EAGLE VALLEY
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Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015 PM40008236
Vol. 60 No. 37 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Doctor search remains unsuccessful By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
The allure of the Lower Mainland is one factor keeping doctors from choosing to locate in rural communities like Sicamous – and Kelowna. District of Sicamous council recently received an update on the ongoing doctor hunt by Phil Martin of Global Medics Ltd. In March of this year, the district contracted Global Medics to seek out two doctors for the Sicamous Medical Clinic. Council budgeted $30,000 to cover Global Medics’ recruitment costs. While Global Medics is working with doctors seeking positions in B.C., Martin says most, if not all, are choosing to locate in Vancouver or on Vancouver Island. This, he explains, has to do, in part, with their training, as they don’t feel they have the medical training (procedural skills) required for a family medicine residency in smaller communities. Doctors are also concerned rural communities won’t have the job opportunities for spouses, or it’s a family decision where the partner and/or kids are not wanting “to be too rural.” Martin notes their definition of rural can include urban centres such as Kelowna. “I think it’s just a different understanding, but please know we’re doing all we can to educate them on the fantastic living, high quality of life and beautiful surroundings when you live and work in some of the smaller communities in Canada,” writes Martin. Under its recruitment contract with the district, Global Medics will be paid $15,000 plus taxes per doctor, half of which is paid when one is found and the other, if and when they start work. If the doctor decides not to locate in Sicamous, the district’s money is reimbursed. To improve its odds of attracting doctors, the district has also agreed to make available the following “physician recruitment lifestyle incentives: year 1: $500/month; year 2: $300/month; year 3: $200/month. For transportation: year 1: $250/ month; year 2: $150/month: year 3: $100/month. Regarding Global Medics’ costs, Columbia Shuswap Regional District Area E director Rhona Martin has suggested funding could be provided through the CSRD Economic Opportunity Fund. “The CSRD and Rhona would be more than happy to support us on that…,” commented Mayor Terry Rysz. “Malakwa is just as concerned about us having doctors as Sicamous.”
Lounging around the barn: Members of the Eagle Valley 4-H Dairy Club, Owen Dewitt, Levi Dewitt and Malachi Gossen take a break with their cows at the Salmon Arm Fall Fair at the Salmon Arm fairgrounds on Sunday, Sept. 13. Photo by Evan Buhler
Council votes to purchase land
Main Street: District suggests property could be turned into park. By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
Sicamous taxpayers are in the process of acquiring some prime Main Street real estate. At its Wednesday meeting, district council voted in support of borrowing $505,000 through the Municipal Finance Authority for the purchase of property located at 200 Main St. Couns. Colleen Anderson and Janna Simons were opposed to the borrowing. The empty, 1.59 acre parcel had been listed on the market at $642,000. While a use for the property has not
yet been determined, Mayor Terry Rysz (official community plan).” said council had considered making it The borrowing agreement supported park space. by council requires the dis“It just becomes an astrict to repay the borrowed set for the community,” said sum over five years at an inRysz. terest rate of 1.24 per cent. “Council felt it was an A staff memo notes this opportune time to pick up will be repaid through the that piece of land for the betdistrict’s general taxation ter interest of the commurevenue, but will not result Terry Rysz nity. We haven’t designated in a tax increase. Mayor of Sicamous it as park yet. We originally “If we decide to make thought that’s what we’d it a park, or however Main designate it as, but then we Street develops, councils in tossed it around a little bit more because the future can decide what they wish to of the fact we are now assessing our OCP do with it,” said Rysz.