Myra-Bellevue Park

Thanks to your generosity, the fundraising goal to protect another privately owned property within Myra-Bellevue Park has been reached.

Together, you helped raise $800,000 in just 37 days. Combined with the Wilson 5 Foundation's matching gift, that's $1.6 million secured toward the purchase and protection of 32.4 hectares of forest, wildlife habitat, and an important section of the Okanagan Mountain–K'nmalka Ecosystem Corridor.

Successes like this are only possible because of people like you. On behalf of everyone at BC Parks Foundation, thank you for believing in this place and helping us reach this incredible milestone.

Every time our community comes together like this, another special place in British Columbia—and all the animals, plants, and people who need it to thrive—has a brighter future. I hope you'll take a moment to celebrate what you've made possible.

This property contains mature forest and important habitat for wildlife including deer, elk, moose, black bear, cougar, lynx, and the endangered American badger.

It also escaped the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park wildfire that affected much of the surrounding area, leaving it as an intact refuge in a landscape still recovering from fire.

Because the property is bisected by Priest Creek, its protection would also safeguard an important crossing point for wildlife moving through the landscape to find food, adapt to seasonal changes, and maintain healthy populations.

"This property sits within the Okanagan Mountain-K’nmalka Ecosystem Corridor, the last remaining functioning low-elevation wildlife corridor in the region. The property also protects an important crossing point along Priest Creek, helping wildlife move across the landscape to find food, adapt to seasonal changes, and maintain healthy populations. Supporting projects like this is exactly why the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program exists—to bring people together to protect the landscapes that sustain wildlife and our communities."

— Scott Boswell, Executive Director, Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program

For decades, local residents, conservation organizations, and supporters have worked to protect the South Slopes and the lands that became Myra-Bellevue Park.

Friends of the South Slopes is an early donor to this campaign and is inviting its members and the broader community to join the effort to protect another piece of Myra-Bellevue Park.

"When Friends of the South Slopes was formed, our goal was to protect the forests, creeks, and wildlife habitats that make the South Slopes so special. Seeing another opportunity to permanently protect land within Myra-Bellevue Park is incredibly rewarding, and we're grateful that people across the province can now help make it happen."

— Rick Ellery, Director, Friends of the South Slopes