JULY 2016
FREE
www.oksun.ca
100% locally owned
Osoyoos couple
spends life globetrotting
CONTENTS Making music the old way at Osoyoos Museum
Page 8 PUBLISHER
ABERDEEN PUBLISHING INC. www.aberdeenpublishing.com
EDITOR
RICHARD MCGUIRE reporter@osoyoostimes.com
AD DESIGN
RONDA JAHN production@osoyoostimes.com
SALES
BRIAN HIGHLEY brianhighley@aberdeenpublishing.com
4
Aussie farmers check South Okanagan vineyards
7
Kids, pilot on cloud nine
8
Making music the old way
10
Volunteer gardener loves interacting with seniors
13
No big secret to Oliver seniors’ longevity
14
Love of travel takes couple around the globe
16
Closure of Oliver SuperValu marks end of an era
20
Country prodigy, 13, plays in Oliver and Osoyoos
“
23
Around Town events calendar
“In 1981, we sold everything we owned except for some clothes and our backpacks and we took off on a two-year adventure.” Deb McCallum (Page 14)
JULY 2016
CONTRIBUT0RS KELSI BISSONNETTE is a Certified Fitness Trainer and Instructor. She has been working in the fitness industry for 20+ years and has owned her own fitness studio.
FREE
www.oksun.ca
100% locally owned
Osoyoos couple
spends life globetrotting
ON THE COVER Deb and Mel McCallum have spent their lives travelling the globe since they fell in love as teenagers and backpacked for two years. Now they satisfy their love of travel by organizing excursions from their business, Lakeside Travel, in Osoyoos. (Photo contributed) Page 14.
We welcome feedback from our readers. Send comments to reporter@osoyoostimes.com or mail to Box 359, Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V0, Telephone 250-495-7225. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in whole or part by any means without the written permission of the publisher. While every care has been taken with this publication, the author(s) and publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors it may contain. No liability is accepted for any loss or damage resulting from the use of this publication. © 2016 Aberdeen Publishing. We reserve the right to refuse any submission or advertisement. ISSN 2291-2991.
2 www.oksun.ca
Sun Sightings The women devoured cherry pies in seconds in the cherry pie eating contest at Osoyoos Cherry Fiesta. Contestants had to keep their hands behind their backs. It wasn’t elegant. (Richard McGuire photo)
Great stories from the South Okanagan
brianhighley@aberdeenpublishing.com
“Magazine advertising is enjoyed, and seen as an integral part of magazine content. As a result, magazines ads are low on the annoyance scale. Readers use magazine ads to catch up with what’s new in fashion, food, home decor, toiletries, retail, automotive, business services and much more.”
Source: Starch Research 2009
250.535.0540 OKANAGAN SUN • JULY 2016 • 3
Australian farmers (from left) Ben Mitchell, Alice Fargher, Jessica Crettenden and Rotarian Jim Mitchell were all in a very a good mood after a recent wine tasting at Tinhorn Creek Estate Winery near Oliver.
Aussie farmers look to South Okanagan for inspiring vineyard ideas to take home By Dan Walton Aspirations of a healthy fusion between agriculture and tourism seem to be a reality in the Okanagan Valley, and in order to analyze and mimic its success, a small group of Australians were in Oliver and Osoyoos earlier in June to explore several local wineries. Through the Rotary Club’s group study exchange, Alice Fargher, Ben Mitchell, Jessica Crettenden and Rotarian Jim Mitchell came from Australia to spend some time
exploring the vineyards of Western North America. The three Australian farmers work in different parts of their country. “Over here you’re lucky to have so many different types of industry within agriculture,” said Crettenden. “Back home, there are big chunks of different types of agriculture, but you don’t get the flow of people that you do over here. Tourism and agriculture actually bode well here.” Ben Mitchell was surprised to find out Western Australia takes in more annual rainfall than the Okanagan, but
Osoyoos Bottle Depot • • • • • • • •
Beer cans & bottles Pop cans & bottles Liquor & Wine bottles Juices & Water bottles Tetra-Brik (Juice boxes) Styrofoam Cardboard Paint - Batteries - Glass
8305 - 72nd Ave, Osoyoos
250-495-2399
Mon-Sat 10:00am-4:00pm, Closed Sunday 4 www.oksun.ca
he was envious of the geographic advantage of having lakes and rivers receiving a steady feed of freshwater from upstream snowpacks. “We depend a lot more on rainfall, so we’re at the hands of God, whereas you guys have an even flow, which let’s Canadian farmers manipulate their yields and vegetative growth a lot more than we can,” he said. “I was really impressed by the micromanagement of the vineyards. You’re doing leaf plucking and shoot thinning various times throughout the season – that plus precise water application really gives you guys the ability to grow the quality that you want.” The group of Aussies said wines from the Okanagan Valley do have a presence in the Australian market, but that only enthusiasts seem to be familiar with nondomestic products. “We’re loyal drinkers in Australia,” Ben said. “We like to support local and buy local. It’s people who’ve had all the Australia wines who are usually the ones who branch out and try tasting the global market.” Before arriving in the Okanagan last month, the group first toured a wine region in Washington State. Ben said B.C. wineries are “a cut above,” the neighbours to the south, and he found the American practices to be slightly atypical compared to Canadian and Australian producers. “Canadian wines are a bit more similar to our wines,” he said. “Washington State was a little bit more fruit
driven.” While the Rotary exchange saw the Australians surrounded by wineries and vineyards, a broader purpose was for them to gain a better understanding of all facets of North American agriculture. Fargher, who lives about 500 kilometres away from where Ben lives in the Clare Valley (a popular wine region in South Australia), manages a 150,000-acre sheep farm on the outskirts of a town with a population of 17. “We’ve got a pub though so it’s OK,” she said. Fargher won’t be applying any of the winemaking techniques she’s learned towards her sheep farm, but she hopes to diversify her agricultural practices to include more tourism, and said she was very impressed by the success of agri-tourism in the Okanagan. “Not everything we’ve seen is specific to our industry, it’s about sharing the information we learn with people in those industries,” she said. Following their time in the Osoyoos and Oliver area, the group travelled to wineries near Penticton, Merritt, Kamloops and Kelowna, which Ben pronounced more like ‘clown-a.’ “We’re going to be sad to leave,” he said. “This would be a great place to live with the awesome views, mountains, rivers and orchards.” All four of the Australian visitors said they thoroughly enjoyed their short visit to Canada and hoped that they might be able to return in the near future.
