BELT TIGHTENING | Vernon School District considers various options to save money [A10]
Morning gStar
The
Friday, Jan. 31, 2014
P R O U D L Y
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
2 5
Y E A R S
2012 GMC TERRAIN SLE
Heated Seats, Remote Start Stk# 13-130A
Only
14,900
$
BANNISTER
4703 - 27th St. VERNON • 250-545-0606
GM DL#9133
Jackson humbled by special honour RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Brian Jackson couldn’t understand why he was being handed flowers and balloons during a Vernon Community Singers rehearsal Wednesday. “I thought (wife) Lorrie put them up to it for my birthday,” said the 84-year-old. But instead, Junior Chamber International and the City of Vernon were announcing that Jackson is the 2013 Good Citizen of the Year. “What a surprise. I’m breathless. I’m run out of tears,” he said. The retired minister has lived in Vernon since 1984, and has been involved with the Scouts for 64 years. Locally, he has been a Scouts secretary, chairperson, commissioner and event organizer. “Brian is the corner stone for the 6th Vernon unit. His steadfastness and dedication to the youth and leaders in the scouting movement has been demonstrated over and over,” said Margaret McGillivray, with the unit. He is also active at Hospice House, where he is best known for presiding over Tuesday waffle breakfasts. “He’s a bright light in the place,” said
Nick Hodge, a friend and volunteer at Hospice, which provides end-of-life care. Jackson also started a group called Chapter Two for men who had recently lost their wives. Through making lunch at Hospice House, the men could begin speaking about their grief. He has provided support to more than 1,300 families during funeral services. “Letter after letter explained the wonderful way in which he handled the most difficult of situations,” said Dan Proulx, JCI president, of the nominations Jackson received. Jackson also plays a a role with Santas Anonymous and the Vernon Choir. Leading the charge to have Jackson recognized were Cam and Nancy Clayton. “He’s so helpful to everyone and especially behind the scenes,” said Cam. “He has done much more than any one person knows.” However, Jackson insists he is the lucky one and volunteering gives him purpose. “I had too many friends who died when they came up for retirement and I thought, ‘That’s not for me.’ I just kept RICHARD ROLKE/MORNING STAR going,” he said. Brian Jackson expresses surprise as he is handed a bouquet of flowers and balloons and named Vernon’s “There’s a receiving in the giving. Good Citizen of the Year during a ceremony Wednesday. There’s a lot of nurturing.”
Ministry rejects any claims of wrongdoing
RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Demands for Coldstream council’s activities to be scrutinized have hit a dead-end. The Greater Vernon Governance Society wants the provincial government to review actions taken by Coldstream council prior to it deciding not to support a study into possibly merging local jurisdictions. “Coldstream council has done nothing Eric Foster wrong and was within its rights to do what it did,” said MLA Eric Foster, who has consulted with the Ministry of Community Development.
The society accuses Coldstream council of not following proper process. “Their actions of meeting as a quorum with the Coldstream Ratepayers Association, and encouraging the 60 ratepayers in attendance at that meeting to come out and support their position to not agree to any study, clearly shows they had predetermined their decision because of their personal biases toward not changing the governance structure in the area,” states a society release. “We believe, in common with other municipal jurisdictions, councillors should not offer personal opinions in public forums, and when a quorum of elected officials is present and speaking on a topic, formal minutes should be taken and entered into the public record.” However, Foster anticipates there won’t be a ministry review as Coldstream politi-
VERNON
TOYOTA
cians were attending a community meeting and not a session of council. Foster added that when he was mayor of Lumby, he attended meetings held by local groups. “Council members are citizens of the community and entitled to their opinions.” Bruce Shepherd, society president, defends asking the ministry to get involved. “Their actions are unprecedented in terms of how it was handled,” he said of council’s attendance at the ratepayers meeting. “We want the minister to say if it was appropriate or not.” Jim Garlick, Coldstream mayor, says he is frustrated with the society’s approach. “They’re saying we don’t have the right to attend a meeting and express our opinion. On Thursday, I was at the chamber and
VERNON TOYOTA’S
PRE-OWNED MONTH END
DL# 30382
PH 250-545-0687 • 3401 - 48th Ave Vernon, BC VISIT US 24/7 AT VERNONTOYOTA.COM
BLOWOUT!
expressed my views and the chamber supports a governance study,” he said. Garlick points out that an official quorum of council does not apply to gatherings held by third-party organizations. “It wasn’t our meeting,” he said of the ratepayers. Vernon has called for a provincial study of governance options but the ministry has stated that will only happen if another jurisdiction agrees to the process. “Our council has already dealt with the issue. We are not pursuing it,” said Garlick. Rob Sawatzky, Vernon mayor, is not surprised by the position taken by the government and he isn’t sure if the city will still ask Vernon voters if they support a study. “It costs nothing to put a question on the ballot and it’s a way to gauge the views of the public,” he said.
PRICED TO
CLEAR