The Town of Osoyoos Community Services Leisure Guide.

Many community groups are looking for you to become a member, a volunteer or otherwise get involved, and you’ll have a chance to check out the options next Wednesday.

That’s when the Town of Osoyoos is hosting Participate Osoyoos – formerly Mass Registration – at the Sonora Community Centre.

Aside from the name change, another change this year is that Participate Osoyoos will offer early registration for programs offered by the Town of Osoyoos, said Sarah Dynneson, program supervisor with community services.

“What we’re trying to do is encourage people to come out to the event by saying, ‘Hey, if you come in person you can register for programs starting at 5:30 that night,’” said Dynneson, adding that some programs could fill up early, even before online registration begins.

Regular online registration begins the following day on Thursday, Sept. 14.

The event includes a number of local service clubs and organizations and some of them may already have opened their registrations, while others may treat Participate Osoyoos as their early registration, she said.

The event takes place from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 13 in the community centre’s gymnasium.

As well as providing a chance to register, the town is making annual passes for the Sonora Community Centre available at a 30-per-cent discount. That sale runs from Sept. 13 to 20.

Clubs and organizations will have tables and booths providing information about themselves and someone from the group will be there to answer questions.

Dynneson said many of the organizations will be the same as in previous years, but there could be new groups with booths.

Among the groups currently signed up to take part are minor hockey, Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society, Dance Oasis, Desert Valley Hospice Society and the library, Dynneson said.

Additional groups may book a space until Sept. 11, she said, and there is no charge for groups to participate.

“It’s only going to cost them their time,” she said, noting that it is an excellent opportunity for groups to promote themselves.

“We’re hoping that people come out and see what’s happening in Osoyoos and have a chance to look,” said Dynneson. “We have a lot of wonderful clubs and groups and organizations and I think a lot of times people forget that we have all those opportunities in town.”

Information about Town of Osoyoos programs, including contact information for other groups, is available in the Osoyoos Community Services Leisure Guide for Fall 2017, which is available from the town or on the Town of Osoyoos website: osoyoos.ca under Community, Recreation Programs.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times