SOME RECENT INITIATIVES ARE WORTHY OF KUDOS
(OSOYOOS TIMES — October 24, 2007) —
[b]It's time to spread a few kudos around for various initiatives underway in and around Osoyoos:[/b]
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First, to the Town of Osoyoos Planning Department, in general for the admirably huge volume of work it has pumped through Town Hall in the past year or two during our explosion of development, and more specifically for the latest effort it has brought about with some help from a steering committee “ the Waterfront Master Plan.
Whether one agrees or disagrees with all the details “ and some concern has already been registered by the Sailing Club “ at least there are plans now on the board for all citizens to see.
That provides a starting point for working in detail on a project that, because it will be a centrepoint for the whole Town, should become a major focus for Council in the coming weeks and months.
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Kudos, too, to Destination Osoyoos. The Town's tourism and economic development arm isn't resting on its laurels after moving into the new BC Visitor Centre. It is active on a number of fronts, with the latest being joining a group that displayed at an emigration show in England.
The effort to attract skilled workers is laudable. The flip side of that coin will be to continue to try to attract businesses to town, and the need for Town Council to get to work on developing affordable housing to make sure that workers, once enticed to Osoyoos, will stay here.
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Finally, it was great to see a major national-level meeting at the nearby Burrowing Owl Winery last week that focused on “ appropriately “ saving the dwindling burrowing owl species in this region.
The winery is to be commended for having adopted the cause of its namesake, to the point that it donates its wine-tasting tips to the restoration of burrowing owls. Last year that donation amounted to $50,000.
The South Okanagan is a wonderful place for people and for many amazing animal species, and it's great to see an effort like this to save one of them.
