World Water Day Events
Penticton area is joining other Okanagan and Shuswap communities to celebrate WATER siwɬkʷ and learn about risks the valley and BC face and how to meet them.
March 22 at SS Sicamous Park at Okanagan Lake in Penticton BIG WATER CELEBRATION Scroll down for details
The events begin Mar 12 and continue through Ignite the Arts Mar 28 & 29.
LIST OF EVENTS:
Mar 12 One Woman Show on Regenerative Farming – Detonate Brewery Summerland
Mar 16 Doc “Bringing the Salmon Home” Council of Canadians & Okanagan Basin Water Board – Okanagan College Penticton
Mar 17 Fish Passage Brown Bag Lecture – Penticton Museum & Archives
Mar 18 TWO Fish Hatchery Tours – kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ Hatchery En’owkin Trail (REGISTER)
Mar 19 Sacred Earth Presentation – solar, Indigenous climate action, water – Deep Dive FTFO ONLINE
Mar 20 Salmon Restoration Lecture – Lee McFadyen Oasis United Church
Mar 21 Art Walk Climate Flags of Hope making – Matheson Galley Martin St.
Mar 22 Channel Clean Up – OK Similkameen Stewardship Channel East side Penticton Hwy 97
Mar 22 WORLD WATER DAY PARTY – SS Sicamous Park FUN games, treats, drinks
Mar 24 Water Words Poetry Workshop – Leir House Creative Writing.
Mar 25 Water Treatment Plant Tour – Penticton Ave. (REGISTER)
Mar 31 WATER: a precious, finite resource Brown Bag Lecture – Penticton Museum & Archives
SCROLL DOWN FOR DETAILS
Mar 18 Fish Hatchery Tours
Okanagan Nation Alliance ONA Fish Hatchery kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓
The ONA Fish Hatchery is offering TWO tours in honour of World Water Day and celebrate siwɬkʷ water. Click to REGISTER – spaces limited
The kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ Hatchery near Penticton City has been operating by the Syilx people for over 10 years, nurturing salmon eggs from fertilization to release of fry into streams throughout the South Okanagan “to realize their dream of restoring the ntytyix (Salmon) – one of our Four Food Chiefs – to their original habitat and rightful place in our territory.”
You are invited to register for a tour. Space is limited to 20 people each tour. Ages 4 and older.
You can sign up for 10 am or 2 pm. Each tour is 1 to 1.5 hours.
A small DONATION would be appreciated to support the school fish programs where students care for the small fish as they hatch until their release in the spring.
*Accessibility – there are a few stairs and open grating, so a walker with wheels is okay if people can manage stairs. Not wheelchair accessible.
Mar 12 One Woman Show on Regenerative Farming Summerland
Call 236-422-3204 to reserve as space is very limited.
Date: March 12, 2026 THURSDAY
Time: 7-8:30PM (Doors open at 6:30)
Location: Detonate Brewing 9503 Cedar Ave #104, Summerland
Cost: by donation
March 16 Documentary Screening with Council of Canadians South OK and OBWB
Water connects us all in the Okanagan.
March 16 Documentary screening Bringing the Salmon Home and presentation on BC Provincial water rates and the causes and risks of drought. Okanagan Basin Water Board will explore how to manage water individually at home, in the community, and in the province and protect water from invasive species.
Water connects us all in the Okanagan.
Amanda Burnett, Communications Coordinator with the Okanagan Basin Water Board, Lori Goldman of First Things First Okanagan and Avril Torrence of South Okanagan Council of Canadians will present on water siwɬkʷ.
Avril and Lori will discuss the climate impacts on water availability as well as the precariousness of Canada’s control over water sovereignty and BC’s water rate give-away.
Amanda will share how our lakes, streams, and drinking water are under increasing pressure from population growth, climate change, drought, and invasive species—and what’s being done to protect them.
Learn how the Okanagan Basin Water Board manages threats like invasive aquatic plants, prepares for future water challenges, and promotes smart, WaterWise choices that can keep our communities and ecosystems healthy.
