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AMALGAMATION DEBATE | Coldstream group opposes studying possibility of governance change [A5]

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Sunday, January 12, 2014

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Conservation forced to focus on safety ROGER KNOX Morning Star Staff

Conservation officers are caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place when it comes to problem wildlife. On the one hand, the officers are supposed to be protecting wildlife and wildlife values. On the other, the officers are supposed to be protecting people. Sometimes, the officers have to destroy wildlife to protect people. “It’s just erring on the side of caution,” said Sgt. Josh Lockwood, of North Okanagan conservation services, a 32-year veteran of both law enforcement and being a conservation officer. “No matter what we do, there’s the two sides,” added officer Tanner Beck, who transferred to the North Okanagan from Vancouver Island where he dealt with numerous cougar complaints. “People ask us to come get rid of a bear or somebody’s going to get killed, or they’ll say ‘don’t touch that bear, let it live free.’ It comes from both sides,

“It’s based on science, not emotion.” — Lockwood

no matter what we do.” Local conservation officers – and there are just two that serve a 48,000 square mile radius from Greater Vernon to the Needles Ferry and 18 kilometres this side of Revelstoke – have come under heat, scrutiny and online attack this month after destroying two cougars in Coldstream. One was shot after it was trapped following numerous reports of the animal being seen, including near an elementary school. The other was killed in Lavington after the cougar attacked and killed two goats. A third cougar seen walking through a Coldstream neighbourhood and, again,

within 100 metres of an elementary school, has not been trapped. A decision to put down wildlife, said Lockwood, is based on the number of complaints the department receives, the animal’s behaviour and based on information conservation officers receive. In 2013, the local conservation office received more than 1,600 problem wildlife complaints, including 69 cougars, none of which were destroyed. Each complaint is assessed by officers as they come in. “If we have a case of a bear running across a road, it’s just a sighting and we’re not going to attend,” said Lockwood. “But if it’s, say, a bear in a school yard, we’re going to respond and an officer is going to attend to make sure the bear’s not in the school yard, and educate the school.” The cougar trapped and killed near Kinloch Drive in Coldstream had a necropsy performed after death. Inside the cat’s stomach was dog hair. Proof that the animal had eaten a domestic house pet and quite likely

killed the dog itself. Officers carry out decisions that are made by people in Victoria who have master’s degrees in biology and are very familiar with large carnivores. “Those policies and procedures we carry out are set by senior biologists,” said Lockwood. “It’s based on science, not emotion.” People tend to get very emotional when wildlife is destroyed in a suburban habitat. Case in point: a deer that was caught on video nuzzling up to a young boy at a Coldstream beach in the summer of 2013 was splashed on YouTube and had more than 14,000 views. The same deer was photographed by residents – including what Lockwood called “one despicable photo” with the deer having a gold chain, sunglasses and ball hat to make it look gangster – being petted by humans and was confirmed to have got its antler caught in a jacket of a student at an elementary school.

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The deer was shot and killed by officers, which led to outcries from the public, e-mail threats to the principal of the elementary school who was blamed for alerting conservation officers about the

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deer, and to the children of a conservation officer being harassed by adults. “You know, we could easily resolve a cougar or bear conflict and the media would never hear about it. We don’t hide behind that,” said Lockwood, who said he took it upon himself to become the local media spokesperson following the bullying incident to one of his member’s kids. “We are forefront. We do not lie to the public. We do not lie to the media. Does it create controversy? Absolutely, because people have uninformed expert opinions.” That would also include people wanting officers to tranquilize problem animals and translocate (conservation jargon for moving them) the animals to another area. The scientists in Victoria have determined that translocating animals is not a sound practice. One bear translocated from Nakusp to Beaverdell ended up killing a $7,000 stud ram.

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A cougar lurking around Coldstream was destroyed recently, a tough decision conservation officers were forced with in order to protect the public. There’s also the matter of the drugs officers use to tranquilize wildlife, which are experimental, certified by the USDA. Lockwood said there is no scientific proof those drugs are not carcinogenic. “Should we tranquilize a deer and move it, and that deer is shot and consumed by a lawful harvest, are we creating a cancer situation down the road?” said Lockwood. “We don’t have an answer to that so we err on the side of public safety.”

Lockwood said he’s fine taking the heat from the public. He’s been called a murderer. He’s been threatened with lawsuits. He’s been chastised more, he figures, for not attending a wildlife call. “If people want to hate me, I’m OK with that,” he said. “But you know, I get more letters and e-mails supporting what we do. The other day a guy bought me a coffee in a coffee shop and said ‘good job.’ That’s why I do what I do.”

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Sunday, January 12, 2014 - The Morning Star A3

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June Duncan, a volunteer at the Vernon Public Art Gallery, starts unpacking the gift shop at the gallery after a burst water main flooded the gallery in December.

