Osoyoos is a town in the southern part of the Okanagan Valley inBritish Columbia near the border with Washington state. The town is also adjacent to the Indian Reserve of the Osoyoos Indian Band. The origin of the name Osoyoos was the word suius meaning "narrowing of the waters" in the local Okanagan language(Syilx'tsn). The "O-" prefix is not indigenous in origin and was attached by settler-promoters wanting to harmonize the name with other O-names in the Okanagan region (Oliver, Omak, Oroville, Okanagan).
The town’s population of 4,845 swells in the summer months with visitors from elsewhere in British Columbia and neighbouring Alberta, as well as elsewhere in Canada. There is also a newer contingent of international visitors, supported by the proximity to the Kelowna International Airport about 1.5 hours north of the town. There is also a rapidly growing year-round retiree population as is evident with the recent boom of condominium and suburban development (though somewhat thwarted by the 2008-2009 economic downturn). There are another 1,892 people surrounding the town within the "Okanagan-Similkameen A" area
