SUPPORT SOUGHT | Former Vernon resident trying to afford life-saving trip for baby [A12]
Morning gStar
The
Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013
P R O U D L Y
S E R V I N G
O U R
N O R T H
w w w. v e r n o n m o r n i n g s t a r. c o m
O K A N A G A N
C O M M U N I T I E S
F O R
O V E R
2 0
Y E A R S
Canada Wide
CLEARANCE on 2013 models 2013 CADILLAC ESCALADE LUXURY Stk# P13-439
Fully Loaded
$
69, 800 $ 492 OR
*
B/W
*BIWEEKLY PAYMENT BASED ON 96 MONTHS AT 5.99% FINANCING OAC. ALL PAYMENTS INCLUDE TAXES AND ADMIN FEES, BUT PRICE OF VEHICLE DOES NOT.
BANNISTER
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A new place to play Morning Star Staff
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Caia Wilson (left), Canyon Swartz and Maya Johnson test out the new playground next to the Dogwood Gym Thursday at the Greater Vernon Recreation Centre. The playground is open to the public and is located between the rec complex and the Vernon Curling Club.
It was a monkey-style celebration Thursday as preschoolers swung from the bars of the new playground at the Vernon Recreation Complex The playground has provided a safe and accessible outdoor space for kids to play. “It is great to have an outdoor space like this for children to enjoy, and this is the result of a collective effort,” said MLA Eric Foster. Involved in the initiative were the Regional District of North Okanagan, the Ministry of Community Development, Kal Tire and Tire Stewardship B.C. As part of its 60th anniversary, Kal Tire awarded RDNO with funding for the recycled rubber surface for the playground. “It was a great way to show our thanks for the 60 years of community support,” said Tracy Cobb, Kal Tire’s director of communication. The playground is open to the public, and is located between the recreation complex and the Vernon Curling Club. “It is this type of community collaboration that allows great projects like this to happen, and the benefits are very evident,” said Patrick Nicol, RDNO chairperson.
Economy highlighted in city plan RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
With some residents heading north to look for work, City of Vernon officials admit something must be done to reverse that trend. The draft official community plan, which was endorsed by council this week, has a specific section dedicated to the economy. “I hope that in the budget process, we look at economic development,” said
Coun. Catherine Lord. Lord believes staff may need more financial resources to do everything expected of them. “They need more ability to tap into (potential investor) contacts and that can mean more time on the road,” she said. There is also a push to have the OCP focus on the current lack of industrial land because that is preventing some investors from moving here. “That has to be in the forefront,” said
Coun. Brian Quiring, adding that a solution has to be found within Vernon and not in adjacent jurisdictions. “We have to look at what we will do in 10 years and identify where is the right spot for industrial uses. It could be around the airport or the sewage treatment plant.” Vernon’s draft OCP covers land-use activities for the community, while also dealing with issues such as transportation, affordable housing, parks and culture. Once adopted, the 2013 document will
replace the 2008 OCP. One issue that is currently being reviewed is hillside development guidelines. “There are a lot of subdivided building lots that are vacant and not appropriate for families with children,” said Quiring, adding that the situation inflates the number of overall building lots available in Vernon. “I don’t know how we will get out of this problem.”
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