Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.
Myra Bellevue Provincial Park (Image Credit: Tourism Kelowna)
By Vernon Matters Staff
Park Preservation

Kelowna teacher donates $20K to protect Myra-Bellevue Park

Aug 10, 2026 | 2:45 PM

A retired Kelowna teacher has donated $20,000 toward an effort to protect one of the last privately owned properties within Myra-Bellevue Park.

The anonymous donor is among hundreds of first-time donors who have stepped forward to support the BC Parks Foundation campaign, which is now in its final days.

The foundation needs to raise another $150,000 by Friday, to secure the 32.4-hectare property.

Through the support of Wilson 5 Foundation, every donation is currently being matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling the impact of contributions until the fundraising goal is reached.

The retired teacher said the decision to make the donation was deeply personal.

Grass Fire
Police seeking information on suspicious Becker Park fire
A few minutes ago
Election 2026
New candidate entering race for a Vernon City Council seat
1h ago
Wildfire Activity
New wildfire sparked in the Okanagan
1h ago

The donor has spent years hiking in Myra-Bellevue Park and also shared the area with students while working as a teacher.

“I don’t have children of my own, but I’d like to think that future generations can come here, do the same hikes I’ve done, and have this place protected forever,” she said in a media release.

The donor said they were surprised to learn that privately owned land still exists within the park.

by Vernon Matters Staff
View Comments

Other Matters

Grass Fire
Police seeking information on suspicious Becker Park fire
Vernon RCMP have put out a call for information about a grass fire at a downtown park.At around 9 a.m. Sunday, August 9, Vernon Fire Rescue responded to Becker Park for a grass fire.Fire crews were able to quickly douse the flames.However, the initial investigation found the fire was human caused, and believed to be su...
5m ago
Read More
Park Preservation
Kelowna teacher donates $20K to protect Myra-Bellevue Park
A retired Kelowna teacher has donated $20,000 toward an effort to protect one of the last privately owned properties within Myra-Bellevue Park.The anonymous donor is among hundreds of first-time donors who have stepped forward to support the BC Parks Foundation campaign, which is now in its final days.The foundation ne...
57m ago
Read More
Election 2026
New candidate entering race for a Vernon City Council seat
A woman who is involved with lots of community work and the local business community will be running for a seat on Vernon City Council.Sarah Moorhouse announced her candidacy with a campaign slogan I Love Vernon."As a mother of a young son, and the daughter of senior parents who reside in Vernon, I care deeply abo...
1h ago
Read More
Wildfire Activity
New wildfire sparked in the Okanagan
Yet another wildfire has sparked south of Kelowna.The B.C. Wildfire Service said lightning ignited a 1.1 hectare wildfire near Lower Barge Lake, about seven kilometres west of Highway 33.The BCWS responded Monday, August 10, with airtankers that boxed in the site with retardant.Following that the provincial firefightin...
1h ago
Read More
Park Closures
Parts of Mission Creek Regional Park to close for trail and habitat work
Parts of Mission Creek Regional Park will be closed starting Monday as crews begin work on two infrastructure and habitat restoration projects.The closures will allow crews to install rock riffles in Mission Creek and complete trail improvements connected to the future Gerstmar Bridge.The riffles are shallow structures...
1h ago
Read More
Fire Risk Prevention
Temporary ban in place for off-roading in the Okanagan, most of B.C.
Effective immediately, off-roading in the Okanagan and Kamloops Fire Centre is not allowed.As of noon Monday, August 10, a prohibition was in place on using all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and side-by-sides on Crown land in the Kamloops and Southeast Fire Centres, as well as in parts of the Cariboo and Coastal Fire ...
2h ago
Read More
Labour Statistics
Regional unemployment stayed flat in July
The unemployment rate for the economic region that includes Vernon leveled off but has remained quite high.Statistics Canada said the Thompson-Okanagan's unadjusted unemployment rate was 7.5 per cent in July.That was unchanged from June's rate, and while it was below the rate of 8.1 per cent in May it remained well abo...
3h ago
Read More
Full Slate
Flights resume at Kelowna airport as wildfire impacts continue
Flights are operating in and out of Kelowna International Airport as the region continues to deal with the impacts of wildfires.The airport says a full schedule of inbound and outbound flights is planned for Monday, after air service resumed Sunday afternoon at about 2 p.m.Flights have been operating consistently since...
3h ago
Read More
Bradley Creek Wildfire
Evacuation Orders downgraded for select OKIB properties
Some Evacuation Orders for the Bradley Creek wildfire have been downgraded.As of 8 p.m. Sunday, Evacuation Orders were downgraded to Alerts for all residents of Coyote Crossing; 9511 and 9551 Highway 97; 1294 Westside Road; 20 Eagle Rock Road; 18 and 36 Tonasket Road; and 2585 and 2591 Highway 97. The new Evacuation Or...
3h ago
Read More

What Matters

Grass Fire
Police seeking information on suspicious Becker Park fire
A few minutes ago
Election 2026
New candidate entering race for a Vernon City Council seat
1h ago
Wildfire Activity
New wildfire sparked in the Okanagan
1h ago
Fire Risk Prevention
Temporary ban in place for off-roading in the Okanagan, most of B.C.
2h ago
Labour Statistics
Regional unemployment stayed flat in July
3h ago