RAIL TRAIL | Plans for recreational corridor along railway gaining steam [A6]
The Walmart
2200 - 58 th Aven
ue, Vernon
Supersto P Rre O U
D L Y
5001 Anderson W ay, Vernon ww w.suss ex insur
Morning gStar Friday, Nov. 15, 2013
S E R V I N G
an ce.co m
RCMP take aim at sex trade
O U R
N O R T H
2014 GMC SIERRA DENALI 1 TON 4X4 6.6L Diesel, Lifted.14-021
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
BANNISTER
Y E A R S
4703 - 27th St. VERNON • 250-545-0606
GM DL#9133
SNOW SMILES
Morning Star Staff
The Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP detachment has been cracking down on the local sex trade industry. The initiative came as a result of numerous complaints from the public. “The sex trade was very open and active in Vernon, primarily within a specific area of the downtown core,” said RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk. “These activities led to numerous complaints by concerned citizens and elected officials. The complaints led to investigations of assaults, property, and mischief-related crimes in the area.” In September, efforts were directed towards the consumers or “Johns.” A total of six men were arrested for communication for the purpose of prostitution and subsequently released for future court dates. Each of the accused is provided an opportunity to attend a seminar commonly referred to as John School, a seminar paid for by the accused, and if they successfully complete the course charges will not be forwarded to Crown counsel. “The intent is to change the behavior of these men,” said Molendyk. In October, officers’ efforts were directed towards the sex trade workers or “Janes.” Six women were arrested for communication for the purpose of prostitution. “The focus of our investigation was to connect the women with community resources in our city,” said Molendyk. “Representatives from Interior Health met with each one of them as part of our community mobilization to provide information relating to community services available to the women for the purpose of assisting them in locating the resources like food, and shelter to enable them to make healthy changes in their lifestyle.” The women will be given the chance to attend a workshop with the Now Society, a sex workers alternative program based out of Kelowna. The program is to assist them in acquiring access to a support network to re-build their lives. Molendyk said the local detachment has a duty to investigate and disrupt the sex trade activity because of complaints and safety concerns. “In part it was to identify those involved on both sides of the industry,” said Molendyk. “It is one of the tools we utilize to disrupt the illicit sex trade. We use it in conjunction with other efforts, including working with partner agencies to meet the overall objectives of: reducing the impact that the illicit sex trade has on public safety in our community.”
ROGER TEPPER/MORNING STAR
Ana (left) and her sister Erica receive a little push from their mom Pamela Balcaen while tobogganing at Soverign Lake Nordic Centre.
Mayor keen to investigate ‘A’ word RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
A local politician says Greater Vernon governance should be reviewed simply to clear the air. Rob Sawatzky, Vernon mayor, insists a study into amalgamation would determine whether the benefits of merging four jurisdictions would outweigh any possible negatives. “It’s been the elephant in the room for some time,” he said. “Sometimes studies show no net financial benefit but some citizens will say a streamlined governance process may be worth it.” The Greater Vernon Governance Society has 2,930 signatures on a petition asking local and provincial authorities to develop a plan to combine area jurisdictions into a single entity.
VERNON
DRIVE
the electoral areas (no 2011 election so based on 2013 referendum results). The turnout for April’s sports complex referendum was 19.5 per cent. “It says that there is more interest in dealing with this matter than many would have anticipated,” said Shepherd. Sawatzky was hoping to see a petition with at least 10 per cent of total registered voters. “It (petition) is an indication of interest but one could debate the strength of the interest,” he said. Jim Garlick, Coldstream mayor, isn’t impressed with the petition. “They fell short of their 4,000 names and this is just six per cent of the total voters,” he said. “I don’t think people are all fired up about this.”
See PETITION RESULTS on A3
Let’s make this season a magical time of the year for kids in need. DL# 30382
“TOY”OTAEVENT
“We believe this is a significant and credible survey of the entire community,” said Bruce Shepherd, society president. Sawatzky won’t say where he personally stands on the issue of amalgamation. “I can’t make up my mind without the necessary information. I wouldn’t want to make an uninformed decision,” he said. Of the 2,930 names, 2,032 are from Vernon, 611 from Coldstream and 287 from the two electoral areas. There are 31,693 total voters in Vernon, 7,424 in Coldstream and 5,550 in Areas B and C. However, the society states a more important factor to consider is how many people voted in 2011 civic elections. Using that formula, the number of signatures compared to the election turnout is 25.3 per cent in Coldstream, 22.9 per cent in Vernon and 23.7 in
3401 - 48th Ave • Phone (250) 545-0687 VISIT US 24/7 AT WWW.VERNONTOYOTA.COM
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE A13