Vernon encourages province to expand provincial park

Vernon council is lobbying the B.C. government to expand the size of Ellison Provincial Park.

Council passed a motion asking the province to consider purchasing 234 acres next to the park for inclusion. The property is just south of the city boundary.

The proposal for the former Chelsea Estate property at 9747 Cameron Road is also the subject of an online petition by Mike Brown which had generated over 1,500 supporters as of 3 p.m. June 23 on change.org.

“Doing this will allow the ability to keep the lands in a more natural state, increase B.C. natural resources and allow for an expansion of the existing camping, hiking and mountain bike trail networks of Ellison Provincial Park with the adjoining properties,” Brown wrote on the website.

The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce is supporting the acquisition, urging the provincial government to create a legacy that will drive economic growth and strengthen the community for decades to come.

Fire spreads to house

Vernon home "significantly damaged" by grass fire

Apr 02, 2026

Youth Health Services

Youth immunization, sexual health clinic opening in Vernon

Apr 02, 2026

Displaced For A Week

Some residents still displaced from fatal apartment fire

Apr 01, 2026

“With tourism an increasingly important anchor to the economy, preserving sandy beaches along Okanagan Lake is critical to draw visitors to the Okanagan and, as the population of the Okanagan grows, there is demand from local residents to access the lakeshore,” Krystin Kempton, Greater Vernon Chamber president said.

“Significant investments have already been made to mountain biking and hiking trails in Ellison Provincial Park as well as Predator Ridge Resort. The acquisition of the Chelsea Estate property would elevate Vernon’s reputation as a premier adventure destination by providing the ability to further expand the trail network.”

In terms of the environment, the chamber said park status would ensure the protection of ponderosa pines and grasslands, as well as significant shoreline critical to the survival of aquatic species such as kokanee salmon. The property’s location along Okanagan Lake has also been part of the Syilx nation for generations.

“We are abundantly aware that there is a significant cost to acquiring land and then developing it into provincial park, but we ask, ‘What is the price if we do nothing, if we let this opportunity slip away?’ Kempton said. “Just as the creation of Fintry and Kekuli Bay provincial parks in the last 30 years have contributed to the Okanagan’s economy and lifestyle, we believe strongly that the addition of the 234 acres to Ellison Provincial Park will provide a legacy for future generations.”