On Tuesday, when school returns after Labour Day, every effort will be made to conduct “business as usual” at Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS).
But for the Osoyoos community, which only a couple months ago was faced with the closure of our only high school, Tuesday will be a day to celebrate.
We have absolutely no doubt that the only reason OSS is opening again is thanks to the mobilization of the Osoyoos community and the political pressure that was brought to bear on the provincial government and the trustees of School District 53.
It is thanks to people like Brenda Dorosz and other parents and citizens too numerous to name who joined with her on the Save Our Schools committee and the Osoyoos Independent School Society (OIS).
It is thanks to the many hundreds of people who turned out at the so-called “public consultation” meetings in February and March and the hundreds who rallied in front of OSS one March morning.
We can thank the hundreds of people who prepared thoughful written and spoken arguments in defence of our school.
And it is thanks to all members of Osoyoos town council, who listened to the community and spoke firmly and often passionately about how important OSS is to our town.
No doubt administration at OSS will want to remain neutral to the politics and Tuesday morning’s planned rally will respectfully take place at the edge of school property.
But this is a time for Osoyoos to celebrate an enormous victory.
