The Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance (OSCA) is a registered non-profit society run by a volunteer board of directors, with other dedicated volunteers and contract staff who plan and deliver over one hundred environmental events every year in our communities.
Our mission is to promote environmental awareness in the south Okanagan and Similkameen.
Paul Lockington - Chair
Paul Lockington
Paul is recently retired from the sports electronics industry where he spent many years as primary liaison with international partners for Garmin’s Outdoor and Fitness divisions.
He has an academic background in exercise physiology and a long career history in marketing and sales in the arenas of sports, health and outdoor activity.
Pat Evans, Past Chair & Treasurer
Pat Evans
Pat has had a long career in financial services and is currently a Mobile Mortgage Specialist with TD Canada Trust. She grew up in Montreal and Vancouver and, like many people, moved to the Okanagan to enjoy the weather and fantastic lifestyle. She loves exploring and learning about the Okanagan Valley, and enjoys spending time in her garden.
Lyse Deselliers - Secretary
Lyse Deselliers
Lyse was born in Quebec City and worked as a veterinarian in Ontario and Alberta. She then pivoted to being a full-time artist and moved to the Okanagan in 2016. Her interest in conservation led her first to practicing wildlife veterinary medicine then to focus her artistic attention on environmental issues as seen in her solo shows.
Sharon Mansiere - Director of the Vaseux Lake Bird Observation Committee
Sharon B.C. Mansiere (BSc, BA, MSc)
Sharon has worked in biology for 28 years. She started out as an interpreter, field assistant, then contractor, before finally settling in as a professor for the last 18 years. In addition to teaching at Okanagan College in Penticton and Kelowna she has does research on bird vocalizations and is developing a vertebrate research museum for the Okanagan. She is active in local schools where she promotes conservation and awareness about habitats and species.
Tanya Luszcz - Director of the Eco-studies Program
Tanya Luszcz (BSc MSc)
Tanya works in migratory bird conservation with the Canadian Wildlife Service. As Program Manager for the Partners in Flight BC Great Basin Program, she collaborates with partners from across western Canada, USA, and Mexico to implement priority bird conservation actions. She also participates annually in the Great Canadian Birdathon by bicycle with her fellow bird nerd friends, both for fun and to raise money for Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory. Tanya studied habitat use of forest-dwelling bats for her M.Sc. research, and she volunteers her time to give bat programs for the Meadowlark Festival, and other groups. She is also an active contributor on the BC Bat Action Team and the BC Community Bat Program. Born and raised in BC, Tanya is passionate about wildlife and habitat conservation, and promotes fostering an appreciation of nature among kids and adults so that they may understand the importance of caring for it.
Allan Garland - Liaison Director
Allan Garland
Allan is a retired Agrologist and college instructor who has resided in Penticton since 2007. He enjoys volunteering with conservation and stewardship groups and brings his background in horticulture to this work.
Anette Engel - Membership Coordinator
Anette Engel
Anette Engel and her family moved from Germany to Penticton in 2001. Graduated in 1989 as a Bachelor in Science with focus in agrology, she became a full-time mom of 3 children. In Germany, she volunteered for “NABU” (equivalent to OSCA) as group leader for their children’s Naturalist Club. In Penticton, she gained experience in board governance from 10 years with the Academy of Music in Penticton, and other local NGOs.
A business owner in agri-tourism in Penticton since 2005, she has passion for the ecosystems in the South Okanagan and Similkameen, and especially loves welcoming and educating newcomers and families.
Janet Willson, Past Chair
Janet Willson
Janet brings OSCA important skills in communication and marketing. An avid nature lover and gardener, she is also a communications leader with extensive experience in strategic marketing and communications planning, relationship-building, and creative problem solving. She is the owner of in.sight communications and works with clients in both Alberta and British Columbia from her home base in Summerland BC. Janet has extensive board leadership experience and is currently also active on the boards of Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen as well as the Canadian Centre for Business Growth, located at Okanagan College in Penticton.
Judy Brock (BA, CEd)
Director Emeritus
Among the founders of OSCA, Judy moved to the Okanagan over 40 years ago and taught at OK Falls Elementary. She and her husband bought part of the historic Oliver ranch in 1970 and became immersed in agriculture and the environment. She served on the board of the South Okanagan Civil Liberties Society and Legal Services Office--active in the “Law talks” series. She has been on her local RDOS Advisory Planning Committee for 30 years and was a founding director of OSCA and former chair of the SOSCP outreach team.
