Osoyoos took a major step towards creating a new vision for its downtown core last Friday when about 30 local business people and Town officials took part in a visioning “charrette”.

The day-long consultation meeting on Feb. 27 – co-hosted by Destination Osoyoos and the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce – sought opinions on a wide range of business-related issues and generated ideas which will be presented in a report to Osoyoos Town Council in the near future.

Representatives from Destination Osoyoos, the Town of Osoyoos and the Chamber, plus the approximately 20 business owners who took part in the Downtown Revitalization Charrette tackled issues including the retail infrastructure, traffic flow, parking capacity, the seasonal nature of Osoyoos business, desired new types of businesses, entertainment opportunities, the downtown residential sector, and attracting investors.

Destination Osoyoos Chief Executive Officer Glenn Mandziuk says the goal was to begin development a new vision directly from the people who own businesses and work downtown. He says Osoyoos hasn't had a new vision for the area since a local group pursued the Spanish architectural theme in the early 1980s.

“The charrette went very well,” Mandziuk says. He notes that one issue which stood out is the fact that an increase in local shopping by Osoyoos residents would be the key to business success in the downtown.

“It is estimated that local residents spend about 50 per cent of their total retail expenditures for durable goods out of town. There needs to be more effort to increase local spending, and to accomplish this we need to ensure we have the product mix and create a great shopping and social experience,” Mandziuk says. “Tourists will come to shop as long as local residents shop there, so local resident spending is a key factor to consider in our planning, investment attraction, marketing, and design for the downtown.”

He says downtown improvement ideas included installing new lighting standards, outdoor seating benches, centre medians, and pedestrian islands – and establishing a stronger connection to the waterfront from the downtown.

“In addition, people suggested that featuring locally grown and produced food products could help to create an Osoyoos shopping experience that would attract not only local shoppers, but also those from other communities. Other types of businesses could follow, including a movie theatre and entertainment venues.”

Mandziuk says consultants with experience in downtown revitalization projects facilitated the charrette and captured all the ideas generated at the session. “They will prepare a report for formal presentation to Town Council for consideration, and we will discuss next steps with our partner on this project – the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce.”

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For More Information Contact:

Glenn Mandziuk, CEO
Destination Osoyoos
Tel: 250-495-3366
Email: glenn@osoyoos.ca

The Destination Osoyoos Development Society is a non-profit grassroots organization committed to strengthening economic, physical, social and cultural conditions in the Osoyoos area. The goal of its Community Economic Development Strategy is to promote enhanced quality of life and a sustainable, diversified economy. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing diverse interests in the community.