Osoyoos ready for holiday light up plus fireworks on Friday

Lights, fireworks, holidays

Photo: Destination Osoyoos

Osoyoos' Christmas Lite-Up and fireworks are just a few days away.

On Friday, Dec. 1, a full day of activities will take place, culminating with a fiery show overhead.

Check out the Kiwanis Toys for Tots to Teens from 7 to 10 a.m. at Smitty's Restaurant. Bring an unwrapped toy or cash and receive a free breakfast.

Then from 4 to 7 p.m., the Osoyoos Farmers' Traditional Christmas Market will take place at Town Hall, featuring artisan vendors, food trucks, live music and more.

At 6:30 p.m., the Christmas Parade will kick off down Main Street, followed by a bonfire and carol singing at Gyro Park at 7 p.m.

At 8 p.m., enjoy the fireworks show.

The celebration will continue the following day with more activities. For more information, click here.

Tensions high in Osoyoos over nearly 40 per cent tax hike

Tax hike has tensions high

Photo: Jesse Zerr

Protesters in Osoyoos.

Tensions are high in Osoyoos over a major tax hike that has prompted protests and public outcry.

In late October, council approved a 2024 budget that will see average single-family dwelling owners pay a total overall increase of 39.3 per cent, up to $5,366.49 as opposed to the 2023 average of $3,852.45. Some additional portions of the tax bill that are overseen by the provincial government will not be known until 2024.

Council heard from staff at the time that the municipality is in dire need of more funding to deal with major infrastructure issues, particularly their long-beleaguered water system and wastewater management.

Notably large capital project line items in the 2024 budget include a combined $6.8 million for projects related to wastewater improvements, including for odour control at the wastewater treatment plant, and $15.6 million for various water system infrastructure needs.

More money will be needed for such projects over the subsequent four years, according to the five-year projection.

The tax increase has not sat well with many citizens. When letters went out in November to monthly property taxpayers, there was considerable sticker shock expressed on social media.

Since then, growing groups of protesters have begun making their presence known outside Town Hall, and at town council meetings.

At Tuesday's meeting, a large group displeased with council's actions were in the gallery.

Some on council took the opportunity to address the simmering discontentment in the community, and alleged harassment.

"I live in Osoyoos, I pay the same taxes as all residents. And just because I have a name tag here doesn't make me any less human than anyone else. I don't deserve to be harassed, my wife doesn't," said Coun. Johnny Cheong.

"I think we as a whole [community] can do better. And that's me included ... I'm doing the best I can with the information provided to us from our staff to be as an effective councillor as I can be. Our current situation is bleak. My daughter's bath water shouldn't be brown, your water shouldn't be brown, residents shouldn't need to go indoors because [of unbearable stench]."

Coun. Zachary Poturica said the water utilities situation is at a critical point.

"We're at a time right now where we can't ignore this issue. This issue isn't going to go away. Right now it doesn't make sense feasibly to finance the large portion of these capital expenditures due to current interest rates, market conditions," Poturica said.

"The past few weeks have been challenging her community as levels of hate anger, division and discrimination in our community, which has resulted in residents fighting with residents, businesses against businesses. Behaviour the past few weeks is concerning, and it reflects poorly on Canada's warmest welcome and our community as a whole."

He added that while the tax hikes "may not be popular," they are needed to address years of "artificially low tax rates" and a dire infrastructure situation.

Mayor Sue McKortoff said "harassment and discrimination" has been "disheartening," choosing then to read out a portion of an open letter from Dustin Sikora, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2022, accusing her of a conflict of interest in her vote to support funding for a personal friend running the annual Music in the Park program.

"I want the public to know that council makes the decision on where funding is allocated, a majority vote is what determines where funding is allocated. To be clear, I did vote on funding this event. All information is made available to council including myself. The decision was unanimous to fund the Music in the Park application," McKortoff said.

"I want to be clear that I take my job as mayor and my oath of office very seriously."

As McKortoff continued, members of the gallery interrupted, shouting "Shame!" and requesting she read out the full Sikora letter, before the meeting was closed for an in-camera matter.

Concerned citizens are planning a "Citizen's Town Hall" on Wednesday evening, at AMS Truck Repair in Osoyoos at 6 p.m., expecting hundreds of attendees.

The organizers describe it as a "peaceful, respectful, thoughtful meeting of the minds," with no aggressive behaviour tolerated, including an open mic period for locals to explain how the tax hike will impact them.

Mayor and council have been invited, however it is unclear whether any plan to attend.

Coun. Cheong stated at Tuesday's meeting that town staff have been directed to set up a municipally-organized open forum to hear concerns from the public.

South Okanagan General Hospital emergency room closing all day Wednesday

ER department closure again

Photo: File photo

Interior Health announced that the South Okanagan General Hospital's emergency room will once again be closed on a temporary basis due to ongoing staffing problems.

Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The ER was also closed from the same time period Tuesday.

Patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time.

All other inpatient services will continue as normal at South Okanagan General Hospital.

The emergency department in Oliver is normally open 24/7, but has been plagued by intermittent closures for months as the location struggles to maintain staffing levels

People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

The emergency department in Oliver is normally open 24/7.

