Walter Gray

What do you think about Ogopogo?

Do I think Ogopogo exist or do I think Ogopogo is just a big myth?

I believe there is an ogopogo. In fact when I was small boy, about 12 years old, I think, I'm not sure, I think I might have seen Ogopogo. But wether I did or not, I believe there is something there in the lake that makes people say it's Ogopogo.

What is Ogopogo?

Ogopogo, is a legendary, meaning maybe it's not real, but it's a legendary sea-monster. Some people describe it as been sort of green, and it's like a large worm, about that big maybe, and maybe anywhere from 10 to 16 feet long. And people come to Kelowna to see if they can find Ogopogo. In fact people were looking this past summer to see if they could find Ogopogo because there was a 2 million dollar prize!

Did anyone found it?

I don't know but I think someone thought they saw it, but right now they try to determine whether the picture taken were real or whether their imagination.

What does Ogopogo bring to Kelowna?

The Japanese...

Actually, in the last number of years, there have been a number of televisions stations from Japan, and from other countries in the world that have come to Kelowna, they've come with scientific depth sounding equipment and whatever. They've been here from anywhere from 3 to 7 days convinced that they're going to find the monster and do a big TV program about it back in their own country. I don't know that any of them had any success in finding the monster, because you must remember lake Okanagan is 90 miles long, its anywhere from 1 to nearly 2 miles wide. So it's a very large and deep body of water. So if there is an Ogopogo, and I think there is, there's a lot of place for him or her to hide.

Do you think Ogopogo reproduce itself?

There are other people that would be able to theorize on that better than I. Arlene Gaal, who lives here locally, is our local expert and specialist on Ogopogo and I'm sure she would comment on that. But there have been reports of more than one sightings, in other words, when an Ogopogo has been seen and appears as if maybe there is an other one, so obviously if there is more than one, there is the potential of reproduction in there, for Ogopogo could live forever... And I guess, when you seen one Ogopogo, you've seen them all.

Do you think Ogopogo is friendly?

Oh no question about it!! Whether there is one or isn't one, Ogopogo is very friendly!!

Why would we do a 2 million dollars contest to find Ogopogo?

Well... I believe that would be more of a publicity stunt, to advertise the fact that if indeed there is an Ogopogo there, come and find out for yourself and it will be worth you while, because if you get a picture of Ogopogo you will get a 2 million dollars Canadian. So that would be typically a tourist promotion and there is nothing wrong with that!! There have been promotions in the past who tried to publicize the legendary monster. It's a lot of fun and nobodies hurt by it. And presumably some tourists come. Now that contest you refer to, that reward if you like for finding Ogopogo, was actually put forth by a neighboring community of ours to the south, Penticton, not by Kelowna. For years the various communities up and down the valley have claim ownership. Kelowna has believed for the years that Ogopogo lives near Kelowna. Penticton, is trying to suggest that lives near Penticton at the south end of the lake. Vernon every few years pops up and says that Ogopogo likes the north end of the lake. And then last year, a little community of Peachland, a beautiful community south of here, about 15 minutes south of Kelowna, claimed that Peachland officially is the home of Ogopogo, but they haven't been too active in promoting it this year.

Everyone claims Ogopogo!!

I think the story of Ogopogo is one very definitely worth informing the Canadian public about. And maybe we'll have to have more Canadians and more people from all over the planet come to Okanagan, coz than we'll have more eyes on the lake than the chance of seeing Ogopogo are that much more in hands!!