Bike to Work Week is a national initiative to get people using active transportation to increase their personal physical activity level and decrease their personal carbon footprint.
Thursday May 22 from 7:30-9:30ann Oliver Parks and Recreation will be hosting a “Celebration Station” at the corner of the Arena Parking Lot with breakfast items and prizes to encourage residents who are biking or walking to work and school to stop by and be recognized.
From: Carol Sheridan, Manager of Parks and Recreation
Administration/Labour Management:
Pool staff have new all been hired, we welcome back 10 returning staff and one new hire. Head Lifeguard —Jen Casorso; Assistant Head Lifeguard — Megan Seidler
Lifeguard/Instructors—Jeremy Casorso, Keegan Abbie, John Plesca, Michael Pond, Tanya Stockand, Ben Nazeroff, Dustin Lesmeister, Hanna Ellis, and Callum Mathieson.
Paige MacPherson has recently started as the newest employee with the OPRS in the position of Facility Maintenance Worker I.
Travis Thompson has been hired as a Student Labourer and will start on June 4 for 12 weeks.
Oliver Sunshine Festival and Music in the Park were featured in the BC Musician Festival Guide that has a distribution of over 20,000 copies in BC and Alberta. The transition over to a mobile-friendly version of the Oliver Parks and Recreation website has been completed.
Facilities:
May has been an extremely busy month for parks and pool start up, projects and maintenance. Despite some significant challenges with the pool surface damage over the winter months, the staff were able to get things operational and looking good for opening day on May 17th.
The facilities staff along with consultation from Big League Experience staff and V-Line completed an overhaul of Diamond 4 last week and the results are excellent. The infield area was resodded and thus will be closed to the public until the end of June.
There was some water damage in the control vault due to a water main break at the Kinsmen Spray Park this spring. Parts were ordered and installed in time for the opening of the park this past weekend.
I met with Michelle Tiernan (Ministry of Environment), Mark Woods and Justin Shuttleworth (RDOS) last week for a thorough inspection of the Hike and Bike Trail from McAlpine Bridge to Road 9, which is the portion of the dyke that the RDOS has entered into an agreement with the MoE to manage as part of their regional trail network.
Written expectations for this management agreement will be provided, it is unclear at this time if the OPRS will have any direct responsibility for the trail.
Due to the lack of water source at Loose Bay Campground it was requested that we allow workers to use the shower facilities at the Oliver Arena until the pool opens. We have been able to accommodate this use during office hours and have seen several take advantage of the option.
As per the 2014 capital plan the catch basin in the breezeway outside the Community Hall is expected to be replaced this month and the final 4 in-ground garbage cans will be installed at Community Park by Diamond 5, at Lion’s Park replacing the concrete receptacles by the skateboard park and at the back of Kinsmen Park.
An overall park signage review will be undertaken in May to ensure messages regarding bylaws and the safe and appropriate use of the parks are clear and presented in a consistent and positive way.
A meeting was held with the Oliver Tennis Club to review the existing service agreement and work towards establishing a new one for 2015 season. The club will be installing a small storage shed next to pool and have partnered financially with the OPRS to ensure the shed has access to power and safety lighting.
Community Development:
At the “Move for Health Day” event on May 10th approx. 40 people participated in free fitness classes and clinics such at Zumba and Pickleball at the Community Centre.
Friday May 23 is the Indigenous Games hosted by OIB in Community Park followed immediately by the OOWA Half Corked Marathon in Community Park on Saturday May 24. Junior Triathlon on May 31, Oliver % Ironman scheduled for Sunday June 1. On June 7th the Oliver Alliance Church is hosting a community picnic in the park and June 13-15 is the annual Father’s Day Slo-Pitch Tournament.
Plans for the Art Market in Community Park on Thursday nights starting June 19.
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From: Katie Eaton, Recreation Supervisor
Upcoming Events:
Junior Triathlon event takes place on Saturday, May 31 from 8:30-11:30AM; volunteers are needed to help with transition, water station and finish line.
Canada Day Breakfast —Tuesday, July 15th 8:30am — 10:30am, volunteers are needed for flipping pancakes, helping with set up/clean up — if interested, please contact Katie.
Oliver Sunshine Festival taking place July 12 & 13th. Good response from vendors so far. Parade insurance has been granted, WCA will be coming again and Carol has added another additional night to kick off the event (Thursday, July 10).
Many other upcoming community events at the Oliver Community Centre —
Half Corked Marathon (May 24), Oliver Y2 Ironman Triathlon (June 1),
Father’s Day Slo-Pitch Tourney (June 14-15) and more — go to www.winecapitalofcanada.com for a lot of Oliver Community Events.
Sun Fun
Four of the five staff will be returning for another season. (Daylene Antunes, Cam Cia, Tim Grimard and Kiera Heinrich). Blake Miller Yuckin is our new addition — Blake has worked a variety of programs throughout the school year (Mini Ball, Spring Break Day Camp, and Early Dismissal Days at OES/TEN).