I am writing in response to the article published in February regarding the migrant festival at Lion’s Park this summer.

First off, as a member of the Canadian fruit picker community, I would like to thank the Lion’s Park Action Committee for coming up with such a creative and integrative way to promote inclusion in the community of Oliver. I would also like to thank the Oliver Chronicle for publishing this story and providing the information to the public. This article has been shared throughout social media and the response has been overwhelmingly positive from the Québecois picker community.

I would like to use this as an opportunity to address some of the stereotypes and misconceptions out there about domestic fruit pickers. I am a 27-year-old woman.

I hold an undergraduate degree and pay my taxes. I have been coming to the Okanagan Valley as a fruit picker for the past five years.

Many of the pickers who travel across the country to come work in the Okanagan Valley are fresh out of CEGEP (a free, university-prep college) or already in university. They come, attempting to make enough money for tuition while also looking for adventure, independence and to experience our beautiful country.

I believe this internal migration that provides jobs to post-secondary students and widens their perspective regarding their country and food security is a wonderful opportunity for young Canadians that should be preserved.

I understand the frustration of locals during the summer months regarding unwanted loitering, long lineups in the library, and illegal camping, however, we need to first look at the reasons why this is happening.

A majority and ever increasing number of farmers are not providing accommodation for their pickers, nor are they providing sanitary and safe amenities such as toilets, showers, or kitchen facilities.

The only place pickers can go sleep legally is Loose Bay, a campground situated on the outskirts of Oliver. Although it has undergone some renovations last spring, it still only has four toilets, four showers, two power outlets and one stove. This is insufficient for the hundreds of pickers that depend on Loose Bay each summer.

Migrant workers from outside of Canada are provided with accommodation and transport by their farmers due to the requirements of the Temporary Foreign Worker visas. Surely Canadian pickers deserve the same  safe and clean environment to sleep, eat, and wash as their foreign counterparts.

It is imperative that we ally ourselves, both the picker and local community, together to discuss solutions to finding safe spaces for pickers to dwell and addressing the congestion in public places.

There is a small, troublesome minority within the picker community and the picker community needs to keep reminding each other to be respectful when in public places.

We are fortunate to be allowed this opportunity to enjoy the lovely summers in the Okanagan, and we need to show our thanks to the communities that host us.

It has been a long time coming that both the picker and local communities in the Okanagan Valley cultivate a deeper understanding and respect for one another.

The current tension and intolerance on both sides is unhelpful and hurtful. I believe this migrant festival will finally provide the bridge needed for both communities to form a productive collaborative relationship.

I would like to end this letter by commending again the Lion’s Park Action Committee for their thoughtful and helpful solutions to the influx of migrant workers this summer.

A bus service between Loose Bay and Lion’s Park, an off-leash dog area, WIFI access, and a job board are all initiatives that would be greatly appreciated.

I look forward to the migrant festival and you have one volunteer from the picker community ready to sign up!

Alix Longland, Osoyoos