Archives for March 4, 2020

“The Board passed the 2019/2020 Amended Annual Budget in the amount of $34,710,917.00.

The Budget is balanced……, as is required by law, without having to draw from reserves.

Rob Zandee, Chairperson
School District No. 53 (Okanagan Similkameen)

Polishing Wetland

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) is actively working on the development of a polishing wetland to support enhanced wastewater treatment at its Okanagan Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The polishing wetland project has been in the future vision for wastewater treatment in the area since the idea was initially discussed during the development of the ‘Okanagan Falls Sewage Treatment Plant.

Although the WWTP currently discharges high quality effluent to the Okanagan River that consistently meets the required targets on the Operation Certificate, the addition of a polishing wetland represents an opportunity for innovation, using natural ecosystem processes and phytoremediation to improve wastewater further. In addition to serving a valuable role in wastewater treatment, the wetland also has the potential to act as a research, education and interpretation site.

The primary purpose of the polishing wetland is enhanced treatment. A treatment wetland is a human-made, engineered system that uses wetland elements (i.e., plants, water and soils) to improve water quality. It has the potential to remove contaminants that are beyond the capability of wastewater treatment plants.

RDOS is helping residents prepare for potential flooding.

A sand and sandbag pickup location has been established at Keogan Park, 1525 Cedar Street in Okanagan Falls.

Local municipalities responsible for sand bag operations and other sandbag location not yet set up or not identified.

Those requiring sandbags in other regions should contact the RDOS Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) during regular business hours at 350-490-4225.

Property owners are responsible for taking the necessary steps on their property to protect their home from flooding. Government emergency programs focus on broader flood response measures.

After 14 years on the job, our Program Manager Bryn White has decided to conclude her contract, and will be leaving SOSCP at the end of April 2020. Bryn has been at the center of this 20-year partnership for most of that time. If you were not always aware, she is the one keeping us informed through the SOSCP newsletter and website, public events and information sessions. Bryn has often been there behind the scenes representing and defending (when needed) the best of our partners work, with local, provincial, and federal governments, as well as development interests. She is the one raising funds to undertake work, reporting to all of us on the accomplishments of partners, and leading us through evaluations and reconsiderations of program objectives and activities to make sure we are adapting and evolving to meet current challenges in conservation.

Significant achievements about which Bryn can be proud include creating the Shared Environmental Planner contract position that supports the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and communities within, the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, and the South Okanagan Conservation Fund. Many of you can probably pin-point specific examples of how Bryn helped you find information or funding opportunities, connect with another partner aligned with your work, negotiate some difficult communications, and broker some key meetings that helped you and your organization. She is that kind of go-to person who possesses the energy, knowledge, skills, and experience that were perfect for the role.

 

Update for Rural Area C – Yard Waste pickup

 

There’s no surer sign that spring is almost upon us than the resumption of curbside pickup of yard waste. Town of Oliver pickup dates below:

There will be collection days in March: Monday the 9th and Friday March 13. * correction made

More dates to be announced and the plan for rural areas – we are checking on.

Residents to ensure only plant materials, like branches, leaves and grass clippings, go into carts, and that contents are placed inside loosely so the carts empty properly into trucks.

 

The Oliver Community Arts Council is proud to present the Wine Capital Art Walk!  The main event is on Saturday, May 9 from 10 am – 2 pm. Display / Demo Artists are accepted in a variety of media. They share space with businesses on Station Street. OR artists can choose to participate as a Wine Barrel Artist. See below for details. The art walk will also include wine tastings, live music, draws, children’s art activities, food vendors, and live art demonstrations.

Display / Demo Artists may be from any visual media: photography, digital media, three-dimensional art such as pottery, sculpture, mixed media installations, metalwork, woodwork, jewelry and other artisan crafts; fibre and fabric arts, such as quilting, weaving, spinning, clothing/fashion;  painting including acrylics, oils, watercolours; and mixed / other two-dimensional media, such as charcoal, ink, encaustic, and collage. Space may also be available for performing arts: street theatre and improv, dance, street musicians, and other performers. NOTE: This component will be limited by available space and noise level.

All artwork must be display ready. Sale pieces are welcome. Display artists must be present during the event and take responsibility for their own sales. See Display entry form for details.

One of the main attractions at the Wine Capital Art Walk is the Wine Barrel Art demonstration and silent auction, running Tuesday May 5 – Saturday May 9. The live art event features up to 10 skilled artists who transform wine barrels into cherished works of art.  Artists may choose to prepare at home AND / OR work onsite May 5 – 9 between 10 – 4 p.m.

Barrel art is a terrific fundraiser – and promotion — for groups! Share the fun with artistic friends. 

This year, Oliver Eats Ltd parking lot at 6060 Station St will be the barrel art location. A great high traffic location to encourage bidding and promote the art walk later in the week. Silent auction bids are accepted by email and onsite and the finished barrels are sold to the highest bidders on the Saturday afternoon. See Barrel Art entry form for details.

Artists are invited to apply in one of two categories: as a Display / Demo Artist or as a Wine Barrel Artist. One low entry fee. NO commission charged for Display Artists. To cover barrel costs, a flat commission will be charged.  All participating artists must be members of the Oliver Community Arts Council.

Entry forms are attached. Alternatively, artists can download and complete one found at https://oliverartscouncil.org/entry-forms/

Travellers from Iran spotlighted

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in British Columbia:

“We are announcing three new cases of COVID-19 in B.C, for a total of 12 cases in British Columbia. All of these new cases reside in the Vancouver Coastal Health region and have recently returned from travel to Iran.

“Case 10 is a man and in his 60s and case 11 is a woman. They have no connection to previous confirmed cases. Case 12 is a woman in her 30s and a close contact of the eighth case, previously reported on Feb. 29.

“These new cases have been confirmed positive based on BC Centre for Disease Control testing. Four B.C. patients have now fully recovered, and the other individuals with COVID-19 are in isolation at home with support and monitoring from public health teams.

 

“Starting today, Canada Border Services Agency officers are taking contact information from all travellers arriving from Iran, requiring them to self-isolate for 14 days and to contact public health officials. This process is already in place for people arriving from Hubei, China.

“When a traveller shows signs of a potential infectious disease upon arrival in Canada, border services officers contact quarantine officers, who are always available to provide health screening.

“We are asking all other travellers who are returning to or visiting B.C. from outside Canada to monitor themselves and their children closely for symptoms and if any arise, to limit their contact with others and call 811. This is an important way to reduce the possibility of transmission of illness to others.”