Events:
Welcome the Kokanee at Hardy Falls
Chat with park interpreters and learn about the Kokanee salmon life cycle. Join guided walks along the creek or create a take-home treasure inspired by nature.
Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Hardy Falls Regional Park
6649 Hardy Street, Peachland, BC
kikinee Festival
An annual celebration of the return of the spawning Kokanee salmon. With First Nation connections, music and interpretive displays, this family-friendly event provides a quintessential day in the park.
Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Mission Creek Regional Park
2363 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC
For more than 20 years, RDCO has marked the annual return of spawning Kokanee salmon with information, events and programs to raise awareness and educate park visitors about this incredible natural phenomenon.
· During a small window in the summer, work to prepare the spawning channel in Mission Creek clears debris and creates optimal conditions to help salmon eggs survive over several months until they hatch and learn to swim.
- The Kokanee in the Classroom program has been underway since 1997 and includes the EECO Centre and 11 schools in Kelowna. Tanks in schools provide a valuable tool for environmental education, students learn about the lifecycle of Kokanee salmon and the hardships they face.
- For grades K through 12, park interpreters facilitate an educational program about the many challenges Kokanee salmon face during every stage of their life, their place in the food web and why they swim upstream.
RDCO parks where Kokanee salmon spawn (rivers and shorelines) include Powers Creek at (Lower) Glen Canyon, Deep Creek at Hardy Falls, Mission Creek (and the spawning channel), Bertram Creek and Goats Peak. These are environmentally sensitive areas where viewing is encouraged from a safe distance away from riparian areas.
The Regional District offers more than 2,100 hectares of parkland including 86-kilometres of formal trails in 30 regional parks for visitors to safely explore. Find all the locations at rdco.com/parks.