ONLINE INSURANCE QUOTES NOW AVAILABLE AT
www.eisenhut.ca
We Now
QUICK EASY QUOTES FOR OUT OF TOWN CUSTOMERS
CONDOS SEASONAL AND RENTAL DWELLINGS HOME OWNERS Process/Spot
Carry!
C0 M0 Y0 K100 PMS Black
C100 M100 Y0 K0 PMS 7672
C100 M20 Y0 K0 PMS 2995
8501 MAIN STREET, OSOYOOS
NEW HOMEOWNERS & POTENTIAL BUYERS Do you need home insurance or need to know if you qualify for home insurance.
8308 Main Street, Osoyoos BC
Don’t let cold nights put a damper on your outdoor entertaining, add ambiance and warmth with an outdoor fireplace or fire table. Jackson Grills can be the simple solution to all your outdoor heating needs.
250-495-6534
www.osoyooshomehardware.ca
Since 1985
THINK EISENHUT INSURANCE...
R0 G0 B0 #000000
R4 G136 B209 #23237D
R4 G136 B209 #0488D1
OKANAGAN SUN • JULY 2016 • 5
JULY 16TH – 17TH, 2016 10:00 – 5:00
100
SEASONS IN THE SUN
Come celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the SUMMERLAND ORNAMENTAL GARDENS
Two days of free family friendly events: • House and Garden Tours • Crafters and Artisans • Botanical Illustrations Display • Children’s Activities • Food • Silent Auction • Music (see website for details) • Saturday headliner – South Okanagan Big Band • Sunday headliner – Cod Gone Wild Park at the Research Centre Free shuttle bus to the Gardens Options available for handicapped visitors For more information, scan here:
Photo courtesy Summerland Museum and Archives
SPONSORS:
Friends’ office: 250.494.6385 | email: friends.summerlandgardens@gmail.com | www.summerlandgardens.org 6 www.oksun.ca
COPA for Kids pilot Phil Anderson takes Xavier Subotin for a thrilling flight at the Oliver Airport during the event in June. He was nervous before the flight, but wasn’t too scared to do it. (Dan Walton photo)
Kids, pilot on cloud nine By Dan Walton Defying the law of gravity for the first time is a lot to take in. A handful of youngsters were given free aerial tours of the Oliver area last month during COPA for Kids, many of them having never experienced flight before. “When I went down super fast and I went back up, that was really fun,” said 8-year-old Xavier Subotin, who flew tandem with Phil Anderson during his first-ever plane ride. From up in the air, Oliver looked tiny, much different than how he expected it to. Mountains on the other hand, still looked like mountains, but they appeared much brighter from up high. Before the actual flight, each young passenger was taught about the dynamics of a plane and safety procedures. Xavier said his favourite part of the roughly 20-minute ride was when they passed over Osoyoos Lake. He added that Anderson is good at flying, and he plans on returning next year for another free flight. “He was mostly just excited about the day,” said his father Jeremy. “Right before takeoff he got a little nervous, but not too scared to do it.” Another pilot who donated his day to COPA was Victor Seder. While Seder is an avid supporter of COPA for Kids, he had no flying experience as a child and waited until he was 50 before learning to fly. He said once he began having to commute regularly between Oliver and Van-
couver, upgrading his mode of transportation was an easy decision. “Flying takes one hour and 20 minutes from Boundary Bay to here, and it can take up to five hours to drive,” he said. “Plus it’s a lot more fun flying than driving.” Seder flies a Cessna 182 four-seater, and has strapped about 60 youngsters into his plane since he began volunteering for COPA four years ago. “Some of them are excited, some are nervous, some are laid back, but they all have a good time,” he said. He said the questionable weather on June 11 may have deterred a few families from coming out, but fortunately the harsher weather stayed isolated from the tour area. “The rain that looks like it’s coming in might create some wind and turbulence, but so far today it’s been very smooth,” he said. “Kids don’t like turbulence usually.” Seder said the direction of the wind that morning, blowing straight down the runway, made landings a little easier. “This way it assists pilots with the landing,” he said. “When the wind comes in from the side it makes it tricky.” On the ground, volunteer Ron Johnson said COPA for Kids is an exciting opportunity for kids, but he was hoping more children would have taken advantage. “I would have liked to have a few more kids show up, but the hard part is getting the word out,” he said. Johnson, who has been volunteering with COPA for 10 years, said it’s important to share with children the opportunity to fly, and he believes the event instills lasting interest among young people. OKANAGAN SUN • JULY 2016 • 7
Allan Gaudreault shows the Victor VV-IX “Victrola” tabletop phonograph he restored for Osoyoos Museum, while Manager Kara Burton looks on. (Richard McGuire photo)
Making music the old way By Richard McGuire
An Alberta snowbird has restored two antique phonographs for the Osoyoos Museum and they are now making music. Allan Gaudreault, 70, a “more-or-less” retired construction manager, picked up his passion for old phonographs 11 years ago and since then has restored about 50 of them. “I always like to keep occupied,” says Gaudreault, who embraced the hobby after a family friend from Grande Prairie introduced him to it. His first phonograph, a Victor VV-IX, coincidentally was the same model as one of the two he restored for the Osoyoos Museum. The other is an Edison A-100 diamond disc player that plays 80-rpm records made from wood fibres compressed with resin and coated with shellac. The Victor, a tabletop model, was popular between 1914 and 1920 and the older Edison was popular between 1903 and 1910, Gaudreault said. “They were in pretty rough shape,” said Kara Burton, museum manager. “They are beautiful now. It’s great that they are going to be part of our main exhibit for this year. 8 www.oksun.ca
It will be a then-and-now comparison. This will be music 100 years ago.” Burton admits that restoration of antiques is a “touchy subject” among museum purists. “In the museum world sometimes it’s not always smiled upon to change or alter it,” she said. Nonetheless, she took the idea for the restoration to the museum’s board and they supported it. “We chose these two to get redone because we didn’t have the history on them and so it wasn’t like it was an original piece from a long-time family,” she said. Having the phonographs in working order was a big plus, she said, because being able to hear them allows for a more interactive experience. “That’s a lot of what we’re going for moving forward with the museum,” said Burton. “We want it to be a memorable experience. We don’t want people to come in the door and just look at everything on a shelf. We want it to be interactive.” As well as donating his time to restore the phonographs, Gaudreault also donated three boxes of old 78rpm records that can be played on the Victor. Gaudreault showed off the Victor, which when it was
