Osoyoos Offers All the Charm and Appeal of Small-Town Living with an Arts and Culture Scene That Rivals Many Larger Centres

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WELCOME

It is my privilege and honour to invite you to investigate, explore, and make Osoyoos your new home. I believe the main advantage of life in Osoyoos is the great diversity that we oﬀ er. Th e property selection choices range from farm areas, to rural homes, to urban lots to luxurious lakeside condos. Th e majority of these properties come with an outstanding view. In addition to boasting the warmest lake in Canada, Osoyoos is surrounded by Canada’s only desert. It truly is one of Canada’s hidden gems.

Our local schools are exceptional and have many provincial achievements to their credit. We are well-served by local doctors, clinics and alternative practitioners to meet all your health care needs. We have a small hospital off ering 24/7 emergency service just 20 minutes away. Osoyoos is a great location for golfers including Osoyoos Golf Club’s 36 remarkable holes and the immaculate Sonora Dunes’ executive nine holes. Our water sports range from kayaking to stand-up paddling and dragon boat racing, to sailing to kiteboarding. Our long, hot summers and warm lake make Osoyoos the best spot for towed watersports in Canada. I am writing this in November and there was a kayak on the lake this morning! Lake Osoyoos challenges anglers with championship bass fi shing and off ers a unique sockeye salmon run in August. Yes, a salmon run in the desert!

Family camping on either the Kettle or Ashnola rivers is within two hours of home. Th ese are just some of the reasons why Osoyoos should be your new address.

Th e activities and organizations will tempt you with options. I would be remiss if I did not mention the “spirit” of Osoyoos. We have such a strong sense of community due to the energetic contributions of our volunteers. Osoyoos is a destination for people from around the world. Like you, the majority of our townsfolk have chosen a new life here and this is reﬂ ected by our diverse population, economy and special events for your enjoyment.

Town of Osoyoos May I PLEASE extend Canada’s warmest welcome® Contact: 250.495.6515 / 1 888 495 6515 to come and join us in Osoyoos. 8707 Main Street, Box 3010 Osoyoos, British Columbia V0H 1V0 Mayor Sue McKortoﬀ www.osoyoos.ca ABOUT OSOYOOS

® This insert is intended to be a companion piece to “Osoyoos Canada’s warmest welcome , Official Visitors’ Guide to Canada’s Only Living Desert Community,” available at www. destinationosoyoos.com as well as “The South Okanagan BC Osoyoos, Oliver, Okanagan Falls Relocation Guide 2012-2013.” We encourage you to read those resources in your research and we strive to provide you with some highlights here to help in your decision process.

With the warmest lake in Canada, more than 2,000 hours of annual sunshine, and the country’s only true desert, Osoyoos comes by its reputation as “Canada’s warmest welcome®” quite literally. New residents and visitors soon learn what our residents already know: That catchphrase is proven by the friendliness of the community and the lifestyle it offers. We’re proud to be in British Columbia, and here’s why:

 Canada’s healthiest, most active and environmentally-rich province  Plentiful natural resources  Plethora of recreational choices  Personal provincial income tax rates are the lowest in Canada  Dynamic opportunities for growth  Ecological stewardship with a strong climate action strategy  Lowest income tax rates in Canada with extremely low municipal taxes and utility taxes In Osoyoos we enjoy all those B.C. attributes and more! Osoyoos offers all the advantages of small-town living with all the amenities you need to build a rewarding life.

Winery photo/from Osoyoos HOUSING FIRST

There’s no sense getting you excited about living here, if you can’t find a place to call home. The good news is that your choices range from waterfront to valley view to urban or a combination thereof. Whether you’re looking for an affordable bungalow, a convenient townhouse or condo, a spacious family home or a touch of luxury, you’re sure to find it in the Osoyoos housing mix.

A typical residential home in Osoyoos in 2012 is selling for an average of $317,065, with an annual municipal tax bill of $2,705, which includes water, sewer and garbage utility service fees. The area has some excellent values and offers all price ranges for housing.