South Okanagan General Hospital emergency room closing Tuesday

ER closing again

Photo: Castanet

South Okanagan General Hospital's emergency room will once again be closed on a temporary basis due to ongoing staffing problems.

Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, according to a Monday news update from Interior Health.

The nearest emergency room at that time will be Penticton Regional Hospital.

Other inpatient services will continue as normal.

"People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility," reads the Interior Health press release.

"Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week."

The emergency department in Oliver is normally open 24/7, but has been plagued by intermittent closures for months as the location struggles to maintain staffing levels.

The issue was a central topic that the Towns of Oliver and Osoyoos brought to their meeting with the Ministry of Health at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention in Vancouver in September.

Oliver Fire Department raises $2500 through breakfast and bbq donations

Fire crews raise $2500

Photo: Oliver Fire Department

The Oliver Fire Department sent out a big thank you for all the community support they saw at this year’s drive thru breakfast.

Firefighters were up on Saturday morning for the 9th annual drive thru breakfast, handing out a sandwich combo by donation.

"We appreciate you taking time out of your morning to come down and see us, make a donation and grab breakfast! In total we raise $1200 towards the Lions Club of Oliver," the department shared in a social post.

"With last weeks BBQ this brings the total donation to $2500. Thank you again to the community for their support!"

Photo: Oliver Fire Department

South Okanagan General Hospital emergency department closing overnight

ER closure overnight

Photo: File photo

The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital will be closed overnight Friday due to limited physician availability.

Interior Health announced that emergency services will be unavailable from 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 to 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25. Patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time.

Temporary closures have been continuous for the hospital, as the province works to address understaffing.

All other inpatient services will continue as normal.

People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

'Unbelievable': Osoyoos family overwhelmed with gratitude for community support after car crash tragedy

Small town cares after crash

Photo: GoFundMe

"It is unbelievable, my family is so appreciative of everything."

A South Okanagan family is reeling after tragedy struck, and their community has rallied around them in a massive display of support.

The Jones family of Osoyoos is comprised of two parents and nine siblings. Brooke Fuller, 20, is one of those siblings, who took to GoFundMe and social media this week for help after her little brother Gavin, 16, was in a terrible car accident with her father.

Gavin was airlifted to BC Children's Hospital in critical condition, with severe internal bleeding a collapsed lung and frontal lobe damage.

Their father was also injured, though not as severely, but enough to be out of work for the foreseeable future.

In the midst of the tragedy, Fuller realized her family would need some way to sustain themselves while her father, the family breadwinner, is off work recovering.

"I was a little bit hesitant about [the GoFundMe] at first because I've never really done anything like this before. But people just jumped into action to help out my family, and I was in tears," Fuller, 20, said.

Within less than 24 hours of the GoFundMe going live, the community rallied beyond her belief, with more than 320 donors contributing north of $41,000 to the family.

"My whole family is just so grateful," Fuller said.

She describes her little brother, who is still in a coma and fighting for his life, as "a sweet and loving young man," who loves basketball and soccer, and dreams of being a palaeontologist when he grows up.

"They're still unsure about his brain activity. So we're still just playing the waiting game," Fuller explained.

He will remain in a coma for the time being to let his body and brain rest.

In the meantime, her father has a long road to recovery and their family is trying to stay close to Gavin in Vancouver, where expenses are high.

Any money raised from the GoFundMe will go towards that, and to recovery costs down the road.

"I just wanted to make sure that all my parents' worries were put to the side so they could focus on the matter at hand, which is just getting better and focusing on Gavin," Fuller said.

"I just want to say thank you for everybody reading this, donating, sharing, etcetera. My family is so appreciative. I am so appreciative. I'm so proud of small town Osoyoos. Everybody's there for everybody. And it just makes me so outrageously happy ... My prayers and good thoughts are going to him and his recovery and I hope everybody else will do the same."

Find the GoFundMe online here.

Oliver and Osoyoos full of holiday activities for return of Fire & Ice Festival

Fire & Ice Festival returns

Photo: South Okanagan Fire & Ice Festival

The South Okanagan Fire & Ice Festival will return this Friday with a kick off in Oliver at the light-up and fireworks show downtown.

The event runs until December 3, bringing together food, wine, and culture to celebrate winter in the valley with both free and ticketed events, hosted by the Osoyoos Indian Band, Oliver Tourism Association, and Destination Osoyoos.

Osoyoos will be having their downtown light up and parade on Main Street on Dec. 1.

Several events are set up throughout the South Okanagan, including the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre Artisan Market at the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre and South Okanagan Fire & Ice Carnival at Spirit Ridge, both on Nov. 25.

