Images of a mythical Okanagan sea serpent will remain prominent on city floats in Kelowna, B.C. after city council voted against retiring the icon.
Local legend has it that Ogopogo was a creature that lived in the Okanagan Lake. The green monster was unofficially adopted by Kelowna as a symbol of the city’s culture and history.
Ogopogo has been represented in many forms, including a statue on Kelowna’s waterfront.
For years, large representations of the green lake monster have also been featured prominently on parade floats in Kelowna and beyond.
Kelowna’s current community parade float was built in 2011. Since then, it has participated in more than 100 parades and travelled to more than 55 cities, clocking at least 42,000 kilometres.
Council approved $20,000 to refresh the float this year.
However, some councillors said it was time to retire the Ogopogo theme and go with a new focus for their float. The plan was to come up with a new float that emphasizes a playground, with an image of the serpent also included.
Prior to Monday’s debate, Kelowna Coun. Mohini Singh told CTV Vancouver that Ogopogo is “getting tired-looking.”
“It’s time to give the Kelowna float a brand new look that represents what Kelowna is today.”
But some citizens said that Ogopogo is a symbol of the city and its culture.
Defenders of Ogopogo came out on top, as Kelowna Council voted to keep the sea monster as a so-called ambassador.
With files from CTV Vancouver