Start your research with these real estate brokerages:

Royal LePage Desert Oasis, 8512 Main St., 250-49yg5-2606, http://agents.royallepage.ca/DesertOasis MacDonald Realty – Okanagan South, 8324 Main St., 250-495-7522, http://www.osoyoosrealestate.com Desert Aire Realty, 8315 Main St., 250-495-2238, [email protected] ReMax Realty Solutions, 8507 Main St., 866-495-7441, http://www.okvalleyproperty.com Suppose you want to rent for awhile before you make a commitment and claim your stake. Osoyoos is one of the most sought-after rental destinations in Canada. Summer is high season, so many rentals become available September through June. If that meets your initial needs, your choice is nearly unlimited. It’s wise to shop around as there are many properties available. It’s also possible to secure long-term tenant arrangements from property management companies that offer a full range of property and rental management services. Check out these property management firms:

British Columbia Strata Management www.bcstrata.ca, Box 158, Osoyoos, B.C. VOH 1VO, 877-495-7522 Desert Aire Realty, Property and Strata Management, [email protected], 8315 Main St., Osoyoos, VOH 1VO 150-495-2238

Affordable housing is not neglected. Newcomers will want to check the South Meadowlark area, with its plan for a variety of housing for everyone from young families through seniors. A diverse mix will be available, such as urban-sized, single-family homes, carriage homes, duplexes, fourplexes, row housing and low-rise apartments. The area will be a showpiece for urban design excellence, with construction starting in 2014. COMMUNITY SERVICES

While you are shopping for your home or waiting to get settled, there are many convenient, comfortable places to stay, from modest to luxurious. There are 24 Bed and Breakfasts, eight campgrounds and 28 hotels/motels/resorts for you to choose from. Check out the Visitor Guide or the listings at Destination Osoyoos: http://www.destinationosoyoos.com/visit-osoyoos/accommodations

SONORA CENTRE Visit Sonora Centre, a multi-use complex with a full-size gymnasium, fitness facility, commercial kitchen and multiple classrooms. It houses the Okanagan Regional Library, a literacy program with Okanagan College, the Boys and Girls Club and the Osoyoos Autism Behavioural Centre.

SPORTS LEAGUES Children will get excited about opportunities in programs for hockey, dance, figure skating, soccer, swimming lessons, archery and more. Osoyoos is proud to be a family-friendly place. There are also adult recreational leagues for: slow pitch, volleyball, beach volleyball, soccer, hockey, badminton, golf and curling.

COMMUNITY SAFETY Rest assured your needs are looked after in case of emergencies. The B.C. Ambulance Service provides 24-hour coverage, RCMP provides policing and the Victims Assistance Program, bylaw officers see that town regulations are followed for a goodneighbour climate, Osoyoos and Oliver plan together for Emergency Preparedness, and the Osoyoos Fire Department has 30 on-call trained volunteers working for your protection. Community safety is augmented by Citizens on Patrol.

SUN BOWL ARENA Single ice sheet facility with 5 dressing rooms and a large mezzanine that is utilized for off-ice training and small group functions. Is also the home of the Osoyoos Coyotes Junior B Hockey Team. In the off season the Sun Bowl Arena provides hockey camps, power skating camps, figure skating programs and a ringette program which has been in place for 25 plus years. The arena also has hosted other events such as the BC Amateur Officials Camp, Best Ever Program and the Cyclone Taylor Cup. GETTING AROUND

With your first breathtaking view of Osoyoos, you’ll feel you’ve arrived in dreamland. While that’s almost true, you’ll need to come down to earth and connect with the road so you can move around. Grab a street map at the B.C. Visitor Centre and take a self-guided tour. Osoyoos is strategically located on the Canada-U.S. border TO PENTICTON - SUMMERLAND - KELOWNA crossing. It is intersected by Highway 97 running south to California and north the full length of B.C., and Highway 3, 3A OKANAGAN running west to Vancouver and east to Calgary. FALLS

Penticton Regional Airport (60 km north) offers daily flights Twin Lakes Rd

from Vancouver, or Kelowna International Airport (138 km Green Lake Rd Lake Green north) offers multiple daily flights to major points. Osoyoos also 97

White Lake Rd Lake White Seacrest has an 853m paved airstrip for private planes and helicopters. Hill Rd

Okanagan River

KEREMEOS Drive Tuc-el-Nuit OLIVER

B.C. Transit runs shuttles through the South Okanagan Transit CAWSTON 350

Old Golf Course Rd Ave Society. Greyhound also offers daily service connecting Osoyoos 3 Rd 5 Black Sage Rd to the rest of the country. You can also call on taxi, limo and Rd 7 Rd 6

Rd 9 Orchard Grove Ln private shuttle services to help you get where you need to go. Rd 8 McCall Rd 11 Black Sage Bench Golden Nothing is far away from anything in this tidy town of just 5,200, Mile Rd 13 Rd 18 so walking is a healthful option, and motels on Highway 3 are all Rd 22 3

97 Rancher within walking distance of downtown. Osoyoos is committed Creek Rd

to being a sustainable community, with bike paths, hiking areas St 45th OSOYOOS and walking trails. Along with many Canadian communities, 3 TO WASHINGTON (USA) Osoyoos has embraced a smoke-free policy in public outdoor spaces, so you can breathe deeply as you walk or cycle.