Art gallery ready to re-open after flood Morning Star Staff

Vernon Public Art Gallery staff say they are eager to re-open the gallery’s doors following a damaging flood in early December. It’s been one month since the disaster occurred from a water main break on 31st Avenue in front of the gallery. Due to water seeping inside the gallery, staff had to close and remove the cur-

rent exhibitions and move its gift shop and offices to a temporary space in the old Vernon Flower Shop, the proposed site of a new art gallery. “It was unfortunate that we had to close our exhibitions prior to the holiday break and we also had to cancel events and programming and operations. We were basically non-existent

for about two weeks at one of the busiest times of the year,” said VPAG executive director Dauna Kennedy Grant. As crews continue with repairs to the gallery, located underneath the city parkade, the curatorial staff have been working overtime to prepare for the opening of four new exhibitions set for Jan. 16. The original opening

date was pushed back by one week in order to allow necessary time for drying, cleaning, dry walling and painting of the walls of the gallery, said Kennedy Grant. “We are just happy to be getting back to business as usual,” she said. “The gallery shop received great exposure at the temporary site over the holidays, but we need to get back to regu-

lar operations of providing exhibitions and programming.” The gallery reports that its guest count was actually up significantly while at the site of the proposed new art gallery. “(It’s a) good sign that it is the right location for the new gallery facility,” said Kennedy Grant. “(The) VPAG would like

Budget plan ready for public scrutiny Morning Star Staff

The public can have its say on the proposed City of Vernon five-year financial plan. The proposed 2014-2018 financial plan for the city will be on the agenda for three special regular council meetings: Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 9 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 16 at 11 a.m., and Friday, Jan. 17 at 9 a.m.

The meetings will be held in council chambers at city hall, with opportunity for public input at 11 a.m. each day. The goal for the plan is to meet council’s commitment to “looking after our house,” and offers a roadmap for providing professional, efficient and economical services to the citizens of Vernon while recognizing budgetary realities.

One of the most noteworthy items in the budget includes the recreation agreement and parks agreement, which shifts ownership, control and responsibility for local parks, recreation facilities and programs from the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) to the city. Although this agreement means Vernon homeowners

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will see an increase in property taxes, these will be offset by a reduction in RDNO tax requisitions — a move that ultimately simplifies the management of the city’s parks and recreation facilities. The public can view the proposed 2014-2018 budget plan at www.vernon.ca/services/finance/documents.

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to thank everyone for their support during this time. It’s great to see we have the support of the community and we are all looking forward to a very positive year ahead.” Gallery members and the public are invited to attend the opening reception of the VPAG’s four new exhibitions, Thursday, Jan. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. The gallery is located at 3228-31st Ave.

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Activity page.......................................B14 Arts.....................................................B5 Classifieds.........................................B16 Comics..............................................B15 Editorial...............................................A8 Letters.................................................A9 Lifestyles.............................................B1 Sports...............................................A18 Vol. 26 • No. 72— 68 Pages

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News Snow warriorS

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David Fairbrother joins his neighbours as they dig out after a large snowfall Friday morning in East Hill.

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There’s been a swap in positions in Enderby. Tate Bengston, former deputy chief administrative officer, is now CAO. Former CAO Barry Gagnon is now deputy CAO. “I have assumed the CAO position for the City of Enderby, in accordance with the succession plan,” said Bengston. “Barry Gagnon will continue to complete a variety of policy initiatives and provide guidance during the transition, in his new role as deputy CAO.” The switch was effective Jan. 1.

Sunday, January 12, 2014 - The Morning Star A5

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Coldstream residents Penny Sault (left) and Hew Kidston (right) question any potential benefit to amalgamation between Vernon, Coldstream and Areas B and C at a special Coldstream Ratepayers Association meeting Thursday at the Women’s Institute.

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Amalgamation targeted JENNIFER SMITH Morning Star Staff

If it ain’t broke, why fix it. That’s the sentiment among members of the Coldstream Ratepayers Association, who are opposed to the idea of amalgamation. More than 50 residents turned out to a public meeting Thursday to share their opposition to the idea of amalgamating Coldstream and Areas B and C into Vernon – an idea sparked by the Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon. Since the society will be making its case to Coldstream council Monday, Thursday’s meeting gave local politicians (many of whom were in attendance and also spoke against amalgamation) an idea of where some of its residents stand. “We’re looking for some feedback from the public on everybody’s thoughts, also what questions do you have,” said Mayor Jim Garlick, urging citizens to send letters and e-mails to council. The society is asking the four levels of government to pursue a study looking into the feasibility of amalgamation. But an overwhelming majority of those in attendance at Thursday’s meeting have asked council not to endorse a study, and the mayor agrees. “We want to be cautious of ever agreeing to a study,” said Garlick. Such a study could cost considerable money and staff time to conduct, he said. “At this point I’m not convinced there’s enough potential to spend any amount of money on it,” said resident Hew Kidston, adding that while proponents of amalgamation say it would be more efficient, it would not necessarily be effective governance. Bigger is not necessarily better.”

