NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN
www.pentictonwesternnews.com
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Vehicle theft leaves local woman housebound
VOL. 48 ISSUE 39
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Popoff helps put smiles on African faces
10 page
FRIDAY, May 16, 2014
entertainment Fred Penner ready to shine in Penticton
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sports Rugby season ends on teary note for Nakai Penny
VALLEY FIRST TAKES CHALLENGE Emanuel Sequeira
“It’s the perfect fit for Valley First. “We’ve become well-known for leading exciting new initiatives and Challenge has brought a fresh new approach in multisport to the South Okanagan.” When asked how she balances her dual responsibilities with Valley First and Challenge Penticton to ensure both sides get the best deal possible, Rennie said her No.1 priority is “my business, members and clients of our credit union and our staff.” “My role with Challenge Penticton Canada is as a volunteer board member … providing them with my professional business experience as a way to do my part in giving back to our community,” she said. “I am fortunate to have excellent management and staff at Valley First who provide expert skills in marketing and community giving. “These are the people who work directly with our community and corporate partners to work out the fine details of sponsorship contracts.” Rennie said Valley First staff enjoy being part of Challenge Penticton and said last year staffers rallied to man one of the aid stations. In addition to the title sponsorship, Valley First Challenge Penticton has embraced Feed the Valley. Rennie said they will be incorporating the hunger-fighting initiative into the race. Feed the Valley celebrated its fourth anniversary after being launched in 2010. The Feed the Valley campaign has exceeded expectations, raising $615,000 with the initial goal being $100,00 per year.
NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN Western News Staff
The hope of a title sponsorship with Valley First Credit Union became reality for Challenge Penticton. The announcement was made Wednesday morning by Challenge Penticton vice-chair Diana Stirling and Valley First president Paulette Rennie, who is also a volunteer board member of the Penticton Triathlon Race Society. Following the press conference, Stirling said it means a great deal to have Valley First as the title sponsor as it enhances the profile of Challenge Penticton triathlon races scheduled for Aug. 24. Stirling said the race society wants to make Valley First Challenge Penticton a world class destination race, “and having a title sponsor enables us to do that.” Rennie said becoming a title sponsor is a natural extension of the support provided by Valley First in 2013, the debut of Challenge Penticton, when Valley First presented the athlete and volunteer celebration dinner. The title sponsorship increases that support and Rennie said they are working to take it to the next level. The title sponsorship is for one year with an extension to be discussed in the future.Rennie said they were able to support the event after Valley First fulfilled its three-year partnership with what is now Prospera Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan. “I couldn’t be happier with this partnership,” said Rennie in a statement.
PAULETTE RENNIE, president of Valley First, announced that the credit union is the title sponsor for Challenge Penticton, increasing their support for the triathlon held Aug. 24.
Emanuel Sequeira
Picket line goes up at the Naramata community centre Joe Fries
Western News Staff
Picket lines went up Thursday at a community centre in Naramata as workers protested an attempt to contract out some of their jobs. Thirty members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees went on strike after rejecting an offer late Wednesday from management of the Centre at Naramata, which is aligned with the United Church of Canada. “We’re without a contract be-
cause the employer has chosen to address its budget deficiencies … by getting rid of some its employees and bringing in a contractor,” said CUPE national representative Tom O’Leary. He said the last offer to employees was a two-year deal that “basically would have had the members agreeing to get rid of some of their jobs now and the rest in two years.” Jim Simpson, the Centre’s director of development and strategic partnerships, confirmed management is looking to contract out
We were almost having to close it at the end of November. — Jim Simpson
six positions in food service and grounds maintenance to help shore up the society’s finances. “The restructuring steps we’re
trying to take are key to ensuring the Centre survives,” he said. “We were almost having to close it at the end of November.” A consultant hired last year to help put the Centre on track proposed contracting out the positions as one of four options for staunching the flow of red ink. Others options include closing the facility temporarily. Simpson said there are no talks scheduled with CUPE and the site remains open with management working in place of
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unionized employees. “Currently it’s business as usual and events are going ahead as planned,” he said, adding a group of 75 guests was at the facility Thursday with another large group expected for the weekend. O’Leary said “quite a few” people who were on their way into the Centre on Thursday turned around after seeing the picket line. “We’re not allowed to prevent people from entering, but we’re educating and informing them that this is a struck business,” he said.
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