Local politicians form group to focus on cultural centre

A working group has been formed among local politicians with a goal of keeping the plan for a Greater Vernon Cultural Centre moving forward.

Local mayors Victor Cumming of Vernon and Jim Garlick of Coldstream join electoral area directors Amanda Shatzko (Area C) and Bob Fleming (Area B) on the group.

“The whole idea behind forming that working group is to keep the cultural centre moving forward. There seems to be times when we are wondering, ‘Where are we sitting right now?,’ so this group was formed to be the group that pushes to continue to move towards the construction of this new facility,” Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chair Akbal Mund said.

The group will work with staff at the Regional District of North Okanagan, Vernon and Coldstream to develop a game plan to move the centre forward.

Mund said a recent consultant’s report said the management of operating costs and finding room for landscaping at the proposed site (former Coldstream Hotel site across from Cenotaph Park) still have to be worked out.

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“When you build an arts and culture centre you want a landscaped-outside area around the facility. That may be difficult where we are sitting at the old Coldstream Hotel site, so we have to find out how do we put that kind of functioning area in front of the arts and culture centre,” Mund told Vernon Matters.

Mund says some directors have questioned the site.

“But as I speak, that’s the site we’re putting it on. It’s how do we manage to put what the [consultant’s] report says is needed [something visually appealing] in this area. That’s all it is,” he said.

Voters approved borrowing up to $25 million for the $40 million facility in a referendum in November 2018.

The rest of the costs would come from senior government grants and fundraising.

“We are applying for more grants. With all this Covid, we’re waiting for when the intake will be announced,” Mund added.

The facility would house the Vernon Public Art Gallery, Greater Vernon Museum and other multi-use space.