AGM Celebrates Events of the Past Year

The 12th Annual General Meeting of Destination Osoyoos, held May 14 at the new Walnut Beach Resort, celebrated key achievements which pave the way for major progress for Osoyoos tourism, economic development, local services, and quality of life.

DO Chairman Chris Bower told the 50 business and community representatives attending the AGM, “The amazing work undertaken this past year has laid the foundation for this community to literally go to the next level as an all-season economic generator in the months and years to come.”

Destination Osoyoos CEO Glenn Mandziuk gave the AGM a review of many of the projects that made 2007 such a successful year. He said all DO activities fell into five categories – Investment Attraction, Business Retention & Expansion, Visitor Information, Tourism Market Development, and Community Development – and all focused on supporting the key central goal of Economic Development. Important developments included:

• Launch of the town’s new brand – ‘Osoyoos: Canada’s Warmest Welcome’.

• Opening of the new BC Visitor Centre @ Osoyoos.

• Implementation of the additional two-per-cent hotel-room tax with revenue going for better tourism marketing initiatives.

• Provincial government designation of Osoyoos as a resort municipality leading to additional funding for local improvements.

• Successful recruitment of new doctors to the area.

• Fostering an agreement with the Town and the provincial government to develop industrial land at the Osoyoos Airport.

• The start of efforts to recruit skilled foreign workers for local businesses.

• Supporting local events like business training and the Osoyoos Lake Water Science Forum.

• Start-up and operation of Community Information Radio Osoyoos (CIRO 106.5 FM).

• Expanding the area’s guided tour program.

Mandziuk said the tourism and economic development activity is proving to be a great investment in the future of Osoyoos: “This past year we attracted more than $4 million in new tourism and economic development program dollars for the community from both the private and public sectors – and for every one dollar invested in local programs, 19 new dollars were leveraged,” Mandziuk said.

At the same time, he said, Destination Osoyoos took a number of steps in 2007 to invest in bringing its own human-resources and financial-management processes up to first-class standards. He presented an audited financial statement to the AGM.

Mandziuk said Destination Osoyoos’ efforts are proving successful because of the positive partnership approach the organization takes with governments and businesses, and because of the “passion and dedication” of the organization’s Board of Directors and staff.

Osoyoos Mayor John Slater brought the Town’s greetings to the AGM, praising the contribution Destination Osoyoos makes to the community.

Speakers from Citizenship & Immigration Canada, Service Canada, and the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program gave a detailed presentation on how businesses can recruit skilled foreign workers.

The 2008 Board of Directors, pictured to the right, consists of: BACK ROW L-R: Alison Anderson Gilmour (Vineyard Operator), Robert Lintell (Okanagan Capital Fund), Derek Noske (Orca Pacific Management Consultants), Glenn Mandziuk (Destination Osoyoos CEO), Rob Webster (Web Metal Manufacturing), Alina Lovin (ReMax Real Estate). FRONT ROW L-R: Gordon Kandola (City Furniture), Chris Bower (Nk’Mip Resort), Terry Deol (Econo Lodge Motel), Chris Jensen (South Okanagan Concrete Products).

D.O. steps up efforts to recruit skilled foreign workers and doctors

Destination Osoyoos CEO Glenn Mandziuk says the organization is stepping up its major initiative to recruit skilled foreign workers and doctors to this rapidly growing South Okanagan town, and it has hired an Immigrate Recruitment Project Team Leader – Pru Zerny – to oversee the effort.

Zerny says, “Our early joint effort with the Town of Oliver and Interior Health to recruit new doctors for our area is proving very successful, with three new doctors recently deciding to locate here and others actively looking at the possibility.”

But she notes the challenge of attracting skilled foreign workers for other strategic occupations will require a concerted effort for a number of years, and she has begun discussions on the issue with local employers. Zerny says until now most Osoyoos businesses have not considered hiring foreign workers or have thought government regulations may make it too difficult.

She adds that there are several immigration programs which facilitate the immigration process for certain job categories – and the Destination Osoyoos AGM, held May 14, featured presentations by three officials of these programs – Provincial Nominee Program senior advisor Gordon Kennedy, Service Canada official Greg Anstruther, and Citizenship & Immigration Canada officer Margaux Kaczor. The three said their agencies are committed to helping companies meet their labour needs.

And the manager of B.C.’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Michael Chew, applauds the efforts of local governments and economic development organizations to help businesses recruit skilled foreign workers: “The program is designed to benefit B.C. employers who have difficulty filling positions with local residents or Canadians. It expedites the process. But we can only make the program available to businesses throughout the province – the rest is up to them. And it’s up to local stakeholders to take the lead and say how this can help.”

