Photo: Contributed

Dozens of people came out on Saturday for the grand opening of a Tim Hortons on Osoyoos Indian Band land near Oliver, celebrating the new facility and the job creation in the area.

The new location at Highway 97 and Enterprise Way, at the northern tip of Senkulmen Business Park, currently employs more than 20 staff. There are plans to hire more staff in the spring and summer.

Several dignitaries spoke before a formal ribbon cutting, including OIB Chief Clarence Louie and Oliver town councillor David Mattes.

Both Louie and Mattes spoke of the importance for creating job opportunities in the area for young people, and said the new Tim Hortons taps into that subject.

"If we’re going to keep young people in the Okanagan we need more businesses like this. It’s a great starting point for young people," Mattes said. 

Some residents in attendance, including Gallagher Lake resident Ken Hansen, spoke of their delight with having a Tim Hortons location close by. 

The new restaurant was more than two years in the making, involving Ontario businessman Landon Miller, the OIB, NHL legend Ted Nolan and his family as well as Ecora Engineering.

"Given this opportunity, we’re going to do all we can to work with the community we strongly believe that you take care of the community, the community will take care of you," Miller said.

The new Tim Hortons will share property with a Gulf gas station, which is still being constructed.

Louie said there are more than 100 acres of land remain available for business opportunities at the OIB's Senkulmen Business Park.

"Hopefully we'll be having more grand openings in the future," he said.