Editor:
It appears some residents need to be reminded that there are no longer any cardboard or recycling bins at the Lakeview Plaza.
The blue cardboard bins in the plaza parking lot are paid for by businesses and are for the use of those businesses yet there are still people (and in some cases, businesses) who attempt to slide their cardboard and other recyclables into the locked bins or just leave them adjacent to the bins.
There seems to be nobody policing this illegal dumping and nobody to clean up the mess that is left.
All residents of Osoyoos and the rural area are served by the municipal recycling program but businesses are responsible for their own recycling costs.
In my case, I am paying over $2,000 per year for recycling services.
Hopefully this message will get to those who are responsible.
Patrick Turner,
Your Dollar Store With More,
Lakeview Plaza,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-January 6, 2010

LOSS OF ‘VISIONARY’ RESIDENT A BLOW TO COMMUNITY

Editor:
I wanted to pass along to the people of Osoyoos that a great deal was lost with the passing of Denis Bissonnette just before Christmas.
I had the privilege to know Denis as a business partner but also as a wonderful human being and friend.
At the reception it was offered for someone to talk about Denis but I am not much of a public speaker but I realized at his funeral mass on Jan. 2 that many people do not realize the economic impact that Denis brought to Osoyoos.
There was a comment in the newspaper about Denis’ involvement with Fairway Hills Development amongst his list of accomplishments.
I don’t think that most people realize that while Bob Knight had the original vision, without Denis Bissonnette and his partners, particularly Roy Bannerman, Herb Sandhu, John Hack and Bill Ross, the Osoyoos Golf Course would not be what it is today.
In my opinion we have really two main drawings cards for people to Osoyoos: the lake and the golf course.
Before Fairway Hills was developed you needed to go almost to the Border to 26th Avenue and double back to get to the golf course.
Without a man like Denis Bissonnette and his partners the extension of 115th Street would possibly never have happened and it is highly unlikely that the golf course would have ever expanded to 36 holes.
We now have a remarkable destination golf course that is a draw to our community and a huge economic benefit through tourists and employees that I do not think would have happened without Denis Bissonnette.
Denis was a visionary for this town and I hope that there is someone else out there who will step up and take his place.
I extend my sincere condolences to his family and hope that they realize what a great man Denis was, and the whole community will mourn our collective loss.
Barry Dewar,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-January 6, 2010