Peter Beuschken, the general manager of the Safari Beach Resort Hotel in Osoyoos, is a member of the Osoyoos Hotel Association. That organization has organized a pool operators workshop for June 18-19 at Safari Beach. All local commercial operators of swimming pools have been invited and there are openings for about 10 private operators to participate as well. (Keith Lacey photo)
If you’re a private citizen in Osoyoos who owns and operates a swimming pool in your backyard, you might want to sign up for a special training program coming to town next weekend.
The Osoyoos Hotel Association has been able to secure a trainer to put on a pool operator training program in Osoyoos for all commercial and private pool operators.
This is a program required by the health board for all commercial operators, said Peter Beuschken, the general manager of the Safari Beach Resort Hotel in Osoyoos and a longtime member of the Osoyoos Hotel Association.
“We managed to land a trainer to hold a workshop for all commercial operators in town and we had several openings and thought it might be a good idea to invite members of the public who are private swimming pool operators to join us,” said Beuschken. “There are roughly 15 commercial pools in Osoyoos and we expect most of them will have representatives at the workshop, but we have enough room for roughly 10 private operators to join us.”
The workshop will take place on June 18-19 at the Safari Beach Resort Hotel with both sessions set to begin at 9 a.m. and continue all day until 5 p.m.
The workshop will cover all facets of properly operating and maintaining a pool, including safety practices, proper use and chemicals, provincial rules and regulations relating to the operation of a commercial pool, liability issues and much more, he said.
“We will be going over everything you need to know to successfully operate a commercial pool and we’ll also go over everything that could go wrong when you own or operate a pool,” he said. “This is common practice in the industry to attend one of these workshops ever year.
“We usually have to send our local members to Vancouver or Kelowna for these workshops, but this year we’re very pleased to be bringing a qualified trainer to Osoyoos and we’re hoping for good response.’
The cost of the weekend workshop is $295 and includes all materials and certification. Anyone wishing to register, can call Beuschken at 250-689-0117.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
