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  • Edwards Pond – Painted Turtles

    Edwards Pond – Painted Turtles

    October 31, 2025

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    pmaffioli

    Edwards Pond has always held a special place in my heart; my mom would bring me to the pond almost every weekend during the late spring and summer months to observe the unique ecosystem full of flourishing wildlife, with our eyes keen on spotting the painted turtles (Chrysemys picta), peacefully soaking up the warm…

    Read more: Edwards Pond – Painted Turtles
  • Grassland Mgmt Plan Released

    Grassland Mgmt Plan Released

    October 3, 2025

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    gwilson_admin

    SILT has completed and released its management plan for the Grand Forks Grasslands. You can read the full report here or visit the property pages for more specific information on each parcel. DL 492 Grand Forks Grassland DL 493 Grand Forks Grassland

    Read more: Grassland Mgmt Plan Released
  • Meet Payton Maffioli

    Meet Payton Maffioli

    July 7, 2025

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    gwilson_admin

    SILT welcomes its newest director, Payton Maffioli, who was recently appointed to the board of directors on June 3, 2025. Payton is from Grand Forks, BC, and she graduated with Honours from Selkirk College in 2024 with a Technical Diploma in Recreation, Fish and Wildlife. Currently, she is studying Natural Resource Management at Thompson…

    Read more: Meet Payton Maffioli
  • Missed the Jason Jones Webinar?

    Missed the Jason Jones Webinar?

    June 7, 2025

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    gwilson_admin

    Want to view it again?  CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW OR DOWNLOAD A COPY TO YOUR DEVICE.

    Read more: Missed the Jason Jones Webinar?
  • Don’t Miss Out on the Interesting and Free Webinar with Dr.Jason Jones, R.P. Bio.

    Don’t Miss Out on the Interesting and Free Webinar with Dr.Jason Jones, R.P. Bio.

    April 9, 2025

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    gwilson_admin

    CLICK HERE TO REGISTER After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

    Read more: Don’t Miss Out on the Interesting and Free Webinar with Dr.Jason Jones, R.P. Bio.
  • Forest Practices Board Upholds SILT Complaint

    Forest Practices Board Upholds SILT Complaint

    March 25, 2025

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    gwilson_admin

    SILT stands up for Nature The BC Forest Practices Board has upheld a complaint from the Southern Interior Land Trust (SILT) that non-compliance by two Crown-land ranchers and a lack of government enforcement resulted in trespass cattle damaging habitats on land purchased for wildlife by SILT. “Trespass livestock grazing and unauthorized entry became an…

    Read more: Forest Practices Board Upholds SILT Complaint
  • Ginty’s Restoration Phase 2 Completed

    Ginty’s Restoration Phase 2 Completed

    March 24, 2025

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    gwilson_admin

    nʔaʕx̌ʷt – Ginty’s Wetland Restoration – Phase 2 Completed SILT and its partners have completed Phase 2 of the nʔaʕx̌ʷt – Ginty’s Pond wetland restoration project in Cawston. Phase 2 restores another one hectare of open water and adds 0.7 hectares of newly created riparian shrub thicket-woodland habitat to this previously cattail-dominated marsh. Substantial…

    Read more: Ginty’s Restoration Phase 2 Completed
  • SILT Achieves Conservation Excellence Certification!

    SILT Achieves Conservation Excellence Certification!

    March 20, 2025

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    gwilson_admin

    The Southern Interior Land Trust is one of the first in Canada to receive Conservation Excellence Certification from the national Centre for Land Conservation. This recognition for conservation leadership was announced today by the CLC, which noted this marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Canada’s land conservation sector. At this point, SILT…

    Read more: SILT Achieves Conservation Excellence Certification!
  • Help protect habitat for wildlife with support for SILT

    Help protect habitat for wildlife with support for SILT

    December 17, 2024

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    gwilson_admin

    If you’re looking to lighten your income tax load for the past year, December is such a wonderful time to consider making charitable donations. For more information, read our December Newsletter available now. Or Donate Now

