OSOYOOS TIMES-November 17, 2010
Even on the dreariest of days, walking through downtown Osoyoos can be good for the soul.
The core still has a vibrant business community with many unique enterprises founded, owned and operated by people who live right here in town.
The summer tourists are gone now, but there’s still a buzz of activity along Main Street each morning and afternoon as people carry out their errands, conduct business or have a bite to eat at a restaurant or café.
Osoyoos’s downtown, stretching from the junction of highways 3 and 97 all the way to the end of motel row, is still strong and contributes to the exceptional character of this community.
It’s a frightening prospect to think what this town would look like with the majority of the Main Street retail spaces boarded up or for sale.
Would Osoyoos really be the same if you couldn’t walk through the downtown core on a sunny afternoon and run into throngs of people pouring in and out of the many shops and stores?
Although some complain that you have to drive to Penticton or Kelowna to find certain services or goods, it’s likely fair to say that most of us can find everything we need here in town and are happy to support our friends and neighbours in the businesses they run.
Some of us have probably seen the downtown cores of other towns and cities that have been devastated by the arrival of malls and big-box stores built in the suburbs.
Luckily, Osoyoos has not had to contend with such challenges yet and there are policies in place to keep the larger retail outlets from setting up shop here.
Right now, some merchants in downtown Oliver are worried that the development of the Southwinds Crossing Mall in that community, complete with a Canadian Tire store, will hurt business in Oliver’s downtown core.
Chances are certain businesses in Osoyoos will also feel a pinch once the mall opens.
As the saying goes, you can’t stop progress.
But we at least have a council here in this community that seems focused on keeping the downtown strong as well as business leaders who have worked tirelessly to keep a climate of vitality along Main Street.
And it feels like, at least for now, we have a community that appreciates our downtown core and still supports it despite the lure of out-of-town retail temptations.
So here’s to downtown Osoyoos: may it stay lively and prosperous for many years to come.
