Celebrations are included in the 2019 Corporate Plan, which includes recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the irrigation canal – “The Ditch”.
Expenses for the plaque and base will be allocated to the Water System Miscellaneous Budget $5,000 • Plaque – $3,495 • Base – TBD Expenses for the Reception will be allocated to Council’s Reception Budget Reception – $100-$200 (estimate)
To help build on Oliver’s community pride the annual Spirit of Oliver event takes place, and during Canada’s 150th party the Canada 150 Mural was painted by many members of this community.
Preliminary hype for the 100th Anniversary to date include:
• A publication titled “The Ditch” was brought to the Local Government Management Association 100th Anniversary Convention to be included in the history displays. The LGMA has also produced decade videos as part of their celebration, the 1919-1929 video comments on the first improvement district formed in the Province located in the
south Okanagan – which became SOLID.
• In the next edition of LGMA’s Exchange Magazine, Oliver will also be featured; the article highlights that both the LGMA and Oliver are celebrating centennial anniversaries in 2019.
Introductory paragraph:
Like the LGMA, the Town of Oliver is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year – dating its beginnings from the time the digging started on “The Ditch” that led to a community. While the official town began with digging a ditch, things really got started in 1918, when the provincial government purchased 22,000 acres of land in the south Okanagan and proceeded to develop an irrigation system designed to convert some 8,000 acres of desert land on each side of the Okanagan River into viable agriculture land. This land was made available, at a reasonable cost, to the returning soldiers from World War I. This project was brought to life by B.C. Premier “Honest John Oliver” – hence the origin of the name of the Town of Oliver.
• To formally recognize the irrigation canal’s 100th Anniversary, a 16″ x 20″ bronze commemorative plaque is currently being produced which will be installed on a base built by Public Works. The plaque installation will be in the linear park located on Fairview Road near the High School. A formal unveiling by Mayor and Council, Water Councillors, former SOLID trustees, MLA, local dignitaries, and members of the public will take place when the plaque and base are installed. As the weather may be cooler, a small reception could occur in Council Chambers after the unveiling. The Oliver and District Heritage Society assisted staff with the facts and wording for the commemorative bronze plaque.
• Social media posts will highlight the 100th Anniversary of “The Ditch” over the next month.
Target date for completion?
Robin Hopkins says
Projects of old such as the irrigation canal tend to boggle my mind as I know that the use of technology was limited ( didn’t exist yet) and I know that an incredible amount of human labour through sagebrush, snakes and extreme temperatures made this anything but a joyride. Now we go into a tirade when we can’t find the tv remote.
Grant MacPherson says
The article states “… the provincial government purchased 22,000 acres of land…”. Who did the government purchase it from?
Publisher: I do not know Grant but I think the land Barons at the time were Edgar Dewdney, Tom Ellis and Judge Haynes. I think we can safely say all the land
was the territory of the Sylix (Okanagan) tribes but I doubt they received anything from the transactions.
Larry Shannon says
All land in the area was originally occupied by the Sylix People. However this specific land became part of the John Carmichael Haynes ranch. In 1888 Judge J.C. Haynes died suddenly at the Allison Ranch near Princeton. In 1895, 20,756 acres that had been part of the J.C. Haynes Estate were conveyed to Thomas Ellis. Mr. Ellis also had large land holdings in the Penticton area. In 1904 W.T. Shatford and L.W. Shatford set up the South Okanagan Land Company to purchase Mr. Ellis’ holdings. The Shatford brothers were well known businessmen in the South Okanagan. The northern portion of this land was subdivided and sold around 1905. The southern portion, extending north from the border for roughly 22 miles, remained as part of a cattle ranch operated by the South Okanagan Lands Company. In 1918 the Provincial Government purchased 22,000 acres from the Shatfords for $350,000 with the intention of putting 8,000 acres under irrigation. This initiative was named the Southern Okanagan Lands Project.
Source: The Ditch, Lifeline of a Community, by Julia Cancela in cooperation with the Olive Heritage Society Museum and Archives and B.C. Heritage Trust 1986
Fred Steele says
A worthwhile project of preserving history in this case a monument still making history. I remember as a child in Winfield there was the flume which was an above ground concrete canal. it is sad when a number of these ever present monuments to our past simply disappear and are forgotten. Oliver is lucky the project of a hundred years ago is still part of everyday life. It is also a working tribute to those who built it.