Long-time resident Bill Kastelen says the ‘A’ word comes up every four or five years, and there have already been studies on the topic. “A study in 1991 concluded taxes in Vernon would go down and taxes in Coldstream would go up,” said Kastelen. Coun. Richard Enns went through the amalgamation process with property in the former Area A (Okanagan Landing) and doesn’t want to see Coldstream go down the same road. “There has been no benefit whatsoever. It’s cost us money and forced us to hook up to a sewer line we didn’t need.” The following demise of the Okanagan Landing Fire Department is another fear Coldstream residents have for their own volunteer fire departments if amalgamation took effect. As a retired RCMP officer, Al Luelo has been stationed in communities that underwent amalgamation, and it was never good, he said. “In the case of Chilliwack, Agassiz and Hope, we were having people complain that they never see the police, they never see the plow trucks,” said Luelo, as he explained most services were dedicated to the larger centre of Chilliwack. Enjoying his Coldstream home, land and lifestyle, Luelo questions why fix something that’s not broken. “I don’t need a new Cadillac, I’m happy with my old pickup.” Bob Weatherill agrees. “If we become a small fish in a bigger pond, they won’t listen to us,” he said, also echoing many fears of losing the rural lifestyle of Coldstream. Garlick also cautions that if amalgamation were to proceed, there may be no turning back. “I think you have very good representation. To lose that, you’re not going to get it back.”

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Taylor and her daughter, Mattaya, were in the midst of a move from Kelowna to her mom’s house in Kamloops on Dec. 18. It had already been a rough year for the 30-year-old when she was suddenly stranded in the small town of Falkland. Initially, Taylor was lost, trying to hold back the tears as she told her five-year-old daughter that everything was going to be OK – despite the fact that a rod had snapped in her engine. She was just about to give up all hope when a perfect stranger approached her. “Some guy at the gas station let me store the truck for free at his house in Falkland and drove me all the way to Kamloops with my kid, dog and my stuff, as much as they could fit in their car,” said Taylor, forever grateful to the kind stranger. A few days later, with insufficient funds to rescue or fix her truck, Taylor reached out for advice on an Okanagan vehicle buy and sell group on facebook. “It was just before

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Former Vernon resident Alesha Taylor and her daughter Mattaya are enjoying their new truck, donated to help them get around after their’s broke down, through the Rides From Angels group. Christmas and I had no idea what I was going to do,” said Taylor, suffering from hip pain so unable to walk the onekilometre trek to the nearest bus stop with her daughter. “I was searching for advice, help, anything.” Brian Brown of Penticton saw Taylor’s plea online and as the founder of Rides From

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Angels – a provincewide group dedicated to connecting people in need with vehicles – he was determined to help. With more than 600 members involved in his group, Brown started to spread the word that there was a singlemom out there in need of some assistance. By Boxing Day, Taylor was driving a 1991 Ford F150 – generously donated by a Salmon Arm couple who wanted to help. “Everybody came together,” said Taylor. “Perfect strangers came together and now we’re getting around.” She is forever grateful to everyone who helped make her Christmas season merrier, and she too plans to pay it forward. Although money is still tight, she hopes to one day get her own truck fixed and give the truck she was given to someone else in need. Brown admits that aside from spreading the word, Rides From Angels actually played

a small role in the truck donation. “A lot of people pitched in and it had very little to do with me on that one,” said Brown, who has since been in discussion with the generous Salmon Arm couple about starting a chapter of Rides From Angels in the North Okanagan/ Shuswap region. The goal of the group, which is working to become a registered charity, is to issue tax receipts to those who donate vehicles, which can then be turned around and given to people in need, like Taylor. “As long as I get to help someone it makes me feel good,” said Brown, who is admittedly addicted to helping others and paying it forward. “Although I won’t end up a rich man, I’ll end up with lots of people at my funeral.” To become a member of Rides From Angels, search the group on facebook.

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Sunday, January 12, 2014 - The Morning Star A7

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Mews phase two proposed Lumby’s complex care facility could be growing. Plans are underway for phase two at Monashee Mews, which would provide 26 assisted living units. “In the spring it is our intention to once again hold a public forum in Lumby where the design concept (including floor plans and suite layouts) will be presented to the public,” said Jenavive Holmes, InSite Communications Coordinator. “Based on the response received from the public at the time of this public meeting, inSite will decide if the project will proceed.” The assisted living complex would be attached to the 46-bed Monashee Mews. Lumby Mayor Kevin Action is eager to see the