At left is a Victor VV-IX tabletop phonograph restored for the Osoyoos Museum by Allan Gaudreault. You control volume by opening and closing the doors on the front. At right is an older Edison A-100 diamond disc player, which plays 80 rpm records made of wood fibre and resin and coated in shellac. (Richard McGuire photo)
first released more than a century ago used needles that had to be replaced each time a record was played. The museum now has a supply of aftermarket needles introduced around the 1930s that only have to be changed after about 50 record plays. The Victor’s “volume control” consists of two wooden doors on the front that can be opened or partially closed to regulate the volume. Gaudreault said the Victor had once been submerged in water and so the wooden lamination was ruined and the wind-up motor was completely rusted. He had to take the motor apart and completely rebuild it and he covered the old phonograph with new ribbon mahogany. The Edison also needed its motor rebuilt. There was a further complication. Unlike the 78-rpm phonographs like the Victor, in which the needle floats across the record in the grooves, the Edison’s diamond disc is too heavy to move by itself in the shallow record grooves. In order to move it, a threaded rod is required that moves the reproducer across the record in exact synchronization with the record. And this floor model also required a new mahogany finish. In their time, these old record players were expensive items that only the wealthy could afford. There was no giving a second one to the teenagers or carrying it around for music on the go. The tabletop Victor might have cost between $25 and $50, Gaudreault said, but in those days that represented about a month’s salary. A bigger cabinet model might cost $200 to $300, nearly a typical year’s salary. “They were very expensive, so you didn’t see these
with working families unless they acquired it from someone else,” he said. Aside from being used in more well off homes, they may also have been used in dancehalls. A big change came later, around the 1930s, when electric-powered 78-rpm jukeboxes became popular – when RCA bought out Victor to become RCA Victor. Among the 50-odd phonographs that Gaudreault has restored, and keeps in a 1,600 square-foot, porcelaintiled garage, he also has a jukebox he restored. Gaudreault was born in the Chicoutimi area of Quebec, but moved to Alberta’s Peace Country at the age of three. He speaks English with a touch of a francophone accent because he was raised in Falher, Alberta, a French-speaking community. In more recent years he has lived in Spruce Grove, west of Edmonton, and has a cottage at Lac la Biche where he spends winters ice fishing. He comes to Osoyoos between the beginning of March and the middle of April. It was a chance encounter Burton had at the museum a year ago that led him to take home and restore the two phonographs. Gaudreault loves to play his vast collection of around 4,000 to 5,000 78-rpm records on an electric record player to preserve them. He’s particularly fond of classic country and western, with such singers as Jimmie Rodgers, a yodeler and father of country music, and Vernon Dalhart, who was also a major country influence. “The new music nowadays, as far as I’m concerned, I don’t even like it,” he said, adding that music went “all wild” after the Beatles in the 1960s, which he likes. For information about the Osoyoos and District Museum and Archives, visit www.osoyoosmuseum.ca. OKANAGAN SUN • JULY 2016 • 9
Volunteering is selfish, because it makes you feel so good, says Shauna Hill. (Lyonel Doherty photo)
Volunteer gardener at Oliver’s McKinney Place loves interacting with residents By Lyonel Doherty Shauna Hill volunteers six days a week, so it feels like a full-time job, minus the pay. But her compensation comes in the form of smiles, which are more rewarding. “I find volunteering is always a selfish act because it makes you feel so good,” she said while giving her green thumb a rest at McKinney Place. This is her third season as the volunteer gardener at the extended care facility in Oliver. It started after she had back surgery and was on the road to recovery. “My physiotherapist was listening to my whining about not being able to garden (so it was suggested that she start volunteering).” During the first season she got her hands dirty by picking weeds in the raised flowerbeds, while using her walker to get around. It was a difficult job for her, but she enjoyed interacting with the residents. “Half of my work is spent visiting. The residents know me by name.” Hill has made many new friends at McKinney Place and can probably recite all of their favourite stories. “I get to hear their treasured stories,” she said, noting 10 www.oksun.ca
these tales are often retold (but Hill acts like she’s heard them for the first time). Some residents come outside with little bags to help her pick weeds and clean up garbage. “I believe showing interest in their garden is encouraging them to come outside and interact,” Hill said, noting it can be hard to get some residents to leave the confines of the facility. For Hill, gardening at McKinney is the highlight of her day. She treats it like her own backyard. “I never hated picking weeds; I got that from my mother.” When Hill first started at McKinney, the grounds were overgrown because there was no landscaping budget. But she was able to get funding from the hospital foundation to pay for plants and supplies, such as manure. Hill gives kudos to Riverside Garden Centre and Nursery for supporting her. “They are angels. Every year they open the door to the greenhouse and say, ‘what do you want?’” Hill said many plants are donated by visitors who come to McKinney Place. The constant gardener plans to revamp the entranceway with perennials. She also plans to establish two “spectacular” planters at the front.