    Read more: Help protect habitat for wildlife with support for SILT
  • Congratulations to Ally Truscott, – 2024 Recipient of the John B. Holdstock Scholarship

    Congratulations to Ally Truscott, – 2024 Recipient of the John B. Holdstock Scholarship

    August 14, 2024

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    gwilson_admin

    We are thrilled to announce Ally Truscott as the recipient of the 2024 John B. Holdstock Scholarship. This award is a testament to Ally’s dedication and academic excellence, particularly in the field of environmental sciences. As Ally embarks on her academic journey at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), this scholarship will provide…

    Read more: Congratulations to Ally Truscott, – 2024 Recipient of the John B. Holdstock Scholarship
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Southern Interior Land Trust Society

Formed in 1988 to purchase land for wildlife in the Okanagan Region, the board of the Southern Interior Land Trust Society, (formerly, Okanagan Region Wildlife Heritage Fund Society) aims to conserve and restore wild land as habitat for wildlife, since it is under increasing pressure from development.

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Copyright © 2026 | Southern Interior Land Trust Society

Gordon Wilson – Treasurer

Gord and his wife Shelley moved to the Okanagan in 1980 where they owned and operated a successful construction business for more than 37 years.

Gord’s keen interest in the outdoors and the natural world led to his involvement as a director and treasurer with the Peachland Sportsmen’s Association for more than 30 years. Gord joined the Board of the Southern Interior Land Trust in 2011 and is currently the organization’s secretary / treasurer.

He is now retired from the construction business and lives in the Vernon area.

Lindsay Lalach, RPBio – Vice President

Lindsay began her career in biology after completing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and Geography at the University of Victoria. She later earned a Master of Science in Biology from Simon Fraser University, where her research focused on seabird ecology. Growing up in the Okanagan, she developed a deep appreciation for the region’s unique ecosystems and biodiversity, which continues to guide her work today.

She has been involved with the Southern Interior Land Trust (SILT) since 2020. Her experience includes aquatic and riparian surveying, habitat restoration, species at risk work, and ecological research. She is excited to continue contributing to SILT’s efforts to acquire, steward, and protect important habitats across the region.

Judie Steeves – President

Judie Steeves has been writing about the outdoors for nearly five decades, particularly in the Okanagan Valley and B.C.’s interior. She is the author of Okanagan Trips and Trails, with Murphy Shewchuk of Merritt. She wrote an outdoors column called Trailmix for the Kelowna Capital News for 20 years or so and continues to write about outdoors issues for B.C. Outdoors magazine and other publications.

She grew up in the Penticton area rambling the hills and fishing with her Dad, before moving to the coast and later the Cariboo. She returned to the Central Okanagan in 1981 with her young family, and has been fishing, camping and hiking in the area much of her life. Her volunteer work has mostly involved outdoor-focused projects as well, with three land trusts, the Peachland Sportsman’s Association, the Central Okanagan Naturalists’ Club and the Okanagan Xeriscape Association.
She joined the board of SILT in 2009.

Al Peatt, RPBio, FAPB, – Executive Director

Al Peatt, RPBio, FAPB, has over 35 years’ experience in managing wildlife and habitat. In 1988, he was a founding director of the Okanagan Region Wildlife Heritage Fund Society, now known as the Southern Interior Land Trust.

Al was the senior provincial wildlife/habitat biologist in the Okanagan from 1984 to 2000. He has been a manager of audits and investigations for the BC Forest Practices Board and, from 2013 to 2017, led the Okanagan Nation’s wildlife program.

He is now executive director of the Southern Interior Land Trust and a consulting biologist. “Securing habitat for wildlife and people has been the most important and lasting aspect of my career—it’s very rewarding to see wildlife and people using and enjoying the natural places that SILT has worked so hard to acquire.”

