Thursday April 13 2000

Ogopogo lives here!
Peachland Signal
By Ross McDermott

It's been popularized in myth, legend and song. Some say it is an animal closely related to the plesiosaur, an amphibious prehistoric creature. Others contend it is some type of fresh-water whale or nothing more than a sturgeon.

Exactly what type of creature lurks beneath the surface of Lake Okanagan is unknown, but one thing is certain: the legendary lake creature, Ogopogo, is a Peachland resident.

That is, at least, the meat of a motion brought forward by Coun. Jim Nielsen, and passed unanimously at Tuesday's municipal council meeting.

"The entire Okanagan claims Ogopogo. It's time to designate it's actual place of domicile," he said.

"Whereas: after exhaustive studies, meticulous research and a review of laws, customs, precedents, conventions, traditions, international treaties and common sense have determined with absolute certainty that the waters of Lake Okanagan, within the vicinity of the District of Peachland, are the non-disputable home of Ogopogo, the legendary lake creature," the motion read.

"Therefore: be it known by way of our certain knowledge and mere motion that from this day forth Peachland, B.C., is the home of Ogopogo. Other Okanagan communities, which chare the lakeshore frontage, should correctly acknowledge that Ogopogo may occasionally visit their waters but the lake creature's place of domicile is within the waters off Peachland."

In bringing forward the motion, Nielsen said he guarantees, with proper designation and modification to the "Welcome to Peachland," signs, it will increase tourism in Peachland.

Pointing to Loch Ness, the highland lake in Bonnie, Scotland, where a lake creature known as Nessie is reputed to dwell, Nielsen said that location gets about 300,000 visitors a year.

"I think a small town like Peachland should take advantage of this."

With the inclusion of the Peachland Chamber of Commerce, and other community organizations, Nielsen said he believes the community could greatly benefit from the promotion of its long-time resident.

"I honestly do believe, and I guarantee, it will increase tourism," he said.

When asked if Peachland council anticipates any conflict with Kelowna, a city which proudly displays two statues of Ogopogo, and likeness on chamber of commerce publications, Nielsen responded: "Why would a lake creature want to live in Kelowna -there's too much traffic, it's noisy- obviously a lake creature wants much quieter surroundings. If Kelowna objects, I would recommend we just ignore them. I'm sure (Kelowna) Mayor (Walter) Gray would see it my way," he added.

Not quite.

"Well jeez, is my dander ever up. And I'm sure Ogopogo isn't too impressed either," said Gray with a tone of humour when informed about the motion.

"Those people in Peachland... How dare they!"

Over the years various communities around Lake Okanagan have taken a "crack at Ogopogo ownership," Gray commented. "I see this as another frivolous attempt by outsiders trying to steal what is rightfully Kelowna's."

All jokes aside, the Kelowna mayor said he views "any and all promotion we get from Ogopogo as positive for those of us interested in tourism. But for Peachland," he continued, "Ogopogo only has a transient residency."

He said Kelowna would never concede residency, as is requested in the Nielsen motion, "but we would surely be willing to sit down with Mayor Waldo and negotiate custody."

Claiming residency is not enough, he said, it must be proven.

"And actually," Gray suddenly mentioned, "as I look out my office window during this interview, I see Ogopogo going by now. And interestingly enough, he's going north."

But proof of Ogopogo's residency, is for some, a foregone conclusion. According to native legend, N'haaitk (Ogopogo), which means sacred creature of the water, lived near Rattlesnake Island and Squally Point, both geographical locations lie within the waters of Peachland.

In addition, Arlene Gaal, an area expert on Ogopogo who is presently writing her third book on the subject, said some of the most dramatic, and a large number of the overall sightings have occurred in the area of Peachland.

"It's a real hotspot," she said, adding numerous sightings that report a visible head, neck and body of the creature originate from the Peachland area.

"It would be a fair statement to say Ogopogo lives in Peachland," she said.

Kelowna, in the past, has had some sightings around the floating bridge and City Park area, but with the arrival of the Thunderfest hydroplane races in 1994, sightings in the area have dropped off to the point where they are almost non existent, Gaal said.

The depth of the water around Peachland makes the area most suitable as a home for Ogopogo.

While on a Japanese filming expedition in Peachland waters, Gaal said the sonar on board the boat suddenly indicated a bottomless "volcanic chimney" in the area of Rattlesnake Island/Squally point.

There chimney's are common in the lake, she said, adding some of the deepest waters can be found in the Peachland area and around the Okanagan Lake Resort: another hotspot for sightings.

Coincidentally, the last sighting of the century occurred in Peachland waters in early December of last year.

Stan and Nellie Bayrack, a Westbank couple, were coming out of the Edgewater Inn on a cold December day, just after lunch. Nellie said it had just started to snow when, during a conversation with an unidentified vacuum-cleaner salesman, she noticed her husband staring out at the lake.

"I kept wondering what he was staring at," she said, and when she looked in the direction of her husband's gaze, she notice what appeared to be two humps of dirt mobbing and shifting near the rocks on the other side of the lake.

"All of a sudden the two humps shifted and the thing came straight up out of the water."

She described a long neck and small head, with the two humps trailing behind. The head looked one way and then the other before it plunged back down beneath the surface leaving a foamy turbulence behind.

The full-body, head and neck sighting lasted about five seconds, she estimated.

"Believe me, it's true. Absolutely," Nellie said. "We didn't know what colour it was, but it was Ogopogo. We were stunned. We were awed. It's something you'd never dream of seeing."

Nielsen said he had a sighting of his own a number of years ago but, "My wife said I should drive back home and have a little nap."

His encounter occurred across from Heritage Park. "It caught me by surprise," he contends, but admits he couldn't be sure what he saw. "I just had a retention of an image in my retina. They're pretty elusive you know," he said, in reference to the lake creatures.

Creature Comforts: That's what Peachland offers the legendary lake creature Ogopogo which is the main reason many believe the animal resides in Peachland waters. Kelowna may have some reasonable facsimiles, as is exemplified in this photo of an Ogopogo statue resting near that city's waterfront, but eh "real McCoy" lives in Peachland. However, the city of Kelowna claims Ogopogo residency, crediting Peachland with only transient status in regards to the elusive beast.