08/10/2026
Today I went to penticton for shopping, I wasn’t looking forward to it. I don’t want to be a team tourist or get in the way. Penticton has taken the bulk of the evacuees from summerland and surrounding areas. People are panicked and don’t have clear direction. It’s just hard with so many extra people.
Before I left I had a conversation with Shawn and while leaving a conversation with a client, who has opened her home to people displaced from the fire.
I’m so happy to be a part of the okanagan community and connection, because the amount of volunteers and support would not happen on the coast. I’m not saying that everyone is helping out but you can feel it.
First stop Walmart the amount of campers and people was tough to take but everyone was kind and helpful, on the way out I offered my cart to the people who parked next to me. They were old and with walkers. They started to tell me how they are from summerland and were evacuated at 12:30 am in pjs only. The driver started to tell me how disorderly it is at the convention centre ( angry) I let her vent and then said it’s a lot of people and I’m sure some haven’t moved their campers because they are in shock and the realization they may have nothing to go back to. We talked for a bit more and then carried on.
Stop 2 petsmart short stop dog food, snacks carry on NOPE! Puppies!!! I watch a woman fitting her 2- 3 months Australian shepherds into harnesses. She had an employee helping her. She got tangled up and started to laugh but cry at the same time. I asked her if she was ok, because we all know I was there not only with George and McKenna, but with the three pups. She explained she was in evacuate and the people she’s staying with are not dog people and that she also has two cats. I gave her a business card and I said to her because sometimes in life, you just need a break and because you are an evacuee I would not charge you if you need your dogs to board you let me know. Or if you just need a break. My phone number is on the card.
Stop3 Safeway busy! There are a lot of older people shopping that didn’t know their way around the store. At the cash, the woman in front of me was explaining that she too was evacuated but at 3:30 AM and she had groceries so I asked her is it busy up at the convention center? She said it’s a nightmare trying to register, but we’re lucky we’re staying with my daughter. When the cashier was ringing in my groceries, she asked me if I was from Summerland. I said no but I’m thinking of going up to the convention centre because I have water I wanna drop off and some business cards to hand out people with animals the cashier offered to buy me dog food if I would take it up there. I said to her no I’m not a volunteer. But the SPCA is looking for food donations for the evacuees.
Stop 4 the convention centre. I got cut off and I took a wrong turn and I ended up going in by the casino and I thought well I can go around the back way. I ran into a woman with several dogs. I rolled down the window and asked her if she needed some help. She explained to me that they weren’t her dogs. They belong to someone else and they’re trying to get them to take them to the SPCA. The woman refuses because she wants to keep her dogs and doesn’t want anything to do with the SPCA I don’t know. Maybe they had history. Maybe she’s not supposed to own dogs you never know. I gave my business card to several people I offered help and support.
Unfortunately, the front of the convention centre was so busy I could not drop off my flat of water. 
I have written this out because I know the last few days I’ve been making videos talking about how smoky it is, the smoke was 10 times worse in penticton. I need to just carry on, and be thankful I live in a caring community like the okanagan. My thoughts are with all the people especially those that need to rebuild.
If you want to donate or help out you can contact the SPCA they have a list or you can contact ALERT.