To Keremeos, Vancouver

Spotted Lake, Mt. Kobau To Oliver, Spartan Dr Penticton To Lions Park & Marina Peanut Spartan Dr OSOYOOS Pond Post Office Museum Eagle Crt 78th Ave TOWN MAP Seniors’ Centre Osoyoos OSOYOOS Swan Cr Main St Hwy. 3 Hwy 3 Desert Finch Cr Art Centre LAKE Hwy. 97 Centre Town Hall 74th Ave OSOYOOS Main St 87th St. Heron Ln 87th St 72nd Ave LAKE 85th St 74th Ave Nighthawk Dr 70th Ave Gyro Park 89th St Sandpiper Pl 68th Ave

Kildeer Pl

tS dr38 Sonora Nk’Mip Desert Curlew Ct Osoyoos Community Cutural Centre Wren Pl Elementary Centre School Hwy 3 Hummingbird Ln Buena Vista Osoyoos Veteran’s Industrial Park Air Park Hwy 97

Sunbowl Arena Kingfisher Dr Park International S

Curling Club p

a r 92nd Ave. 87th St. t Sonora Dunes a . n d R D k Golf Club e r . re C To Kelowna r e Important Numbers h International c n Airport a Destination Osoyoos Tourism Services Lions Park R To Calgary Peanut & Marina Cottonwood 250-495-5070 124 km International Pond 8701 Main Street, Osoyoos, BC . To Vancouver Airport Park r 77 miles D British Columbia Visitor Centre @ Osoyoos Osoyoos Main St. d International PO Box 500, Osoyoos o 250-495-5410 o Airport Canal w BC V0H 1V0 on Hwy 3 Economic Development Trail tt Gyro Co 250-495-4614 730 km Tel: 250-495-5070 Town

401 km 453 miles Park 45th St. 45th Osoyoos Municipal Hall 249 miles 1-888-OSOYOOS Centre

250-495-6515 r Dr. e

destinationosoyoos.com gfis Main St. in Kinsman Sonora Community Center K CANADA @OsoyoosBC Veteran’s Park 250-495-6562 Park 62nd Ave. B /destinationosoyoos.com Pioneer South Okanagan General Hospital, Oliver USA Legion 250-498-5000 Osoyoos O Walkway To Rock Creek, Grand Forks, Mt. le Beach a n South Valley Veterinary Hospital, Osoyoos Secondary d Trail 62nd Ave. Baldy Ski Resort e

r 250-498-6760 Legend Did you know? School D Anarchist View Pt. r .

Snow Reports - Mount Baldy Ski Area .tS ht511 Population of Town: 5,115 Boat Launch 1-866-ski-baldy (754-2253) Population of Area: 6,200 Road Reports Osoyoos Elevation: 227 m or 909 ft above sea level . Provincial & First Nations Camping Dr Haynes Pt. ch 1-800-550-4997, 1-900-565- 4997, Cell*4997 Golf Club ea Primary industry: Agriculture and Tourism B le Provincial Park b RCMP/Fire/Ambulance b B Boat Trailor Parking e 0C = 32F 20C = 68 F 30C = 86F P 911 Desert Mileage: Parking Park Distance: 32nd Ave. 1 km = 0.62 mi 50 kph = 30 mph Hiking/Biking Trails 100 kph = 60 mph Haynes Pt. BC Visitor Centre @ Osoyoos Fuel: Parks Wetlands Trail

Open Year Round 3.8 litres = 1 US gallon

a Hwy 97 Hwy

9912 Hwy #3 Osoyoos, BC Climate Facts k

Hours of sunshine: 2039 h

Tel: 250-495-5410 o r

Avg. Jan. high: 0C or 32F D @BCVCOosyoos OSOYOOS r Avg. July high: 29C or 84F . /BCVCOsoyoos Average Annual Rainfall: 25 cm or 9.8 in LAKE Average Annual Snowfall: 5.4 cm or 2.1 in To Washington U.S.A Osoyoos Lake dge Regional Park CANADA Design & G.I.S. Border Crossing USA Open 24 Hrs. HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION

