NEW RECRUITS | RCMP officers train puppies who may ultimately join canine unit [A6]
&
Edition in eck out our Special
The
Ch
ure holiday feattaste your s in this new s to keep urite thing of our favo es and drink idea bining two recip on long! We are com delicious baking py all seas ng buds hap showcasi
Inside
&
Today
P R O U D L Y
2013
Morning gStar Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013
S E R V I N G
O U R
N O R T H
O K A N A G A N
w w w. v e r n o n m o r n i n g s t a r. c o m
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
RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
P12-309A
Get readyr! for winte
12,760
$
BANNISTER
4703 - 27th St. VERNON • 250-545-0606
GM
DL#9133
RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Art gallery volunteer June Duncan stays warm by using a space heater and wearing her coat Friday morning in the gallery gift shop. There were cases in January 2013 and in 2012 of water leaking into the building and damaging art. “We spend so much time with interruptions,” said Kennedy Grant. “We can’t focus on what we need to focus on.” VPAG is pushing Greater Vernon politi-
cians to hold a borrowing referendum in January for a new art gallery. “We want to provide more continuity and services to the community,” said Kennedy Grant. It’s been suggested that it could cost $17.9 million for a new art gallery and museum.
View All Listings and Open Houses at … www.TheRightAgents.com Each office is independently owned and operated
Leather, nav, sunroof.
Rail line upgrades proceed
Art gallery left in cold A chill has descended upon culture. The Vernon Public Art Gallery has been without an operating furnace for about six weeks and it’s expected the situation won’t be corrected until early in the new year. “We have space heaters all over the place but we have to shut them down at night and then it’s quite chilly in the morning,” said Dauna Kennedy Grant, executive director. “In the main gallery, it has been getting down to 16 Celsius and it’s usually in the 20s.” The concern is that once cold weather does arrive, the space heaters won’t be able to manage and conditions inside the gallery could become uncomfortable for visitors. “Our employees are wearing sweaters and if it gets colder, they will be putting on gloves,” said Kennedy Grant. However, the primary concern is for the integrity of the gallery’s art collection. Temperature and humidity control are critical to preserve paintings and other items and Kennedy Grant says that is difficult without a consistent heat source. “We have locations identified if we have to move items off site,” she said. Beyond all of this, when the space heaters are plugged in, breakers have blown. The art gallery is located in the downtown parkade, which is owned by the City of Vernon. “On Oct. 15, council approved $100,000 to replace and upgrade the failed HVAC systems at the parkade, including the art gallery space,” said Brett Bandy, the city’s real estate manager. “Building services is sourcing a new system and has provided temporary electrical heating units until the new system can be installed.” City staff have been waiting for quotes on the equipment and with that now in hand, phase one installation for a medical clinic will begin next week. The second phase, which will impact the art gallery, could begin in about a month. This is just the latest capital works issue for the VPAG.
FIVE HUNDRED 2006 FORD LIMITED AWD
The resumption of rail service in the North Okanagan is right on track. As part of a decision to take over the Kelowna-Pacific line, Canadian National is investing in capital improvements to infrastructure between Lumby and Kamloops. “This work is underway and includes track upgrades and rail tie replacement,” said Emily Hamer, CN regional manager of public affairs. Emily Hamer “Operations on the 97 miles of the network running from Campbell Creek to Lumby will resume as soon as possible.” While improvements to the North Okanagan line continue, uncertainty over the future of the track from Coldstream to Kelowna remains. On Oct. 2, CN issued a notice of discontinuance for the line along Kalamalka and Wood lakes. “The discontinuance process falls under the Canada Transportation Act and we are following the process as prescribed,” said Hamer. “This legislated process is designed to give any interested party who believes that they can keep a line operating to do so.” Presently, parties interested in acquiring the line for railway operations have until Dec. 2 to make their intentions. If there is no interest from the private sector, the federal and provincial governments will be asked if they want the property. If that doesn’t occur, local government will have between March 5 and April 4 to state if there is interest in acquiring the track. If rail service does not resume, a citizens’ campaign has been launched to turn the track into a recreational corridor. “We will not comment on discussions held with individual interested parties,” said Hamer.