Family Life
Oliver is close to a number of parks and greenspaces, including Inkaneep Provincial Park, which is great for hiking, birdwatching, and camping in the 16 hectares of riverside cottonwood forest. The South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area includes four sites in 9,364 hectares: Mt. Kobau, Kilpoola, Chopaka East, and Chopaka West. The area features dry grasslands and open forests, and is host to a wide variety of endangered and rare birds, mammals, and reptiles and amphibians, as well as numerous plant species. Visitors can participate in a variety of activities, including cycling, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and wildlife viewing. Haynes’ Lease Ecological Reserve is a protected space that includes a natural segment of the most arid ecosystem in the province. The 101 hectares are home to numerous rare and endangered species of plants and animals, so recreational activities within the area are restricted to hiking, photography, and wildlife viewing.
Spaces for indoor activities in Oliver include the Oliver Arena, which has skating and hockey lessons, as well as games and competitions. Public skate times are also available, and the facility includes a weight room. The Eastlink Curling Centre has men’s, women’s, mixed, and corporate leagues and features Olympic-sized ice and a new gas-fired heater to provide warmer conditions. For those more interested in the arts, the Oliver Theatre shows major films in a small-town venue, and also has a film club. The Frank Venables Theatre is a performing arts centre built in 2014 that features musicals, movies, plays, and other events/performances. The venue is available to rent, and is home to the Oliver Community Theatre Society.