Cultural Centre proposed concept (photo/Regional District of North Okanagan)

By Kevin Rothwell

Lobby effort moving quickly

New MLA goes to bat for the Vernon Cultural Centre

Jan 23, 2021 | 8:00 AM

Newly elected NDP MLA Harwinder Sandhu is pressing her government to approve a grant application which would help fund the proposed Greater Vernon Cultural Centre.

The centre has a proposed budget of $39.5 million dollars, with $25 million in taxpayer approved borrowing, and the rest from grants and fundraising.

Vernon councillor Dalvir Nahal told her Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) colleagues that Sandhu has been busy advocating for grant funding.

“Director Shatzko (Amanda Shatzko) and I had a really good, hour long conversation with our new MLA on the cultural centre,” Nahal said. “She has already spoken to Minister Osborne [Josie Osborne-Minister of Municipal Affairs] and her deputy and they are huge advocates of the cultural centre.”

Sandhu also has a one hour zoom meeting with Premier John Horgan coming up and the grant request is on the agenda.

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“It’s sounding really promising,” Nahal said.

The RDNO has approved an advocacy plan that involves zoom meetings with the appropriate federal and provincial ministers and a letter writing campaign.

Vernon councillor Akbal Mund and Electoral Area ‘C’ Director Amanda Shatzko have been voted by the board to head up the lobby effort.