Okanagan Portuguese Club has approached the Town of Oliver and the Parks and Recreation Society for rent and tax relief

Bill Pascoa and Fernando Anjos spoke at Monday’s Oliver Parks and Recreation Society meeting giving directors a history of the organization.

Pascoa said the club was formed in 1980 with about 130 members – and met in Room #2 each month for 11 years.

In 1991 the Town granted the club the use of the old swimming pool change rooms east of the curling club. The Portuguese club fixed up the building for a home, sought and received a liquor license, paid a nominal rent and taxes and has operated for over 20 years.

Pascoa says that due to changing times the club membership has fallen to about 30 members. The club must hold fund raisers on a regular basis to continue its support of the community and pay its bills.

The rent is about $1700 a year with monies paid to the Parks Board. Taxes of about $400 are levied by the Town.

The property and building is covered by an out of date lease signed in 2004 for two years and the terms have continued for a decade.

The Okanagan Portuguese Club will seek tax relief at an upcoming meeting of Town Council and the Parks Society will hear a report soon on how it can assist the club.