You’ll also discover simple, practical actions everyone can take—especially in gardens and around homes—to conserve water, protect water quality, and help prevent the spread of invasive species. From WaterWise landscaping to keeping invasive mussels out of our lakes, this talk shows how individual actions make a real difference.
Date: March 16, 2026 MONDAY
Time: 7-8:30PM (Doors open at 6:30)
Location: Okanagan College, Penticton – PL 107 Lecture Theatre
PAY parking – PLEASE contact us to carpool.
Cost: by donation
March 17 Building Fish Passage on OK Lake Brown Bag Lecture
Did you know that the sq̓awsitkw (Okanagan River) system was once rich with Sockeye, Chinook, Coho, Steelhead and other salmonid species? Through 20+ years of planning, advocacy and hard work, the Okanagan Nation Alliance continues to put the river back, put the fish back and put the people back. Join us as we discuss the latest milestone, Okanagan Lake Dam Salmon Passage Project, achieving year-round, free passage for all salmon to their historical waters of kłusxnitkw (Okanagan Lake).
Zoe Eyjolfson has worked for Okanagan Nation Alliance for the last 15 years as a Fluvial Geomorphologist.
Date: March 17, 2026 TUESDAY
Time: 12 to 1 PM
Location: Penticton Museum & Archives 71 Main Street
Cost: By Donation
Sacred Earth Deep Dive with FTFO ONLINE
Sacred Earth is an Indigenous women-led non-profit dedicated to advancing a just transition for Indigenous communities aiming to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and build resilience in the face of climate change. First Things First Okanagan hosts monthly online webinars on various topics. We are honoured to hear from four members of Sacred Earth about the history, work, and vision of the organization. Learn more and REGISTER for the zoom link.
Date: March 19, 2026 THURSDAY
Time: 7:00 to 8:00 PM
Location: ONLINE
Cost: Free
March 20 Lee McFadyen presents Salmon Restoration History
Over time, settlers have changed the landscape of the South Okanagan and Okanagan River, causing disruption to the lives of the salmon and impacting the ability of the native salmon to procreate and thrive. Decades have been spent by the Okanagan Nation Alliance, volunteers, and levels of government to restore the waterways to bring the salmon home.
Lee McFadyen, organic farmer of over 50 years in the Similkameen and South Okanagan, has been an integral part of the process of reparation of waterways for the salmon.
An engaging speaker, she’ll share the history and importance of salmon to the Indigenous people and outline the many restoration projects which are bringing the salmon back
Date: March 20, 2026 FRIDAY
Time: 1:30 to 3:30PM
Location: Oasis United Church, 2964 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton Free Parking
Cost: Free – donations are welcome for the church
March 21 Art Walk Aurora Matheson Gallery
Once again, Seniors for Climate South Okanagan hosts Climate Flags of Hope at Art Walk in Penticton. The table welcomes creative artists and those who care about the planet to craft flags of hope for the future. “Through our work displaying flags, our thoughts can be heard. It can be empowering and leave all of us feeling less helpless.”
From toddlers to seniors, people share their hopes, dreams, and calls to action on flags that we will stitch onto cords, adding to the many crafted already to stretch all across Okanagan Lake Beach. Come to Art Walk and make a flag.
Date: March 21, 2026 SATURDAY
Time: 11AM to 4PM
Location: Aurora Matheson Gallery, 221 Martin Street, Penticton
Cost: Free
Penticton River Channel Clean Up – Volunteer!!
Volunteers Needed for Channel Clean-Up
Okanagan Similkameen Stewarship (OSS) is partnering with the Guardians from the Penticton Indian Band to help clean up the east side of the Penticton Channel.
We would love some volunteers to help make this happen!
Please note that volunteers will have to tread on uneven, steep terrain during this event. To ensure safety, the number of volunteers is limited for this clean-up: please sign up using the link below. Bring good hiking shoes, weather appropriate clothing and a high visibility vest if you have one.
