Just highlites of your meetings would work for us. Don’t make too much work for yourself or it will become a major job. remember the kiss formula CJ.
Great work so far. kudos to you
I would love to see ‘playground equipment’ placed on some of these new parks. There are lots of young families on the East bench and the golf course area, that don’t have any close playgrounds that kids could ride their bikes too. I don’t think grass and a couple of tree’s is a ‘kids idea of a ‘park’. Ex. the new green area on the water (becker’s corner)
there needs to be more pedestrian light control all along main street. there is not enough patience nor respect for pedestrians, especially those of us crossing with young children!
1. I agree whole heartedly with the need for resting spots along main street. Perhaps the local businesses or community clubs would sponsor a bench (like an adopt a highway program!!) In fact I would be in favour of a plan to beautify the entire street. Hanging baskets of flowers would be a great start. The issue of traffic control and up-grading our Main Street came up several times during the election campaign. Maybe the town could create a competition with a budget and award a prize to the best plan.
2. A database is a great idea, but there is a cost to maintaining it once it is set up. Could this be a community college project?
3. As Osoyoos transitions from a summer destination to a full-fledged year-round community offering services to all ages year-round, an indoor acquatic centre becomes and important asset to attract families to settle in the area. Acquatics provide recreational and competitive opportunities appealing to all ages. This project should have a high priority for our town. In fact, swimming offers additional health beenfits for folks who otherwise are unable to exercise. Learn-to-swim programs are a no-brainer when we live by the water. I would suggest that an assessment of the catchment area that the centre would service and a budget would be the next step to determine the feasibility at this time.
I really like your community website CJ. It is important to allow for local citizens to have a voice in their community. The idea of your email database is wonderful and should be expanded over time.
Park benches on main street is also a positive move. Each could be sponsored by a local business or community group, thereby making the acquisition and maintenance cost effective.
I would also support the idea of an indoor aquatic centre. I certainly understand the negative opinions that are expressed because programs such as these require serious funding. But towns can not remain static. They are either growing or dying. There was a lot of discussion during the election about growth and development and the need to attract green industry and young families to Osoyoos. I feel that a classy aquatic centre would go a long way towards that goal. Osoyoos can be a year round attraction. instead of being just a summer holiday destination.
Your website is great.I have one question. With weekly garbage pick-up,why do we not have a by-law prohibiting people from burning their garbage?
Thanks
A Very Merry Christmas to you and your family…
It is heartening to learn that it is really never too late to connect with the things that really matter. May you and your entire family realise the utter joy of family together and the true meaning of Giving.
Your idea re plastic bags is timely….surely if an entire country like Ireland can do it, so can we! Please, on behalf of our town, please continue to pursue this.
Cities and towns do not supply the environmentally friendly bags. Retailers sell the bags, usually with their name or logo on the bag. The bags often sell for approximately $1.00 And these bags can be taken into any store to use. It is the retailers that need to be convinced to come on board with a plastic free environment. But, not only the retailers, it is most important to convince the residents of a community to start bringing and using environmentally friendly bags while shopping even if the retailer has not participated in a green environment.
You have a great blogging site, CJ. Thanks for offering this forum!
I have two concerns unrelated to your current topic. One is the desperate need for a traffic light at the intersection of Hwy 3 and Lakeshore Drive. It is almost impossible to turn left from Lakeshore during the summer months without risking a collision. The fuel waste while people wait to get through that intersection is unnecessary; even the school bus has an interminable wait.
The other is a comment concerning possible uses for the old Sagebrush Lodge. I can’t see the sense in moving only part of the Health Unit there while leaving others on Main Street as was suggested in the Osoyoos Times. To me it would be reasonable to move the whole health unit up there and free up the entire existing building for either planning and zoning from the basement of Town Hall or to offer a more modern home to the Museum. The old museum could be removed to make room for more public beach access next to Gyro Park.
Hi CJ. Thanks for your comments on Oct. 4, I agree that Osoyoos residents can be proud of what they have here, and they are wonderful people. I wish I could have known you were going to this conference. I think that the town needs an artistic and musical community that stands in full view of residents and visitors alike. Not enough is done in this area. There is also a need for good commercial space and a need for residents to support businesses here in town. I know of too many people who shop elsewhere. I look forward to reading more about what you and others have to say, especially about the musical component because I’m a private singing and piano teacher.
