The Lower Similkameen Community Services Society is partnering with the Cawston Community Hall Society for two seasonal worker programs.
The Hall will be hosting a bike rack as part of the seasonal worker bike lending program.
The bike lending program has run for several years already, and currently has over 20 bikes in circulation, but the bike rack is a new addition thanks to some additional funding this year.
The Cawston Community Hall Society offered to keep an eye on the bikes and host the rack, allowing for a more central location for workers in the Lower Similkameen.
In addition to the bike lending program, the LSCSS has also been working with the Cawston Hall Society to host a Sunday evening cantina for the workers.
“We know that some seasonal workers when they pop by swimming pool or the pubs they’re a little tentative or shy, so our hope with these evenings is that it’s really a social event for the workers,” said Sarah Martin, the executive director of the LSCSS. “It’s so they can feel comfortable in the space and really unwind and interact with each other and hopefully introduce engagement with other community members and volunteers.”
The first cantina evening on July 3 saw close to 150 come out for a meal of carnitas, beans and rice along with deserts all prepared by local volunteers. Another cantina evening is planned for July 24.
It’s hoped that as the cantina evenings go on, it brings the community and the seasonal workers together and highlights the contributions the workers make.
“I don’t think people realize that there are 200 to 300 of them here at any given time in the season, when you may see five at the bank cashing their cheques,” said Martin.
Most of the bikes used in the bike lending program have been donated to the LSCSS, who work with nearby repair shops to get them tuned up to be used. Each of the bikes this year are also being marked with the LSCSS stickers to help bring more attention to the program as they travel through the community.
Helmets are also available to borrow, and the LSCSS is always open to more donations of bikes or safety equipment.
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