Randy Houser Friday, July 29
Sam Hunt
Saturday, July 30
Dean Brody
Sunday, July 31
The Road Hammers, High Valley, Bobby Wills John Michael Montgomery, Josh Gracin, Small Town Pistols & MANY MORE
www.riverfest.ca
OKANAGAN SUN • JULY 2016 • 11
Prime real estate
These painted turtles know a good location when they see it: warm, sunny, secluded and with free rent. Oh, and big lily pads to hide under. That’s what they get in Pat Linton’s pond in Oliver, their oasis. (Sandy Knippelberg photo)
FREE Double Movie Pass Giveaway Enter for your chance to win at www.oksun.ca under the Contests tab.
12 www.oksun.ca
The recent 90-plus tea at the Oliver Senior Centre attracted a full house. What you see here is nearly 400 years among these four participants. From left are Jack Simpson (98), John Pollard (99), Norman Hunter (98), and Elsie Rilkoff (94). (Lyonel Doherty photo)
No big secret to Oliver seniors’ longevity By Lyonel Doherty With nearly 400 years among them, four Oliver seniors have no big secrets to their longevity. But some healthy habits certainly go a long way in prolonging your life, according to some. The recent 90-plus tea held at the Oliver Senior Centre attracted many elders who can tea party with the best of them. For example, John Pollard was one of the oldest men there at 99. When asked what his secret was, he stated, “No drinking and no smoking.” Norman Hunter, 98, agreed, saying he never smoked and never drank, which helps a lot. “I trust in the Lord as my saviour,” he added. Jack Simpson, at the ripe old age of 98, said luck has something to do with longevity as well. “I was tangled up under a locomotive (once),” he stated emphatically. Elsie Rilkoff, 94, said she had no secrets to share.
“I just lived and that’s it. I worked hard . . . you can’t sit and do nothing.” But she also noted that taking it easy and having friends can prolong your life.
LOCKSMITH commercial • residential • automotive
A-1 Security Rene’s Lock & Key
Government Licensed And Bonded
www.a1securitylocks.com
250-495-3352
OKANAGAN SUN • JULY 2016 • 13
Mel and Deb McCallum rest on the basalt columns of Giant’s Causeway on the coast of Northern Ireland.
Love of travel takes Osoyoos couple around the world By Keith Lacey
One of the first things Mel and Deb McCallum did after falling in love as teenagers back in small-town Alberta was sell everything they owned, load up their backpacks and travel around the world for two years. Their love of travel – and adventure in foreign lands – has never dwindled since. Many long-time Osoyoos residents know Mel and Deb as the proud owners of Lakeside Travel, the travel agency they have owned and operated since 1984. Not only have they booked vacations and tours for literally thousands of clients over the past 32 years, but they have participated in hundreds of trips themselves and both say they will continue to travel around the world as long as they remain in good health. “We met in high school in the little town of Westlock, Alberta (50 kilometres north of Edmonton) in the late 1970s,” said Deb. “In 1981, we sold everything we owned except for some clothes and our backpacks and we took off on a two-year adventure. “We got married and planned our journey. We ended up travelling to the South Pacific and ended up going to
places such as New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Thailand. It was such an adventure being that young and not having anything to worry about back home.’ They had vacationed in Osoyoos as a young couple and realized in the early 1980s that there wasn’t a travel agency in town, said Mel. “We saw the opportunity to open up our own travel business and we both loved visiting here, so we both took courses to become certified travel agents and opened this place back in 1984 and have been here ever since.” Mel and Deb have now been married for 35 years and all three of their adult male children grew up in Osoyoos. They recently returned from a two-week trek to Ireland with a group of 15. This comes after yet another adventure that took them – along with a large group of 25 clients – on a two-week safari to East Africa, where they observed lions, elephants, leopards and a myriad of other beautiful animals in their natural habitat in Kenya and Tanzania. The large group visited Africa from Feb. 18 until March 6. Deb and Mel have hundreds of pictures of their African
A lion couple relaxes on the African savannah. The McCallums photographed “the Big Five” animals. safari, including some incredible up-close shots of some of the world’s largest and fiercest animals leading their daily lives in the wilds of the African desert. “We’ve got some great pictures of the Big Five ... lions, elephants, cape buffalo, rhinos and leopards,” she said. “It was just so thrilling to be able to get within camera distance of these incredible and amazing animals.” Besides a large contingent from Osoyoos, this latest excursion attracted participants from Penticton, Vancouver, Lethbridge and Kelowna, said Deb. This is the 10th year in a row that Deb has organized an international excursion with the infamous and popular group fondly called The Getaway Gals. Some of the most recent excursions with The Getaway Gals have taken them to New York, San Francisco, New Mexico, Boston, Montreal and Quebec City. “It started out with 10 of us … and we ended up with 46 people on our trip to Boston,” she said. “We’re off to Spain in September to walk the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.” Mel and Deb decide which international excursion they are going to organize based on talking to regular loyal clients, reading about exciting tourist destinations and, on occasion, convincing their many friends to travel with them to destinations they have wanted to visit for some time. “We do everything,” said Deb. “Once we pick the next destination, we send it out to all of our clients we think might be interested. “Once we have enough people interested to book a trip, we put everything together. All the client has to do is pay the money and show up on time to catch the plane and away we go.” Besides booking regular holidays for customers and
