Chris Walker of CBC Radio’s Daybreak South interviewed Osoyoos residents on local issues during a broadcast from Jojo’s Cafe in January. Daybreak will be back in Osoyoos again this week and once again the school issue will be discussed. Pictured here Walker discussed the school closure issue with June Harrington, centre, a school board trustee, and Brenda Dorosz, a parent leading a local group opposing the closures. (Richard McGuire file photo)
The saga of the closing of Osoyoos Secondary School has caught the attention of millions of people across British Columbia as it has garnered media attention across the province.
With the school about to close its doors for the final time in two weeks, a crew from CBC Radio’s Daybreak South morning program out of Kelowna couldn’t pass up the opportunity to return to Osoyoos.
Daybreak South host Chris Walker and producer Jaimie Kehler will be visiting Osoyoos on Friday morning (June 17) and will broadcast their entire show from Room 1 at the Sonora Community Centre.
“We have several guests lined up as we want to take a look back at the proud history of OSS and how things got to the point where we are today with the school closing its doors in two weeks,” said Walker, in a phone interview from his CBC Radio office in Kelowna.
“We have interviews lined up with people who know the history of the school, others who have been involved since the decision was made to close the school and what’s going to happen moving forward.”
There will also be discussion about other school closures that have been announced in other communities in the South Okanagan, particularly in Summerland and Penticton, said Walker.
While the list of speakers hasn’t been finalized, Walker did say Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) principal Mike Safek has agreed to be interviewed.
The closing of a high school that has been a big part of a small town like Osoyoos for close to 40 years has garnered a lot of attention across the South Okanagan and the entire province, said Walker.
“We have been following the saga of OSS for the past five months when it was first announced the school district was looking at closing a school in Osoyoos,” he said. “This is a story that has resonated with a lot of people because obviously it has affected the residents of Osoyoos.
“The closing of schools in rural B.C. has become a very big issue and I think that’s why what has happened in Osoyoos has garnered so much attention.”
Walker and his CBC crew visited Osoyoos back in January, only one week after the school district initially tabled its motion to have trustees consider closing a school in Osoyoos.
CBC staff have been following key developments ever since and South Okanagan reporter Brady Strachan will be in attendance at OSS Thursday night when the school holds a formal goodbye celebration that the entire community was invited to, said Walker.
For anyone wishing to attend, the doors to the Sonora Centre will open at 5:30 a.m. Friday and Walker will start broadcasting live from Osoyoos beginning at 6 a.m.
Daybreak South remains on the air until 8:35 each workday morning.
Walker said he’s personally following the OSS closure story since it began and he’s looking forward to returning to Osoyoos to talk to key players on Friday morning.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
