Civic Addressing Project 

In 2009 council initiated a review of Oliver's civic addressing system in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation (MoT) and the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS).

Current Concerns

Ever since the RDOS conceived the current street and house numbering system for Oliver and the surrounding rural area in 1989, it has been a source of controversy among residents, visitors and delivery companies. While many people are satisfied with the system, the Town has regularly received complaints (and ridicule) about the numbering system. Some recurring concerns include:

• Many disjointed street sections across the community that share common street names
• Most rural and many in-town roads have dual street names posted. Even those streets not provided with dual labelling are often referred to by their traditional names in common conversation both on the street and on emergency response radio channels.
• Street and avenue numbers are unnecessarily large and detract from the small town atmosphere of Oliver.
• As a result, house numbers are unnecessarily large, making them more difficult to remember and making it easier to transpose digits.
• In addition to long street numbers, letters have had to be added in several locations (e.g. 350A Avenue or 87B Street).
• Many residents prefer street names that relate to their neighbourhood or community over numbers, which they feel are overly sterile.

Timing - Based on Canada Post Changes

Although name changes are not required by Canada Post, the timing of the current review of civic addressing was prompted by Canada Post's plans to eliminate all rural routes from Oliver in the near future. Instead, all former rural route customers will use civic addresses. A single civic address will be needed for all purposes of mail delivery, courier delivery, telephone directories, visitor and emergency location and utility location. (PO poxes are anticipated to remain unchanged)

Because most Oliver area residents will need to change their mailing addresses in any case, this was seen as a good opportunity (and a final practical opportunity) to resolve the civic addressing controversy once and for all.

Progress to Date

To address this issue, council appointed a special committee. Key milestones achieved include the following:
 

• Public open house held in October 2010.
• Open house survey confirmed 80% support for named street option:
  • Shorter house numbers (only 3 to 4 digits)
  • Eliminate all dual street signage
  • Retain traditional names in most of rural area (some localized changes needed for unnamed streets and awkward transitions)
  • Revert to approximately 20 traditional named streets in Town
  • Establish approximately 80 new names in 10 different neighbourhoods with area themes for names.
  • All street segments to have a unique name
  • Street naming and numbering to be coordinated across municipal boundary
• Council approved above option on October 24, 2010
• Staff submitted draft proposal to council on January 21, 2011 based on the above criteria and posted on internet
• Council received proposal and directed public meeting to present proposal
• Staff received comments on draft proposal and incorporated several of suggested changes
• Public meeting was held on April 6, 2011, to present latest proposal, with changes since January 2011.
• Following a one month petition period after the above meeting, staff implemented further changes to the street naming proposal.
• On May 24, 2011 council approved the street names resulting from the petition process and directed staff to begin implementation.
• Letters were mailed out to all property owners in the Town of Oliver on October 5 informing them of their new street address.
• Various corrections and minor amendments were made in consultation with individual effected property owners between October and December 2011.
• In February, 2012 the previously assigned names of Ridgeview Drive and Ridgeview Court to eliminate conflict with similar street names in the rural area. New sign plates for these two streets were ordered.
• Dual street name signage was removed in the spring of 2012.

Links to various documents describing work done to date as well as mapping information, are provided in the links at the bottom of this page.

Next Steps

House numbers were due to be installed by property owners by the end of 2011. Owners who have not already done so should complete these installations as soon as possible.  Having correct house addresses is essential to facilitate easy access and to ensure emergency crews can find your location as quickly as possible.

Canada Post changes are scheduled to be completed before the end of summer, 2012, after the new civic addresses are in place. Do not change your mailing address until directed to do so by Canada Post.