Laurie Throness, MLA (Chilliwack-Hope) speaks with Chief Louie at OCC Thursday. Statement above attributed to Clarence Louie – beaming with pride at this joint project on OIB land.

Louie says he is happy with the work progress and the number of people employed.

“These project they happen once a decade, if that, so this is a huge project. Not just for the Osoyoos Indian Band but the entire South Okanagan,” Louie said.

“There’s a number of young people looking to make a career move here.”
The project has already created jobs for the local band with 20 OIB members working on the construction along with other First Nations members with one estimate given at 40 aboriginal workers on site.

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Tedd Howard of the Corrections Branch speaks to reporters inside the jail below. Howard says this is a PCL worksite and the project is on budget and on schedule. No lost time for any safety issues.

“We’ve had over 1,000 people come to sessions to find out what it would be like working in a correctional centre and so we are beginning the planning for all of that right now,” says Howard.

Councillor Ronny McGinnis and elder Jane Stelkia on the tour today