Celebrate Earth Day by expanding your understanding of Okanagan ecosystems.

At the Okanagan Heritage Museum, Biodiversity in the Okanagan is the latest exhibit that will be showcasing rare and wonderful creatures.

鈥淲e have the highest concentration of ecosystems, many of which are unique and support rare plants and animals. These special ecosystems also contain the highest numbers of species at risk in Canada,鈥� said a museum release.

The idea to display Okanagan animals started when executive director Linda Digby noticed how animal displays created conversations between visitors.

鈥淧eople loved looking at those stuffed birds and mammals because they feel a connection.,鈥� she said. 鈥淓veryone has a story about a great blue heron or a moose. We all love animals and we鈥檝e all had our experiences with them and love to talk about them.鈥�

The gallery is going through some changes, moving and changing permanent exhibits, and the gallery staff wanted to keep popular elements of the previous displays.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a major transformation. Already it鈥檚 a very, very different place,鈥� said Digby.

The ecosystem exhibit will also compliment the geology zone located next to the exhibit.

鈥淭he rocks and fossils really compliment the animals,鈥� she said.

The museum will open the exhibit on April 22, just in time for Earth Day. 鈥淚t just seems to make perfect sense,鈥� said Digby.

During the day, a tour of the local marsh will be held as well as speeches made by local naturalists.

Digby recommends finding the cute Pika display, a relative of the rabbit which dwells in the mountains.