Local Rotarians Launch Regional Fundraising Campaign to Protect Okanagan Lakes from Invasive Mussels

March 12, 2026

Syilx Territory, Kelowna, B.C. – Rotarians across the Thompson/Okanagan region are stepping up in a major way to help safeguard the future of the B.C. Interior’s lakes and rivers. In partnership with the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) and University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO), Rotary is launching a community‑wide fundraising campaign to raise $100,000 in donations to accelerate groundbreaking eDNA mussel‑detection technology research. The campaign follows the leadership of a long‑time Rotarian and community supporter Colin Pritchard whose family foundation, The Colin & Lois Pritchard Foundation, has already contributed $100,000 toward the project. Rotarians are now rallying together to match that gift and increase the funding needed to drive this critical research forward.

Read the entire news release here.