Castlegar News, February 11, 2016

Page 1

CASTLEGAR NEWS

Thursday, february 11, 2016

Breaking news at castlegarnews.com

Vol.13 • Issue 06

Lorene MacGregor RE

AX /M

R

om H

dv eA

ge ta an

Q and A with MP Richard Cannings

Rauni Naud

Popular Beans and Rice dinner huge success

See page 3

304-3101

Midgets off to provincials in Prince George

See page 10

See page 14

Advisor, Member of the Million Dollar Round Table Mutual funds offered by Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc.

• RRSP’s, RRIF’s, GIC’s, TFSA’s • Life Insurance • Income for Life • Health Insurance • Annuities • Estate & Financial Planning

1451 Columbia Ave. Castlegar, BC

250.365.0484 rauni.naud@sunlife.com

CULTURAL DIVERSITY Over 800 people came out to support the International Cultural Festival held Monday at the Castlegar Community Complex. The event was a fundraiser and educational opportunity for the Castlegar Refugee Project. Visitors were encouraged to place a sticker on maps to indicate where their family is from. Over 30 different groups showcased a wide variety of heritage aspects throughout the day. See full story in West Kootenay Advertiser, page Betsy Kline photo A11.

Jo-Ann Bursey Mountainview Realty Ltd.

250.304.8681 jo-ann@century21castlegar.com

Nancy Trotman Mortgage Broker

250-365-9513 888-998-9513

City and Chamber renew visitor info contract BETSY KLINE Castlegar News

PJ Poznekoff

Phil@castlegarrealty.ca

365-4679

The City of Castlegar has renewed its contract with the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce to operate Castlegar’s visitor information centre. The new contract is valid for three years, expiring at the end of 2018. The city provides about 75 per cent of the funding necessary to run the visitor centre. The formula the city uses to calculate the amount it contributes is to transfer 95 per cent of business licence revenues collected in the past year, which will be approximately $80,000. The city will also provide the chamber a grant of $6000 to help with the cost of publishing the annual visitors guide. In addition, the city will also provide up to $1250 towards the printing of city maps or other marketing initiatives.

Last year over 15,000 people physically went through the doors of the visitor centre and thousands more contacted the office through email or phone calls. “I think it is really important that people understand the economic benefit of having the visitor centre open year round,” said Castlegar Chamber of Commerce executive director Tammy Verigin-Burk. “It is so critical that we operate here.” Statistics show that a high percentage of people who relocate to a town come there first as a visitor, so staff works at promoting Castlegar, not just as a place to visit, but as a place to live and do business. “Having the visitor centre and the Chamber of Commerce together in the same office adds a whole piece to it that if you were a stand alone visitor centre, you don’t have,” said Verigin-Burk. “We like to say that

it is kind of like a one stop shop for visitors, that we can completely market our town to them.” Questions can be answered not just about local attractions, but on housing prices, business opportunities and similar things people want to know before making a decision to relocate. The Chamber of Commerce and the city have a good working relationship, Verigin-Burk describes it as phenomenal. They try to work collaboratively, making sure the city knows what the chamber is up to. The chamber also works to ensure that they are using the same branding, trying to sell Castlegar as a brand. Verigin-Burke explained, “When people come into this office, it’s not just, ‘Welcome to Castlegar,’ and we send them off. We make sure that it is a whole package, that we are selling our town from all different lenses.”

A family business serving Kootenay families since 1950

JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 24, 2016

INTRODUCING

THE FIRST-EVER BLACK STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES

SAVE $2500

on any KITCHENAID® BLACK STAINLESS STEEL REFRIGERATOR with the purchase of 2 additional qualifying appliances. * After taxes. See in-store sales associate for instant savings details and list of available qualifying appliances.

Located Halfway Between Trail & Castlegar

HOME GOODS www.homegoodsfurniture.com

FURNITURE Check out our new website

homegoodsfurniture.com and don’t forget to like us on Facebook

Tel: 693-2227 Genelle 1-877-693-2227 Monday to Saturday 9:30 am to 5:30 pm Sunday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm


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.
Castlegar News, February 11, 2016 by Black Press Media Group - Issuu