B.C.’s lieutenant-governor tours heritage site in Keremeos | 24CA News
British Columbia’s Lt-Gov. Janet Austin is within the South Okanagan this week to fulfill native companies and neighborhood organizations and go to vital websites.
On Monday, the lieutenant-governor toured the historic Grist Mill and Gardens in Keremeos.
“It’s absolutely wonderful to be here. I’m having such a great time and the communities are all so incredibly welcoming,” Austin mentioned.
“The volunteers have been fabulous. They made me some rhubarb cake, which was which was a real treat, and it’s nice to see how the community, locally, really supports a historic institution like this one.”
Grist Mill basic supervisor, Chris Mathieson, together with volunteers, lead Austin all through previous buildings, gardens, and the summer time kitchen on web site.
“It’s always exciting to have somebody like the lieutenant-governor come and visit a place like this. We’re far from Victoria, so it often feels like we don’t get a lot of attention. So, to have her here means a lot,” Mathieson mentioned.
“I understand that part of the reason that she’s visiting is just to get to know the South Okanagan and Similkameen and a big part of how we became what we are, are places like this.”
The heritage web site is constructed round a working waterwheel-powered flour mill that’s virtually 150 years previous and nonetheless produces flour.
“It’s really quite remarkable to actually have a functioning mill that’s operating and that’s actually grinding red fife grain, which is actually a very popular artisan grain for bread making now,” Austin mentioned.
“But just to see the original structure of how it’s been restored … but the fact that it’s functioning I think that’s very rare in our country.”’
Meanwhile, the lieutenant-governor says excursions like this present a chance for her to attach straight with neighborhood members.
“It’s a wonderful experience for me to meet so many people who are contributing in different ways to our province, protecting the environment, our cultural heritage, It’s a real pleasure and I really do enjoy it,” Austin mentioned.
“There have been some really tough times for a lot of people over the past few years, so I like to have the opportunity to just talk personally with people: What is their experience? What kind of support do they have? What do they need ? … And I’m of course very happy to do whatever I can to be helpful.”
This was Austin’s fourth cease of the tour, which started in Osoyoos and Oliver.
“We started by helping to open the BC Indigenous Golf Championship at the Desert Canyon Golf Course, which was wonderful. It was really a fabulous cultural celebration and also just honoring Indigenous athleticism so great to see that happening,” Austin mentioned.
“I had a breakfast meeting with the Osoyoos Chamber of Commerce this morning,” she mentioned Monday. “We visited the Sanderson Farm Market, and I had a wonderful opportunity to meet with Rajinder who is the owner there.”
Next, the lieutenant-governor will meet with neighborhood members and veterans on the Legion Hall Branch in Okanagan Falls, in addition to tour Avery Family Farms to study vertical farming.
The tour will wrap up in Penticton on the South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services neighborhood centre.
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