There are so many reasons for the people who are proud to call Osoyoos home to be thankful this holiday season.
Not only do we live in one of the most beautiful areas of the great country we call Canada, but many would argue the South Okanagan is one of the prettiest and most beautiful places on Earth.
We’re blessed with the best weather in the country for most of the year when the sun shines for days and months on end and the temperature is normally five or 10 degrees warmer than anywhere else in the country.
Despite the lack of sunshine during late October and most of November and December, we’re equally blessed to enjoy our beautiful winter months.
It might not be sunny, but it’s almost always mild, yet we are blessed once again to be able to enjoy a White Christmas as the snow finally fell in the lower valley bottoms over the past few days.
For the less fortunate here in Osoyoos, the Christmas season will once again be joyous, instead of lonely and depressing thanks to the good people at the Osoyoos Baptist Church.
For the past 15 years, the Baptist Church has organized and sponsored its annual Christmas Dinner.
As longtime Pastor Phil Johnson repeats every year, the Christmas dinner isn’t just for the less fortunate, but for all members of the community to join together in the spirit of sharing and giving that makes Osoyoos such a wonderful community to call home.
More than 120 people are expected to pack into the church starting at noon on Christmas day to enjoy a wonderful meal and share in the Christmas spirit.
It has been a difficult year for many local residents, particularly those who were negatively affected by the devastating wildfires that swept across the Rock Creek, Oliver and Osoyoos region back in August.
More than 30 homes were destroyed in Rock Creek alone and the families affected are still trying to get back on their feet several months later.
The amount of community support that has been generated since those wildfires has been overwhelming and impressive.
Now that Christmas day is only hours away, we urge everyone in the community to use extra caution out on the roads as the highways will be busier than usual as people travel to visit friends and family over the next several days.
Please take your time and use extra caution and don’t drink and drive.
The RCMP will continue their CounterAttrack roadside spotchecks throughout the holiday season and officers won’t be accepting any excuses, nor should they, when it comes to drinking alcohol and getting behind the wheel of your motor vehicle.
We would like to take one final opportunity to thank all of our loyal subscribers and advertisers for their continued patronage over the past year.
We remind our readers and advertisers the Osoyoos Times will publish its Year in Review edition on Dec. 30.
We are truly blessed to call Osoyoos home.
We wish one and all a Very Merry Christmas and safe and happy holiday season.
