Referendum passes by 64% * (see below) – $1.26 million to buy Main St. land
(Headline June 4, 2011)

Osoyoos Museum board confident new home will open to public in spring of 2017
(Headline February 18, 2015)

Deal lets Home Building Centre stay till 2020 – new museum delayed
(Headline April 22, 2015)

What is going on here?

Are residents of Osoyoos happy that they approved a plebiscite to buy a main street site for a Museum and now those plans placed on HOLD?

Old museum (curling rink building pictured below) to remain in use until at least 2020.

Who is in denial here? This is a screw-up.

This week at the Regional District – directors heard a report and voted to accept that the fact that Home Building Centre will stay as is for a number of years keeping people employed.

Without that storefront – it might have closed leaving another hole on Main Street.

The fund raising efforts of the Museum Society have been less than remarkable and only the land is in place owned by the RDOS. Fund raising efforts have been going on for at least 5 years including work with the Vancouver Foundation and many private contributors. The society indicates it has pledges of $1.2 million.
The first look at a plan was set at $4.5 million and then the Museum board asked the architect to tone it down.

The Phase I was to cost at least $1.857 Million to just bring the build to a “code” standard. (corrected)

Area ‘A’ electors, taxpayers in the Town of Osoyoos should want to clear the air on this issue. A major fund-raising effort is required to find about $2 million needed to upgrade and reconstruct the purchased building.

The fancy plans have been shown but very little money in place – so the whole project on hold with the RDOS now in the retail leasing business.

Did you know? – 1082 people voted in the 2011 referendum – 619 in favour.*

Buryl Slack: “I feel like asking for my money back”.