Registration required.Date: March 22, 2026 SUNDAY
Time: 9:00AM to 12:00 PM SUNDAY
Location: 198 Parkview Pl. Penticton
Cost: Free
March 22 World Water Day!
WOW! It’s time we celebrate WATER! We All Need Water. Meet at the SS Sicamous on Sunday, March 22 for treats and drinks, music by YANTI, stories of water, games, scavenger hunt and rock painting.
Yanti will have a sing along on Sunday, March 22 at 12 noon.
Meet at the SS Sicamous between the Fish Passage and Okanagan Beach in Penticton.
We’ll have treats and beverages, a scavenger hunt, games, stories, and lots of music performed by Yanti. Bring friends and family of all ages. Everyone welcome!
Date: March 22, 2026 SUNDAY
Time: 12 to 2 PM
Location: SS Sicamous Park, 1099 Lakeshore Drive West, Penticton
Cost: Free
March 24 Water Words Poetry Workshop
Avril Torrence and Nancy Wyse are retired educators. Avril taught literature at the University level and Nancy was an elementary school teacher who also has years of experience facilitating adult poetry groups.
With Water Words, they invite you to be part of a two-hour gathering where we will share our love of poetry and creative processes that allow us to connect.
March 22nd is World Water Day so Avril and Nancy have chosen the theme of water – its life-giving essence; its flow; and its preciousness. Without water we cannot survive. We need healthy vibrant water ways and we need each other.
Join Avril and Nancy in Water Words and let’s see what wonders we create!
Water Words
March 24th, from 12PM-2PM
Leir House (220 Manor Park Ave)
Date: March 24, 2026 TUESDAY
Time: 12 to 2 PM
Location: Leir House, 220 Manor Park Ave, Penticton
Cost: Free
March 25 Water Treatment Plant Tour
Did you know that there are still many communities in Canada that do NOT have potable water?
We in Penticton are VERY fortunate to have clean, safe drinking water running from our taps.
During World Water Weeks in Penticton, we want to share the importance of precious water siwɬkʷ and consider how we care for it for future generations, keeping it publicly protected from privatization.
This tour, hosted by the City of Penticton is a great opportunity to see and learn more about what it takes to ensure the safety of our tap water. LIMIT IS 15 visitors. REGISTER early.
The City’s Water Treatment Plant processes 88 million litres of water per day from two sources: Penticton Creek and Okanagan Lake.
This tour is best suited to youth older than Grade 5 for safety reasons.
Visitors must wear solid closed-toe footwear and warm clothing.
Date: March 25, 2026 Wednesday
Time: 10:15 AM
Location: 1900 Penticton Ave., Penticton.
Parking: Abundant spots for parallel parking along the roundabout
Accessibility: NOT accessible for walkers or wheelchairs. Stairs are a barrier.
Limit: 15 visitors so register early.
EMAIL: SOkCofC@gmail.com for more info
March 31
WATER: a precious, finite resource Brown Bag Lecture
Although Penticton lies between two lakes, which gives the impression of water abundance, residents and the natural ecosystem are impacted by lack of snowpack, clearcutting, development, agriculture, and human activity. Underground aquifers are drawn down, greatly affecting those who rely on wells such as the Penticton Indian Band residents. Especially affected are the salmon that come from the oceans to Okanagan Valley tributaries to spawn. Join local water protectors to learn about how we can preserve this precious resource
Judy Wyper lives in Peachland and has been a longtime member of the Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance. She is an avid reader of water reports. Avril Torrence, co-chair of South Okanagan Council of Canadians, has been working on protecting access to public water for decades. Lori Goldman is on the board of First Things First Okanagan as well as part of Seniors for Climate BC Hub and South Okanagan Council of Canadians. She’s worked for years on climate solutions in Penticton, Okanagan Valley, BC and Canada.
Date: March 31, 2026 TUESDAY
Time: 12 to 1 PM
Location: Penticton Museum & Archives 71 Main Street
Cost: By Donation
Chase Events