As crowds of people poured into the Sonora Community Centre on Sunday, the first Mexican Appreciation Day far exceeded expectations of organizers.

For years, many Mexican workers have come to Osoyoos on a seasonal basis to work hard in the orchards to earn money for their families back in Mexico.

It’s difficult, physically demanding work, usually long hours outdoors and often in hot sun. Compared though to what similar work pays in Mexico, the workers make enough to return home at the end of the season with good money in their pockets.

Most of the time, these workers stay at the orchards, sometimes coming into town to go grocery shopping.

As Jamie Elder, owner of Unity Clothing and Boardsports, pointed out, for people like him who don’t speak Spanish, contact with the Mexicans has been limited to eye contact and smiles.

Elder decided it was time for the Osoyoos community to recognize the contribution that Mexican workers make every year and so with the help of others in the community, he organized this event.

The idea for the event came amid a discussion about the transient situation that occurs every summer when hundreds of young people come to Osoyoos from other parts of Canada, largely from Quebec, sometimes to work in the orchards, sometimes to party, and often to do both.

Although most are well behaved, even if they dress a little unconventionally, the minority who behave badly often stand out. And their presence here can be a controversial subject, as Elder saw when he wrote about them on social media.

One thing most Osoyoos residents agree on, however, is that the Mexicans overwhelmingly come here to work and they work hard.

Most are very polite. They are older and probably more mature than many of the transients who hang around Gyro Park in the summer.

With Mexican Appreciation Day, Elder has managed to turn what started out as a negative discussion into a positive one. Hopefully this will become an annual event.

Mexico has a rich culture that goes far beyond mariachi music and tacos, but these two ingredients made for an enjoyable evening for local residents and Mexican visitors alike.

With this event, the Osoyoos community expresses its thanks to the many Mexicans who support our economy every year. And hopefully it can help to bridge the cultural gap as well.

To those who worked hard to organize this successful event, a big muchas gracias.