An energy consultant raising funds for the Nature Conservancy of Canada made a stop in 琉璃神社 on his bike ride across Western Canada.

He said his goal for the 1,400-kilometre trip is to show people how important it is to take care of our natural ecosystems, especially as climate change continues to take a toll on wildlife, forests and wetlands.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been here for a couple hundred years now and that鈥檚 left a bit of an impact on the natural flora and fauna,鈥� he said.

鈥淲hile that in itself is a bit of a challenge, it鈥檚 going to be particularly problematic as the impacts of climate change intensify. We need to make sure that the health of our forests, wetlands and prairies are in the best shape they can be to make sure that we can withstand the droughts, floods and forest fires we鈥檙e experiencing now and will continue to experience.鈥�

Simakov said he used to come to the Okanagan on road trips with his family when he was younger, saying he remembered seeing stars clearly throughout the summer.

Now, with wildfires raging and smoke blanketing the valley, he couldn鈥檛 see the stars that made an impression on him as a boy.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been particularly difficult鈥� it鈥檚 harder to breathe and it stings your eyes, so I have to wear my glasses for every moment I鈥檓 riding or they blur up,鈥� he said.

鈥淵ou also pass these burned-out charred landscapes and it tugs at you in a way that hearing the news or seeing videos doesn鈥檛. I also expected to see more wildlife鈥� but I haven鈥檛 seen much beyond a deer and a few crows. Some of these ecosystems have lost their vitality and I just think we need to take proactive, prudent measures now to start reversing this and restore the vitality.鈥�

He said he has also had a chance to connect with people throughout his ride, sharing with them what he has seen firsthand with wildfire-ravaged areas but he has also had a chance to learn more about what is being done by non-profits like the Nature Conservancy of Canada to preserve and restore wildlands.

鈥淚鈥檓 really hoping to apply these firsthand experiences of what I鈥檝e seen on the ground here to better inform myself, my colleagues and my industry to make sure we鈥檙e more cognizant of the impact we can have, both negatively and positively,鈥� he said.

To donate to Simakov鈥檚 Nature Conservancy fundraiser, you can do so .

READ MORE: In 2021, wildfires in B.C. have burned more land than all of P.E.I.

READ MORE: White Rock Lake wildfire orders ease but concern could rise along with the temperature

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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