wedding destination holidays, another big part of their travel business is booking bus tours through Europe, said Deb. Mel and Deb say they never have and never will get tired of travelling the world. Meeting new people and being introduced to new cultures never gets tiresome, said Deb. “There’s still a lot of world left to see,” she said smiling. “The beauty of travelling is the excitement that comes with visiting places you’ve only read or heard about. “And when you get there and get to experience new things for the first time, it makes you feel like you’re travelling for the first time. Being able to share the experience with your friends and loved ones makes it even better.” The good news for the loving couple is their youngest son Alex is able to step in and run their business whenever they take off on another extended adventure. “Our love of travel has certainly extended to our three children,” said Mel. “They might not have the travel bug as much as we do, but they’ve all travelled a fair bit themselves. “We’re lucky because Alex always takes the time to come back to Osoyoos and help us run the business when we’re away.” For those travel adventurers who missed out on the recent trip to Africa, Deb and Mel are organizing a return trip in February of 2017. As for the future, Deb and Mel McCallum have no plans to retire and they are looking forward to heading out together on many more adventures around the world. “I never get tired of it,” said Mel. His wife shakes her head in agreement. OKANAGAN SUN • JULY 2016 • 15
Wally and Terri Brogan say goodbye after operating SuperValue for many years. (Photo contributed)
Closure of Oliver’s SuperValu marks the end of an era By Trevor Nichols On April 28 the lights at SuperValu finally winked off, ending the grocery store’s nearly 60-year run operating in Oliver. First opened by a pair of entrepreneurs in the late 1950s, most will remember the supermarket as the baby of Wally Brogan, who’s been the owner for more than 30 years. Brogan, whose good-natured attitude helped weave the store into the fabric of the community, said in an interview before the closure that he’s “had a good run” at SuperValu, but that it’s time for him to retire. “It’s tough; it’s all tough for me. I go home and I think about all the things that we’ve done here. It’s been good, but it’s tough to say goodbye to it all,” he said. Sitting in his office overlooking the floor of the store, Brogan leafed through boxes filled with framed pictures and certificates. He recalled lively staff Christmas parties and conferences, even a trip to watch the 1974 Summit Series in Russia, which he won in a cigarette display 16 www.oksun.ca
contest. “It’s been a good haul for me. I’m really going to miss it,” he said. While Oliver’s SuperValu has become synonymous with Brogan, its history reaches back further than his takeover in 1973. According to an advertisement in a 1981 edition of the Oliver Chronicle, “Oliver’s first real super-market” opened in December of 1957 “amongst much speculation that the store was ‘too much, too soon.’” Ken Raincock and Ken Forbes, who had previously operated the “Double K” market on Main Street, bought two lots outside of town in order to build a supermarket. They contracted Topping Construction to build their new store, and at the time many scoffed at the new building’s seemingly gargantuan size, and location far away from downtown. In an interview years later, Ken Forbes did admit there were some tough times just after the store opened, but steady growth eventually led to its success. A few years later John Loudon, a supervisor with the
SuperValu firm, bought Raincock’s share in the store, and in 1967 he and Forbes built an addition on the building. Brogan came on the scene in 1973. He had been managing SuperValu stores since he was 22 years old, and wanted to move into ownership. He admitted that when a friend first recommended he purchase the SuperValu in Oliver, he didn’t even know the town existed. “What the hell is Oliver?” he asked him. But Brogan quickly inserted himself into the community (even serving as mayor for a time), and before long the SuperValu became a kind of institution in Oliver. Brogan said that at one point he was one of the largest employers in town, with a staff of about 60 people. In 1981 he opened in a new location, in a building that at the time spanned 18,000 square feet. “When we moved here it was red and orange; it was awful, but that was what they did back then,” he remembered with a smile. An even bigger SuperValu still sits at that location today. Joyce Bott was a long-time employee of Brogan’s, who worked for decades as head cashier before retiring about 15 years ago. She said she has nothing but fond memories of her time working there, and that she still cherishes the “family
atmosphere” Brogan helped create among employees. “Wally was an absolutely wonderful boss. He was just a wonderful manager; it was a family, it really was,” she said. She said Brogan’s friendliness extended to his customers as well, where he extended some of that family atmosphere by offering a personalized service she’s never really seen anywhere else. She admitted that even she still gets stopped on the street to this day by former customers who tell her they miss seeing her when they get their groceries. Bott also recalled “lovely” staff parties, and said some of her favourite times at the store were doing things like Christmas decorating, when she and other staff would get to hang out there, but not necessarily be working. She said the SuperValu closure leaves a hole in the community. “It’s not going to be the same, that’s for sure,” she said. “A lot of people are really, really sorry.” Brogan said he is sorry to see his store close as well. “I’m going to miss the customers,” he said. “Of course I know everybody here, I’ve been here that long. And I’ll miss the staff; it’s bittersweet.” Now that the doors are shuttered, SuperValu’s parent company, Loblaws, is planning to open a “No Frills” discount grocery store in its place this summer.
