Lyonel Doherty
Times-Chronicle
The Community Safety and Crime Prevention Committee is looking at other priorities to keep Oliver and Osoyoos safe.
During the Oct. 4 meeting, members discussed new ideas and strategies.
Randy Houle suggested that bylaw enforcement could tackle a “see something, say something” program, similar to what already exists in Penticton.
Oliver RCMP Sgt. Don Wrigglesworth said some people don’t think it’s worth reporting less serious crime, but you never know what it could lead to.
Aimee Grice asked if there is an online portal to report crime. Wrigglesworth said they don’t have that system in Oliver.
Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen said it would help if they had a program to report incidents other than crime, such as potholes, downed trees, burnt out street lights or illegal camping.
Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff said they tell the public to phone the town hall or visit [email protected] and list the information there.
Diane Vaykovich said the Town of Oliver could set up an online “button” where people could report an issue.
Johansen suggested erecting signage in the community informing people how to report these issues.
Committee member Michael Guthrie commended the Oliver RCMP for their increased visibility in the community.
“We have done an awful lot, particularly our RCMP. I’ve seen more RCMP around now than I’ve ever seen before.”
Johansen agreed the committee has accomplished a lot.
He noted there was previous discussion that Oliver was getting two additional police officers, but that didn’t happen.
“So, we made our resources more effective, and we brought in proactive bylaws.”
Johansen said the Town introduced a Safe Premises Bylaw to deal with properties that were creating problems in the community.
“We have demolished quite a few properties in this community and shut down a lot of houses that were real crime problems when the RCMP had to go there 50, 60, 70 times.”
Johansen said they also increased funding for Victim Services, leaving the RCMP with more time to be effective.
He added that the South Okanagan “Situation Table” is being established to help people in crisis.
Johansen said they also increased the fees and owners’ responsibility for abandoned buildings, some of which are boarded up and are prone to becoming flop houses.
Guthrie said the new rules impacting nuisance properties have made a huge difference in the community.
“My community (neighbourhood) used to be a circus up there after two in the morning, with people running around with bikes and trailers loaded with stolen stuff.”
Guthrie said he hasn’t seen any of this nonsense since the house at 555 Earle Crescent was torn down.
“No criminals in front of my house, nobody in our cameras at night,” he said happily.
Even Oliver Fire Chief Bob Graham noted they have seen a difference, too.
“There were a couple of addresses that we don’t get called to quite as often anymore since they are (now) vacant lots. So, that’s a bonus for us.”
Discussion then focused on COVID-19 impacts, with Grice saying it was sad to see the divide created by the pandemic and people losing friends over it.
“At Venables (Theatre) we just received our first email comparing us to Nazi Germany for requiring vaccine passports,” she said, biting her tongue.
Wrigglesworth said there hasn’t been any COVID-19 confrontations reported to police, but he noted an increase in uttering threats.
McKortoff said the pandemic has resulted in some positive things happening, such as people performing kind deeds for their neighbours. She noted that people need to be considerate of others as opposed to getting wrapped up in their own world and getting caught up in the downward spiral.
