Residents of Keremeos - and the lower Similkameen - gave the region two shining examples - literally - on the virtues of community cooperation and work towards a common cause.
The first example took place on Friday, March 25, when roughly 30 residents met in village chambers with local politicians involved with the Similkameen Valley Planning Society to discuss the first initiatives of the society’s Similkameen watershed study.
Many in the audience were opposed to the way the SVPS was beginning the study process, citing a lack of inclusion for many of the valley’s water stakeholders. In a meeting where opposing points of view were obvious from the outset, it was extremely gratifying - and in the long run, hopefully, constructive - to see two groups with opposing views express their views in such amicable fashion.
It appeared that, while the stakeholders requests were not readily met, their views were made well known to the society, and assurances of participation at some point in the near future by society members will be more than just rhetoric. SVPS Chair Brad Hope’s comment that the meeting had resulted in “heated agreement” was an excellent way to describe what took place on Friday afternoon at village chambers.
The second example involves Fortis’ award to Keremeos Legion of the $5,000 prize for power reductions during Earth Hour on Saturday, March 26. This was an effort that involved everyone in the community, and the Village responded with great civic mindedness.
Pledges were kept and lights turned off all over the community on Saturday evening between eight and nine o’clock.
The award - $5,000 worth of lighting upgrades - will allow for some useful energy efficient improvements at the Keremeos Legion building, and is yet another fitting example of how well the local community can work, when working towards a common purpose.