I was born and raised in Croatia. Moved to Canada in 1994. First seven years I spent in Montreal. I have moved to BC in September 2001 and finally settled in Oliver in May 2007. Since 2009 I have been working for our MP Alex Atamanenko and learning about the issues people in South Okanagan and Similkameen struggle the most with.

Definitely homelessness, poverty and low income come at the top of the list. The pensions have been reduced, full-time jobs are rare find in this area even at the minimum wage and that affects local economy. Low buying power determines which business will prosper, which will survive and which will not last. Affordable and co-op housing have been on the Town Council’s agenda for a while and I hope that it continues.

If the report is correct about municipal employees on average being paid more than provincial government employees, I would say that the provincial government should paid their employees better.

Main Street and Centennial Park should be inviting for the outside world to stop and take a walk around instead of simply travelling by. Town could take a leadership role, but I would rather see Town officials and employees as facilitators and main coordinators. It could be a very enriching project if we could have residents and businesses involved from the beginning to the end of the project.

With all due respect to all our grape growers and wineries, I would like to show that there is more to Oliver than just wine. Wine industry can be our signature but it is not entirely the soul of Oliver. Ambitious plan would be to make Oliver the first town in Canada that eradicated poverty. Wouldn’t that be something? If we all worked together and supported each other, I believe we could get there as long as we do not spend more money on studies than on actual projects.

Lilly Zekanovic
Candidate for Councillor
Town of Oliver