TOUGH DECISIONS | Financial challenges force Enderby Chamber of Commerce to restructure [A7]
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Boundary merger dismissed RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
MORNING STAR FILE PHOTO
Thousands of people are expected to line 27th Street and downtown streets for the annual Vernon Winter Carnival parade on Saturday.
Carnival unveils prehistoric fun RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
MORNING STAR FILE PHOTO
Look out for the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.
improving their personal skills and contributing to the community. Starting Friday, there will be the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, with 10 of the gentle giants taking to the sky throughout the weekend. “The pilots are mostly from Alberta but there are also some from the Lower Mainland and Kelowna,” said Sjoblom.
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It’s going to be a Yabba-Dabba Do time. Prehistoric Carnival presented by Fix Auto Collision begins Friday and a mammoth of a time is guaranteed until Feb. 10. “Everyone is really excited,” said Brittany Sjoblom, Vernon Winter Carnival executive director. The 53rd annual Vernon Winter Carnival provides an opportunity for residents of the North Okanagan to get out and shake off the winter blues and have some fun. “There are people attending now who took part when they were young, so there’s a history people want to continue,” said Sjoblom. “And many people may have not had anything like this where they grew up and they want to be part of the community.” Activities actually get underway Thursday with the proclamation of Queen and Princess Silver Star at 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Centre (they will be crowned Friday at 5 p.m. at Polson Park). Eleven young women are vying for the title of queen. “The program is very much a part of Carnival,” said Sjoblom, adding that the candidates put months of work into
The balloons will also be featured at the 21st Hot Hair Balloon Glow at Polson Park at 6 p.m. Friday. The highlight Saturday will be the parade, which starts at W.L. Seaton Secondary on 27th Street and noon and winds its way to the downtown core. The prehistoric theme will dominate floats and other entries. “We have heard from some people that they are doing a Flintstone’s car. That would really be neat to see,” said Sjoblom. Other activities Saturday include Bandarama, the B.C. Championship Snow Sculpture Competition, the St. James Family Fling and Fantastic Fossils at the Okanagan Science Centre. Residents are also encouraged to plan ahead for Winter Carnival Family Day Feb. 9 at Polson Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A variety of games and entertainment will be available during the free event. “We want everyone to put on their snow pants and gloves and come down. It’s a chance to celebrate winter,” said Sjoblom. For more information about Vernon Winter Carnival, go to www.vernonwintercarnival.com or call 250-545-2236.
Merging Greater Vernon jurisdictions could create efficiencies, but the mayor isn’t willing to open old wounds. The consultant overseeing the city’s core services review has put forward a number of suggestions for reducing costs and improving services, including amalgamating Vernon, Coldstream and the electoral areas. “It’s an issue that’s stirred up controversy in the past and there is great hesitancy on the part of this mayor and council to promote it,” said Mayor Rob Sawatzky. “We have been working to repair the level of dysfunction brought about by previous Rob Sawatzky attempts to promote amalgamation.” Sawatzky believes efficiencies in providing services can be created by co-operating with neighbouring jurisdictions. Coun. Patrick Nicol also isn’t convinced amalgamation is something the city should initiate. “It’s a citizen-driven decision. No one part of Greater Vernon dictates that,” he said. In terms of governance and generating efficiencies, the consultant says the options are amalgamation of at least the urban areas, shifting services like recreation to one jurisdiction so there are not shared authorities or defining how split functions work. “The best way is likely difficult to achieve if not impossible,” said Brina Bourns, KPMG senior manager, of amalgamation. KPMG has also presented other concepts for city council to consider as part of the core review. They include discharging some reclaimed effluent to Okanagan Lake, increasing transit fares, contracting out fire dispatch, reducing community development staff, turning economic development and tourism over to the regional district and developing a strategy for disposing of surplus land holdings. A public workshop on the core review was held Tuesday, and Coun. Catherine Lord admits KPMG’s suggestions will require further council consideration. “There are a lot of public expectations around the results of this core review,” she said.
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