Thanks for your comments. I’ve talked with other councillors about this matter and I feel it would be an excellent time for us to improve the existing band shell and surrounding areas then look for musical opportunities, particularly during the warm months. This area of our town could showcase both local and out of town talent.
Wow, that would be wonderful to showcase talent here and out of town! I want to open a music school here, and that space, once established, could be used as well.
Wow, that would be wonderful to showcase talent from Osoyoos and out of town! I want to open a music school here, and that space, once established, could be used as well.
I agree that we are very lucky to live in this community. We made a conscious choice to retire here because Osoyoos is a small, active community which offers a great deal and welcomes involvement by giving folks a chance to feel part of the community. As relative newcomers, we want to be an active part of the transition of Osoyoos to what it will become. In doing so, however, we realize that we must take the time to understand where Osoyoos has come from, how longer-term residents think and feel, and develop a respect for the past so we can become a more sensitive part of the community’s future.
Change is natural and inevitable. As Alvin Toffler observed almost 40 years ago now in his book entitled, “Future Shock”, people don’t object to change – they are changing constantly. What people object to is BEING CHANGED. Consequently, it is important for all of us to take the time to (1) think through the changes our community needs, (2) make a case for particular changes, and (3) respect that not everyone will agree but, if given a decent chance, is more likely to buy into needed changes if given the time and the information required to reach a personal decision.
CJ, you are so right when you say that you are “Lucky” to live in a community like Osoyoos. You just have to spend years working and living in cities like Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary to appreciate the qualities of life found in Osoyoos. While we do do live in Osoyoos, we did move close to town a year ago and truly appreciate being able to come to town to do our shopping and park within a block of where we want to go (yes even in the middle of summer)!! Our appreciation of the quality of life and the positive attitude of the community does not however diminish the views of the long time residents, which we listen to with care. Over development? Maybe it is reasonable to view development growth in this light, but in my view it is more of a question of the need for strategic development. Osoyoos needs to preserve for both its citizens and visitors the towns natural assets, beauty and uniqueness. In my view Osoyoo’s natural beauty has been eroded through developments which should have not gone ahead. I am not anti development but I do believe a lot more care has to be given to where and what. Hopefully it is not to late and the responsibility of proper balance is taken seriously by the town.
I believe in shopping locally but not always do the stores carry what I need. I need to go out of town to fill those needs. Majority of the time I spend my dollars in Osoyoos. Then again, lots of us are spending our dollars on online shopping. One can only do so much.
Your comment about signage is right on. We need a sign bylaw in conjuction with the regional district and highways to regulate signs that are not on the owner,s property. The hill coming into town from the west has 23 ugly obtrusive signs near the roadway, and more are being installed every week. If the town decides to form a sign bylaw committee to review the situation, please sign me up.
If you were asleep in 2004, perhaps you didn’t have enough Tim Hortons coffee. As for forgetting the 60′s; I was too young to have memory difficulties or trouble with drugs, don’t know about you.
Water its’ location, distribution, form, and content is problematical. One persons lake is another persons flood. ss;Macs yard filled w/water. Mac phoned. Whatelse.?After some rather heated discussion about who caused rain I took one of my pumps to Mac. Then I went for a short walk. To the flooded beach. Then down the beach around the corner to Macs. I noticed that I was following the flow of water. When I got backto Macs he was pumping happily away down my first tracks then down the beach around the corner and back into his own yard. I was never able to convince him of the humour in that situation. Water is serious. I doubt that any one person can change much and because of the numbers of organzations with various “powers” over the the” Water of Interest”. Not much can be done by anybody. I remember once being told that the water was the Feds and the dirt under was the Provinces’ Both levels of govt have countless departments with jurisdiction over our water. It boggles the mind when an international border divides the water. People who live nearby are inclined to think of “The Lake” as “Our Lake” It’s not. In most cases not even the beach area is owned by us locals. So you see it’s the kind of problem that an individual might never find an answer for. It is as always a “Hot” Button” issue.
