28. Voices from the Fire: Resolve and Resilience in British Columbia

Wildfire knows no borders — and neither does the instinct to help. In this episode of LA Rising, Kim Marshall looks north to British Columbia, where another brutal fire season is testing communities, farms, tourism, and thousands of evacuees.where another brutal fire season is testing communities, farms, tourism, and thousands of evacuees.Wellness Coach and spa industry veteran, Kathryn Stolle, a 40-year B.C.resident, reflects on how the last four years of climate change compare to decades prior. Lisa Jaager, General Manager of Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa in the Okanagan Valley — ground zero for one of this year's 100 regional fires — describes evacuating a hotel that had become a refuge for people who'd already lost their homes. And Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and herself a fire evacuee, shares stories of extraordinary generosity, the economic stakes for small businesses, and why recovery takes both preparation and hope.Together, these three stories show what neighbors helping neighbors looks like in a crisis — and why the choices we make today matter for generations to come.Share this with anyone navigating wildfire recovery, or anyone who thinks Canada's forests are the only thing burning. And when the time is right, consider returning to this beautiful wine and lake region to support the local businesses that make it so special.Resources:FireSmoke Canada: Interactive wildfire smoke and air-quality forecasting mentioned by Catherine Stolle https://firesmoke.ca/Canadian Red Cross: A resource Catherine recommended for supporting communities affected by wildfire https://www.redcross.ca/Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association: Led by guest Ellen Walker-Matthews, with information on the region, local businesses, and responsible travel https://www.totabc.org/Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa: Led by guest Lisa Jager and featured prominently in the episode https://www.summerlandresorthotel.com/Donate to help support #L.A. RisingProduced by NOVA