A spectacular Canada Day fireworks display over Osoyoos Lake ends Cherry Fiesta. (Richard McGuire photo) OKANAGAN SUN • JULY 2016 • 17
By Kelsi Bissonnette Health and Wellness Coordinator Watermark Beach Resort
Is technology affecting our health and wellness? The cell phone is by the bed; it is used as an alarm to wake up to the latest ringtone downloaded. We wake up and the first thing we do … check the phone for emails we feel we must respond to, texts we should have already responded to, newsfeeds to follow and stimulate instant fear and social media updates to check out and compare our lives to everyone else around us. Sound familiar? Our bodies do not respond very well to this immediate sense of urgency and stimulation. We wake up to instant adrenaline and cortisol activation and run straight to the coffee to add gasoline to the fire. On top of this, as a citizen of the wireless age, we are swimming in invisible pollution. The very electronic innovations that have changed our lives are also exposing us, in ways big and small, to an unprecedented number of electromagnetic fields. Invisible pollution surrounds us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, interrupting our bodies’ natural flow of energy. And for some, that pollution has reached the point of toxicity, causing fatigue, irrita-
Wellness Words
bility, weakness, and even illness. Here are a few easy tips on how to safely use technology, specifically cell phones, for our health and wellness: Dial, then stretch. Don’t place the cell phone on your ear while your call is connecting — that’s the time the phone is sending out its strongest signal. Keep the cell out of the bedroom. Specifically, don’t sleep with your cell near your head. Remember, EMFs can reduce your body’s production of melatonin and with it a powerful free radical scavenger that can protect your cells from the DNA damage that can lead to cancer and other disease. Buy low. Choose a cell phone with a low SAR rating. SAR stands for specific absorption rate, which measures the strength of a magnetic field absorbed by the body. If you don’t have your instruction manual, which is where that number should be (but isn’t always), you can find SAR listings at the Federal Communications Commission website or you can request SAR information from the manufacturer or your carrier. Avoid tight spaces. Don’t make or take calls in the
car — which thankfully is becoming increasingly against the law because it creates distractions — in elevators, trains, buses, or underground. First, your cell has to work harder to get a signal out through metal, so the power level increases. And on top of the more powerful signal, any metal box like the car or an elevator will also cause the waves to bounce around, creating in effect a resonance chamber, boosting their intensity. Give your mind a rest. When you wake up, make a habit of not checking your phone or device or turn on a TV for the first 30 minutes. Let your body slowly wake up, lie in the bed and set your day or do a meditation. Do a few light stretches, some deep breathing and then make your way to the kitchen for water first. Prepare a snack or some healthy food to fuel your morning. Then if you must sit down and turn on the electronics. Before bed, turn off all electronics 30 minutes before bed and again, and use an alarm clock not your cell phone to wake you. In good health, Kelsi Bissonnette
YOGA • PILATES • SPINNING • TRX • STEP • SUP • MEDITATION • WORKSHOPS • RETREATS • WELLNESS
15 Park Place Osoyoos BC 250-689-6020
Sign Up Online
www.osoyoospilates.com Email inquiries contact us wellness@watermarkbeachresort.com 18 www.oksun.ca
MEETINGS
at Osoyoos Baptist Church (lower level). We are a support group interested in eating healthy and losing weight. New members welcome. For more info, call 250-495-0410.
Grandmothers for Africa meetings are the 2nd Wednesday of the month, 1 p.m. at the Osoyoos United Church.
Osoyoos Elks #436, 2nd Wednesday meet at 7 p.m., Elks Hall, 8506 92
O’s Own Writers meet the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. at the Osoyoos Arts Centre. New members welcome. Call Jody 250-495-2170.
Avenue. Call Annette at 250-495-6227 or Ken Thibault at 250-495-3936. AA meetings every Monday 7 p.m. St. Anne’s Catholic Church. Every Friday 7 p.m. St. Christopher’s Anglican Church. Call Louise 250495-1627.
OLIVER THEATRE
Summer Showtimes 7:00 & 9:00 p.m. Nightly
Enjoy your evening out, taking In a movie at the Oliver Theatre!
Osoyoos Photography Club meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday in Room 3 upstairs at the Sonora Community Centre. Informal meet at 6:30 p.m. regular meeting at 6:45 p.m. For more information 250495-4960 email: osoyoosphotoclub@gmail.com.
July, 2016 Programme
Visit Our Website
www.olivertheatre.ca
(unless otherwise stated)
Phone 250-498-2277 Oliver, BC
Wed. - Thurs. - Fri. July 13 - 14 - 15 Showtimes nightly @ 7:00 & 9:30 p.m.
Thurs. - Fri. June 30, July 1 Showtimes nightly @ 7:00 & 9:10 p.m.
The Multiple Sclerosis group meets the second Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. at the Interior Health office, 4816 89 Street, Osoyoos. Call Ron at 250-498-4372 or Donna 250-495-5001. Oliver & Osoyoos Search & Rescue. 7 p.m. every Thursday. 100 Cessna St., Oliver (beside the Air Cadet hangar) www.oosar.org.
Frightening scenes.
Coarse and sexual language.
Sat. - Sun. - Mon. - Tues. July 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 Showtimes nightly @ 7:00 & 9:10 p.m.
Osoyoos Quilters meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at the Elks Lodge, 8506 92 Ave. at 9:30 a.m. Call 250-495-2254 or 250-495-4569 for more info. Evening quilting every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. Patricia at 250-495-7769.
Coarse language, nudity, violence. Coarse language, nudity, violence.
Violence, coarse language.
Wed. - Thurs. - Fri. July 6 - 7 - 8 Wed. Thurs. Fri. July 6 7 8
Double O Quilters Guild meets on the 2nd Monday of the month, September through May. 9:30 a.m. at the Oliver Community Hall. Contact Lynda at 250-498-8804.
Violence.
Sat. - Sun. - Mon. - Tues. - Wed - Thurs. - Fri. July 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29
Coarse language, violence. Coarse language, violence.
Parkinson’s Support Group meets on Monday from 1 - 3 p.m. at Sunnybank Lodge in Oliver. Call Maureen at 250-495-7978 for more info.
Sat. Sun. Mon. Tues. July 9 10 11 12 Sat. - Sun. - Mon. - Tues. July 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 Showtimes nightly @ 7:00 & 9:10 p.m.
Toastmasters... “Where leaders are made”. Drop in any Tuesday 7 p.m. at 5876 Airport St. in Oliver. Contact Shauna 250-485-8465 or meandwine@gmail.com.
Open 7 days 7:00 am - 4:00 pm www.jojoscafe.ca
Wed. - Thurs. - Fri. July 20 - 21 - 22 Showtimes nightly @ 7:00 & 9:20 p.m.
Showtimes nightly @ 7:00 & 9:25 p.m.
