Personal Environmental History
February 23, 2026 By: Clay Roper-Daniels
Dr. Norman Fennema
HIST 3991: Environmental History
Clay Roper-Daniels
Feb. 22, 2026
Exercise 2#: Family Environmental History
Personal Environmental History
I decided to start off my environmental history with my mother, who grew up in Osoyoos. It’s a small town in the southern Okanagan Valley known for its hot and dry climate. According to the Osoyoos Wikipedia, it is one of the warmest places in Canada, with long hot summers and little rainfall. Compared to the rest of British Columbia, it has a unique desert-like ecosystem that has dry hills filled with sagebrush. In addition, the town lies along Osoyoos Lake, which holds the record for the warmest freshwater lake in Canada. My mom grew up in town and was more familiar with the urban setting, rather than the rural agricultural outskirts. She was a hotel manager, as tourism was and is a big part of Osoyoos’s economy today. The location of Osoyoos makes it ideal for American tourists to cross the border and enjoy Canadian wineries. In 1991, when I was born, there was no hospital in Osoyoos. As a result, my mom was driven to Oliver’s hospital to give birth to me. I don’t have any memory of living in Osoyoos as I was very young before we moved away. However, visiting the town made me realize how different of an upbringing she had compared to me.
In 1995, at the age of 4 years old, my family and I moved to Williams Lake. Williams Lake is much different than Osoyoos and it would have felt like a complete change for my parents. Around this time, I can remember having my first memories growing up as a child. The city of Williams Lake is located approximately 550km north of Osoyoos, in the interior of the province. Its Wikipedia website indicates that it has a continental climate, with warm summers and very cold winters. The natural environment of Williams Lake has been heavily extracted for resources such as forestry, mining, and ranching. I remember my dad worked long days as a log home builder and he would come home covered in sawdust. His job made me understand as a kid that natural resources like timber were used to support families and drive the economy. Nevertheless, I didn’t understand the significant impact of removing trees and clearing cutting on the environment during that time. I also remember living on the rural fringe of the city. Because of this, I would spend most of time outside playing in the yard or biking along dirt paths. One of my strongest memories was attending the Williams Lake Stampede every year. It was a huge event for the community, and I remember sitting along sidelines watching the parade go by. It represented the culture of the area at the time, where ranching was very prevalent. This was another reminder for me of relationship that existed between the land and its people.
Only 4 years later, in 1999, my family and I moved to Salmon Arm. However, this time, I would spend most of my adolescent and adult life here. My first impressions of Salmon Arm felt like a completely new environment to me, and it quickly felt like the place I connected with the most. In comparison to the rather dull ecology of Williams Lake, Salmon Arm had lush green vegetation that felt like a breath of fresh air. The Salmon Arm Wikipedia states that the city is situated in a valley along Shuswap Lake. This feature became a major part of my childhood. I spent many summers swimming at beaches and enjoying the natural environment. Likewise, I would occasionally go camping and fishing at smaller lakes in the surrounding area with my family. These activities showed me how bodies of freshwater were not only for economic gain but also for recreational purposes as well. However, Salmon Arm is not only known for its beaches, but also for its forests. Furthermore, the forest industry is Salmon Arm’s largest employer, due in part to its large plywood production facility. Similar to Williams Lake, this was another glaring reminder of the importance of wood as a natural resource. I lived in Salmon Arm until I was 28 years old and witnessed the personal experiences of family and friends who relied on the forest industry over the years. A part of me was torn between two beliefs: timber as an essential commodity and that forests should be protected. Ultimately, the natural environment has shaped my identity and appreciation for the outdoors, more than financial gain.
Most recently, I moved to Kamloops to pursue a post-secondary education. Kamloops has a dry climate like Osoyoos but with a much larger urban center. This is by far the largest city I’ve lived in, which has made me feel less of a connection with nature. Especially since I’ve been in school and studying most of the time. However, learning about Kamloops’ history has given me a greater appreciation for this place. My environmental history shows my close relationship with nature, whether it be Osoyoos, Williams Lake, Salmon Arm, or Kamloops.
References
Wikipedia contributors. “Kamloops.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed February 22, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamloops.
Wikipedia contributors. “Williams Lake, British Columbia.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed February 22, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_Lake,_British_Columbia.
Wikipedia contributors. “Salmon Arm.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed February 22, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_Arm.