Zerny notes the Osoyoos/Oliver effort to attract doctors met early success last year when a doctor couple from South Africa decided to relocate to the area this summer. Since then a Vancouver doctor announced she will move here and another doctor has visited and is actively considering the area. Advertisements for Osoyoos/Oliver have been placed in leading medical journals and Zerny along with Oliver Councillor Pat Hampton and Dr. David Shaw had a recruitment booth at an April conference of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada, in Halifax. Seven of the 14 current Osoyoos/Oliver doctors plan to retire within the next 18 months.

Zerny says the competition is strong for other skilled workers, and a long-term effort working closely with local businesses will be required. She notes that other areas, such as Kelowna, have realized it takes a major effort of informing the business community and annual attendance at a number of overseas job and emigration fairs. Destination Osoyoos CEO Glenn Mandziuk attended two ‘Destination Canada’ job fairs in the United Kingdom last October, and Zerny is now following up with those who expressed some interest in relocating. But she says the difficulties are highlighted by one recent example: In March she hosted a visit from a British construction manager now overseeing a mega-project in Dubai. He received a job offer from an area company but was unable to convince his wife to move here.

“In Osoyoos, we are still at the early stages of this long-term project,” Zerny says.

New 'high-def' video presents Osoyoos

A new fast-paced, high-definition promotional video has been created to present Osoyoos to the world in its recently adopted new brand as ‘Canada’s Warmest Welcome’.

The five-minute video received its premiere screening May 14 at the Destination Osoyoos Annual General Meeting. DO CEO Glenn Mandziuk says it displays high-impact images of the vibrant people, activities and natural beauty of the town and surrounding area in a powerful presentation that includes fast-cuts, aerial shots and a soundtrack with no voice narration.

He says the video has been produced by the well-known Vancouver-based production company Ace Film, headed up by Osoyoos native Allen Jones. With more than 20 years of film and video experience, Ace Film’s productions include B.C.’s 2010 Olympic bid video and TV commercials for IKEA, Kokanee, Coca Cola and General Motors.

Jones says the video is “leading-edge” because it is produced in the latest industry-standard high-definition Blu-ray HD technology and because it is focused on the marketing and brand of Osoyoos.

Mandziuk says the video will have many uses as part of presentations that he and others will make to various people, investors, companies, doctors and others who are considering moving to Osoyoos. “It sets our image and tone as a community with amenities, quality of life, a growing economy, four-season resort facilities – and a great place to visit, live and do business,” he says.

Another gorgeous Osoyoos spring!

Every spring, Osoyoos residents and visitors look forward to the beautiful blossoms that adorn the area’s apple, cherry, apricot and peach trees. This year was no exception, as we see in this photo of an orchard in bloom at the north edge of the town.

Tourism Trends

• The 2008 National BMX Championships are being held May 16-18, 2008 in Abbotsford, B.C. The ‘bicycle moto-cross’ competitors are racing on a new world-class track at Abbotsford’s Exhibition Park. Elite athletes from across Canada are vying for age-group championships, spots in the World Championships, and potentially a chance to compete at the 2008 Olympics. Sport event hosting is a growing part of the conference and tourism industry.

• RVwest offers an article telling RVers how to reduce the stress of crossing the U.S. border. The article lists the things a person can do regarding: proper travel documents; permission letters for taking children or grandchildren across the border; border wait times; currency declarations; adequate medical insurance; taking animals on the trip; contents of the vehicle such as firewood and food; and declarations and receipts when returning to Canada. The article can be viewed at www.rvwest.com/journeys/rving_across_borders.php.

• The Okanagan Environmental Industry Alliance will host a one-day conference and trade show, ‘Solutions Through Renewable Energy & Energy Conservation’, June 20 at the Best Western in Kelowna. It will show engineers, developers, construction managers, and regional and municipal government officials how to get ahead of the green wave in the building industry.

• Bellstar Hotels & Resorts celebrated its fifth birthday on May 1. Led by CEO & President Ed Romanowski, Bellstar is recognized as a leader in condo-resort management and development and has destination resorts and boutique hotels in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains and British Columbia’s Coastal Region and Okanagan Valley – including the Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa on Osoyoos Indian Band land at Osoyoos. Bellstar’s success has been recognized by a number of tourism and hospitality organizations, with awards from the Canadian Tourism Commission, the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association, and the American Resort Developers Association. See www.bellstar.ca.