CJ, you ‘da man for the times. I agree with everything you’ve posted here. All of these issues concern me, but none more than recycling. It is true we do have a recycling plan in Osoyoos, but it isn’t near what it could be. There have many Tuesday mornings I’ve walked to the curb only to find my nicely separated recycling still at the curb with a sticker attached saying it was unacceptable. This has happened several times despite my very best effort to follow the very simple instructions issued by the town. Honestly I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. It seems to me that a better solution would be what towns like Westbank do (Westside? what are they calling it now?). Residents pay a modest price to purchase three very robust containers. One is garbage, one is yard waste, one is recycling. Of course this requires some sort of separation facilcity, but it seems like a great investment in our future. Maybe there’s grant money available for a sorting facility? It would probably create a few jobs in the process. Anyway, keep up the great work, CJ. I always, enjoy the weblog…
A quick check on the Internet reveals that goose control is a North America-wide problem. Many “solutions” attract negative responses and simply pushing the geese to a neighbouring community is not really a solution. The most effective means of control appear to involve egg addling or coating the eggs with an oily substance to prevent hatching.
Re: Water conservation. We are dumbfounded at the approval of yet another subdivision development. this time a 300 unit/housing developement which was approved for the east side and at the head of Osoyoos Lake.
We realize this is not a town matter, but we must have some input regarding the water requirements. When in Vernon residents are not permitted to fill their pools..why would we in the Osoyoos District keep on proving further subdivisions.
Great Job on your website. Interesting and informative. Didn’t read everything yet but plan to come back and finish later. Lots of the conservastion stuff I already knew and do but it is always good to have a reminder.
Yah Grandpa that article was very well written well researched and inspiring… I’ll be sure to look into more water conservation acts now that I now just how much water it takes to make simple things like shirts.
Very clean layout
Really nice photos..
Just passing by, say your site on the forums for wordpress and loved the pistures ya had there. Nice work.
Just highlites of your meetings would work for us. Don’t make too much work for yourself or it will become a major job. remember the kiss formula CJ.
Great work so far. kudos to you
I would love to see ‘playground equipment’ placed on some of these new parks. There are lots of young families on the East bench and the golf course area, that don’t have any close playgrounds that kids could ride their bikes too. I don’t think grass and a couple of tree’s is a ‘kids idea of a ‘park’. Ex. the new green area on the water (becker’s corner)
there needs to be more pedestrian light control all along main street. there is not enough patience nor respect for pedestrians, especially those of us crossing with young children!
1. I agree whole heartedly with the need for resting spots along main street. Perhaps the local businesses or community clubs would sponsor a bench (like an adopt a highway program!!) In fact I would be in favour of a plan to beautify the entire street. Hanging baskets of flowers would be a great start. The issue of traffic control and up-grading our Main Street came up several times during the election campaign. Maybe the town could create a competition with a budget and award a prize to the best plan.
2. A database is a great idea, but there is a cost to maintaining it once it is set up. Could this be a community college project?
3. As Osoyoos transitions from a summer destination to a full-fledged year-round community offering services to all ages year-round, an indoor acquatic centre becomes and important asset to attract families to settle in the area. Acquatics provide recreational and competitive opportunities appealing to all ages. This project should have a high priority for our town. In fact, swimming offers additional health beenfits for folks who otherwise are unable to exercise. Learn-to-swim programs are a no-brainer when we live by the water. I would suggest that an assessment of the catchment area that the centre would service and a budget would be the next step to determine the feasibility at this time.
I really like your community website CJ. It is important to allow for local citizens to have a voice in their community. The idea of your email database is wonderful and should be expanded over time.
Park benches on main street is also a positive move. Each could be sponsored by a local business or community group, thereby making the acquisition and maintenance cost effective.
I would also support the idea of an indoor aquatic centre. I certainly understand the negative opinions that are expressed because programs such as these require serious funding. But towns can not remain static. They are either growing or dying. There was a lot of discussion during the election about growth and development and the need to attract green industry and young families to Osoyoos. I feel that a classy aquatic centre would go a long way towards that goal. Osoyoos can be a year round attraction. instead of being just a summer holiday destination.
Your website is great.I have one question. With weekly garbage pick-up,why do we not have a by-law prohibiting people from burning their garbage?
Thanks
How about honouring the splash park that 80percsent of the people voted for and forget the aquatic center
Rather than spray painting the cracks in the sidewalks on Main Street – can they please be fixed so people stop falling in front of our office?!
A Very Merry Christmas to you and your family…
It is heartening to learn that it is really never too late to connect with the things that really matter. May you and your entire family realise the utter joy of family together and the true meaning of Giving.
