GVSC ices Rec Ex contract

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Jan 28 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

A review has left the Multiplex’s operator in limbo. Recreation Excellence, which has operated Greater Vernon’s ice facilities since 2001, was notified Wednesday that its contract has been terminated. That means the company’s local activities will cease Dec. 31. “They say it’s not due to our performance but wording in the contract. The regional district doesn’t want to extend it because of wording,” said Tom Watson, with Recreation Excellence. “They’re going to look at service options and we could be one of those options.” Gary Corner, Greater Vernon Services Committee chairman, says the decision to end the contract had nothing to do with Recreation Excellence’s operations.

“We want to explore all avenues including the one we’re in now,” he said. “If we decide to go out to tender again, Rec Ex will be able to re-apply.” According to Corner, GVSC is more familiar with the Multiplex now that it’s been open a few years and it’s time to take a thorough look at how it functions. “If we want a higher level of service, we need to specify those issues in a contract and pay for it,” he said.

Vernon Coun. Jack Gilroy has recently expressed concerns about ice facility operations and demanded that city staff take over the work. Corner believes that could be an option, although he has some reservations. “When civic staff ran the facility (Civic Arena), it was just an ice sheet and it was simple to run. With the multi-use aspect, it’s a different facility and it requires more than the Civic,” said Corner.

Watson stands by Rec Ex’s management of the Multiplex, the Civic Arena and the Priest Valley Arena. “It’s been a challenging job and staff has done a good job,” he said. “The facilities have improved in maintenance. The Multiplex is one of the busiest facilities in its class in the province.” Watson says Rec Ex and its 50 employees remain committed to running the facilities until the end of the year, and they will have to see what happens in 2008. “We only want to operate the facilities if the consensus among the fractured lines is that Rec Ex should be in Vernon,” he said.