Communities across the Okanagan-Similkameen continue to work together in support of its residents.
Earlier this week, Lower Similkameen Indian Band (LSIB) Chief Keith Crow and Village of Keremeos Mayor Jason Wiebe signed an agreement between the two communities to coordinate the use of Emergency Support Services (ESS). The agreement signed on June 9, details the partnership that will support each other during incidents that are affecting one or both communities.
LSIB and Keremeos will team up with approaches to training, operations and messaging to ensure that all residents of both communities are receiving the best response, care and information, whether they live within the village boundaries or on reserve land.
"The longer I live here, the more that I realize that everything is related," Wiebe said. "This not only benefits villagers and the LSIB but benefits everyone, including visitors."
Crow added that the more the two communities help each other, the stronger both of them will be.
"This agreement helps keep past incidents from repeating, helps our mutual response to grow and sets a template for others who want to start to foster bilateral working relationships with their neighbours," he said.
