SUMMERLAND REVIEW THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1908
VOLUME 67 - ISSUE
NO. 45 •
S U M M E R L A N D,
WWW.SUMMERLANDREVIEW.COM
B.C. • T H U R S D AY,
NOVEMBER
6,
2014
•
20
PA G E S
•
$1.15
INCLUDING
GST
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Mayoral candidates
Summerland’s five candidates for the mayor’s role prepare to present their introductory speeches at the all candidates forum on Tuesday evening. From left are Christopher Boisvert-Gilman, Peter Waterman, David Gregory, Roch Fortin and Orv Robson. The municipal election will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15. Summerlanders will elect one mayor and six councillors.
Serving breakfast
The Giant’s Head Breakfast for Learning program provides children with a nutritious start to their day.
Page 10
Trail support
The Summerland Trans Canada Trail Society would like support from the next municipal council.
Page 3
Famous photo
A Summerland veteran is one of the soldiers in one of the most famous Canadian photographs from World War II.
Page 11
Candidates respond
Candidates in the municipal election consider how to promote, attract and retain businesses.
Pages 12, 14, 15
Karate winners
Summerland participants earned medals at a recent karate tournament.
Page 16
YOUR SMILE If everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.
Candidates vow to listen Communication and openness emphasized during forum by John Arendt Many of the candidates running for positions on Summerland’s municipal council promised to listen to the community as they responded to questions at a forum on Tuesday evening. The all candidates forum was held in the Summerland Secondary School gymnasium and drew a crowd of around 600 people. It was sponsored by the Summerland Chamber of Commerce and the Summerland Review. The five mayor candidates and 15 of the 16 councillor candidates were present. Councillor candidate Marty Fisher was sick and unable to attend.
Throughout the evening, candidates were asked their positions on a variety of topics including land and growth, economic development, arts funding and infrastructure needs. For mayoral candidate Christopher Boisvert-Gilman, his answers often returned to the need for a unified community. “We need to get together as a group and figure out solutions,” he said. “As long as we’re divided, we’re not going to solve the problems.” Peter Waterman, also seeking the mayor ’s role said he will initiate a mayor’s task force to examine Summerland’s economy. He added that his decision to vote against the Urban Growth Plan was done with the community’s interests in mind. The growth plan called
for the removal of 80.34 hectares from the Agricultural Land Reserve close to the core of the community while adding 91.7 hectares in the Prairie Valley area to the land reserve. The plan received strong opposition and a petition signed by around 1,200 Summerlanders was presented to council. “I voted for you in the struggle against the land swap,” Waterman said. Mayoral candidate Roch Fortin said he would like to revisit the land exchange. “Are there better options or compromises that can be achieved?” he asked. David Gregory, a candidate for mayor, said it is time to focus on Summerland’s financial statements, which show a $28 million debt, “due to infrastructure and infrastructure errors.” Mayoral candidate
Orv Robson said growth is needed in the community. “Summerland’s prosperity is vital,” he said. “Our community needs to keep moving forward.” Among the councillor candidates, all agreed on the importance of good communication. “There will be no good excuse for councillors who have betrayed the trust of the voters and have not listened to them,” said councillor candidate John Dorn. He also said the question period at the council meetings should be held before the end of the meeting. Councillor candidate Ken Rodocker shared this concern, suggesting that the question period should be moved to the beginning of the regular meetings. “People want a say in the issues that affect
them,” said councillor candidate Doug Holmes. “Public engagement produces collaboration.” Others also spoke of the importance of good communications. “The point is to improve Summerland, to make it better,” said councillor candidate Erin Carlson. “To do that, the council has to listen to Summerlanders.” Earlier this year, Carlson was a vocal opponent of the Urban Growth Plan. “The best part of communication is listening,” said councillor candidate Joel Gregg. “I’m here to listen and to serve you.” Several of the candidates, including Richard Barkwill and Toni Boot, suggested reinstating municipal committees which have been disbanded in recent years. See ACCESSIBILITY Page 2
Fire training centre approved by John Arendt
A new training facility will allow Summerland firefighters to train in the community rather than out of town. The facility will be constructed at a site on Shale Avenue. It will include a training building, a classroom and a training prop area. “We’re restricted by the facilities we use to train in,” Fire Chief Glenn Noble said. “We want to move our training to a higher standard.”
The Summerland Fire Department has three career firefighters and 28 auxiliary firefighters. All are required to take regular train-
been discussed for at least two years. At present, Summerland firefighters must travel to Peachland or Penticton for some “We want to move our training to a of the training exercises. The higher standard.” time Glenn Noble travel shortens the time available ing. Noble said provincial train- for training. ing requirements are expected to “We need something for our increase significantly. members that is here all the Mayor Janice Perrino said the time,” Noble said. need for a training facility has Municipal administrator Tom
Day said the training facility would allow the firefighters to quickly respond to fires which occur during their training sessions. Coun. Bruce Hallquist, a former volunteer firefighter, said the training facility would have been appreciated when he was with the fire department. Coun. Robert Hacking said the proposal approved on Oct. 27 was less expensive than some of the options presented earlier. See COST Page 3