Sara Ashpole – Voting Member

Sara Ashpole is a Restoration Ecologist at St. Lawrence University (NY) where she is Chair of the Environmental Studies Department. Sara informs international and national policy by providing scientific expertise as the Canadian co-chair for the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group (since 2015) and served as a member of the independent advisory panel for the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada Amphibian and Reptile Subcommittee (2013-2021). Sara has had positions on numerous boards of directors, and is currently a coordinating editor for the journal Restoration Ecology.

Sara has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Guelph. Her research interests working for Environment Canada examining the impact of industrial persistent environmental contaminants and embryonic deformities in turtles was the basis of her Master’s of Science in Zoology & Toxicology, University of Guelph. Realizing the complexity of challenges to species survival in a highly modified landscape, Sara pursued a Ph.D. in Conservation Planning at the University of Waterloo, Ontario.

Since 1999, Sara’s research has been collaborative with non-governmental organizations, as well as governmental organizations from the regional to federal level. Her environmental research has also included working closely with Indigenous peoples and private landowners in the Great Lakes region and the Okanagan River Valley, British Columbia. Research Projects include long term amphibian population monitoring, wetland construction and rehabilitation, road ecology, alien vertebrate species eradication, agricultural eco-toxicology, landowner stewardship, community outreach, education, and citizen science.

Ron Taylor – President Emeritus

Ron Taylor is a founding member of the Southern Interior Land Trust (formerly the Okanagan Region Wildlife Heritage Fund).

He has enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking and enjoying the outdoors. Ron’s dedication and commitment to wildlife conservation in B.C. has spanned more than half a century. Ron helped to create SILT over 30 years ago, served as its president for many years, and has been on the board of directors since the society was formed in 1988.

Carlo Carbajal – Director

Carlo Carbajal is the Director of Innovation at Cascadia Credit Union in Summerland and brings a background in finance and accounting. His experience includes governance, financial oversight, and strategic planning. He also has a long history of community service, most notably with JCI Penticton, where he was awarded a Senatorship in recognition of his contributions.

Carlo was born and raised in the South Okanagan and has spent much of his life camping and fishing throughout the region. He and his wife are raising their two children in Penticton, maintaining a connection to the local outdoors and community.

Payton Maffioli – Director

Payton Maffioli is from Grand Forks, BC, and she graduated with Honours from Selkirk College in 2024 with a Technical Diploma in Recreation, Fish and Wildlife. Currently, she is studying Natural Resource Management at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops and aspires to become an environmental lawyer. 

She uses her voice to promote wildlife and ecosystem conservation through photography, as well as educating the public and visiting schools to share her knowledge about wildlife safety and ecosystem restoration. One of her favourite places to visit is Edward’s Pond in Grand Forks. 

Melodie Lind – Director

Melodie Lind is a lawyer with Pushor Mitchell LLP, practicing in the area of tax law, with a focus on estate and trust planning, family-owned business succession planning, planning for persons with disabilities and tax-driven corporate reorganizations.

She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminology at Simon Fraser University before obtaining her Bachelor of Laws (with distinction) from the University of Alberta. She has the internationally recognized Trust and Estate Practitioner designation through the Society of Estate and Trust Practitioners and has also completed advanced tax training through both the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Canadian Bar Association. She has been published in a leading Canadian legal periodical, the Real Property Reports, and is co-author of a chapter in a book on the protection of First Nations cultural heritage.

Melodie was raised in West Kelowna and spent much of her youth hiking and riding horses in the forest above Glenrosa. Once she completed law school in Edmonton, she happily returned home to the Okanagan, where she has continued to enjoy the Okanagan outdoors with her family.

Bruce Hibbard – Director

Bruce is the Director of Sales at Hester Creek Estate Winery in Oliver. He has an extensive background in community service, including volunteer work at Peach City Radio’s, Raise the Radio fundraiser and membership in the Oliver Rotary. Bruce also served on the board of the Okanagan Wine Festival Society for eight years, where he was the president from 2014 to 2016.

He is a lifetime member of the Penticton Junior Chamber International and has worked for various non-profit golf clubs. Bruce resides in the Okanagan with his wife Margie, and their two children, Connor and Grace. In 2023, he joined the SILT board.