Reclining on Canada’s warmest lake at the doorstep of a pocket desert and the crossroads of two historic trade routes, Osoyoos gets its name from “Souyoos,” a Syilx'tsn Native word, which describes a narrow waterway. With an average of more than 2,000 hours of sunshine every year, hot and dry summers and one of Canada’s mildest winters, Osoyoos is a recreational and agricultural hotspot. Sandy beaches, boating and canoeing, water-skiing, swimming, fishing and adventure pursuits, including hiking, cycling, horseback riding, golf and vineyards. There's great shopping in the compact downtown core, with an active business community that is led by a bevy of independent operators.