By Don Urquhart
The Town of Osoyoos has moved forward on an initiative to improve water safety in Osoyoos Lake with council approving a letter of permission required by the Rotary Club in order for it to apply for grant funding to help establish the first Life Jacket Safety Station on the lake.
At the council meeting of Nov. 14 it was unanimously agreed that town staff be directed to prepare a letter indicating that the Life Jacket Safety Station will be placed at the Desert Sunrise Marina and that the Town will provide regular maintenance to the site as part of the marina upkeep.
The station itself would have a small footprint according to Gerald Davis, Director of Community Services in his report to council. The material of the gazebo would be maintenance-free and can easily be placed at the marina, he said, noting the exact location has not yet been determined.
The idea of providing life jackets on loan for free was first broached by Osoyoos RCMP commander Sgt. Jason Bayda in the fall of 2019 which was ultimately swept aside by the pandemic.
Earlier this year Bayda made an impassioned presentation to the Rotary Club of Osoyoos followed by another to Osoyoos town council. Both council and the service organization were highly supportive of the idea.
Ultimately he would like to see the stations established at all key boat launches around Osoyoos including Osoyoos Marina, sẁiẁs Provincial Park and at the Osoyoos Indian Band’s Nk’mip Campgrounds.
In the 14 years Bayda has lived and worked in Osoyoos he has seen at least one or two drownings almost every year and in some years as many as three or four. He noted that in all his experience and that of other officers, the majority of drownings are adults who are overconfident of their swimming ability and are not wearing life jackets.
Most of these deaths could have been prevented if boaters were wearing life jackets, had the right equipment on board, and actually knew of the local hazards, he said.
The life jacket station would also feature important water safety information including local conditions and Transport Canada regulations.
The total project budget is estimated at $20,250 with the Rotary Club of Osoyoos providing $5,000 along with $10,000 it hopes to be awarded in the form of a District Rotary Grant. It’s hoped that the remaining $5,250 will be provided by local donors to the project including the cost of the life jackets.
Funds will be used to purchase treated wood, concrete pad and materials for the design and construction of the kiosk; signage and pamphlets, rack and advertising used for communications to elevate awareness.
In order for Rotary to apply for the grant application it needs to meet several conditions including obtaining permission from the town, as owner of the property, to locate the life jacket station on Town property and to commit to the on-going maintenance of the site.
