Awards and Achievements Indigenous Relations Council con nues to be dedicated to fostering its connec on with its indigenous partners and neighbours. This year, Council added an Indigenous acknowledgement to the beginning of each Council mee ng to remember the importance of reconcilia on and con nuous work to build respec ul rela onships. With the news in May of the discovery of unmarked graves on former residen al school sites, the District lowered its staff to half‐mast in solidarity with indigenous groups throughout the country. On September 30, all non‐essen al services were closed and the Municipal Hall flag lowered in recogni on of the country’s first Na onal Day of Reconcilia on. Mayor Baker said, “We are taking these steps to show our respect for our indigenous friends and neighbours who deserve our understanding and compassion on this day, and truly, every day. The District is also working with the Okanagan Indian Band on an Indigenous Cultural Centre to be built in 2023 at a trailhead for the Okanagan Rail Trail.
New Community Grant Council launched a new grant in 2021 to help local organiza ons meet goals that also support the community as a whole. The Community Engagement Grant Program provides funding towards community projects. In 2021, Council supported funding accessibility projects like the Maki Road Trail handrail, pictured here, as well as Coral Beach north trail improvements and tennis and pickleball facility improvements. The new grant is in addi on to Council’s Community Hall Grant which, in 2021, helped fund repairs to the Okanagan Centre Community Hall roof in the amount of $15,000 and provided $5,000 for the first phase of the Oyama Community Club Community Garden project. 8
District of Lake Country 2021 Annual Report
Winning Efforts Pandemic restric ons cancelled the annual Easter Egg Hunt again, so instead, the District launched an Easter Egg Hunt challenge! Families were encouraged to visit parks and businesses in the community, find le ers to spell out EASTER EGG and enter to win a prize. The submi ed photo collages were wonderful! The winner of the prize draw was Lucas Wilkes who received a basket of goodies.