Residents responsible for sidewalks Morning Star Staff

The City of Vernon is reminding residents that we all have a part to play in ensuring the safety of roads and sidewalks, particularly when winter weather creates icy conditions. Shovel snow and remove ice from sidewalks and foot paths bordering your property. If possible, please pile the snow on the boulevard or front yard areas to allow for snow storage along the curb line. In areas where snow must be plowed into the road, please pile snow as close to the curb line as possible. Snow plowed into the travelled lanes of a road creates a hazard for motorists and increases snow removal costs for the city. Remove vehicles from roadways following a snowfall until the road is plowed and sanded. When driving, slow down for the conditions and

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But standardized tests like the Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) in Grades 4 and 7 take away from those wonderful moments of learning. The FSAs do not count for marks, create needless stress for students, are expensive, and the much-delayed results do not actively support your child’s progress. The data is also misused to rank schools, which puts pressure on teachers to teach to the test, instead of to students’ interests and needs. That’s why teachers in Vernon recommend you send a letter to your school principal requesting that your child be exempted from the FSA. VERNON TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION (250-542-0456) vernonta.com

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project move ahead. “Then we’ll have it all,” said Acton. “We’ll have assisted living, independent living and complex care.” A design concept has been completed by inSite which features self-contained apartments for seniors and common amenity spaces including dining and lounge areas to be shared amongst all residents – existing and future. It’s anticipated the public forum will take place in April, where information concerning the proposed service package and pricing will be available. “The project will only proceed if there are enough seniors in the area interested in residency at Monashee Mews,” said Holmes.

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A8 Sunday, January 12, 2014 - The Morning Star

Opinion

Setting goals is the way to go

Ian Jensen – Publisher Glenn Mitchell – Managing Editor

4407 - 25th Ave. Vernon, B.C. V1T 1P5

The North Okanagan’s Community Newspaper Published Sunday, Wednesday, Friday The Morning Star, founded in 1988 as an independent community newspaper, is published each Sunday, Wednesday and Friday morning. Submissions are welcome but we cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited material including manuscripts and pictures which should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. EnTIRE ConTEnTS © 1988 MoRnInG STAR PuBLICATIonS LTd. ALL RIGhTS RESERVEd

Switchboard: 250-545-3322 E-Mail: newsroom@vernonmorningstar.com Web site: www.vernonmorningstar.com Mailing Address: 4407-25th Ave., Vernon, B.C., V1T 1P5 Fax: 250-542-1510

Publisher Ian Jensen 250-550-7906

Managing Editor

Glenn Mitchell 250-550-7920

Circulation Manager Tammy Stelmachowich 250-550-7901 Creative Co-ordinator Michelle Snelgrove Accounts Manager Brenda Burgess Classified Supervisor Carol Williment 250-550-7900 Editorial Staff Graeme Corbett Kristin Froneman Roger Knox Kevin Mitchell Katherine Mortimer Richard Rolke Jennifer Smith Lisa VanderVelde

550-7903 550-7923 550-7922 550-7902 550-7924 550-7921 550-7913 550-7909

www.vernonmorningstar.com

Those kids today!

e’ve all heard the stories about kids today and their addiction to cellphones, and how it’s not like it was when we were kids -- as if something else is like it was. But cellphones and games come in for special abuse, and I have to admit, I have jumped on the “Woe is me, cellphones (or computer games or piercings or tattoos or whatever) will be the ruin of us all” bandwagon many, many times. So I was impressed to hear from a friend about a young teenage Jim Mullen girl who went to a party and decided that she was missing too much of her life by being on her cell all the time. So she turned off her phone, put it in her coat pocket and threw it on the bed with all the other coats. She had a wonderful time, caught up with all her friends without ever once looking at her Facebook account, talked to everyone without using Twitter, and looked at her friends’ faces in real life, not in selfies. She ate hors d’ouevres and even danced a little. Not once did she think that she was missing anything; she didn’t have any fancy new psychological problems like “SIWS” (Sudden Internet Withdrawl Syndrome) or “IRP” (Instagram Regret Pattern). She didn’t feel like Snapchatting anyone; she liked hearing music without earbuds; she enjoyed talking to her friends without having to see them through a computer camera. She even enjoyed dressing up, something you don’t really have to do when you’re texting, because who’s going to see you? When it was time to leave, she grabbed her coat and drove home. She didn’t even remember to fish her phone out of her pocket;

