By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
After nearly five years of planning and preliminary work, Osoyoos’ Tammy Herman and her committee of eight volunteers have turned a late‑night idea into what will be one of the biggest first‑responder appreciation events the South Okanagan has ever seen, headlined by the renowned RCMP Musical Ride.
Come late this summer, the Hearts for Heroes will take over Desert Park for a full day of family activities, demonstrations and entertainment to honour the people we rely on when we dial 911 – and their families, who live with that reality every day.
“When you pick up that call and dial 911, your life is in their hands,” Tammy said. “For one day a year, we just want to say thank you.” She says she woke up one night thinking, “We need to do something.”
But that thank you extends even further, to recognize the full spectrum of emergency and protective services, not just the familiar “police, fire and ambulance,” she added, saying a whole swath of agencies have been invited. This includes Search and Rescue, CBSA, Canadian Armed Forces, BC Sheriffs, BC Corrections, Coast Guard, Conservation Officer Service, and more.
As a former first responder, Herman knows well the sacrifice involved and says she sees the signs of burnout everywhere. “I just thought, wouldn’t it be nice to have a day out where they could come with their families?”
The day will also be as much about camaraderie as public education and appreciation. She notes that across the uniformed services, one agency cannot do its job without the help of another. “This is a chance for the agencies to mix with one another and with the community, in a fun way instead of just during a crisis,” she says.
Herman also highlights that some of the uniformed services are nearly invisible to people in the South Okanagan, such as the Canadian Armed Forces, simply because there are no bases here, other than Vernon, which is primarily a Cadet Training Centre now and Kelowna, home to army reserves (BC Dragoons).
Each agency will have a tent with displays, gear and games for kids relating to each agency, such as a scavenger hunt by the Oliver Osoyoos Search and Rescue, or an obstacle course by the Armed Forces. A planned canine demonstration will show how police, border and rescue dogs work in the field, as well as the growing use of dogs in fire services.
Herman also wants to change how kids meet officers. “Unfortunately, the average child now never meets an officer unless it’s an unfortunate [situation]… a domestic situation, a fire, a car accident, a break and enter. We want to put a face behind the badge.”
A large superhero‑themed photo frame will let children pose with officers under the message, “Our superheroes live and work in our communities.”
But out of everything, the centrepiece will clearly be two performances by the RCMP Musical Ride, scheduled for noon and 4 p.m. “When they come in, your breath gets taken away,” Herman says.
It’s no mean feat to even get the Musical Ride, she highlights. Each year, the 32 horses and riders perform in a maximum of 50 communities across the country, visiting each province and territory once every four years. And 2026 is BC and Ontario’s turn.
And for the Osoyoos shows, Herman says she’s planning a bit of a twist at the opening ceremonies, which will not feature the standard politicians on the grandstand, but rather officers in full dress uniform, one from each participating agency, who will take the traditional salute from the Musical Ride riders.
2016 Sunset Ceremonies. The Sunset Ceremonies is a time-honoured tradition in Ottawa, featuring the world-famous RCMP Musical Ride and the signature Sunset Ceremony.
Serge Gouin, RCMP photo © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2016
There could also be one additional treat, a flypast by CF-18 fighters from CFB Comox’s 19 Wing (although not based at Comox, they sometimes train in the Comox Valley), but that will only be known within a day or two of the event because of operational requirements, weather and even potentially wildfire smoke. She did approach the Snowbirds, but they were unable to make that date.
Herman is also urging all attendees to bring lawn chairs, as portable bleachers are in short supply. A free lawn‑chair check will let people store their chairs during the day and retrieve them for the evening concert. Herman is also encouraging people who watch the first show to make space for a new set of people to watch the 4 p.m. show.
The day will wrap up with a large outdoor concert on the infield, with Herman still waiting for confirmation from the band before announcing the name.
A themed Wild and Wacky Western Beer Garden, with music from local performers, will help cool the adults down. The Portuguese community has stepped up to run the beer garden and will provide food for the Musical Ride Riders and officers who are on site all day, she said.
Another key feature will be a recognition wall, where people can pin heart-shaped or simple tags to thank a specific first responder or department, or to remember someone who served and is gone. “Maybe you’ve dialled 9-1-1 in the past two or three years. Was there somebody who stood out? Was there a department that stood out? Just say thank you on a card,” she urges.
Herman is also asking anyone who has dialled 9-1-1 in the past five years, or has a family member who served, to consider donating $5 directly to Honour House, which supports first responders and military members dealing with injury, illness and PTSD.
These donations will go straight to Honour House, just as any surplus from the event will also go, she emphasized. “Our hope is that even if we go in the hole putting this on, Honour House will still come out ahead.”
And this is where things get tricky. Herman had been in multiple discussions with the Town over getting some funding help, but in the end was denied any of the RMI funding because if the event makes any money, it will go to Honour House, which contravenes the policy guidelines for use of the RMI grants, she related.
The expenses are mounting, with a substantial five-figure amount already out of Herman’s pocket. Portable toilets, for example, are $3,000 alone. And then there’s the cost of the food for the horses – special premium grade food, no run-of-the-mill stuff for these stars of the show.
She’s reluctant to approach local businesses because she recognizes times are hard, and instead will be looking to the bigger players that do business in the South Okanagan.
One key plank that will help keep the event going is the annual Community Garage Sale that Herman organizes each year for Honour House. This year’s event will be at the Osoyoos Royal Canadian Legion hall on May 22 and 23. The community can help out by saving up any items they would like to donate, which can then be dropped off in the days just prior to the sale.
And then there’s the need for volunteers – 100 in total. Herman is hopeful that local residents will start volunteering their services, particularly for that big day, but is only seeking those who truly want to help, not just volunteering for the free entry.
Practicalities:
- Tickets: $20 for adults (children’s pricing to be announced)
- Date: August 23, 2026
- Place: Desert Park
- Seating: Bring your own lawn chair
- Pets: No pets (working police and service dogs will be on site)
- Smoking: No smoking anywhere in the event area
- Payment: Expect cash only on site due to limited power and payment infrastructure.
- Community Garage Sale: May 22/23 Legion hall (day or two before for item drop off)
Organizers are finalizing an online ticketing platform and expect to open sales soon. For updates, volunteer information, or to offer support, visit heartsforheroes.ca or email [email protected].
