Jamie Elder is not afraid to speak his mind.
And he’s also not afraid of working hard to promote causes he believes in or spending his own money to help organize an event he believes will become a huge success.
Elder is the longtime owner of Unity Clothing and Boardsports on Main Street in downtown Osoyoos.
As was revealed to members of Town of Osoyoos council on Monday, Elder is taking the lead to organize the inaugural Mexican Workers Tribute Day.
The whole idea is to bring hundreds of migrant Mexican workers together for a special day of celebration to their culture, while also allowing local residents to say thank you for the many contributions made by these same workers to local businesses and the community at large.
Elder gained a lot of attention earlier this summer when he voiced his displeasure on his company’s website over what he, and many others, considered to be disrespectful behavior by a large number of young Quebecois transient workers that flock to Osoyoos and the South Okanagan every spring and summer.
While he doesn’t appreciate the antics, lifestyle and what he considers disrespect shown to local businesses and residents by many of the transient workers from Quebec, Elder has nothing but fondness and appreciation of the hundreds of Mexican workers he’s met and dealt with over the past several years.
The migrant workers from Mexico are universally respected, admired and applauded by Osoyoos residents and business owners and he wanted to do something special to show just how much their hard work is appreciated in this community, said Elder.
The big event is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 30 in Gyro Park and promises to be a day to remember.
Elder is already working on ways to invite the 250 to 300 Mexican workers who toil in the hot sun at local wineries, vineyards and orchards in and around Osoyoos.
He has also arranged to hire Canada’s top mariachi band called Mariachi Del Sol from Vancouver and they promise to put on a great show of Mexican music.
Elder is convinced local residents and tourists will show up en masse to say thanks and participate in the Mexican Workers Tribute Day. If things go as well as he hopes, his plan is to expand the event and invite Mexican workers from across the South Okanagan to Osoyoos for a bigger and better event in the summer of 2016.
There are many Osoyoos residents who travel to Mexico every winter to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and soak up the wonderful Mexican culture.
This event will be a great way for the entire community to say thanks to our large contingent of Mexican workers and applaud them for becoming such an integral part of our community.