VillAgE idiot

she was just thinking of what a good time she’d had. It didn’t occur to her that leaving her phone in her pocket might have been the reason she’d had so much fun, and maybe it wouldn’t have made any difference, who knows? She simply felt warm and happy and at peace with the world. Until she walked in her front door. “Where have you been?” her mother nearly screamed. She ran up to the girl and hugged her while tears ran down her face. “We’ve been calling you and calling you. We were just about to call the police and file a missing person’s report! Your father and I have been worried sick. You haven’t posted anything on Facebook in five hours! We thought you’d been kidnapped, or ran off with some pervert that you met online or something. Where were you? Are you OK? Do you want go to the hospital? Somebody boil some water. Where were you? Do you think you can find it again on a Google map? I swear we’ll find the people who did this to you and bring them to justice.” “Mom! I told you I was going to a party at Kathy’s house, don’t you remember?” “You told me? You mean you didn’t email me? You didn’t share it on your iCalandar with me? You told me? What does that mean, young lady? Am I supposed to remember everything people tell me? Is that the way we do things in this house now? We tell people? Maybe it was my fault, maybe I raised you wrong, maybe I just thought I was leading by example. Well, whatever it is, I can see it didn’t take. “I called your grandmother and your Uncle Art and Aunt Helen and they’re all in an uproar. What will I text them now? What will I say to my Facebook friends when they get back from their search parties? That you turned off your phone? What kind of person does that? What were you thinking? What is wrong with you kids today?” (Contact Jim Mullen at JimMullenBooks.

It’s one of the many magical characteristics of mankind that we have this self-resolve around this time of year to look into the future and imagine that, maybe, just maybe, things are going to be better. Tobacco, alcohol, lack of exercise and poor diet are the four major contributing factors to poor health outcomes. Addressing any one of these results in impressive gains in the ways that people feel and engage with others, benefiting both mental and physical health over the long term. Weight loss, eating better, and regular exercise are the most common resolutions that people make in the new year. Unfortunately, they are also the most difficult to keep. Often, the challenge is that we’re pretty good at maintaining our resolutions for the first month and then, come end of January, early February, the shiny “new self” starts to feel unsustainable. Goal-setting is one effective way to achieve. Making clear and precise goals that are realistic and achievable often leads to better confidence and maintains motivation to continue. For example, setting an exercise goal of moderate activity for 10 minutes a day for a month and succeeding is far better than setting a goal of vigorous activity for 20 minutes a day and feeling like it’s too much or setting a generic goal of “doing more exercise.” Another way to achieve resolutions is to plan ahead. A little bit of forward thinking can set the conditions for long term success. -Black Press

Letters

www.vernonmorningstar.com

Editor: GlEnn MitchEll

❙

PhonE: 550-7920

❙

Sunday, January 12, 2014 - The Morning Star A9

E-Mail: letters@vernonmorningstar.com

An open letter to Parliament

t's about time someone told you people in the House of Commons and Senate what a disappointment you have become to us ordinary Canadians. You’re supposed to be lawmakers and role models for this wonderful country of ours. It’s a cruel irony, therefore, that so many of you and your bureaucrats have come under criminal investigation for fraud, bribery and breach of trust. Still others are accused of covering up additional reprehensible behaviour. Have those of you who we elected forgotten that we hired you to represent our best interests? Should we instead be regarding you with embarrassment or quite possibly disgust, or even fear? As for you appointed senators, no one believes anymore the myth of your independence. Let’s be blunt. Revelations in recent months make clear that both houses of our Parliament have become one oligarchy run out of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Agreed, every so often there’s an outbreak of democracy. It’s called a general election. Immediately thereafter, however, we revert back to the oligarchy. Perhaps it’s no accident the scandals on Parliament Hill are providing momentum for the PMO’s campaign to abolish the Senate. That would eliminate a potential counterbalance to the PMO exercising even more power for which it could not be held accountable. Signs of revolt in the Commons within the prime minister’s own party are encouraging but they also further expose the malaise that has befallen our democracy. And the scandalous behaviour of senators appointed by the prime minister and to be fair, his predecessors, reveals the Senate in its present form serves no useful purpose. The Senate was originally designed to occupy a vital role within our system of govern-

a response This is in response to Henry Van Soest’s letter “Freedom to Roam” in which he expresses concern for the potential loss of his freedom in regards to proposed regulations in the bush. I, for one, am so relieved that the Coalition for Licensing and Regulation of Off Road Vehicles is proposing that the government clamp down and restrict the use of motorcycles, ATVs and other machines used in the wilderness. I would like to suggest to Henry and others of his mindset, who believe they have the right to take noisy, polluting, motorized vehicles anywhere that they want in nature (because, as Henry says, the Crown Land “belongs to all of us”) that they consider that nature is not just here for their taking. We, as humans, are part of nature and inevitably suffer as a consequence of this sense of separation. The tearing up of sensitive ecosystems, watersheds and the disruption of other’s peace when on a walk in the wilderness, occurs in this area

on a regular basis. The Earth is not Disneyland and some of us, probably wildlife included, do not want to be in the woods and have our peace and quiet disturbed because certain citizens enjoy tearing up the hillsides and back country with their toys. The Okanagan is full of sacrifice zones; mountainsides covered in ATV roads, garbage and party pits, where one group of people felt they had the right to bring their play out to the mountains which apparently we are all supposed to share. Who are the special interest groups that you seem so concerned about, the ones that would like to see more licensing and higher taxes for this sport? I must be in one of those special interest groups because if it were up to me I would not allow these potentially destructive toys to take over entire mountainsides that used to be wild. My family have stopped going on certain hikes in this area because we had to endure ATVs ripping past us on mountain trails on a Sunday afternoon.

