July 2018

212 213 The Premiere “Mission Critical” communications solution provider in the BC Interior for over 40 Years •System Design & RF Professional Services and Supply •Installation and Maintenance of Public Safety Dispatch Console Systems •Radios and Mountain-Top Repeater Networks •Supply and Configuration of Mobile and Portable Radios and Accessories. www.omegacom.ca Phone: 1-888-860-8016 • Email: info@omegacom.ca Services We Offer: explains.“So,we’ve been working on that over the years. Last year,we managed to obtain some Canada CleanWater grants and that really helped.Also, not all of our areas have sewage; we have a lot of septic systems throughout the rural community.”Those 2017grants included a $497,000 Canada CleanWater grant for the Olalla Water System; a $3.68 million Canada CleanWater grant for the Naramata water system; and a $6.6 million grant for Skaha Estates & Kaleden sewer expansion.This year, Keremeos received $4 million to replace aging drink- ing water and sewage pipes. The South Okanagan Similkameen is, biologically, a unique area of Canada.The RDOS has the highest number of species at risk and the highest proportion of THE REGIONAL DISTRICT OF OKANAGAN-SIMILKAMEEN As our population ages, it will be critical for local governments to pro- vide public transportation options so their citizens can still move to services while living in rural communities. And as a government, we understand that economic growth and long-term prosperity are what matters most to our citizens, and that our focus is all about looking at a sustainable future. KARLA KOZAKEVICH CHAIRPERSON OF THE RDOS BOARD OF DIRECTORS sensitive ecosystems in British Columbia. In addition, its many wineries and vineyards,which draws tour- ists from around the world, depend upon clean wa- ter and a healthy environment. In order to support programs that focus on regional conservation, the District formed the South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program (SOSCP), a partnership of 50 non-profit, government, and First Nations organiza- tions. Its mandate is to provide funding for conser- vation projects that are not the existing responsibil- ity of the federal, provincial, or local governments. It is one of only three conservation funds of its type in BC and is the largest at up to $450,000 per year. “We’re in our first year in doing projects under that Conservation Fund and we have a technical adviso- ry committee of experts that will receive the appli- cations of the different types of environmental work that can be done,” reports Kozakevich.“They help make recommendations to the Board of Directors as to which projects we should be supporting each year.That’s going to be an ongoing fund to help with environmental sustainability.” The Conservation Fund is a partnership that exemplifies the environmental sustainability efforts within the Okanagan Similkameen area.The RDOS and its participating members believe that a healthy environment promotes healthy living in its commu- nities.“We envision the RDOS as a steward of our environment, sustaining a diverse and livable region that offers a high quality of life for its inhabitants,” says Kozakevich.“It is integral for us to consider the environmental impacts in our decision-making pro- cess.Through good governance,we can ensure our unique environment can be enjoyed now and by our future generations to come.” While the RDOS is consistentlymindful of pro-