Osoyoos

Osoyoos
Town
Town of Osoyoos[1]
Town of Osoyoos
Town of Osoyoos
Motto: 
"Canada's warmest welcome"[2]
Osoyoos is located in British Columbia
Osoyoos
Osoyoos
Location of Osoyoos
Osoyoos is located in Canada
Osoyoos
Osoyoos
Osoyoos (Canada)
Coordinates: 49°01′57″N 119°28′06″W / 49.03250°N 119.46833°W / 49.03250; -119.46833[3]
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
RegionSouth Okanagan / Boundary
Regional DistrictOkanagan-Similkameen
IncorporatedJanuary 14, 1946
Government
 • MayorSue McKortoff
 • Governing BodyOsoyoos Town Council
 • MPRichard Cannings
 • MLARoly Russell
Area
 • Total
8.76 km2 (3.38 sq mi)
Elevation
283 m (928 ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
5,556[4]
 • Density660.7/km2 (1,711/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC– 08:00 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC– 07:00 (PDT)
Postal code span
V0H 1V0 & 2V0
Area code250 / 778 / 236
Highways Highway 3
Highway 97
Websitewww.osoyoos.ca Edit this at Wikidata

Osoyoos (/ɒˈsuːjuːs/,[2] historically /ˈsuːjuːs/)[5] is the southernmost town in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia between Penticton and Omak. The town is 3.6 km (2.2 mi) north of the United States border in the Washington State and is adjacent to the Osoyoos Indian reserve.[5] The origin of the name Osoyoos was the word sw̓iw̓s (pronounced "soo-yoos") meaning "narrowing of the waters" in the local Okanagan language (Syilx'tsn). The "O-" prefix is not indigenous in origin and was attached by settler-promoters wanting to harmonize the name with other place names beginning with O in the Okanagan region (Oliver, Omak, Oroville, Okanogan).[6] There was a local newspaper, the Osoyoos Times, but merged with the Oliver Chronicle and became the Times Chronicle in May 2020.

The town's population of 5,556 (2021)[7] swells in the summer months with seasonal visitors. Seniors (age 65 and over) comprise 43% of the town population.[8][9] Another 2,139 people live around the town within Electoral Area A of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, and 1,426 more in the Osoyoos 1 Indian Reserve.[10]

  1. ^ "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Osoyoos Town Website". Town of Osoyoos. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
  3. ^ "Osoyoos". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  4. ^ "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population – Osoyoos, Town (T) [Census subdivision], British Columbia". February 9, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Osoyoos". BC Geographical Names.
  6. ^ "History of Osoyoos Lake and Area". Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  7. ^ "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population – Osoyoos, Town (T) [Census subdivision], British Columbia". February 9, 2022.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2016census was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Osoyoos has one of Canada's oldest populations, says 2016 census". Osoyoos Times. May 8, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  10. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". February 9, 2022.