ment. The Constitution gave it responsibility to protect citizens from abuse of power. This included: 1. Challenging bad legislation coming from the House of Commons: When exactly was the last time that occurred? 2. Protecting minority rights: Let’s ask our First Nations about that one, and, 3. Protecting provincial rights: Nothing there . . . again. So, what has the Senate been doing lately worthy of the $100 million a year it costs us taxpayers? The answer: Not much. Why? It has become a puppet of the PMO. An independent Senate, with authority, would prevent that and restore our democracy. The dismal records of both chambers call into question whether Parliament has left itself with any moral authority to govern. Tragically, each of you has failed to understand these scandals are portraying Parliament Hill to us ordinary Canadians as an ethical wasteland inhabited by partisan narcissists. It’s time for you to stand up and show us you have what it takes to fix it, otherwise please have enough class to leave our employment. The state of your guardianship over our best interests brings to mind a quote by Thomas Jefferson: “When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.” James osborne James Osborne is a graduate in political science from the University of Alberta and a former journalist and journalism teacher. He is also an award-winning author, now semi-retired in Vernon.

When your right interferes with my right, then it’s no longer your right. Sorry about that, but as you said, the Crown Land belongs to every citizen and this citizen would like to see less ATVs on her walks. Don’t you think we may be taking too much from nature and the land? No one is saying, Mr. Van Soest, that you cannot roam the land. I’m just saying that maybe you could put away your noisy toys, put on a pair of good hiking boots or snowshoes and go and walk the land. Now in my books, that is true roaming. sandra shore get creative I believe the letter from Rose Pollock critical of moving the tourism booth to 39th Avenue is spot on. We've been RVers for more than 30 years and have travelled Canada from coast to coast. I'm not suggesting that all tourists are RVers but I can tell you that all RVers are tourists. We look for ease of access and exit, lots of parking, a dump sta-

tion is a bonus. Advance signage is critical and U-turn routes need to be well marked. Let's say some RVers do navigate their way to the proposed tourist info centre. They will likely be told that all of our local parks are full. The 39th Avenue site could be put to multiuse as a holding lot for campers that can't get a spot immediately in one of our too few local campgrounds. We've seen several towns across the country that offer this at a low rate to hang on to their RVers so they don't move on. No services are required as almost all RVers are self contained for two or three days. The potable water and dump station are already in place. Maybe the city could tear down the old arena and build a real nice in-town RV park like they have in Nakusp and Kaslo, then our local merchants and restaurants would see a real benefit. Come on city hall, it's time to get creative. Will rogers

■ The Morning Star is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org

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A10 Sunday, January 12, 2014 - The Morning Star

www.vernonmorningstar.com

News

Silver Star video contest in full force Morning Star Staff

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The weather gods are smiling on Silver Star as 29 cm of fresh, dry powder blanketed the resort Thursday. “We cancelled our manager’s meeting Friday and declared a Snow Day. I’ve also been hearing rumours that businesses in Vernon are reporting they are experiencing a high number of employees calling in sick,” said Michael Sherwood, Silver Star general manager. “The 30 cm rule is in effect.” “Snow like this is what skiers and riders live for,” said Anne Haight, director of sales and marketing, Silver Star Mountain Resort. “There are a lot of giddy and excited people in our ski village right now.” Silver Star Mountain Resort is also calling all filmmakers and photographers to reveal a side of the resort never seen before with its Through the Eyes Of photo and video contest. The contest is seeking submissions on what Silver Star might be like through the eyes of a person’s favourite celebrity, stuffed animal or pet. The more creative, the better.

silver star mountain resort photo

Darth Vader reveals his secret hockey skills on Brewer’s Pond at Silver Star. The resort is hosting a photo and video contest called Through the Eyes Of. “With our all-inclusive lift pass including downhill, crosscountry, snowshoeing, skating and tubing, visitors to Silver Star end up with so many different views of the ski resort,” said Haight. “The Through the Eyes Of contest is a great opportunity for contestants to show us what they love most about the resort while winning prizes.” To kick off the contest the resort has created a video of its own featuring Darth Vader. See Silver Star Through the Eyes of Darth Vader at www.

