Mariachi del Sol, which, bills itself as Canada’s best mariachi band, entertained Mexican workers and local residents during Mexican Appreciation Day at the Sonora Community Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
The bleachers at the Sonora Community Centre were full on Sunday as Mexican workers and local residents munched on beef tacos and listened to mariachi music.
Hundreds of people turned out for Mexican Appreciation Day, organized by Jamie Elder of Unity Clothing and Boardsports and other local volunteers and sponsors.
A long line of people snaked across the gym for food. In front of the stage children and a few adults danced.
Across the front of the stage was draped a large Mexican flag surrounded by balloons in the red, white and green Mexican colours.
On the stage, wearing wide sombreros, members of Mariachi del Sol, which bills itself as Canada’s best mariachi band, played a mix of brass and string instruments, singing ballads in Spanish and English.
For Elder, the event exceeded expectations.
“It’s definitely a full house, which is amazing,” he said. “Maybe a little bit beyond a full house. I’m glad we didn’t put too many chairs out.”
Originally the event was to be held at Gyro Park, but when the forecast called for rain, it was moved to the Sonora Centre.
It was a wise decision, as a downpour outside made Sunday one of the wettest days of the year.
Elder said the idea for the event came during a discussion of the transient situation earlier this summer.
“The discussion turned to what an amazing group of people the Mexicans are that come to town every year and how we don’t have any problems from them at all,” said Elder. “It’s a shame that we don’t even recognize they are here. When you give respect, you get respect. This group definitely gives a lot of respect to this community and I thought it was time we did something to give some respect back to them.”
Elder said his own contact with the Mexican workers in the past has been limited to eye contact and smiles.
“I’ve never spoken a word to these people,” he said. “I don’t know a word of Spanish, to be truthful.”
Lorenzo Montoya, from Guadalajara, was one of the workers sitting in the bleachers with his compatriots.
This is his fourth year working in Osoyoos and prior to that he worked one season harvesting tomatoes in Leamington, Ont., where Heinz made ketchup until 2014.
Montoya’s English isn’t bad after this many seasons in Canada, but he’s more comfortable being interviewed in Spanish.
“The economic situation in my country is very difficult,” Montoya said. “We have the chance to come to Canada where the economy is better. There is work here and we can make good money. We put in a lot of hours, but we return with good money.”
The other Mexicans seated with Montoya are from other parts of Mexico – Puebla and Mexico City. They didn’t know each other before coming to Osoyoos.
“I am from Jalisco (state) and I only know two or three people from Jalisco,” said Montoya. “There are almost no people here from my town (Guadalajara). I only know one here.”
Besides the long hours of work, most of the Mexicans leave family behind.
“It’s difficult, because we are accustomed to being with the family,” said Montoya. “After a month or two, it’s like being single.”
His work season starts with picking cherries, and then as the season progresses, he moves to harvesting nectarines, peaches and finally apples. When the apple harvest is finished, he sometimes works in the orchards and sometimes in local packinghouses.
From start to finish, Montoya said he stays in Osoyoos for about four or five months.
“It’s a beautiful place,” he said. “It’s very productive for fruit. The people get along well with the Mexicans and we never have any problems with them. The police get along well with us. We get good respect from the Canadian people.”
Sonia Lopez, an Osoyoos resident originally from Mexico and the owner of Boutique de Sonia on Main Street, said she has had quite a bit of contact with the Mexican workers.
In the spring, she collects donated clothes, which she distributes to them.
The event, she said, was a nice tribute to the Mexican workers.
“They really work very hard,” she said. “My heart breaks when it is 40 degrees and they are working under the sun.”
Lopez said she wasn’t surprised to see such a good turnout because mariachi music is very popular, not only in Mexico, but also internationally.
Elder said it was a lot of work to organize the event, especially because his store keeps him very busy at this time of year.
“My last day off was May 15,” he said. “I’m in the store nine to 12 hours a day and then doing this was a bit ridiculous.”
He’s grateful, however, for the help he received from others in the community, pointing out that Mara Marquez of Kiwo, the owner of a downtown Mexican food store in Osoyoos, distributed 400 invitations to Mexican workers.
“I definitely stuck my neck out financially speaking, so it was very nice to get some assistance from the Town of Osoyoos, Destination Osoyoos and some of the wineries,” he said, adding that he still had to absorb a fair bit of the cost.
“We are definitely going to form a group to take this on and make it an annual event and make it a little bigger,” he said.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Lorenzo Montoya, from Guadalajara, is spending his fourth season working in Osoyoos. He said he works long hours in the orchards, but takes home good money after working throughout the fruit season. (Richard McGuire photo)
Mariachi del Sol, which, bills itself as Canada’s best mariachi band, entertained Mexican workers and local residents during Mexican Appreciation Day at the Sonora Community Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
Mexican workers and local residents lined up for traditional tacos. (Richard McGuire photo)
Emma Fernandes, 3, of Vancouver, got a butterfly painted on her cheek by Alyssa Macor. (Richard McGuire photo)
The bleachers at the Sonora Community Centre were full with Mexican workers and local residents who dined on tacos and listened to mariachi music. (Richard McGuire photo)
Osoyoos resident Sonia Lopez (left at back), originally from Mexico, sat with some of the Mexican workers who come from all parts of Mexico. In front left is Lorenzo Montoya, from Guadalajara, who is spending his fourth season working in Osoyoos. Others to his right are from places such as Puebla and Mexico City. (Richard McGuire photo)
Mariachi del Sol, which, bills itself as Canada’s best mariachi band, entertained Mexican workers and local residents during Mexican Appreciation Day at the Sonora Community Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
Mariachi del Sol, which, bills itself as Canada’s best mariachi band, entertained Mexican workers and local residents during Mexican Appreciation Day at the Sonora Community Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
Mariachi del Sol, which, bills itself as Canada’s best mariachi band, entertained Mexican workers and local residents during Mexican Appreciation Day at the Sonora Community Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
