Opening of new Tim Hortons on OIB land continues to benefit Oliver's economy

Town of Oliver Coun. David Mattes said the opening of the new Tim Hortons franchise on Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) land near Oliver will add to the community’s burgeoning economy.

“It’s always a good sign when new businesses are opening and new jobs are being created,” said Mattes. “Any new jobs are welcome.”

Mattes attended Saturday’s grand opening of the new Tim Hortons located in the Senkulmen Business Park, which is owned by the OIB. OIB Chief Clarence Louie and many members of the OIB were on hand for the official ribbon cutting and grand opening.

The opening of this Tim Hortons franchise comes just over a year after the Okanagan Correctional Centre officially opened its doors less than one kilometre away.

The Tim Hortons franchise will create close to a dozen full-time jobs and several part-time jobs and more jobs will be created when an adjacent Gulf gas station and convenience store opens later this year, said Mattes.

The opening of the new correctional centre has resulted in a building boom in and around Oliver and having new jobs created by a small business like Tim Hortons will ensure more people want to call Oliver home, said Mattes.

“We have people (working at the jail) from Summerland all the way to the (Osoyoos) border and it’s having a big impact on our community,” he said. “There’s a lot of building going on because Oliver happens to be a great place to live. This growth will continue as long as we can find places for people to live.”

The Town of Oliver has an outstanding relationship with the OIB and he and members of council look forward to continuing this solid working relationship for many years to come, said Mattes.

Business partners in the new Tim Hortons include Ontario businessman Landon Miller, former NHL player and coach Ted Nolan and his family as well as Ecora Engineering.

There are more than 100 acres of land that remain available for business opportunities at the OIB's Senkulmen Business Park, said Louie, who added he’s looking forward to many other small businesses opening in this park in the coming months and years.

Miller and Nolan opened the first Tim Hortons full-service restaurant built on First Nations property in the Six Nations community near Brantford, Ont. in 2016.

They are also involved in a deal to build another Tim Hortons restaurant in Osoyoos on OIB land at the current Nk’Mip Corner gas station and convenience store.