For Immediate Release

September 19, 2011:

Kelowna –

Thank you to the Okanagan community for their spirit and support shown at the 6th Annual Organic Okanagan Festival (OOF)!  This year’s festival was a great success, with both familiar faces and many new friends collaborating to present what may have been our finest event yet.

With 900 guests joining 72 Okanagan businesses and organizations, the event highlighted green living awareness and raised $1560 in food & funds for the Kelowna Community Food Bank. For the first time the OOF was hosted at the Centre for Learning on the Kelowna campus of Okanagan College, and for the sixth consecutive year at Kelowna’s certified organic vineyard, Summerhill Pyramid Winery.

Key highlights from the 2011 OOF:

With the help of GreenStep and the Green Police volunteers, we diverted 91% of event waste from the landfill into composting and recycling.  Our OOF bus shuttle was very well received with 280 rides utilized between the two venues. 91 cyclists attended the OOF this year, enjoyed free admission and used the Kelowna Area Cycling Coalition bike valet service.  Presentation highlights included the fabulous local music, African drumming & dancing, the 3rd annual consignment fashion show and the provocative, standing-room-only keynote address by Lucy Sharratt of CBAN, all in addition to a wonderful new lineup of films and presentations at Okanagan College.

The Okanagan Greens Society extends our warmest thanks to all of you!  We were overwhelmed by the dedication of this year’s volunteer team, our amazing supportive sponsors, the incredible group of exhibitors and by the many sincere thanks expressed by Okanagan community members.

Our hard work and new initiatives this year successfully alleviated parking pressures at Summerhill, opened space for growth and new partnerships at Okanagan College, and created a diverse set of options for all to consider going forward. 

Comments are welcome using our contact form at www.okanagangreens.ca