South Okanagan mourning sudden passing of noted agriculturalist Greg Norton | iNFOnews.ca
Sam Shakura and her mother started Rock House Style in 2010. Their home on the most expensive property in Kelowna, serves as both their portfolio and home., Oliver cherry grower Greg Norton displays rapidly growing Rainier cherries on his Oliver orchard. Norton expects to be harvesting in late June this year. Photographer: Steve Arstad

South Okanagan mourning sudden passing of noted agriculturalist Greg Norton

The Okanagan agricultural community was shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of a well known Oliver orchardist on the weekend.

A spokesperson for the family of Greg Norton said the Oliver cherry orchardist passed suddenly on the weekend.

Norton was well known in agricultural circles in the Okanagan and beyond. He was a third generation farmer who grew cherries on his 13-acre 'Okanagan Harvest' farm near Oliver.

Norton previously served on various local and provincial boards. He was president and director of the Okanagan Cherry Growers Association, chair and director of the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen, past Vice-President of the B.C. Wildlife Federation, and founding Chair of the Sterile Insect Release Program.

Norton was appointed to the Agricultural Land Commission in December 2017.

He was also previously chair of the Environmental Farm Plan Working Group, chair of the Agriculture Research and Development committee, chair of the Agriculture Environment Initiatives Board and president of the Loose Bay Campground Society.

Norton was also a respected opponent of the national park proposal for the South Okanagan Similkameen who favoured using the region’s management plan to guide land use.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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Steve Arstad

By Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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