Vernon’s experience trying to create a safe community is being passed on to others willing to pay the bill. The green light has been given to the 
Safe Communities Unit contracting out its services to the five electoral areas of the North Okanagan Regional District. “The quality of service will be the high level of service Vernon receives every day,” said Terry Pakenham, manager. All costs for Pakenham to become a regional co-ordinator will be covered by the electoral areas. And there is the opportunity for Vernon to provide the program to other communities within the North Okanagan. “We’ve been in consultation with Armstrong and Lumby and they’re interested in contracting services,” said Pakenham. The goal of the program is to reduce crime through a variety of programs, and they would be co-ordinated with the RCMP which oversees the entire North Okanagan. NORD had originally considered establishing its own function, but Pakenham is confident that utilizing existing activities within the Vernon unit will provide continuity. “We’re offering these services already on our off-duty time,” he said. Pakenham will have to reallocate some of his duties to other staff as he also becomes responsible for the electoral areas.
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