Communities for Kids Osoyoos Table Meeting. 3rd Monday of month 4 p.m. at Sonora Community Centre. 250-498-8433 for info.
T.O.P.S. meets every Thurs. at 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Sat. - Sun. - Mon. - Tues. July 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 Showtimes nightly @ 7:00 & 9:10 p.m.
Violence.
There will also be a matinee of this show on the Sat. at 2:00 p.m. All seats $6.00 for the matinee.
Programme Subject To Unavoidable change without notice
8316 Main St Osoyoos 250.495.6652 OKANAGAN SUN • JULY 2016 • 19
Beamer Wigley opened Oliver’s Music in the Park and he plays in Osoyoos in August.
Country music prodigy Beamer Wigley, 13, featured in Oliver and Osoyoos music events By Dan Walton Country prodigy Beamer Wigley kicked off Oliver’s first dose of Music in the Park for 2016 on June 30, and he’ll be a highlight of Osoyoos Music in the Park on Aug. 12. Despite only being 13 years old, the young Pentictonite has spent nearly half his life as a performing musician. While playing on the bandshell stage in Oliver, his youth contrasted to a much more experienced musician – guitarist Dustin McGifford, who’s a teacher at Wentworth Music in Penticton. Wigley and McGifford were first introduced through musical theatre, when they both performed in the Soundstage Production Les Misérables. “We really clicked and got along,” Wigley said. “I discovered he was a guitar player, and then when I asked to play the South Okanagan Events Centre for the opening ceremony of the B.C. Winter Games, I needed him to help me find a band.” Wigley said the two share a similar musical vision, and continue to work together on more projects, though they haven’t written any original songs together. The majority of Wigley’s songwriting is a solo effort, and he’ll be dropping his first full-length album at the end of the summer, which will be called Meteorite. 20 www.oksun.ca
Similar to the set lists he plays off of during live shows, Wigley extensively builds different types of styles and sounds into his songwriting. “Meteorite was inspired by a lot of different artists and music,” he said. “Oldies; blues; pop; classic country – I like to have a wide spectrum with what I do, and I think this album really brought it to the table.” While many songwriters tend to draw from personal experience, Wigley said he often comes up with songs by imagining himself living in another world. “I kind of make up a scenario in my head,” he said. “Usually something realistic, and then I walk through it in my mind.” In making sure his songs are properly polished, Wigley lets his fan base do some fine-tuning. Their feedback serves as his most valuable criticism. “They let me know what they like and what they don’t like, and I like to make them happy” he said. “But I became a musician to cater to my kind of style and songs, so it’s really about finding that balance.” At this point in his career, his focus is primarily centered around improving his guitar chops, advancing his writing abilities, and becoming more comfortable on stage while sharing the space with a band. After headlining the launch of Oliver’s 2016 Music in
the Park season, Wigley has a busy summer booked up. In addition to Osoyoos Music in the Park, he’s been chosen as the entertainment for Penticton’s celebration of B.C. Day; he’ll be playing alongside Jordan MacIntosh at Peachfest; and he’s been called upon to open for Aaron Prittchett at the Mule on July 22. Wigley will also be seen performing live theatre in Kelowna, where he’ll be starring in Grease, which is scheduled for July 27, 28 and August 7, 21. Taking a look ahead five years – around the time Wigley will be reaching adulthood – he hopes to still be
going down the same road, but much further along of course. “What I’m doing now, but on a larger scale,” he said. “I want to stay in Canada and just keep writing more music.” Oliver’s Music in the Park is every Thursday, rain or shine, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Oliver Community Stage band shell. Rain venue is onsite at the Oliver Community Centre. The concerts, with a suggested donation of $5, are presented by Oliver Community Arts Council. Osoyoos Music in the Park is every Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Gyro Park bandshell. Rain venue is the Legion Hall.
By Richard McGuire
so was able to get money that hadn’t been spent yet from the previous year, so that was good.” Last year some concerts were better attended than others, St. Louis said. The largest attendance was about 300 people who turned out for the Royal Canadian Navy Concert Band. St. Louis said the Three Amigos initially were unable to bring back the band this year, and instead they would be presenting Undercurrent: Royal Canadian Navy, a five-piece funk band featuring a subset of the concert band. They later learned the full band can play here after all. That show is the grand finale on Aug. 26, when they will perform for the first hour, followed by a performance by Copeland, who plays folk and country. The only snag last year was smoke from the wildfires, St. Louis said. The group was able to use the Royal Canadian Legion Hall as a backup when smoke or rain made it difficult to use the Gyro Park bandshell. “I was pretty happy with the way things worked last year,” said St. Louis. “Everyone showed up on time.
Osoyoos Music in the Park build’s on first year’s success
Osoyoos Music in the Park is building on a successful first season last summer as it launches a new season. The July and August weekly free concerts kicked off at the Gyro Park bandshell on Saturday, July 2 with performer Steve Hillis. Although this concert was held on a Saturday, to avoid conflict with Cherry Fiesta, the remaining concerts, which run to Aug. 26, all take place on Fridays. All run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., but for some there is a change of performer at 7:30 p.m. The concerts are organized by Janis St. Louis, Alan Bleiken and Rusty Copeland, who call themselves “Three Amigo Productions,” even though they are volunteers operating on a non-profit basis. St. Louis said the group’s funding comes from the Resort Municipality Initiative, which is a provincial fund allocated locally by the Town of Osoyoos. “We asked for a bit more this year so we could do more advertising and promotion,” she said. “I requested the funds before the end of the year,
Continued on Page 22
Managing Menopause Menopause is a natural life change, the time in a woman's life when the ovaries stop producing the two hormones estrogen and Greg Wheeler, progesterone. Pharmacist You are considered menopausal if you have not had a menstrual period in one full year. The average age of menopause is 51 years old, but it’s different for every woman. Common symptoms include irregular periods, hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain and insomnia. Perimenopause, which signals the start of menopause, can begin up to 10 years prior to your last menstrual period. Should I take hormone replacement therapy? Hormone therapy is used widely to reduce the symptoms of menopause. It is important to weigh the risks and benefits with your doctor as your family and medical history may determine if it’s suitable for you. There are at least five different ways to take in hormone therapy, including as a pill, a patch, a cream or gel, an implant, or an injection. There are also a number of natural remedies that you may wish to consider. Speak to your Remedy’sRx pharmacist for help managing the symptoms of menopause.
