Band-town partner on multi-million dollar eco-tourist centre in Osoyoos

Once again the Osoyoos Indian Band is building partnerships.
This time the partner is the Town of Osoyoos and the project is an $11 million facility at the Inkameep Desert and Heritage Centre, which is located on band lands on the eastside of Osoyoos.
This shows the partnership between the town and Osoyoos Indian Band, said councillor Ken Davreux at council's last public meeting Feb. 7.
But don't worry taxpayers, this project isn't going to cost the town any money. The partnership here is in the application for funding that is only available to municipal governments.
In outlining the proposed project, Destination Osoyoos' Glenn Mandziuk, who has been working with the Osoyoos Indian Band on this initiative, said the Osoyoos Indian Band had identified a source of funding through Infrastructure Canada, but was unable to apply for it.
Only a municipality can apply for it, he said.
The funding application is for $1.5 million, however, the total cost for the facility will be $11 million.
The proposal calls for the building of a 20,000 square foot cultural tourism centre. The focus of the centre will be to reflect and preserve the First Nations culture as well as that of the fragile desert eco-system.
Mandziuk said it would be hard to overstate the impact a centre like this will have on the South Okanagan.
Osoyoos will see the critical benefit from this project, he said.
Mandziuk added that a project like this is the first of its kind in the province and makes it economically viable to preserve the desert eco-system.
This is an investment that needs to happen more in our province, he said, adding that upward of 60,000 to 90,000 visitors are expected on an annual basis. If approved the centre will provide 24 direct jobs, 22 person years during the planning and 85 jobs to construct it.
This is a big project, said Mayor John Slater. It is a very unique attraction.rnThis will have a huge economic benefit, added councillor Tom Shields.
Councillors Dick Flintoft and Bud Fraser concurred.
This just shows you what can be done, said Flintoft.
If approved Mandziuk said there could be a soft opening early this fall, with a full completion in 2006.