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Peachland91Ƶs 91ƵUnsung Hero91Ƶ encouraging others to do their part

Sheila Kerr is one of the founders of the Okanagan Forest Task Force
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Sheila Kerr received the Unsung Hero Award from the District of Peachland. (Facebook/Doug Kerr)

Sheila Kerr has been named Peachland91Ƶs Unsung Hero.

She was recognized for her efforts as a community leader at the district91Ƶs civic awards on April 26.

Kerr has been cleaning up the Okanagan backcountry for years and helped found the Okanagan Forest Task Force.

Thankful for the award, Kerr is using the opportunity to encourage others to do their part.

91ƵI recognize that the challenges that our habitat and our environment are facing are human-caused,91Ƶ Kerr said. 91ƵMaybe not by me or you personally, but they are problems created by humans, and animals can91Ƶt fix them.91Ƶ

Kerr said we all have a responsibility to keep our forests clean, 91Ƶand that91Ƶs one of the reasons that the Okanagan Forest Task Force exists91Ƶ We91Ƶre all humans on this planet and we all have to take care of it and clean up our mess.91Ƶ

On top of cleaning the backcountry, Kerr added that we need to do better when it comes to fire season.

91ƵAbandoned campfires are a huge issue. Last year during fire season, I think the Okanagan Forest Task Force extinguished something like 300 abandoned campfires91Ƶ I can91Ƶt believe I have to say it, but there I was just the other day putting out somebody91Ƶs fire.91Ƶ

Kerr also addressed the illegal dumping of yard waste in the backcountry.

91ƵIt introduces invasive species to our backcountry, which can cause many problems, and it helps to fuel wildfires,91Ƶ Kerr said this undermines the mitigation work done ahead of fire season.

The Unsung Hero is inviting others to get involved by joining the task force and the Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance on May 4 for a clean-up. Volunteers are asked to meet at 9:30 a.m. a the cattle guards on Princeton Avenue.

For those not able to make the event, Kerr encourages people to join the Facebook group OFTF to learn about future opportunities.

READ MORE: Clean it up, move it out of Peachland91Ƶs watershed



Brittany Webster

About the Author: Brittany Webster

I am a video journalist based in Kelowna and capturing life in the Okanagan
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