youtube.com/watch?v=X3j760pBec. First contestants need to choose their story, choose their character and post their video or photo to #MyMtn on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Then they need to email the submission to mymtn@skisilverstar.com. For full guidelines see contest rules at winter.skisilverstar.com/ contest2014. Submissions should be fun, creative, and original. First prize includes a $1,000 Silver Star gift card or a 2014/15

adult season pass. The contest started Jan. 1 and ends March 31. Monthly prizes for best photos and best videos will be awarded each month and include Silver Star gift cards, Ski Dazzle retail merchandise, lift tickets, and more. Silver Star was recently named to the Daily Telegraph’s Top 15 ski resorts along with Italy’s ‘Courmayeur;’ France’s ‘Les Gets’, and Austria’s ‘Alpbach’. The Telegraph is one of Britain’s largest national newspapers. Night skiing at Silver Star runs Fridays and Saturdays only with $10 lift passes, $10 rentals and $10 meals. Silver Star’s recent extension of its MyMtn FlexiCard means that day lift passes are available for $60. The MyMtn FlexiCard entitles a lift pass holder unlimited access to downhill and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, and ice-skating. It costs $179 for adults and is valid for any three days on the mountain. After the initial three days, the card continues to offer further savings all season long.

School District 22 (Vernon) Kindergarten Registration 2014/2015 School Year January 15 – 21, 2014

FRENCH IMMERSION REGISTRATION 2012/2013 SCHOOL YEAR January 15 – 21, 2014

Welcome The Board of Education for School District No.22 (Vernon) would like to welcome those children entering the school system this year. The Kindergarten program operates for the full day on every school day. Priority in attending a specific school will be given to students living in the applicable catchment areas.

Harwood Elementary, Alexis Park Elementary and École Beairsto Schools are pleased to host the elementary French Immersion Program for September 2014.

Birthdates To enter Kindergarten in September of 2014, children must be five (5) years of age on or before December 31, 2014. Registration Times/Dates Registration for children starting school in September 2014 will be held at all District Elementary Schools from January 15 to January 21, 2014 between 9:00 am and 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Registration must be completed in person. Faxed registrations will not be accepted.

FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN To enter kindergarten, children must be five (5) years of age or older on or before December 31, 2014. The Kindergarten Program is limited to 88 students and is an all day program operating at both Alexis Park and Harwood Elementary schools. Registrations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis for SD22 resident students. Out of district students will be waitlisted. All French Immersion Kindergarten registrations will take place at Beairsto Elementary. Kindergarten students will be placed at Harwood or Alexis Park depending on their catchment area, the need to balance classes by gender, learning issues, date/ time of registration, special family circumstances and transportation schedules. The District is currently looking at all options to meet the reduced budget for next year. At this time we cannot guarantee that there will be transportation provided.

Parents wishing to register their child in the French Immersion Program for the 2014/2015 school year are asked to complete kindergarten registration at Beairsto Elementary School.

GRADE ONE REGISTRATION FOR FRENCH IMMERSION To enter grade one, children must be six (6) years of age or older on or before December 31, 2014. Please register at Beairsto Elementary.

Parents wishing to register their kindergarten child in an English as a Second Language (ESL) program are asked to complete registration at Mission Hill Elementary School.

*Students currently attending French Immersion kindergarten at Harwood or Alexis Park Elementary, do not need to re-register at Beairsto for grade one.

Parents wishing to register their child in the Montessori Program (Grade 1-6) for the 2014/2015 school year are asked to complete registration at Silver Star Elementary School.

LATE FRENCH IMMERSION Late Immersion is offered to students beginning at Grade 6 and is limited to 30 students per class. Please register at Harwood Elementary. A parent information meeting will be held on January 9 at 7:00 pm in the Harwood Library.

Parents wishing to register their kindergarten child in the vLearn Home Based Learning Program are asked to call the vLearn Office at 250-542-0249 to make arrangements. Important Information All new registrants will need a Birth Certificate and Care Card. Proof of residency is required at time of registration. Please provide a copy of one parent/guardian’s BC driver’s license, utility bill or tax notice that clearly identifies the name and current address. Priority will be given to students living in the applicable catchment areas. Out of catchment requests will initially be waitlisted. Information on catchment area schools can be found on our website at www.sd22.bc.ca. (navigate to parents tab and down to school locator) Parents are welcome to call the District Office (250-542-3331) or any school principal for further information related to the registration process.

Please note: Children may enter the early immersion program at either kindergarten or grade one, or the Late French Immersion program at Grade 6. Parents and students do not need to be able to speak French. Proof of residency is required at time of registration. Registration will take place at the schools listed above (Beairsto for Kindergarten / grade 1 and Harwood for the Late French Immersion program) from Wed – Tues (Jan 15-21) between the hours of 9:00 am – 11:30 am and 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Registration must be completed in person. Faxed registrations will not be accepted. All new registrants will need a Birth Certificate and Care Card. Proof of residency is required at time of registration. Please provide a copy of one parent/guardian’s BC driver’s license, utility bill or tax notice that clearly identifies the current address.

