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TESTIMONY CONTINUES | Witness accounts continue into high stake police chase on Westside Road [A6]
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Ridge road put on hold
ON A ROLL
RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Crews pave the track Thursday at the new Greater Vernon track and field park under construction next to Okanagan College. The facility should be up and running by the spring.
Cultural plan examines options RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
The future of Greater Vernon’s cultural amenities remains undetermined. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee continues work on a cultural plan, but a possible referendum date for a new art gallery and expanded museum has not been determined yet. “This is something that will unfold from implementation of the plan,” said Juliette Cunningham, GVAC chairperson. Cunningham The Vernon Public Art Gallery and the Greater Vernon Museum had lobbied for a referendum this year on new facilities, but GVAC decided instead to develop a long-term strategy for cultural services in the community. Cunningham admits the gallery and the museum are concerned about the apparent
delay, particularly because a referendum will be held this November on a new ice sheet at Kal Tire Place. “There is the potential for catastrophic failure and the loss of ice time (at Civic Arena),” she said in defence of the decision to pursue a new ice sheet. As part of the process of determining needs for the museum and gallery, representatives from the Canadian Conservation Institute recently reviewed current conditions at both facilities. Based on the inspection, the CCI will develop a report with recommendations. “We want to understand the current risk to our public collection and how to address those right now,” said Tannis Nelson, GVAC’s community development co-ordinator. “We also want them to identify what is needed for new facilities to protect our collection.” The CCI’s findings will be incorporated into Greater Vernon’s cultural plan.
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Stakeholders are presently involved in the development of the cultural plan and there will be a public open house Sept. 27 at the Village Green Centre. “We will provide the vision and fundamental direction and we will look for feedback,” said Nelson. “There will be a graffiti board to allow people to be creative with their ideas.” The draft plan is broken down into four categories: cultural leadership, cultural capacity, cultural places and spaces and cultural narratives. Discussions among elected officials have largely revolved around the role of local government in promoting the arts. “We have to decide to what level we provide something? How much do we expect the groups to participate?” said director Jim Garlick. “We are the controller of the public purse. We don’t want it to have a never-ending bottom,” added director Maria Besso.
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Cherryville residents will get some input on contentious logging plans, but the project may still move ahead. B.C. Timber Sales, which ia a government agency, has indicated that development of a logging road on part of Cherry Ridge is temporarily on hold so more discussions can be held with residents. “They have selected a low bidder but they won’t start construction until they resolve this sensitive matter,” said Eugene Foisy, Cherryville director, after talking to BCTS officials. The ridge consists of steep slopes and there’s a concern clearcut logging could lead to slides, and place homes, Hanson Park and the school at risk. About 110 people attended a recent rally to demand BCTS not proceed with the road until there is a downstream assessment done. The Cherry Ridge Management Committee, which operates a community forest, wants to see the area identified selectively logged instead of clearcut. BCTS’ public input process will occur through a questionnaire to residents. “They want to ask people why there is a concern,” said Foisy. Foisy has also been told that BCTS will not put in a road as far as originally anticipated and one cutblock has been scrapped. However, while Foisy sees BCTS’ actions as positive, he insists there is a need for residents to remain vigilant because the agency has not abandoned plans for clearcutting altogether. “We’re on the right track,” he said, adding that he is hopeful the community’s interests will prevail. “We’ve got where we have because of pressure. The government doesn’t want to be seen as the bad guy.” In terms of a downstream assessment, the Regional District of North Okanagan is currently considering possible funding for that process.
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