105-291 Fairview Rd Oliver
250.485.4007
OKANAGAN SUN • JULY 2016 • 21
Osoyoos Music in the Park builds on first year’s success TOP LEFT: Steve Hillis, who plays tribute concerts and country and rock classics, kicked off this summer’s season of Osoyoos Music in the Park. The rest of the free concerts will be held on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. at Gyro Park until Aug. 26. (Richard McGuire photo) BOTTOM LEFT: Local pop, jazz and R&B performer Cindy Doucette played last year’s Osoyoos Music in the Park. She’s back on July 29, along with a performance by Brian Highley of the Okanagan Sun. Continued from Page 21 The power was fine. AG Foods supplied bottles of water for the entertainers.” This year’s line-up sees the return of some performers from last year as well as some new ones. Returning this year are Flashback on July 8, who play vintage rock ‘n roll. Also returning are local performers Brian Highley, who plays acoustic covers, and Cindy Doucette, who plays a mix of pop, jazz and rhythm and blues. The two each perform in one-hour slots on July 29. Glory Days, who perform dance tunes from the 1940s to the present, were not part of last year’s Music in the Park, but the Amigos did bring them in for a separate performance at the Legion. They play on July 15. Familiar to Osoyoos audiences, but new to Music in the Park, are Rick Wood (Aug. 12) and Dale Seaman & 22 www.oksun.ca
Highway 97 (Aug. 19). Wood plays rockabilly, swing and country, while Seaman plays country and rock. Entirely new this year are South Okanagan Big Band (July 22), who play big band swing, Darlene Ketchum Quartet (Aug. 5), and Beamer Wigley (Aug. 12). St. Louis said she is especially excited about the Darlene Ketchum Quartet, although she said each of the Three Amigos is drawn to different kinds of music. The quartet plays a mix of jazz, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues. “I like R&B and I like gospel,” said St. Louis. “She has a fabulous voice.” Beamer Wigley, age 13, is a promising young country singer who began playing guitar when he was five and has performed since age seven. He comes from Penticton.
JULY Saturday Market on Main until the end of September. Osoyoos Town Centre 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Locally made produce, arts, crafts, breads, wineries, cideries and distilleries. Fun for the whole family. ‘Book a Trip’ with the Summer Reading Club at the Osoyoos library. This free event is for kids 5 – 12 years from Tuesday, July 5 – Aug. 23 from 6 – 7:15 p.m. Please preregister at the library. Lots of special guests, prizes & crafts. Wednesday Night Market at Osoyoos Town Square runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. through to the end of August. Desert Night Tour on 14, 21, 28 at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. Cost is $10 per person and advance registration is required. Experience the magic of the desert at night from 7:30 – 9 p.m. Call 250-495-2470 or email mail@desert.org. The Grist Mill in Keremeos has music July 14 featuring Valdy. Tickets are $20 and available for sale at the Grist Mill, www.oldgristmill.ca or 250-499-2888. Osoyoos Music in the Park is Friday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and runs to Aug. 26.
Kicking off the summer for art lovers. The Artists of the South Okanagan-Similkameen are pleased to be showing a collection of member works in their upcoming exhibit at Tinhorn Creek Vineyard from July 8 – 25. Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information please visit http:// fca-sos.ca/show . Blood donor clinics at the Penticton Seniors Drop-in Centre at 2965 South Main Street. July 13 - 15 from 1:30 - 5:30 p.m. Download the GIVE BLOOD APP, book online at www. blood.ca or call 1-888-236-6283. Check your eligibility to donate. Art in the Garden has changed its name this year to Art in the Desert. On July 16 and 17 at the Osoyoos Desert Centre, 14580 146 Ave., from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. you can view and purchase original photography, jewelry, paintings and pottery. $3 off coupon in the Osoyoos Times or around town. The Front Street Gallery presents ‘Impressions’ recent works by H.L. Ruddell. Guest artist in attendance at the opening event on Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Gallery located at 60 Front Street, Penticton and is open Mon. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Street dances will be held on July 16 and Aug. 13 at Gyro Park in Osoyoos from 7 – 10 p.m. Grace Lutheran Church, 6 Finch Cres. in Osoyoos is holding its Vacation Bible School July 18 – 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The theme is Barnyard Roundup and will include fun, videos, games, crafts, Bible stories, singing and snacks. Ages 4 – 13 welcome (3 year olds with an adult). 250-495-2727, gracelcc@telus.net. JoJo’s Café presents a night of local art and music. Artists Gay Ross and Ilene Steel and music by the Alviar Trio. Saturday, July 30 from 7 – 9 p.m. 8316 Main St., Osoyoos. Perseid Meteor Shower on Aug. 13 at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, 717 White Lake Road in Kaleden. Free admission, bring a lawn chair or blanket, concession. 7:15 p.m. gates open, 8 p.m. talks, 9:30 p.m. stargazing. 250-497-2300. Kiwanis Club of Osoyoos fundraiser all summer Bottle Recycling Drive. For pickup call 250-495-8041. Support Kiwanis. New members welcome.
OKANAGAN SUN • JULY 2016 • 23
ALLAN TAYLOR www.allantaylor.ca · 250-498-9886
NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS.
List and and sell with Allan Taylor. List A Successful Realtor.
www.allantaylor.ca 250.498.9886 24 www.oksun.ca