The town of Oliver is planning a year of celebrations and history exploration for reaching their centennial

Photo: Casey Richardson

The Town of Oliver has reached its centennial, planning a year of celebrations of their history that was "formed on and shaped by the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, whose history stretches back 10,000 years."

The One Hundred X One Hundred Planning Committee was formed in late 2020 to assist with the planning and promotion of the year-long project, coordinated by Oliver Parks and Recreation.

It also includes members representing local community partners from the Town of Oliver, Oliver & District Heritage Society, Osoyoos Indian Band, Oliver Tourism Association, Oliver Community Arts Council, the Venables Theatre, Oliver Sikh Cultural Society and the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce.

“The One Hundred X One Hundred project is an opportunity to commemorate the important milestone of over 10,000 years of history for the Osoyoos Indian Band and 100 years of history for the Oliver community,” Julianna Wiesgarber, executive director with the Oliver & District Heritage Society, said in a press release. She is also a founding member of the committee.

“It is a chance to recognize the land, the people, and the organizations that have made Oliver what it is today while growing in understanding and working toward a positive shared future. We are honoured to work with the Osoyoos Indian Band, Oliver Parks & Recreation, and all of our partners on the planning committee to bring this project to fruition.”

The One Hundred X One Hundred project will look to explore the roots of Oliver over the next 12 months, hoping to build a stronger shared connection with the community and the land.

The Committee is currently exploring different ways to best capture and share that focus. Some mediums being looked at to be included are film, art, photography, recordings of oral history, newspaper and magazine articles, public art/murals, special events (if COVID-19 allows), sports, language and school studies.

The project planning committee, coordinated by the Oliver Parks and Recreation Society, is seeking submissions from local artists of all ages to assist in the development of the primary design/logo for all promotions throughout 2021 to create recognition and pride for the project.

Requirements are for the graphic designs to reflects the rich history of the community, as well as acknowledge the land and water on which residents live, work and play, and that inspires the community.

Key themes or words brought forward through community engagement to date include the Okanagan River, the land, sockeye salmon, bighorn sheep, California quail, agriculture, ranching, the valley, desert grasslands, Nylintin (McIntyre Bluff), mountains, lakes, Ponderosa pine, orchards, wineries, sagebrush, bitterroot, Saskatoon berry, the sun, dry hot climate.

Simple designs with few elements, strong lines and bold colours are recommended. The design needs to work in a small format, such as a poster logo or a badge. Designs that incorporate the text “100 x 100” or “One Hundred X One Hundred” are welcomed, but not required.

Designs can be submitted by mail, electronically via email or social media, or dropped off in person. In all formats, contact information including name, email address and phone number for follow-up are needed by the Committee.

Artwork submissions are open until Friday, Feb. 5 to be considered for the primary design for the project.

Artwork can be submitted in several ways:

• By mail to: One Hundred X One Hundred Committee, c/o Oliver Parks and Recreation,PO Box 627, Oliver BC, V0H 1T0
• By email to: [email protected] (Please indicate “100X100 Project Design” in the subject line)
• In person at: Oliver Parks & Recreation Administration Office (Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm), 6359 Park Drive in the Community Centre complex, Phone 250-498-4985

Once submitted designs for the project have been received, artists will be contacted to complete an entry form providing consent for the work to become the property of the One Hundred X One Hundred Committee and be shared publicly within and beyond the community for project purposes and to be archived.

The chosen design used as the project design/logo will be acknowledged in the media and future promotions and receive a $250.00 honorarium and framed copy of the final design.