Members of the Bhavsagar Sikh Temple Society for Oliver and Osoyoos presented OSS Principal Scott Tremblay with a cheque for $18,600 last week. (Michele Weisz photo)

By Michele Weisz

Osoyoos Times

On Nov. 26 members of the Bhavsagar Sikh Temple Society for Oliver and Osoyoos presented Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) with a cheque for $18,600 to pay for a new scoreboard.

OSS had been looking for unique ways within the community to raise the funds needed to pay for a new scoreboard in the gym.

School trustee Brenda Dorosz said she does not think the scoreboard has been changed in over 30 years, if ever.

School trustee and head coach Casey Brouwer discussed the idea with someone from the temple and within two weeks was informed that the temple, on behalf of its members, would be donating the entire amount needed.

“It was unbelievable,” said OSS Vice Principal Burns.

”It’s amazing for the entire school population,” said Dorosz. “It’s something that is going to come into our school and it will last for years to come, not just supporting sports … but it’s going to support the entire student population.”

Both the faculty and the trustees voiced their amazement not only at the amount that was donated but at how speedily it was done.

“To have a community rally up this quickly and see the need and fill the need, and see the importance of it, is incredible,” said Brouwer. “To have something like this being donated is spectacular.”

In total, 11 members of the Sikh community came out to formally present the cheque to the school’s principal.

“Next we just got to work on the floors,” joked Burns.