The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) was officially established on March 4, 1966, under the Municipal Act of British Columbia, creating a new way for communities to work together at a regional level. The RDOS Board of Directors celebrated this milestone in Penticton on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

Mark Pendergraft, RDOS chair, shared the following comments before the Thursday, March 5, 2026, meeting of the Board of Directors:

"Over the past six decades, the RDOS has played a vital role in bringing communities together to address common challenges and deliver essential services. This includes supporting infrastructure and emergency preparedness, as well as regional planning and environmental stewardship.

Today offers an opportunity to acknowledge and thank the many board members, staff, and partners, past and present, whose dedication and leadership have shaped this organization. It is also a time to reaffirm the simple but powerful principle that has guided the RDOS for sixty years: our communities are stronger when we work together. Thank you to everyone here today for being part of the RDOS team and for your continued commitment to our region's shared future.

Congratulations on 60 years of service."

March 5, 2026

(l to r) Mark Pendergraft, RDOS chair, and Campbell Watt, RDOS vice-chair.

RDOS boardroom, 101 Martin Street, Penticton, BC.