STUDENT TRANSFERS & NEW STUDENTS 2014/2015 School District No. 22 (Vernon) is currently making plans for the upcoming school year. We wish to remind parents of the following: in accordance with School District Policy 9.11.0, students who wish to transfer to another school beginning September 2014, must make application to transfer between January 15 and February 15, 2014 to be given consideration. Transfer requests are valid for one calendar year only. Transfer requests are based on the following prioritized criteria: 1. A catchment area child 2. A non-catchment area child 3. A non-school district child Students wishing to transfer from their catchment area school cannot be guaranteed bus transportation. Prior to the winter break (December 20), parents of all students currently waiting for transfers to another school shall be contacted. If they wish to remain on the transfer list for the next school year (2014-2015), they must reapply effective January 15, 2014. If they wish to remain waitlisted for second semester of the current school year, they do not need to re-apply but that application will not remain valid for the 2014-2015 year. Transfer requests are approved if the receiving school has available space in the appropriate classes, grades or programs. In some schools, space availability may not be determined until the first week of school in September after all catchment area students have been registered and scheduled. All transfer requests for 2014/2015 will be waitlisted. Those who apply by February 15 will be advised of their status by April 15. Those applying after February 15 may be waitlisted until the start of the next school year. You are welcome to contact the principal of any school to arrange for a tour of the facility and a more in-depth discussion of that school’s attributes. Applications submitted by new students to out-of-boundary schools will be considered in the same manner as transfer requests. Acceptance cannot be guaranteed. Registration forms and transfer applications are available from any school office or on the SD22 website. Names of Principals and school phone numbers are available by calling the Board Office at 250-542-3331 or by accessing our website at www.sd22.bc.ca.

School District 22 – A Great Place to Learn!

1401 - 15th Street, Vernon, BC V1T 8S8 • 250-542-3331 • www.sd22.bc.ca

Sunday, January 12, 2014 - The Morning Star A11

www.vernonmorningstar.com

News

Empty bottles round up funds for school grad events roger knox Morning Star Staff

There was no emptiness at the Vernon Rona parking lot. Many North Okanagan residents stopped by and dropped off bottles and cans Jan. 5 to help raise funds in the first Great Empty Round Up, which supports Super Grad festivities at Vernon’s four secondary schools – Seaton, Fulton, Kalamalka and Vernon.

“It was perfect and a lot of people were excited to be a part of it,” said organizer David Hesketh. Final numbers were still being added up Tuesday, but Hesketh is confident the Great Empty Round Up raised approximately $2,000, which will be split between the schools. “That’s awesome for a first-time event,” said Hesketh. Residents were

asked to drop off their empties at a specially marked tent during a four-hour period Sunday at Rona. There, about 35 volunteer students and parents from the schools sorted the returns. Each person who dropped off their emp-

ties was given a ticket to vote for one of the schools and give that school a chance to win a new barbecue from Rona. Fulton edged out Vernon Secondary by one vote. “Fulton can now use the barbecue or raffle it

off to raise funds,” said Hesketh. The event included a bonfire, hot dogs,

marshmallows, popcorn and hot chocolate. Event sponsors included Rona, Signs

By Elephant, Chasers Bottle Depot, Kiss-FM, Tim Hortons and The Morning Star.

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Vernon Secondary School Grade 12 students Searra Becker (from left), Jazmyn Jacott and Amy Penning sort bottles and cans donated by the public during the first bottle drive to support Dry Grad festivities at VSS, Seaton, Fulton and Kalamalka secondary schools in the Rona parking lot.

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A12 Sunday, January 12, 2014 - The Morning Star

www.vernonmorningstar.com

News The Corporation of the

City of Vernon

Special Budget Meetings Council will be holding Special Regular Budget Meetings on Wednesday, January 15th at 9 am, Thursday, January 16th at 11 am, and Friday, January 17th 2014 at 9 am, to review the 2014 – 2018 Financial Plan. Meetings will be held in Council Chambers at City Hall, with opportunity for Public Input at 11:00 am each day. A copy of the 2014 - 2018 Financial Plan can be viewed at: http://www.vernon.ca/services/finance/documents/Proposed2014_2018FinancialPlan.pdf

Advisory Planning Committee Request to fill one (1) volunteer vacancy position The Council of the Corporation of the City of Vernon is seeking to fill one (1) position on the Advisory Planning Committee - one (1) member from the community at large. The Committee’s purpose is to provide City Council with advice and recommendations on proposed land use and planning changes, and related matters. The Committee meets every two weeks on the Tuesday following Council’s Regular Meeting. If you are interested in serving the community on this committee, you may pick up a copy of the Terms of Reference and a volunteer application form at the reception desk at City Hall, or visit our website at vernon.ca/committees. Applications will be accepted at City Hall no later than 4:30 pm, Friday, January 31, 2014.

City Calendar DATE

MEETING

VENUE

INFO

Monday, Jan. 13, 2014 8:40 am

Committee of the Whole of Council

Council Chambers