By ROY WOOD
Suggestions ranging from better bylaw enforcement to throwing a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day party for Quebecois youth were touted Monday at a meeting to discuss the annual takeover of Lions Park by itinerant farm workers.
About 50 people gathered at the Oliver Community Centre to offer ideas on how to address what many local residents see as the unwelcome intrusion of youthful pickers into the community, particularly in Lions Park and environs.
Parks and Recreation Manager Carol Sheridan, who organized the meeting, said the goal was to seek solutions, not to rehash old complaints. At the end of the 90-minute meeting, it was decided that a committee will be struck explore ways of dealing with the situation. Cherry orchardist Greg Norton (pictured) told the meeting that the pickers – many of whom are young Quebeckers — are vital to the economy of the area. Without them, the cherries and other crops would whither on the trees.
“I’m not here to condone smoking pot or drinking in the parks,” he said, but while the young pickers may dress and groom differently from locals, “they keep the wheels turning.”
Norton says his farm generates about $200,000 a year in spending in the community and it would not be viable without the pickers.
Shopkeeper Alberto Veintimilla echoed Norton’s comments. “We need these young people. … I see a need for them to have a place to gather and feel safe.” We should embrace them,” he said, and make them feel welcome. Local resident Ron Shulhan took a contrary view: “I resent that I can’t go to the park (without) seeing people drinking and fornicating.” Lindsey McVicar, a teacher at the high school, said she and other mothers of young children refuse to take their kids to the Lions Park or the skateboard park during the summer because “it doesn’t feel safe … I feel like I’m being bullied out of that park.”
She said she recently witnessed a young woman defecating on a local beach and there are “human feces all along the hike and bike (path).”
Oliver Lions Club president Joanne Bray told the group, “It’s supposed to be our park … we’re not happy with what goes on there either.” owever, she said she recently spent two days in the park talking to the groups of young people and found 90 per cent of them were friendly and polite. “Next year let’s put on a party on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.” he added her voice to the many who said the farm workers are important to the local agriculture industry. “We can’t seem to get pickers.”
Oliver resident Pat Hampson said that people are getting away with illegal activities in the parks because they are not adequately policed. He urged better enforcement of bylaws.
Sam Tibbit, who five weeks ago opened Hammers House of Hog rib joint in the Lions Park parking lot, said he has got to know many of the young pickers well. “There’s no problem with the visitors,” he said. “They aren’t loud or violent or anything like that. … (There is) some drinking and smoking dope, but (it’s) not a problem for others.”
He said the only time he called the police it was to deal with a problem involving local people.
Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes reinforced the notion, saying, “For the last 10 years the problems in the park have been (caused by) local yahoos.”