If you ask the residents of Osoyoos to make a list of what they’re most proud of, it would be a long list indeed as we’re blessed with arguably the best weather in the country and we live in a gorgeous and friendly community full of kind hearted and generous people.
That list would also include the fact that we’re one of the top tourist destinations in Canada’s most beautiful province.
The fact that we host the second-largest Canada Day fireworks display in the entire country provides another source of community pride as well it should.
For a town of less than 5,000 residents to attract 25,000 to 35,000 people every Canada Day to see the spectacular fireworks display is a credit to this community and the people who live here.
The Osoyoos fireworks display attracts people from not only the entire South Okanagan, but all across British Columbia as well as many American visitors from Washington State.
There are also many visitors from around the world who are vacationing in this little piece of paradise in late June and early July.
There’s no doubt they are quickly informed about the Osoyoos fireworks.
The citizens and business owners who live and work here continue to support this tremendous community event and cough up the tens of thousands of dollars needed.
For more than 17 years, Town of Osoyoos employee Frank Zandvliet did it all when it comes to the Osoyoos fireworks. Not only he is a trained technician who fires the fireworks into the evening sky on Canada Day, but he orders them and sets them up with his small, but dedicated group of volunteer helpers.
Zandvliet also spent 17 years as the official fundraiser for the Osoyoos Fireworks Committee and has spent thousands of hours over that time going door-to-door asking local businesses to contribute what they could.
While Zandvliet will remain heavily involved and will once again order and fire off the fireworks for Canada Day 2013, he has earned the right to step down as the fundraising co-ordinator.
The dynamic duo of sisters-in-law Annette Star and Etta-Mae Pratt have generously decided to come forward to replace Zandvliet as the fundraising co-ordinators. They started visiting local businesses asking for donations early last week and will continue to do so over the next month or so.
Donation bins have also been set up at the Buy-Low and Family Food grocery stores in Osoyoos so members of the public can do their small part to raise the big dollars needed for this event.
There are also many citizens who regularly drop off cheques at town hall to help the cause and this will also continue as we head towards Canada Day.
Star and Pratt are both enthusiastic and passionate about giving back to their community and both really look forward to taking on this big challenge not only this year, but for many years to come.
We applaud each and every business owner and local citizen who digs into their wallet to help the Osoyoos fireworks remain one of this town’s most important annual events.
Things just wouldn’t be the same without the Canada Day fireworks in Osoyoos.
We wish Star and Pratt good luck in the coming weeks. There’s little doubt that they will enjoy great success even though they’re new to the job.