Penticton Western News, April 02, 2014

Page 1

NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN

www.pentictonwesternnews.com

3

news

New landfill rules dig into renovation budgets

VOL. 48 ISSUE 26

12

Cameron Baughen worms way into Top 40

8 page

WEDNESDAY, April 2, 2014

entertainment Trooper ready to Raise

a Little Hell at Peachfest

15

sports Olympic athletes leave

impression on young skiers

AIR CANADA HEARS REQUEST

NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN

According to Pennington, the key issue they wanted to communicate was the 30 per cent loss in traffic at Penticton airport from A meeting with several Air Canada exec- people driving north to fly to out of Kelowutives gave Penticton’s Mayor Garry Litke na. Too often, she said, all that is looked at is a chance for some straight talk about the the actual traffic passing through Penticton South Okanagan’s need for a direct flight to airport, not the numbers that would use it if Calgary. a Calgary flight was available. “Their reticence about making a decision Pennington said she wanted one of two that would benefit not only Pentthings out of the meeting with icton, but them as a corporation the executives: confirmation as well, seems overdue,” said that a flight is possible and Litke. “So I said to them, you are what was holding Air Canada losing 30 per cent of the customback or an admission that the ers that would otherwise fly Air flight would never happen. Canada out of Penticton and are If it’s not going “Knowing what not to work now going to Kelowna and flyon, with limited resources, is to be you guys equally important. Happily, we ing WestJet.” During a visit by Kevin got the first and not the secHowlett, Air Canada senior then we will find ond,” she said. vice-president, to Kelowna, the someone else While that doesn’t mean city was able to arrange an houra flight is likely in the near long meeting with him and five that can do it. future, Pennington said what other top executives. they heard from the group of — Garry Litke The main thrust of the meetsix Air Canada executives was ing was finding out what is positive. standing in the way of Penticton airport get“They wanted to know what kind of conting that Calgary flight, according to Litke, nectivity we needed. I thought they asked who was part of a team that included eco- us the right questions to demonstrate they nomic development officer Colleen Pen- were taking us very seriously and listening nington and Andy Oakes, chair of the airport to what we had to say,” said Pennington. “It committee. was very specific, very directed.” “If we are not going to be able to form This is the first time the city has mana partnership, then let’s stop wasting our aged this kind of meeting with Air Canada, time. Tell us what the obstacles are, we will according to Litke, who admitted they were overcome them,” said Litke, repeating what in survival mode for the last couple of years he told the executives. “Let’s stop thinking and were just now free enough to begin reabout this and I will go find a private charter establishing communication with the comoperator or we will go back to WestJet or we munities they serve. will find another way because I have con“They brought the right people to the stituents seriously requesting we continue room. So we got a chance to talk about our working on an eastern route. issues and concerns, and frankly, with the “If it is not going to be you guys, then we people who are in a position to say let’s do will find someone else that can do it.” some more work on this,” said Pennington. Steve Kidd

Western News Staff

TRAINING FOR FUTURE — Client Zachary Vizeau of Portage Keremeos at The Crossing youth centre works at creating a fireguard during a recent Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations training program conducted by Penticton wildfire management team members. For more on the program and its value to those who take part see Friday’s Penticton Western News.

Mark Brett/Western News

THE PLANT PLACE IS

NOW OPEN SHRUBS, FRUIT TREES, HEARTY PLANTERS, CITRUS PLANTS IN STOCK, COME IN AND SEE!

INSTALLS DESIGN & INSTALLATION

150 FAIRVIEW PLACE PENTICTON 250-493-1233

GOING OUT FOR BUSINESS Save 20% 30% 40% and up to 50% off

DOWNTOWN on 70 BACKSTREET BOULEVARD with FREE PARKING

TOLL FREE: 1-877-404-2950 • PH: 250-492-8104 • WWW.GUERARDS.COM


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Penticton Western News, April 02, 2014 by Black Press Media Group - Issuu