Thanks for the blog and Happy New Year to you too.
Yes re Plastic Bags, but the town may have to supply everyone with environmentally-friendly bags! Expensive prospect.
Your idea re plastic bags is timely….surely if an entire country like Ireland can do it, so can we! Please, on behalf of our town, please continue to pursue this.
Suggest you re visit the one bag garbage rule per household. Lets change it to two bags.
Cities and towns do not supply the environmentally friendly bags. Retailers sell the bags, usually with their name or logo on the bag. The bags often sell for approximately $1.00 And these bags can be taken into any store to use. It is the retailers that need to be convinced to come on board with a plastic free environment. But, not only the retailers, it is most important to convince the residents of a community to start bringing and using environmentally friendly bags while shopping even if the retailer has not participated in a green environment.
You have a great blogging site, CJ. Thanks for offering this forum!
I have two concerns unrelated to your current topic. One is the desperate need for a traffic light at the intersection of Hwy 3 and Lakeshore Drive. It is almost impossible to turn left from Lakeshore during the summer months without risking a collision. The fuel waste while people wait to get through that intersection is unnecessary; even the school bus has an interminable wait.
The other is a comment concerning possible uses for the old Sagebrush Lodge. I can’t see the sense in moving only part of the Health Unit there while leaving others on Main Street as was suggested in the Osoyoos Times. To me it would be reasonable to move the whole health unit up there and free up the entire existing building for either planning and zoning from the basement of Town Hall or to offer a more modern home to the Museum. The old museum could be removed to make room for more public beach access next to Gyro Park.
Hi CJ. Thanks for your comments on Oct. 4, I agree that Osoyoos residents can be proud of what they have here, and they are wonderful people. I wish I could have known you were going to this conference. I think that the town needs an artistic and musical community that stands in full view of residents and visitors alike. Not enough is done in this area. There is also a need for good commercial space and a need for residents to support businesses here in town. I know of too many people who shop elsewhere. I look forward to reading more about what you and others have to say, especially about the musical component because I’m a private singing and piano teacher.
Thanks for your comments. I’ve talked with other councillors about this matter and I feel it would be an excellent time for us to improve the existing band shell and surrounding areas then look for musical opportunities, particularly during the warm months. This area of our town could showcase both local and out of town talent.
Wow, that would be wonderful to showcase talent here and out of town! I want to open a music school here, and that space, once established, could be used as well.
Wow, that would be wonderful to showcase talent from Osoyoos and out of town! I want to open a music school here, and that space, once established, could be used as well.
So CJ, You only publicly admit to being an Oiler fan “after” being elected. Smooth! Very Smooth!!
I want to invite anyone from the Osoyoos area to my blogg at: http://ambitiousmusician.blogspot.com
I agree that we are very lucky to live in this community. We made a conscious choice to retire here because Osoyoos is a small, active community which offers a great deal and welcomes involvement by giving folks a chance to feel part of the community. As relative newcomers, we want to be an active part of the transition of Osoyoos to what it will become. In doing so, however, we realize that we must take the time to understand where Osoyoos has come from, how longer-term residents think and feel, and develop a respect for the past so we can become a more sensitive part of the community’s future.
Change is natural and inevitable. As Alvin Toffler observed almost 40 years ago now in his book entitled, “Future Shock”, people don’t object to change – they are changing constantly. What people object to is BEING CHANGED. Consequently, it is important for all of us to take the time to (1) think through the changes our community needs, (2) make a case for particular changes, and (3) respect that not everyone will agree but, if given a decent chance, is more likely to buy into needed changes if given the time and the information required to reach a personal decision.
CJ, you are so right when you say that you are “Lucky” to live in a community like Osoyoos. You just have to spend years working and living in cities like Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary to appreciate the qualities of life found in Osoyoos. While we do do live in Osoyoos, we did move close to town a year ago and truly appreciate being able to come to town to do our shopping and park within a block of where we want to go (yes even in the middle of summer)!! Our appreciation of the quality of life and the positive attitude of the community does not however diminish the views of the long time residents, which we listen to with care. Over development? Maybe it is reasonable to view development growth in this light, but in my view it is more of a question of the need for strategic development. Osoyoos needs to preserve for both its citizens and visitors the towns natural assets, beauty and uniqueness. In my view Osoyoo’s natural beauty has been eroded through developments which should have not gone ahead. I am not anti development but I do believe a lot more care has to be given to where and what. Hopefully it is not to late and the responsibility of proper balance is taken seriously by the town.
