FACTOS – Farm And Community Team Okanagan Similkameen invites the general public to a day of tours and meetings on behalf of farm labour. April 22 promises to offer a full spectrum of what matters most to farm workers and farm employers. The itinerary is as follows:
- 10 to 10:45 a.m. tour of Loose Bay Campground near Oliver. The Loose Bay Campground was originally planned as a place for farm workers to camp. Directions: from Oliver, take Highway 97 north about five kilometres, turn left onto Seacrest Hill Road, continue to the top of the hill. Campground is at the intersection at the top of the hill.
- 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. farm tour (location to be announced).
- 12:30 to 2 p.m. lunch with Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes at the Firehall Bistro. 34881-97th Street, Oliver (on Highway 97 across from the 7-Eleven). Please note you will need to pay for your meal.
2:30 to 3:30 pm cherry grower tour at Norton’s Okanagan Harvest, 953 Willowbrook Road, Oliver, BC.
- 4 to 5 p.m. vineyard tour at Suncrest Vines, 7361 Tuc-El-Nuit Drive, Oliver, BC. Please note that this farm does not have a sign at the bottom of the drive (the driveway will be marked for this event so you don’t get lost).
- 5 to 7 p.m free time (dinner hour).
- 7 to 8:30 p.m. Open Forum for farmers and farm workers, Rm #2 at the Oliver Community Centre, 6359 Park Drive, Oliver (turn east at the corner of Highway 97 and Fairview Road, cross the bridge, Community Centre is on the right). This is an opportunity for farmers and farm workers (both foreign and domestic) to share concerns they have. Draft copies of the booklet “Seasonal Farm Worker Handbook BC South Okanagan and Similkameen” will be available. The booklet is compiled by the FACTOS committee and includes information about how to find a farm job, how to keep a farm job, how to make friends, and how to stay safe on the job and in the community.
If you are a farmer, farm worker or concerned citizen you are welcome to attend one or all of the planned activities. For lunch with Mayor Hovanes, please RSVP if possible by calling 250-488-7567.
FACTOS is a volunteer committee of local politicians, farm workers, farmers and community-minded individuals with a common goal of improving communication between farmers and farm workers. The committee is chairman is Councillor Arlene Arlow from the Village of Keremeos. For more information on the committee or the activities planned April 22, send an email to factoscommittee@gmail.com or call Arlene Arlow at: 250-488-7567.