TOURISTS WON'T RETURN DUE TO DRUGS AT BEACH

Editor:

My husband and I and our two school-aged children have been coming to
Osoyoos for summer holidays for many years. We have always enjoyed
spending the afternoon at the lake, in particular, Gyro Beach. I am
writing to express our significant dismay at the state of the
aforementioned beach.

Last week our family was sitting next to a group of French-Canadian
fruit pickers who pulled out all sorts of drug paraphernalia
(lighters, pipes, plastic 2-litre bottles, etc.) and began heating up
a clear, colourless liquid and passing it amongst their group of
approximately 12 people (only these 12 were in the drug using group;
the number of fruit pickers at the beach was likely closer to 50). I
believe this drug to have been either crack cocaine or crystal methamphetamine.

I recognize the group that was using the drugs does not represent the
entire French-Canadian fruit picking population, but that does not
change the fact that our family will no longer be going to Gyro
Beach. Since that day, we have been spending our days at other
beaches up the valley.

Our family has spent many summers in Osoyoos and we are well aware
that this problem is not new. During previous summers we have
witnessed this same population smoking marijuana, swearing, doing
laundry and bathing in the lake.

None of these behaviours have impressed our family, but they have not
been enough to drive us off the beach. This most recent incident of
observing either cocaine or crystal meth being used openly on Gyro
Beach will be enough to keep us from returning.

In my opinion, a constant police presence (undercover and uniformed
officers) is the only way to clean up this otherwise beautiful beach.

It is an absolute shame that this focal point of your community has
deteriorated to such a degree that hard drugs are now being used in
the middle of the afternoon, in the height of tourist season, right
next to Larry's Sugar Shack on Gyro Beach.

Ann Marie McInnis

Calgary