The Fintry Manor House, which is a key part of the unique history of the heritage site at Fintry Provincial Park and Protected Area, is being preserved for future generations, thanks to a boost of more than $1.5 million by the Province.

Nestled along the shores of Okanagan Lake between Vernon and Kelowna, Fintry Provincial Park includes 360 hectares of the former Fintry Estate, a heritage site rich in history.

Upgrades include $700,000 to reconstruct the interior of the Manor House, a historical building commemorating Capt. James C. Dun-Waters. Known as the “Laird of Fintry,” Dun-Waters bought and named the land in 1909 and built many of the heritage buildings that exist in the park, including the Manor House.

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The Manor House interior reconstruction work, which includes a new meeting room, caretaker’s suite, office space and an accessible washroom, will be completed in 2016. Historical features throughout the park also include an octagonal barn and several additional farm buildings, as well as clothes and artifacts.

Along with the Manor House, upgrades to Fintry Provincial Park also include waterfall trail staircase repairs and safety fencing, a new sani-station, and a new water system reservoir, which ensures an adequate supply of potable water.

Fintry Provincial Park and Protected Area features a campground, beach, triple waterfall and a protected-area home to an important California bighorn sheep habitat. The upgrades at Fintry Provincial Park are part of more than $13-million that the Province is investing into provincial parks throughout B.C. in 2016-17.

Over the past five years, BC Parks has invested approximately $60 million in park facilities throughout the province, delivering projects directed at attracting young families, offering new recreation opportunities and increasing attendance.

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Quotes:

Mary Polak, Minister of Environment –

 “Thank you to the Friends of Fintry Provincial Park Society, whose hard work has helped preserve, restore and interpret the heritage buildings, which are a key part of the unique history of this area. The historical features throughout this park help add to the uniqueness of our Province’s world-renowned parks system.”

Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and MLA for Kelowna-Mission –

 “Fintry Provincial Park provides a step back in time for visitors with its unique cultural history. The historic Fintry Manor House provides a look at the life of the 'Laird of Fintry', who bought and named the land in the early 1900s, and built many of the heritage buildings in the park. These upgrades will ensure these important historical sites will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.”

Eric Foster, MLA for Vernon-Monashee –

 “With its history, hiking trails, beautiful campsites and beaches and spectacular triple waterfall, Fintry Provincial Park offers something for everyone. These upgrades will help enhance the visitor experience of this special place, which is already enjoyed by so many.”

Quick Facts:

• British Columbia has one of the largest protected areas systems in North America.
• British Columbia’s world-renowned parks provide access to unique natural spaces and superb recreational opportunities for visitors from throughout the province and around the world.
• B.C.’s provincial parks receive more than 21 million visits each year.
• There are 1,032 provincial parks, recreation areas, conservancies, ecological reserves and protected areas covering more than 14 million hectares or approximately 14.4% of the provincial land base.
• Thirty-seven per cent of B.C.’s land base is under some type of conservation designation, ranging from wildlife habitat areas and old-growth management areas to parks and protected areas.
• The Friends of Fintry Provincial Park Society is a non-profit group which works with BC Parks in the management of Fintry’s unique cultural history.

Learn More:

For more information on Fintry Provincial Park and Protected Area, please visit: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/fintry/

To learn more about the Friends of Fintry Provincial Park Society and the Fintry Estate, please visit: https://www.fintry.ca/

To learn more about BC Parks, please visit: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/