File photo.
Dale Boyd
Osoyoos Times
The volunteers and organizers behind most of the events held in Osoyoos are lobbying town council for a dedicated staff member to help manage and coordinate events, and a streamlining of the process to acquire provincial resort community funding.
Local volunteer and event coordinator Debbie Dundass spoke on behalf of the group at the Jan. 20 committee of the whole meeting at town hall, and was backed up by a nearly-full council chamber of community organizers and volunteers.
“You might say we have become victims of our own success as thousands of people, both tourists and locals, attend our events. The economic benefits for our lovely town are huge. Businesses benefit as does our town’s reputation. But we are tiring of doing it alone, we need some help,” Dundass said.
She called the cancellation of the Cactus Jalopies car show in 2020 a “huge loss.”
“Can you imagine a Canada Day without the best fireworks in Osoyoos? Let’s hope that never happens,” Dundass said. “We do not want this to start a trend. This has brought our alliance together, not to complain, but to encourage conversation and solutions.”
Representatives from the Osoyoos Festivals Society, the Fireworks Committee, Cactus Jalopies and the Wine Country Racing Association, Market on Main, Piano in the Park and Music in the Park joined together, meeting twice prior to coming before council to address the common issues they face.
The alliance are asking key Town of Osoyoos staff, Destination Osoyoos staff as well as the Osoyoos and District Arts Council and local business leaders to help address the shortage of volunteers and support.
Volunteers are “burning out and aging out,” Dundass said, noting that the final meeting for the Market on Main for the season saw five of the nine board members resign.
Read more: Popular car show a no-go in 2020
The group is advocating for town staff to coordinate volunteer needs and suggested a town-run volunteer bureau where locals and snowbirds can easily discover where they can help out.
As well, the group is looking for a point-person on town staff to make coordinating easier, and a streamlined process for acquiring the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funding from the province through the town.
“There is no one person to explain the proper and standard route when applying for funding,” Dundass said.
The group, dubbed “the alliance” are also looking to other communities in similar circumstances, like Revelstoke, that provide financial and resource support through the local tourism organization.
Tourism Revelstoke is required to offer support to events and Revelstoke has also created funding guidelines and a funding application which is online for the dispersant of their (resort municipality initiative) funds.
“Transparency and equity are being achieved without the need for individual presentations to town council. If we were to adopt a similar adjudication system in Osoyoos, this could actually free up time for council,” Dundass said.
Town of Osoyoos CAO Allan Chabot, who came to town last year after serving as CAO in Revelstoke encouraged looking to the fellow resort municipality as an example to follow.
“I think it’s time we all got in a room together. I think there are ways to improve the clarity and understanding the opportunities for RMI (funding),” Chabot said.
Staff are currently working on updating a festival and events program and evaluation form, he said.
Read more: Cherry Fiesta parade takes over Main Street
“Probably a step beyond what Revelstoke has been doing. But the collaboration between community partners in Revelstoke is probably something we should be emulating,” Chabot said.
Gary Dell with the Cactus Jalopies committee explained why the popular car show was not going ahead this year.
“We had a lot of discussion amongst our committee and we finally decided we are going to try and do it every second year, thinking that would keep it fresh and new,” Dell said.
However, Dell said many Osoyoos car show enthusiasts are still planning on showing up for that same weekend.
“There are lots of people that still want to come to town,” Dell said. “So they are saying ‘what are you guys going to do for us?’”
Mayor Sue McKortoff was supportive of the group and noted discussions with Destination Osoyoos staff that are already taking place should help define the tourism organizations role further.
“I do know you have concerns. I’ve faced them over the years too. I understand them. I think this is a really good way of getting started to bring people together,” McKortoff said.
