Commitment · October 17, 2026

When Highway 97 closes, Penticton & Summerland need a safe way out.

Tracy St Claire commits to secure funding to upgrade the 201 Forest Service Road — a safer, more reliable secondary route connecting the South and Central Okanagan.

Tracy St Claire · BC Conservative candidate for MLA, Penticton–Summerland
Local roots. Experienced leadership. Proven results.

✅ Backed by the BC Conservative Party: read the party’s release → “Conservative Party of BC Candidate Commits to Secure Funding to Upgrade 201 Forest Service Road” · October 17, 2026

Aerial view of slope stabilization work at the North Beach slide above Highway 97 north of Summerland, with traffic moving below — Highway 97 slide-repair work at North Beach, north of Summerland (March 5, 2024). Photo: B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit (TranBC), “2024-03-05 - Summerland, North Beach Slide, Aerial view of project area and highway,” licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. Unmodified.

3 threatsLandslides, wildfires and major collisions keep closing Highway 97

Every closurepushes motorists, emergency services, haulers and tourists onto 201 FSR

Multipleemergency extractions on the corridor by COSAR and PENSAR, per the CPBC release

The problem

LandslidesWildfiresMajor collisions

For years, recurring closures on Highway 97 have cut the Okanagan’s transportation grid in two.

Every time the highway shuts down, motorists, emergency services, commercial haulers and tourists end up on the 201 Forest Service Road — an unmanaged detour.

A detour that isn’t safe

Today, 201 FSR is narrow, unpaved and unnecessarily dangerous.

According to the release, Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) and Penticton Search and Rescue (PENSAR) have carried out multiple emergency extractions along the corridor — motorists, essential healthcare staff and families stuck in deep mud, sudden snowstorms or treacherous terrain.

The release notes the RCMP has repeatedly told drivers to avoid the road during highway closures, calling attempts to navigate it “a bad idea.”

“During the Bald Range wildfire, we saw just how vulnerable Penticton and Summerland are when our transportation routes are threatened. We were losing safe routes in and out of our communities.”

“Highway 97 will close again, whether because of wildfire, landslides or serious collisions, and we need a safe, reliable alternative. As your MLA, I will not stop until I secure funding for this critical project.”
— Tracy St Claire, BC Conservative candidate for MLA, Penticton–Summerland

My commitment

Secure funding to upgrade the 201 Forest Service Road near Penticton — for a safer, more reliable secondary route connecting the South and Central Okanagan.

It’s part of my broader priority: “Strengthen our transportation network and pursue a resilient alternate route between Penticton and Kelowna.”

What this means for you

A safer, more reliable way in and out of Penticton and Summerland when Highway 97 closes.
A real backup route for emergency services, healthcare workers and commercial haulers.
An MLA who will not stop pushing until the funding is secured.

Vote Tracy St Claire

Advance votingOct 16–21 · 8 AM–8 PM

Election DaySaturday, Oct 24

votetsc.ca

Source: Conservative Party of BC news release, “Conservative Party of BC Candidate Commits to Secure Funding to Upgrade 201 Forest Service Road,” October 17, 2026.