O’Keefe Ranch gets more financial aid from the City of Vernon

May 13, 2024 | 7:09 PM

Vernon city council has decided to approve additional funding for operations at O’Keefe Ranch.

The historic site had asked the city for $70,000 in funding, building on the $80,000 already approved by the city this year and bringing the total funding from Vernon up to its original ask of $150,000.

Councillor Akbal Mund stated during Monday’s meeting that the funding should be provided to ensure the Ranch can fully operate over the summer, with Councillor Kari Gares agreeing but adding there should be more discussions on how to properly fund the site during the next budget process.

However, Councillor Kelly Fehr disagreed.

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“For the six years I’ve sat here, the message has been very clear, year after year, ‘this is last time we will provide a grant to [the O’Keefe Ranch and the Interior Historical Society].’ It’s no secret to the society, it’s no secret to anybody,'” Fehr stated.

“If the society isn’t in a position where it can manage the city’s property without additional subsidies to operate a second museum for the city, they might want to consider giving notice to the municipality that they’re not in a position to do so, and then council will need to make a decision, pronto, on what to do with the property.”

Councillor Brian Quiring partly agreed with both arguments, saying the Interior Heritage Society had asked for just $30,000 several weeks ago but that has risen to $70,000, and he had concerns that the non-profit group could continue to ask for more money moving into the summer months.

Quiring ultimately voted alongside the other councillors in favour of providing O’Keefe Ranch with the additional $70,000, funded through the 2023 Prior Year Unexpended Uncommitted Balance.

Fehr was the sole vote in opposition.

by Liam Verster

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