They’re harmless. Young fruit pickers in Lion’s Park say they just want to chill out after work. But their sheer numbers is cause for concern. Photo by Lyonel Doherty
The “invasion of the fruit pickers” in Lion’s Park has prompted the Town of Oliver to organize a public meeting to hear residents’ concerns and possible solutions.
But gauging from the complaint log, the Town has heard plenty already.
“People are upset . . . parking was a gong show (last week),” said Councillor Maureen Doerr.
The Town’s bylaw enforcement officer used the word “nightmare” to describe the situation of pickers parking on the grass.
Doerr said they have to do something to control the transient use of the park to ensure that all people feel safe going there.
She feared that the public meeting (date yet to be announced) could become “really ugly” with a “lynch mob mentality.” But she’s hoping people will speak their mind in a respectful way.
“Maybe people have solutions that we haven’t thought of.”
Using a fire hose is not one of them, she said.
Mayor Ron Hovanes said he received a call from a resident who reported witnessing some of the park users urinating in public. She was also dismayed at seeing so much garbage around.
Hovanes wonders if all the extra enforcement in Osoyoos is pushing fruit pickers to Oliver.
Councillor Larry Schwartzenberger said the Town has contributed financially to enhancing Loose Bay Campground, so the pickers should be utilizing that area.
Hovanes said the problem is a bylaw enforcement and policing issue.
Corporate Officer Cathy Cowan said brochures have been handed out to the French people, outlining the parks and trails regulations.
Sergeant Blaine Gervais of the Oliver RCMP said Lion’s Park is a public place and open to anyone who wants to visit.
“RCMP members do patrol the park, time permitting, at different times throughout the day.”
Gervais said there have been a few negative interactions with park users, with problems associated with excess garbage and unruly behaviour.
The commander said people are encouraged to contact the Town or the RCMP if they witness an illegal offence being committed in the park.
But Sam Tibbitt from Hammer’s House of Hog in Lion’s Park said he hasn’t experienced any problems with migrant workers.
“I respect them and they respect me.”
Tibbitt said he does business there 12 hours a day and he hasn’t seen any fighting, lewd behaviour or public urination. There is a bit of garbage here and there, but no more than any other park, he pointed out.
Tibbitt said people might be intimidated by the number of pickers in the park, but he said these visitors are very nice once you start talking to them.
The bylaw officer agreed, saying most of them are respectful.
Jonathan Joyal from Quebec City sat with a group of friends in front of the library. He would likely frequent Lion’s Park later in the day.
“I don’t think it’s the issue that people make it out to be . . . it’s not as bad as it looks.”
But the 34-year-old picker admitted that he totally understands why residents would feel intimidated.
“If I had a family and saw 40 cars (down there), smelled pot and saw dogs, I wouldn’t go there either, to be honest.”
Joyal explained that pickers flock to Lion’s Park because it’s the only place in Oliver to “chill” after work.
He noted that Loose Bay Campground is too far away and, quite frankly, not a nice place to stay or hang out.
Joyal said the worst thing that you’ll see in Lion’s Park is some people drinking alcohol, but there’s no violence, he pointed out.
“You never see anyone stupid drunk.”
Although there are some dogs off leash, owners get yelled at if they don’t clean up the poop, Joyal said. And bitched at if they don’t clean up their garbage.
The picker said he doesn’t really see a solution to the problem identified by residents.
“Friggin’ hippies,” he joked, referring to the pickers causing all the concern.
Joyal said the congestion in Lion’s Park won’t last very long (two or three weeks) because “we will all be gone (picking cherries elsewhere in BC).”
Joyal explained that young people from Quebec are doing work that no locals want to do.
“We come to do the work that nobody else does . . . people (residents) are proud of their cherries, but they won’t dirty their hands (to pick them).”
One girl in the group said maybe the solution is to establish a park strictly for pickers.
Down at Lion’s Park, a group of workers sits under a tree, enjoying the shade and each other’s company.
They start work at 4 am every day and stop at noon because picking past 12 pm is not ideal.
One veteran picker said he makes $40 an hour, but the average is $20. An average day’s pay is about $100, the Chronicle was told. Pickers get $5 for every 20-pound bucket they pick.
Another picker said most orchards do not provide basic amenities, such as toilets, washing facilities or showers – amenities they say Mexican workers are afforded.
One French Canadian picker said they are helping to boost the local economy in Oliver.
But Parks and Recreation manager Carol Sheridan said the real problem for her is alcohol consumption in the park, which is illegal.
The other problem is the stress on parks staff who have to go in there and clean up the garbage, particularly when closing the washrooms. Sheridan said staff have witnessed inappropriate behaviour in the restrooms.
“It seems like there is just more people using Lion’s Park basically as a campground,” she stated.
Sheridan said having the pickers there is not the problem; it’s the behaviour. But she admitted that the people who cause most of the problems in the park are locals, not visitors.
While the Town has erected no stopping signs on Highway 97 adjacent to the park, Sheridan has suggested posting a two-hour parking limit in the lot.
Melvin Kilback, an auxiliary constable in Osoyoos, said the Oliver RCMP should be patrolling Lion’s Park every hour.
“Corporal Bayda (in Osoyoos) makes us patrol Gyro Park every hour . . . to eliminate problems before they start.”
Kilback said regular police presence is the key to compliance. “As soon as you’re not there for three or four hours, you get problems.”
By Lyonel Doherty
