'A real shame': Carved oak owl stolen from Kelowna park

Photo: Contributed

UPDATE 5:09 p.m.

The City of Kelowna has expressed its dismay after learning that the oak owl carved by Kamron Garbe in Lombardy Park several years ago is now gone.

“We’re incredibly disappointed that the owl carving was removed. It was a unique addition to Lombardy Park, created to enhance the space and bring joy to park visitors."

Melanie Steppuhn, parks planning and design manager with the City of Kelowna, tells Castanet, "seeing it stolen is disheartening, especially given there was such a positive community response when it was first carved.”

Garbe did such a good job on the owl that he was commissioned by the city in August of 2024 to carve a heron from a downed maple tree right beside the Okanagan Mission Activity Centre at Sarsons Beach Park.

Garbe said at the time that he was, "just trying to give back to nature."

ORIGINAL 2:31 p.m.

An effort to beautify a Kelowna park has gone for naught with the removal of an owl that was carved out of a damaged oak tree.

Kamron Garbe was commissioned by the City of Kelowna in 2023 to carve the owl into the remains of a tree in Lombardy Park. Parkgoers told Castanet they enjoyed the owl and thought it helped beautify the park.

Now it appears someone used a saw to remove the piece of art, leaving only a stump with an oak leaf.

"I'm shocked. I thought, if anything, it would get vandalized. I did not expect someone to fully cut it off and steal it," Garbe said.

Castanet reached out to RCMP and the City of Kelowna for comment on the art theft, but as of Wednesday, there was no police report.

Grabe described the situation as, "a real shame."

"It was holding up quite nice," he said. "There was such a positive reaction, especially to that specific carving."

"It actually sparked more work and more engagement with the city and plans for future jobs as well... It's just disheartening. I don't really know what else to say."

Photo: Rob McInnes

September 21, 2023.