City guide of Osoyoos
From Osoyoos City Guide
Contents |
About Osoyoos
- Main article: About Osoyoos
Osoyoos is a small town in the southern part of the Okanagan Valley on British Columbia's southern border with Washington state. It is in a region that is arguably the only hot desert in Canada. The name Osoyoos means "narrowing of the waters" in the local Okanagan language (Syilx'tsn).
Osoyoos is located in the south central interior of British Columbia, approximately 400 Km east of Vancouver at the junction of Highways 97 and 3 on the border of Washington State. It is situated on the east-west Crowsnest Highway with a significant ascent out of the Okanagan Valley in either direction. The Crowsnest headed east begins with an 18km switchback through rugged hills with a 685m rise.
Osoyoos was incorporated in 1946. Agriculture and tourism are now the community's largest economic sectors.
Government
- Main article: Government of Osoyoos
The Town Council consists of a Mayor, 4 councillors, and 2 water district councilors. John Slater has spent the past 15 years immersed in local and regional government politics, as a councilor, director, board member, and currently Mayor of the Town of Osoyoos.
- Town of Osoyoos
- 8707 Main Street
- Osoyoos BC, V0H 1V0
- (250) 495-6515
- tosoyoos@osoyoos.ca
Climate
- Main article: Climate of Osoyoos
During the summer months, the Okanagan Valley is among the hottest areas in Canada, and Osoyoos often reaches the highest daytime temperature of any location in Canada. Temperatures regularly exceed 38°C (100°F) in the summers, although the humidity is low and nights are generally pleasant. Winters are generally dry and cold, but are usually mild compared to adjacent regions.
Current Weather & Forecast
Community Services
- Main article: Community services of Osoyoos
The community is vibrant and active with excellent amenities. A dynamic downtown offers residents a broad range of goods and services. Osoyoos' arts and cultural facilities include an active arts council, museum, concert society, and theatre group, as well as, various ethnic, service, and charity organizations giving Osoyoos a balance and sophistication normally found only in larger urban areas.
Mass Media
- Main article: Mass media of Osoyoos
Local media includes our weekly Osoyoos Times newspaper and EZ Rock radio station. Osoyoos' high speed communications network offers uncompromised services to access world markets.
Leisure and Recreation
- Main article: Leisure and recreation of Osoyoos
Residents of Osoyoos also enjoy a wide variety of recreational facilities including ice skating and curling complexes, an equestrian training facility and several world-class golf courses, ski areas and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities.
Arts and Culture
- Osoyoos & District Arts Council
- The Osoyoos & District Arts Council (ODAC) is a non-profit society whose mandate is to increase and broaden the opportunities for residents of Osoyoos and area to enjoy and participate in cultural activities. ODAC has served the community for more than 15 years. The council continues to successfully promotes the artists, craftsmen, musicians and writers of the Southern Okanagan under its umbrella.
- Osoyoos Museum
- The Osoyoos Museum is operated by the Osoyoos Museum Society for the benefit of the citizens of Osoyoos and their guests and visitors. The Society is run by a Board of Directors. The Museum's operations are funded in part by contributions from the Town of Osoyoos, from admission fees, and various donations. The Museum is open to the public from May through September every year.
- Osoyoos Desert Society
- The Osoyoos Desert Society is an ecological interpretive centre on a protected portion of this habitat and has a carefully placed boardwalk around the area where visitors can learn about desert ecology, ecological restoration, and conservation of endangered ecosystems in the South Okanagan.
- Nk'Mip Desert Cultural
- The spectacular Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre is the Okanagan's newest family tourism destination. The state-of-the-art interpretive centre is an architectural marvel sensitively constructed into a hillside. Extensive indoor and outdoor exhibit galleries create a fun, interactive learning environment with hands-on displays, education stations and two multi-media theatre experiences.
- Osoyoos Desert Society
- The Osoyoos Desert Society is an ecological interpretive centre on a protected portion of this habitat and has a carefully placed boardwalk around the area where visitors can learn about desert ecology, ecological restoration, and conservation of endangered ecosystems in the South Okanagan.
Libraries
Established in 1936, the Okanagan Regional Library includes 29 branches serving an area of 23,000 square miles, from Golden to the U.S. border. It has over 222,000 cardholders who borrow more than 3.3 million items annually.
The mission of the Okanagan Regional Library District is to provide equitable access to relevant educational, recreational, and cultural library resources in order to enhance and enrich the lives of community residents.
Attractions & Adventure
- Main article: Attractions of Osoyoos
Osoyoos is Desert Wine Country's Sweet Spot with the charm of a beach town surrounded by the only living desert in Canada. There is plenty to see and do in Osoyoos including
- Big Rock Candy Mountain
- Bike and Boat Rentals
- Horseback Riding
- Nk'Mip Cellars
- Parks & Playgrounds
- Rattlesnake Canyon
- The Beach
- Waterslides
- Windmill
- WineLover's Club
Parks and Trails
- Main article: Parks of Osoyoos
- Haynes Point Provincial Park
- Kinsmen Park
- Lions Centennial Park
- Irrigation Canal Walkway
- International Bicycling and Hiking Trail
- Haynes Point Wetlands Trail
Getting Around, Transportation
- Main article: Transportation of Osoyoos
Osoyoos' modern and well-maintained transportation system gives businesses a competitive advantage. The north-south lifeline is highway 97, a vital connection that stretches from California to Alaska and links our community to a number of expanded local, regional and international airports.
Highway 3, the Southern Trans-Provincial, connects Osoyoos with the ice-free, deep-sea port of Vancouver. Just 10 minutes away, the Burlington Northern Intermodal Railway services the area.
