Osoyoos ELKS 436 received its charter in 1958 so this is our 67th year serving Osoyoos and area.
Originally the ELKS Hall was located on highway 97 in a property now owned by the Baptist Church.
In 1995 there were over 100 men in the ELK S Lodge. There was also a large Royal Purple ladies Lodge.
We sponsored Junior Hockey and Junior Curling. Also sponsored youth Soccer and Softball and School Sports too.
We had curling and hockey camps during the summer for many years until it became too expensive for the out of town clubs. Bingo was started as well and on a Friday night 200 to 300 people attended.
We sold the old building in 2004 to the Baptist Church due to our membership decreasing, and the Church needing a larger place. Our present Hall had been the Baptist Church. ELKS took the present site in trade plus we held the mortgage for the Church for 5 years. Ken Usher was the ELKS President at the time of the sale.
- Contributed by Ken Usher
Osoyoos ELKS Apple Drive
In 2007 the Osoyoos Elks, Kamloops Elks, and the Prince George Elks collaborated with Casa del Mell Orchards ( Ken and Mel Thibault) to get fresh Okanagan apples and pears to people in need in the central interior. Casa Del Mell donated 3000 lbs of freshly picked fruit that year and the three Elks chapters ensured it was safely delivered to St Vincent De Paul’s in Prince George. Osoyoos drove the fruit to Kamloops, Prince George Elks drove to Kamloops, Kamloops assisted in the reloading of fruit for the journey and hosted a tri-Elks get together filled with fun, camaraderie and service to the community.
Once delivered St Vincent De Paul shared the “ wealth” and distributed the fruit to families via hampers as well as to nine community programs that year including the Native Friendship Society, Elisabeth Fry women’s programs, ASAP ( Active Support Against Poverty) John Howard Society and others.
The Apple Drive was born and continued on until Covid in 2021. The Apple Drive grew each year to eventually include 3 orchards, Lighthouse Orchards ( Joe and Vera Hilario), Farm Gate Orchards (Jo and Louiza Carvalho), Casa del Mell. Additionally, Demelo packing house and the Gleaners got involved drying fruit that was used in baking and breakfast oatmeal for hundreds of people living on the streets. The program territory expanded to serve communities from 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Quesnel, Prince George, Makenzie, west to Smithers and east to McBride and Valemount. The Elks found creative ways to get the work done making a big difference for those who could not otherwise afford fresh fruit. It was a huge annual undertaking. When all was said and done 116,000 lbs of fruit was donated and distributed thanks to the hard work and collaboration of farmers, the Elks and communities involved.
Stories from the Apple drive will continue to be shared in the future.
- Contributed by Melhina Thibault