SUMMERLAND REVIEW THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1908
VOLUME 66 - ISSUE
NO. 48 • S U M M E R L A N D, B.C. • T H U R S D AY,
WWW.SUMMERLANDREVIEW.COM
NOVEMBER
28,
2013
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WHAT’S INSIDE:
A Summerland hockey team competed at a regional tournament on the weekend.
Seeking signs
A proposed sign bylaw includes provisions for electronic signs with changeable messages.
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Transit fares
The municipality has determined the fares riders will pay to ride the bus.
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Dental care
A clinic in Summerland provided free dental care for low-income and fixed-income residents.
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Seasonal story
A dramatic reading of a well-loved holiday story will be held as a fundraiser for the Summerland Community Resource Centre.
Cross-country skiing is great — if you live in a small country.
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$1.15
INCLUDING
GST
Stores extend hours by John Arendt
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YOUR SMILE
PA G E S
Downtown merchants bring back Friday evening shopping
Hockey action
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107th birthday
John Arendt Summerland Review
Caroline Durick celebrated her 107th birthday on Friday afternoon at Summerland Seniors’ Village.
Stores in Summerland’s downtown area will offer Friday evening shopping for the next four weeks. On Friday, with the Festival of Lights, stores will extend their hours into the evening. In the weeks following, the Summerland Chamber of Commerce is asking downtown merchants to remain open until 8 p.m. on Dec. 6, 13 and 20. Christine Petkau, manager of the Summerland Chamber, said the ambiance of the downtown will add to the shopping experience. “There aren’t a lot of communities that are as beautifully lit,” she said. “It’s really very pretty.” She added that the chamber would like to have regular evening shopping hours in the downtown throughout the year. Attempts have already been made as the chamber has organized movie nights in Memorial Park for the past few summers. This year, a Friday evening country market was also held on Victoria Road North. “This is a wonderful idea,” she said. “Many merchants are already beginning to embrace it.” The work involved in coordinating a regular evening event is considerable, she said. The Festival of Lights, held on the fourth Friday of November, involves 800 hours of chamber staff time to organize. In addition to the evening shopping, a wine event will be held in the downtown area on Dec. 6. Wineries from Bottleneck Drive will conduct tastings at several retail outlets downtown from 5 to 8 p.m. during Wine Walk and Shop.
Collective agreement reached Union and municipality settle on five-year term by John Arendt The municipality and the municipal employees’ union have reached a five-year collective
agreement. The agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1136 affects more than 70 municipal employees. The previous collective bargaining agreement expired Dec. 31, 2012. Negotiations have
been going on for eight months. The length of time for the negotiations was because of difficulties in scheduling meetings between the municipality’s chief negotiator and the representative of CUPE National. Representatives from
the union and the municipality are pleased with the outcome. “This is a solid fiveyear agreement which protects both sides, “ said Mayor Janice Perrino. “We want to thank all of the parties involved for working hard to come to an agreement
that everyone can live with.” Don Darling, director of works and utilities for the municipality, said the agreement provides stability. “I think it’s a really good agreement for both sides,” he said. See TERM Page 6