O is for Osoyoos

ABC Wednesday,
October 21st, 2015

The letter is O for Osoyoos

About ten miles south of Keremeos on the Crowsnest Highway, just before you

 reach the Canada/US border, you turn left and go up through desert country

over the Richter Pass, and as you leave the summit you begin to see signs below you

of the orchards and vineyards and waters that  surround the town of Osoyoos.

You will be most welcome. 

 This is another Tourist town with beaches and resorts, boating

and fishing, and they clasp the tourist to their friendly bosom.

The town's population (about 5000) swells  in the summer

months with visitors from elsewhere in B.C. and neighbouring Alberta,
as well as other places in Canada and the Pacific Northwest.

The origin of the name Osoyoos (O-sue-yus) was the word suius

meaning 'narrowing of the waters' in the local Okanagan language.

There is as little ithmus that goes part way across Osoyoos Lake, and the Lake itself

stretches into Washington, USA

As evidenced by rock and oral tradition aboriginal people have lived in the

Osoyoos area for thousands of years. 

The first Europeans (fur traders working for an American enterprise) ventured

up the Okanagan River to Osoyoos Lake in 1811.  The Hudson's Bay Company took over the fur trade in 1821 and the Okanagan Valley flourished and became a major trade route.

After the era of the Fur Traders gold transformed the economy of

the new colony of British Columbia and thousands of miners and drovers with cattle

crossed through the Customs House built in Osoyoos in 1861.

The climate is semi-arid with summers that are hot and dry, - on an average

one of the hottest areas in Canada.

The fall is sunny and pleasant and

the winters short and mild..  Spring comes to Osoyoos even earlier than it 

floats over the pass to the Similkameen.

Probably the most outstanding thing in modern day Osoyoos is the

economic and cultural growth of the Osoyoos Indian band.

They have an excellent chief who has led them to make good economic use

of the Band property.

A really stunning and sophisticated resort that sits on the hill above Osoyoos

Vineyards, a winery with cellars, a golf course, and a well used campground on the lake.



and standing over it all a native warrior, one of many metal sculptures in the complex

Down below in the town the summer months hum with visitors....

Apart from the town businesses the surrounding community is mainly devoted

to agriculture, and the stretch northward to Oliver, the next town,

is crowded with wineries, and known as The Million Mile.

"The call of the outdoors is irresistible in Osoyoos"

Osoyoos Lake beckons swimmers and sun-soakers, anglers and parasailers

Recently the Osoyoos Indian Band have been instrumental (amongst others) in bringing
the salmon back to Osoyoos Lake, which delights the hearts
of fishermen everywhere.

How to get there????

For more interesting Os visit here, at ABC Wednesday
with thanks to Denise and Roger and all open-hearted helpers....