A Vernon councillor is seeking a memorial plaque to be installed outside city hall to commemorate (from left) Dalvir Nahal, Patrick Nicol and Bob Spiers, councillors who all passed away while serving their terms. (Submitted photos)

By Liam Verster

Plaque for former councillors

Notices of motion regarding memorial plaque, anti-racism and paper use issued

Nov 16, 2022 | 5:00 AM

Anti-racism and paper use policies, as well as establishing a memorial plaque, will be discussed at a future Vernon council meeting.

Three notices of motion were issued at council’s meeting on Monday (Nov. 14).

Coun. Kelly Fehr issued the first, which called for a reconsideration of an anti-racism and anti-racial discrimination policy.

Fehr suggested “that administration bring a Lidstone and Company drafted and free anti-racial discrimination and anti-racism policy back for council consideration.”

His motion also asked administration to investigate the level of training necessary for this policy, a training budget for council’s consideration, and for the city to apply to the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Coalition Against Racism.

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The notice of motion mirrors one put forward by Fehr in July 2020. It was intended to complement the city’s bullying and harassment policy.

However, that first motion was defeated with councillors Brian Quiring, Akbal Mund, Kari Gares and Dalvir Nahal voting in opposition.

Coun. Kari Gares also issued two notices of motion at Monday’s meeting.

The first was to direct staff to install a memorial plaque outside city hall to commemorate the late council members Patrick Nicol, Bob Spiers and Dalvir Nahal, who all passed away while serving their terms.

The request asked for spending up to $5,000 to commission and install the plaque, which would have the names of the late councillors and a quote that “exemplifies their contributions.”

“What you leave behind is not engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others,” said Gares, adding another suitable quote could be considered for the plaque.

She asked that, if approved, the plaque be installed no later than spring 2023.

Additionally, Gares filed a notice of motion for a sustainable use paper policy specific for city council to reduce the use of paper and help the city move closer to a greener and paperless organization.

“This policy could incorporate sustainable best practices in its procurement, use and disposal of all paper products, and further that administration determine which areas in council duties, committees and/or meetings can be immediately eliminated or reduced in order to reduce our carbon footprint by going digital,” Gares said.

The councillor noted several items such as council agendas, orientation packages, reports and other documents could be immediately transitioned into digital forms.

The budget documents would be exempt from this policy, but ongoing amendments could be done digitally.

The three motions will be brought forward for council’s consideration at the next meeting on Nov. 28.