Lake Country Calendar, March 13, 2013

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March 13, 2013

▼ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Inside

Lake Country has a plan to attract businesses

Jim Taylor points out that we see what we want or expect to see, despite what’s right in front of us. ...............................

4

Learn about the king of the fruit tree pollinators—the tiny orchard mason bee. ...........................

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UBC Okanagan opens yet another state of the art building—the Arts and Sciences Centre housing classrooms, research and teaching labs, offices, student commons and two lecture theatres. ...........................

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Tourism strategy, marketing plan and future of Pelmewash Parkway up for immediate action. KEVIN PARNELL The District of Lake Country has adopted an economic development plan for the next two years as it moves forward in its attempts to solicit new businesses to the municipality. Council heard a report from economic development manager Ryan Roycroft at its March 5 meeting, and voted to target 11 key issues that need attention to help with economic development in Lake Country. “This is an 18 month workplan to start working on those issues,” said Roycroft. “Economic development is one of those fields that can go very broad so it’s very important to narrow down the focus. This will be the guiding document behind our strategic focus on

economic development over the next 16 to 18 months.” The workplan was developed after the district

‘‘

BUT WE WILL HAVE A VERY FOCUSED MARKETING PLAN FOR MAIN STREET AND TARGETING THOSE WITH THE MOTIVATION TO GET GOING IS DEFINITELY A FOCUS. Ryan Roycroft, District of Lake Country economic development manager

hosted a two-day session late last year that included a diverse group of interested parties from the community as well as a local government consultant. Based on those sessions, over 60 significant issues were brought forward before being distilled down to 11 items,

seven of which needed immediate attention. Among the issues needing immediate work was developing a tourism strategy, a marketing plan and the future plans of Pelmewash Parkway. The priorities for immediate attention are all local issues, touching elements such as housing policy, local tourism promotion and land inventory. It also included the future of Main Street, for which council recently passed a tax incentive plan while the district continues to look for developers to build out the street. “I had hoped to have Main Street built out already and moved on to other things,” said Roycroft. “But we will have a very focused marketing plan for Main street and targeting those with the motivation to get going is definitely a focus.” The work plan received support from members of council, who unanimously passed the recommendation. “There are a lot of

KEVIN PARNELL/LAKE COUNTRY CALENDAR

DISTRICT OF LAKE COUNTRY economic development manager Ryan

Roycroft speaks to Lake Country council, laying out the district’s economic development strategy and work-plan.

benefits to this plan,” said Coun. Jamie McEwan. “As we move forward I think this is a great initiative and I think we definitely have a positive

future with this kind of planning ahead of us.” The economic development plan for the district will be carried out by current district

staff and working on the top priorities are not expected to cost the district anything, according to Roycroft. newsroom@lakecountrynews.net

▼ PROVINCIAL POLITICS

Flyers

NDP line up their candidates for Central Okanagan ridings

■ Avenue Farm

ALISTAIR WATERS

Kachin-Kubota ■ JYSK ■ Rona ■ Staples

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Long-time Lake Country resident Mike Nuyens will carry the NDP banner in Kelowna-Lake Country in the

upcoming provincial election. Nuyens, a machine operator for a road maintenance company and elected official with the B.C. Government and Service Employees’

Union, won the party’s nomination Tuesday night, defeating UBC Okanagan student Tom Macauley. Nuyens will challenge incumbent Liberal MLA and B.C Minis-

ter of Agriculture Norm Letnick in the May 14 election. “I’m excited to bring positive change to the people of British Columbia, especially in my community,” said

Nuyens following his nomination victory. “Together with (party leader) Adrian (Dix) and the B.C. NDP, we are taking practical steps to bring change for the better to Kelowna-Lake

Country.” Nuyens, 52, has lived his entire life in Lake Country and feels his connection in the community will help in the

SEE B.C. A3


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