You want to be confident you and your family are well cared for, and Osoyoos has that covered. The South Okanagan General Hospital is just 20 km north in Oliver, with 24-hour emergency service and services similar to a walk-in clinic so you can be seen and referred for further services quickly.

urgent care, outpatient ambulatory care, community service, connections to long term residential care service and doctors’ offices. Over the next 10 years the population of the South Okanagan Health Area is forecast to grow 10 per cent, from 19,500 to The Penticton Regional Hospital is 60 km north, with acute 21,400, with half that population located in Osoyoos and Oliver, care, 24-hour emergency care, and a full range of services. The so planning is underway for more services. Osoyoos Health Centre pulls together many services right in town. As a Community Health Centre, it doesn’t have acute You may also need to check out facilities for specialized care care beds, but may provide basic laboratory and radiology, for you and your family’s needs. You’ll find a full range of dental services, alternative services such as acupuncture, chiropractors, massage, homeopathy, reflexology, physiotherapy and more. Even your pets are looked after, with services from supplies to boarding to veterinary care. There are several options for pre-school and day-care for pre- schoolers, and Okanagan Similkameen School District #53 presents the learning spectrum for children in the area. In Osoyoos you’ll find a public elementary school and a private Christian elementary school, a secondary school, as well as provisions for continuing education through YouLearn and distance learning through Okanagan College. RECREATION AND LEISURE

There are several gyms and fitness centres in town with a full range of programs in yoga, pilates, TRX, personal training, weight loss and more. Osoyoos also boasts all kinds of leagues for adults who love to spend their leisure in slow pitch, volleyball, beach volleyball, soccer, badminton, golf, curling and hockey, and there are recreation programs and specific sports for all ages. Visit Desert Park, a celebrated and historical location that offers horse racing, equestrian events, barrel racing, and opportunities to visit the barns. Coming this year are riding lessons, bull riding, concerts, festivals and baseball tournaments.

If you love to swing a club, you’ll definitely find your bliss a the 36-hole Osoyoos Golf and Country Club or check out the view- swept Sonora Dunes.

For an experience of a lifetime, look a little farther afield and follow the South Okanagan Golf Trail. Besides the two championship courses at Osoyoos Golf and Country Club called Desert Gold and Park Meadows, you can swing away at Fairview Mountain in Oliver, just 20 minutes away, and try your There are several pubs in town as well as wine bars offering an skills at Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course, also in Oliver. authentic night life scene with fun events ranging from karaoke to live entertainment and sports events. You work hard and deserve to unwind and play. You only have to look at the area’s geography to see that there are lake Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country is an adventure in itself, as you and mountain activities available…Osoyoos is a year-round tour 23 wineries and counting within about a 20-minute radius. playground. Locals celebrate the winter season having access This is the most prime wine growing region in Canada, and the to numerous trails for snow shoeing and several snow resorts wineries reflect the beauty of the bluffs, the contours of the land, in close proximity. Mount Baldy is 45 minutes away and is a the fragrances of sage and the historic influence. best kept secret where people all ages enjoy shoe shoeing, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing.

You’re sure to become a fan of the Osoyoos Coyotes Junior Hockey Team, league champions in 2010-11.

When you’re ready to treat yourself to a fine meal, check the following for suggestions: Restaurants: www.destinationosoyoos.com/visit-osoyoos/ cuisine/restaurants Food to Go: www.destinationosoyoos.com/visit-osoyoos/ cuisine/food-to-go

Fruit stands line Highway 97 nearly shoulder-to-shoulder between Oliver and Osoyoos, the largest concentration of fruit stands in the Valley. Farmers’ markets, farm tours and up-pick experiences await you. Living farm-to-table is easy in Osoyoos, whether do-it-yourself, or enjoying the many restaurants that showcase local ingredients. Organic produce is abundant in this haven of agri-tourism and culinary delight. ARTS AND CULTURE

Osoyoos offers all the charm and appeal of small-town living with an arts and culture scene that rivals many larger centres.