Hi, first time on your web site. I will check it out in more depth when time allows, till then, take care, and keep up the good work.
Your Buddy,
Al
I wish other people would use this blog – it is good to hear Osoyoos residents voicing their opinions.
i have always been so proud to shop local and tell people of it all the time, this article truely impressed me!!!
I believe in shopping locally but not always do the stores carry what I need. I need to go out of town to fill those needs. Majority of the time I spend my dollars in Osoyoos. Then again, lots of us are spending our dollars on online shopping. One can only do so much.
Your comment about signage is right on. We need a sign bylaw in conjuction with the regional district and highways to regulate signs that are not on the owner,s property. The hill coming into town from the west has 23 ugly obtrusive signs near the roadway, and more are being installed every week. If the town decides to form a sign bylaw committee to review the situation, please sign me up.
Thanx for the good wishes. Us 2U2. I’m gonna run outa room.
If you were asleep in 2004, perhaps you didn’t have enough Tim Hortons coffee. As for forgetting the 60′s; I was too young to have memory difficulties or trouble with drugs, don’t know about you.
Water its’ location, distribution, form, and content is problematical. One persons lake is another persons flood. ss;Macs yard filled w/water. Mac phoned. Whatelse.?After some rather heated discussion about who caused rain I took one of my pumps to Mac. Then I went for a short walk. To the flooded beach. Then down the beach around the corner to Macs. I noticed that I was following the flow of water. When I got backto Macs he was pumping happily away down my first tracks then down the beach around the corner and back into his own yard. I was never able to convince him of the humour in that situation. Water is serious. I doubt that any one person can change much and because of the numbers of organzations with various “powers” over the the” Water of Interest”. Not much can be done by anybody. I remember once being told that the water was the Feds and the dirt under was the Provinces’ Both levels of govt have countless departments with jurisdiction over our water. It boggles the mind when an international border divides the water. People who live nearby are inclined to think of “The Lake” as “Our Lake” It’s not. In most cases not even the beach area is owned by us locals. So you see it’s the kind of problem that an individual might never find an answer for. It is as always a “Hot” Button” issue.
CJ, you ‘da man for the times. I agree with everything you’ve posted here. All of these issues concern me, but none more than recycling. It is true we do have a recycling plan in Osoyoos, but it isn’t near what it could be. There have many Tuesday mornings I’ve walked to the curb only to find my nicely separated recycling still at the curb with a sticker attached saying it was unacceptable. This has happened several times despite my very best effort to follow the very simple instructions issued by the town. Honestly I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. It seems to me that a better solution would be what towns like Westbank do (Westside? what are they calling it now?). Residents pay a modest price to purchase three very robust containers. One is garbage, one is yard waste, one is recycling. Of course this requires some sort of separation facilcity, but it seems like a great investment in our future. Maybe there’s grant money available for a sorting facility? It would probably create a few jobs in the process. Anyway, keep up the great work, CJ. I always, enjoy the weblog…
Wow – you really have shown every side to Osoyoos! Beautiful pictures CJ!
I totally agree – something definitely needs to be done! And quickly!
A quick check on the Internet reveals that goose control is a North America-wide problem. Many “solutions” attract negative responses and simply pushing the geese to a neighbouring community is not really a solution. The most effective means of control appear to involve egg addling or coating the eggs with an oily substance to prevent hatching.
Re: Water conservation. We are dumbfounded at the approval of yet another subdivision development. this time a 300 unit/housing developement which was approved for the east side and at the head of Osoyoos Lake.
We realize this is not a town matter, but we must have some input regarding the water requirements. When in Vernon residents are not permitted to fill their pools..why would we in the Osoyoos District keep on proving further subdivisions.
Great Job on your website. Interesting and informative. Didn’t read everything yet but plan to come back and finish later. Lots of the conservastion stuff I already knew and do but it is always good to have a reminder.
Yah Grandpa that article was very well written well researched and inspiring… I’ll be sure to look into more water conservation acts now that I now just how much water it takes to make simple things like shirts.