Sorrento Centre Update
Sorrento Centre set to re-open!
A message from Executive Director Michael Shapcott, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023
The SorrentA message from Executive Director Michael Shapcott, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023o Centre and our farm are preparing to safely re-open to guests and visitors on Thursday, Sept. 14. We were forced to evacuate almost 200 guests and our staff about three and one-half weeks ago as the out-of-control Bush Creek East wildfire raced through the North and South Shuswap and came near to our main campus and farm.
There are still plumes of smoke close to us, firefighters continue to work in the air and on the ground and an evacuation alert remains for the west of Sorrento. However, BC Wildfire says the 43,084-hectare wildfire has not grown in the past week. The fire is classified as rank 1 (on the ground and below ground) and BC Wildfire says current hotspots “are unlikely to show spread beyond where they currently sit, and… should be very receptive to mop-up efforts.”
The Sorrento Centre monitors fire activity, as well as air and water quality, and will adjust re-opening plans as required. We will post regular updates on our website and social media.
Many of our neighbours lost homes and buildings and suffered other impacts from the wildfire. We continue to work with our neighbours in practical efforts to provide emergency assistance as well as start the recovery and re-building for our devastated region.
Neighbours helping neighbours – where normally we would have campers on site, today and for the coming days, Sorrento Centre is home to a half dozen school buses. As this area of Sorrento remains on evacuation alert we are pleased to be part of School District 83’s emergency plans. These yellow beauties are parked here on site, right next door to the elementary school ready to transport the children should the nearby wildfires pose a greater threat.
In the meantime, we all breathe deeply and enjoy the blue sky as the helicopters continue their constant, relentless battle from the skies, and the ground crews continue their back-breaking work.
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The Centre for Spiritual Renewal