Fire & Ice partner events include:

• Nov 18 – Dec 24 (weekends): 12 Days of Christmas Artisan Market at Nostalgia Wines
• Nov 24 – 26 and Dec 1 – 3 (weekends): 9th Annual Winter in Wine Country Fondue Party at VinAmité Cellars
• Nov 24 – 26 and Dec 1 – 3 (weekends): Two weekends of Winter in Wine Country at Moon Curser Vineyards
• Nov 24 - Dec 3: Winter in Wine Country at Hester Creek
• Nov 25: Free Family Movie at the Oliver Theatre
• Nov 25: Osoyoos Christmas Market at Watermark Beach Resort
• Nov 25 – 27: Vertical Tasting at Nk’mip Cellars
• Nov 25: Concert at Firehall Brewery; Down Yonder
• Nov 26: Holly Jolly Concert at Venebales Theatre
• Nov 28: Fire & Ice Long Table Dinner at Miradoro
• Dec 1: Fire & Ice Dinner at Nk’Mip Cellars
• Dec 1: Cooking Class Dinner at Hester Creek
• Dec 1 and 2: Osoyoos Lite Up & Parade in downtown Osoyoos
• Dec 1: Traditional European-Style Market at Osoyoos Town Hall Square
• Dec 2: Breakfast with Santa at the Oliver Community Hall
• Dec 2: Jingle Bell Run at The Sonora Centre
• Dec 2 – 3: Grand Opening Celebration at Backroads Brewing Co.
• Dec 2: Concert at Firehall Brewery: Vincent Decowans?
• And more - found online here.

More information, including schedules, tickets and accommodation specials, is available online at: southokanaganfireandice.com

South Okanagan General Hospital emergency department closure again due to limited staff

ER department closure

Photo: File photo

Interior Health announced that the emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital will see reduced hours on Thursday once again due to limited physician availability.

Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday.

The announcements have been common for Oliver and Osoyoos locals in recent months, as the provincial government says they are committed to funding dedicated to increasing staffing to avoid such issues.

Patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time.

All other inpatient services will continue as normal at South Okanagan General Hospital.

People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

BC Human Rights Tribunal to decide whether Osoyoos motel discriminated against pot-smoking guest

Kicked out for smoking pot?

Photo: Google Street View

An Osoyoos motel that allegedly evicted a disabled guest for smoking marijuana on their property will be heading for a hearing with the BC Human Rights Tribunal.

Sun Beach Motel is facing a complaint from Vicky Arvanitis, who stayed there from July 31 to Aug. 1, 2020.

According to a recent public tribunal decision dated Nov. 7, 2023, Sun Beach management asked Arvanitis to leave after they claimed she was smoking marijuana in her room, contrary to their no smoking policy.

Arvanitis denies smoking at Sun Beach, stating she is prescribed medical marijuana for a disability and only smoked off motel property.

In her civil suit, she alleges that in evicting her, Sun Beach guest accommodation violated the human rights code by stopping her from staying at a motel normally available to the public.

According to the decision, Arvanitis said she made the motel aware of her disability when she told them she had a service dog, and obtained an exemption from their no-pets policy.

When she checked in, Sun Beach said they provided her with their no smoking policy which “explicitly states that smoking is prohibited in motel guest rooms at all times and that there is a designated area where guests can smoke and that individuals smoking marijuana in the guest rooms or common area may be asked to leave."

She says that she was aware of the no-smoking policy, and says she did not inform Sun Beach of her medical marijuana prescription at check in because she did not intend to smoke at Sun Beach.

On the morning of Aug. 1, Arvanitis says she smoked a marijuana cigarette at a park near Sun Beach.

She claims that upon returning to the motel, she put the cigarette butt in the ashtray that Sun Beach provided outside her room.

Arvanitis denies smoking on the motel property and said that this was the only butt in the ashtray outside her room during her stay.

Arvanitis further says that during her time on Aug. 1 at Sun Beach, she was wearing a bathing suit depicting marijuana plants, and alleges that motel management was following her and watching her closely.

Sun Beach property management alleges they smelled marijuana near Arvanitis’ room and had observed Arvanitis smoking inside the doorway of her room, with a container of marijuana buds and marijuana butts near her and that upon seeing this, they reminded her of the motel’s no smoking policy.

Sun Beach alleges that Arvanitis responded by yelling and claiming discrimination. Arvanitis denies that description of her behaviour, instead claiming she stayed calm and told them she had a prescription for medical marijuana due to a disability, and offered to show it to the managers, but they declined. She also maintains she did not smoke in the room.

Arvanitis argues it is discriminatory to provide ashtrays for cigarette smokers, but to evict medical marijuana users who smoke in designated smoking areas.

She claims that the manager responded by telling her she was evicted, that she was calling the RCMP to remove her from her room, saying: “We don’t want people like you at our motel.”

Arvanitis left Sun Beach that day, after receiving a refund for the pre-paid next night.

The motel applied to have Arvanitis' initial complaint dismissed, but BC Human Rights Tribunal member Andrea Duncan said that the motel did not establish that there was no connection between Arvanitis' disability and the eviction, and therefore, Arvanitis' complaint will proceed to a formal hearing.

"I make no decision as to whether discrimination occurred," Duncan wrote.

"I find that if Arvanitis is able to prove that her disability was a factor in Sun Beach’s decision to evict her, and that she was discriminated against as she alleges, it would serve both her interests and the interests of the public to identify and take steps to remediate this alleged discriminatory practice."