy and Eric used paint from Roy's wife, Tina who passed away last year. What a special moment to honour her. Thank you so much. ❤️

💪 Want to show your support for the South Okanagan? Link in bio to sign our petition to protect what's so special.

📍 Artvocacy Exhibition — September 19, 4–9 PM
220 Manor Park Avenue, Leir House, Penticton
Part of the Artiverse festival · Entry by donation