Osoyoos is a key participant in Okanagan Wine Festivals, www.thewinefestivals.com. Quite frankly, the world comes to Okanagan Regional Library, with branches from the U.S. border Osoyoos for many of these great events. to Revelstoke, has a lively Osoyoos branch at 8505 – 68th Ave. in the Sonora Community Centre. All branches are tied together There are theatres, a library and a strong arts community within electronically so all resources are available everywhere. Osoyoos. You can find some great cooking classes in Home Hardware and at many local wineries. The Osoyoos Museum is Look for events for animated living all year around, such a window to the past, and the community has shown it believes as Market on Main, Cherry Fiesta, Easter Eggstravaganza, in heritage by a recent investment of $1.2 million for a new Christmas Lite Up, and wine festivals. museum facility.

Check out Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, 1000 Rancher Creek Many people who are able to pick anywhere they want to live Road for a deep experience with the land, the culture and the choose Osoyoos. It’s a community that offers the full package original people. You can even take in fishing excursions and to make an unbeatable lifestyle. In Osoyoos you’ll find honour rappelling adventures. for the senior culture combined with a young energy, fuelled by entrepreneurs and families looking to the future. With Canada’s The Osoyoos and District Arts Council is the lively volunteer warmest welcome, it’s no wonder many of our visitors return group that provides an umbrella over many groups that may to make Osoyoos their home. Congratulations on your exciting tap into your interests, such as artists, potters, photographers, new opportunity. Please let us show you around and welcome wood carvers, musicians, writers, quilters and more. you home! OSOYOOS INDIAN BAND SAYS WELCOME

Okanagan First Nation people have been keepers of the desert since ages past, here at the southern tip of the Okanagan where the Great Basin ends. Here, in and around Osoyoos, meaning “the narrowing of the waters,” our ancestors lived independently through agriculture and trade. From those roots, we still honour the hard working, self-supporting lifestyle through new opportunities in agricultural, eco-tourism, commercial, industrial and residential enterprises.

Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation has developed and oversees nine businesses, including a golf course, culture centre, gas station, store, construction company, cement plant and NK’MIP Resort. Within NK’MIP Resort there are 12 businesses, with more to be developed in the future.

An affordable housing project is springing up between Tamarac and 45th Street. There’ll be 71 units soon in Osoyoos, ready for families to move into, part of the OIB commitment to family life and independent living.

At the new intersection, 45th and Highway #3, you’ll soon see a new convenience store and gas station, among newcomers to OIB’s Osoyoos business base. The deal is signed with Petro Canada with opening targeted for July 2013. More retail spaces Osoyoos Indian Band, winner of many national awards, is and commercial opportunities are to open at this location. recognized as one of the most progressive bands in the country. Chief Clarence Louie, chief since 1984, has received the Order Within the 32,000 acres of OIB lands, expect many future of B.C. among numerous awards. His values of economic self- business opportunities in commercial, residential and tourism reliance have translated into more businesses per capita than venues. any other first nation in the country, with jobs for 700 people. [email protected] www.oibdc.ca NK’MIP RESORT

NK’MIP Resort encompasses NK’MIP Cellars Winery, NK’MIP Desert Cultural Centre, Sonora Dunes Golf Course and Clubhouse, NK’MIP RV Park and Indian Grove Riding Stable, Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa and the list grows. NK’MIP (pronounced in- ka-meep) means “bottomland.” Overlooking the panorama of Lake Osoyoos, the town and rolling agricultural lands, Spirit Ridge epitomizes luxury living, with 226 villas and suites. It’s the ideal place for a weekend romantic getaway, family wedding, business conference, personal rejuvenation at Solstice Spa, and more. From five-

star suites to mouth-watering cuisine to just drinking in the The people of the land, Osoyoos Indian Band, welcome you to views, visitors are awed. In 2013 Spirit Ridge will be offering a your new home or business. residential component with 44 new units just underway.

Okanagan’s newest family tourism destination also has NK’MIP Desert Cultural Centre. This interpretive centre is built into a hillside, an architectural marvel in harmony with the terrain. Indoor and outdoor exhibits unfold the fascinating stories of Canada’s only desert and people who are its keepers.

Along the two-kilometre trail you’re immersed in sage grasslands and pine forests. You can explore wild flowers, antelope-brush and food-source plants, and may see wildlife in the delicate balance of this unique habitat. Each season brings its magic, and you are enriched by the natural Osoyoos experience