Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie made the historic announcement Monday that the OIB Senulkemen Enterprise Park near Oliver had been selected by the provincial government as the site for a new $200-million correctional facility. The facility is expected to create 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction and 250 full-time positions once open. B.C. Premier Christy Clark and local MLA John Slater were on hand for the announcement as were many Correctional Services Canada officers and media members from across the country. Photo by Keith Lacey
Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells calls the pending construction of the new provincial correctional facility near Oliver one of the single-most important economic development projects in the history of the South Okanagan.
The B.C. government and premier Christy Clarke announced Monday it had selected the Osoyoos Indian Band’s proposed site seven kilometres north of Oliver in the Senkulmen Enterprise Park on Highway 97 as the location for a new Okanagan correctional centre. Clark was joined by Okanagan-Similkameen MLA John Slater, Osoyoos Indian Band chief Clarence Louie and provincial minister of public safety Shirley Bond in making the historic announcement.
A large gathering of provincial leaders, OIB band members, correctional officers and media gathered at the proposed site Monday morning.
“This is going to lift all of the communities in the South Okanagan,” said Wells following Monday’s formal announcement. “This is the biggest thing the South Okanagan has seen in a such a long time. It’s just going to provide a real shot in the arm economically and a real boost of energy to the entire area.”
The 360-cell prison is expected to create up to 500 direct and 500 indirect jobs during the construction phase and another 250 full-time jobs once the centre opens in late 2015 or early 2016, said Clark.
The next step is to complete a detailed business plan within the next six months, so construction can begin as quickly as possible, said Bond, who added the facility will more than double corrections capacity in B.C.s interior.
Louie received the loudest applause during the formal announcement when he proclaimed the OIB had been waiting several years for this announcement.
“It has been a long time coming, but it has been worth the wait,” said Louie.
Clark said the new correctional centre will not only add to the province’s $185-million commitment to capital projects in corrections across the province over the past several months, but the economic benefits to the South Okanagan will be felt for many years.
“It will bring young families to the South Okanagan,” she said. “This is a big move forward for making life better for many families in British Columbia.”
With more than 240 permanent full-time jobs being created once the facility opens and another 1,000 jobs during construction, area schools and regional hospitals will benefit as will the entire economic basin stretching from Penticton to Osoyoos, said the premier.
The OIB site was selected as the preferred location after a comprehensive and detailed independent study and it’s clear this band’s long history of success played a significant role, said Clark.
“They are an absolutely sterling partner for this project,” she said. “The Osoyoos Indian Band owns more businesses per capita than any other band in this country … we’re proud to partner with them on this project.”
Louie took the time to credit OIB members Darren Baptiste and his brother Shorty, who recently passed away, for doing diligent work on behalf of the band over several years after the province confirmed five or six years ago there was a chance a new correctional facility would be built in the South Okanagan.
“Shorty, I’m sure you are up there listening today,” said Louie smiling.
The OIB has enjoyed a great deal of success over the past several years, but having a project and facility of this size that will benefit so many people and create so many jobs is historic, said Louie.
“It’s a big and important day for the Osoyoos Indian Band,” he said. “It’s so awesome to see the biggest project to come to this area in a long, long time is with correctional services and the provincial government.”
Louie said he looks forward to working closely with the provincial government and Correctional Services Canada for many years to come as this project develops from construction through to opening and operating.
He also looks forward to implementing unique and progressive programming once the jail is open to assist aboriginal offenders, who continue to make up a disproportionately large percentage of the inmate population in Canadian prisons, said Louie.
Since taking an extended tour of several correctional facilities in western Canada a couple of years ago, Louie said he and the OIB made a commitment to try and implement programs and support systems to attempt to assist and rehabilitate aboriginal offenders and this will be a key focus once the new jail opens.
Okanagan College is very interested in being a partner in developing programs to train correctional officers as well as training for offenders who want training and he looks forward to working with college officials in developing these programs in the next couple of years, said Louie.
Bond said the announcement for the new correctional facility did test the patience of many people, but the government was determined to select the best site.
“There was certainly a bit of a wait, but we got it right,” she said. “This is a historic day.”
When the provincial government first indicated it was interested in building a new jail in the South Okanagan, many communities were not interested, but that
The Osoyoos Indian Band has 460 members and employs approximately 700 people.
Their enterprises contribute $40 million to the local economy.
Lumby, Summerland, Penticton and the Penticton Indian Band also bid on the jail. The City of Penticton rescinded its bid in June 2011 following a community referendum.
