The Town of Osoyoos is a friendly tourist destination but does not address the disabled or aging needs and/or concerns.

On Dec. 19 we had a heavy snowfall in the evening, so the town plowed the streets and sidewalks, but neglected to clean the entrance to the sidewalks after the road plows go by. They leave a buildup of snow across each sidewalk entrance, making it impossible for those with a wheelchair to gain access to the sidewalk. On Dec. 20 at approximately 2 p.m. while Marie and I were heading downtown and while Marie was attempting to gain access to the sidewalk, her wheelchair got stuck in the built up snow. While trying to gain access to the sidewalk the right drive wheel caught the clear part of the sidewalk, while the other one was still spinning and her chair went over the curb of the sidewalk and got hung up in the deeper snowbank. If this were to occur to someone that was elderly or alone it could result in serious consequences.

I attended the town office and advised them what happened and suggested they need to pay more attention toward the sidewalk entrances and have them cleaned following road clearing by snow plows. The receptionist documented my complaint and said that he would forward it to public works and have them call me. We left the town office and on our way to the post office we had to travel on the road because the sidewalk was not cleared. I never did receive a phone call from the town or public works at all and the entrances were never cleared. I cleared the sidewalk entrance by our house.

On Jan. 16 we had another heavy snowfall during the night that extended into the next day. Again the sidewalk entrances were blocked by the snow plow. On Jan. 17 I contacted the town office (again) and was told I had to take my concern/complaint to public works. I was transferred to public works and received a pre-recorded answering machine. I was transferred back to the town office and was (again) advised to contact the town public works. I informed them that I tried that option and received an automated answering machine. I stated I was not interested in talking to a machine, so they said my concern/message would be passed on to the town foreman. The foreman contacted me and said they are doing their best, and they do not have enough employees to keep up with the snowfall. I told him that I understand they are doing their best but they need to keep the entrances clear after the plows go by. The foreman said he would have his people try to clear them.

On Jan. 18 Marie and I were going downtown. While crossing the lane way from one side of the street to the other, the sidewalk entrances still had a snow build-up causing her wheelchair to get stuck. Again, I had to push her through the built up snow. This continued to happen more than once on this date. The town has an expectation that all store and home owners will keep the sidewalks in front of their properties clear, but neglect to lead by example. No one, let alone a disabled person should have to to get around town by walking on the highway and put themselves in  harm’s way just because our public works fails to maintain the sidewalks and keep the entrances cleared. And one final comment, when the roads are being cleared, our public works push snow across the entrance to disabled parking areas, disabling the parking stall so a disabled person cannot park in the designated parking areas.

Thank you for listening to my concern.

Dan Lyver, 

Osoyoos