OSOYOOS TIMES-July 8, 2009

There’s been quite a bit of talk around town lately about the so-called transients since the fire broke out near the campground where many migrant workers are staying at Strawberry Creek.
More than one person jumped to the conclusion that because the fire broke out near the workers’ camp, it must have been the workers that started it.
Since the B.C. Forest Service believes it was a campfire that started the blaze, it’s reasonable to assume someone camping in the area was responsible.
So, the fire— combined with increased vandalism, thefts, drunkenness and assaults in Osoyoos since the migrants began to arrive— is fuelling a very negative perception of many of the seasonal workers now here in town.
Many of the migrants who are working in the local agricultural industry or looking for work— the majority of which are French-Canadian— will be the first to tell you there are a number of bad apples within their midst.
And obviously it’s not hard to form a negative image of the larger group when one witnesses a handful getting busted with liquor at the July 1st fireworks or leaving garbage in a town park.
It should be remembered, however, that there is another group of people in town right now and within their ranks can also be found a fair number of bad apples who cause problems in Osoyoos.
This group is known as tourists.
The vast majority are terrific people who come to our town to enjoy all it has to offer in harmony with the people who live here.
But some get drunk in public too, leave their garbage lying around and drive like maniacs on our roads.
Fewer people complain about them, because they spend a bit more money than the French-Canadians.
Let’s not forget that a fair share of these types of problems also happen during the off-season at the hands of locals.
It’s human nature to get ticked off when we see our beautiful home getting trashed and unappreciated and it’s alright to express anger and frustration.
Let’s just hold off on making sweeping, general comments about one group of people or another unless we can say for certain that the whole lot are bad apples.