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Lure of Loch Ness legend livens interest in Ogopogo for Peachland group

The group wants to carve a 25 foot statue of the creature and donate it to the district
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Ogopogo statue at Paul含羞草研究社檚 Tomb in Kelowna. (Youtube screenshot from colintube1)

You may not have heard of Drumnadrochit, Scotland, but you likely know about its most famous nearby resident.

The village of 1,000 people lies on the west shore of the body of water that is home to the elusive Loch Ness Monster.

Approximately 6,700 kilometres to the west of Drumnadrochit lies another small community with its own 含羞草研究社榤onster of notoriety含羞草研究社 - Peachland.

It含羞草研究社檚 there that a group of residents want to bring the world to their doorstep by enshrining Ogopogo, n 虛x虒ax虒aitk史 in the Syilx language, in a massive wood carving that would presumably take up residence along the shore of Okanagan Lake in the community.

含羞草研究社淧eople can sit down and have their picture taken with the Ogopogo with Rattlesnake Island (in the background),含羞草研究社 said Lee Etherington.

Etherington, a wood carver, told Peachland council that the statue would be about 25 feet long, and eight to 10 feet high.

He added he would stay true to the legend of n 虛x虒ax虒aitk史.

含羞草研究社淐reate something that looks like as it is described in the stories of the Westbank First Nation,含羞草研究社 he promised.

Bruce Klippenstein, who is working with Etherington, told council of Drunmadrochit含羞草研究社檚 fortunes with Nessie.

They include half a million visitors a year who spend up to $70 million in the village.

含羞草研究社榃e have a world-worthy attraction and we need to harness it,含羞草研究社 Klippenstein added. 含羞草研究社淵ou have the opportunity to kick-start a major tourist attraction for Peachland and I hope you含羞草研究社檒l take advantage of it.含羞草研究社

He pointed out that Ogopogo is already well-known around the world and lives right across the lake on Rattlesnake Island.

含羞草研究社淭he WFN and other First Nations agree that含羞草研究社檚 where he lives, the province of B.C. agrees that含羞草研究社檚 where he lives.含羞草研究社

Klippenstein also noted that a previous council passed a motion in 2000 declaring that Ogopogo lives on the island.

He also believes the project could make a major contribution to truth and reconciliation with WFN.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e working with them and we want them to start promoting n 虛x虒ax虒aitk史 as a tourist attraction and they含羞草研究社檙e thinking about it,含羞草研究社 Klippenstein added.

Klipperstein says he owns the trademark for Ogopogo and WFN owns the trademark for n 虛x虒ax虒aitk史.

Etherington said the group would raise all the needed funding, carve the statue, and donate it to the district.

All that would be needed then is a place to put it.

Etherington said he envisions a launch celebration and possibly a 含羞草研究社榮pirit of the lake festival含羞草研究社 every year.

Council has directed staff to work with the group and bring a recommendation forward for consideration at a later meeting.

READ MORE: Six people rescued after being stranded in hills above Peachland

READ MORE: Okanagan powerhouse leaders special guests for International Women含羞草研究社檚 Day event



Gary Barnes

About the Author: Gary Barnes

Journalist and broadcaster for three decades.
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