City approves event funding

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Aug 29 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

The City of Vernon has placed funding for a major sports event right on the button. Council agreed Monday to provide $30,820 to the Ford World Women’s Curling Championships, which runs March 22 to 30, 2008 at the Multiplex. “It’s probably the biggest sporting event held here,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol of why he supported funding. Greater Vernon will play host to 12 rinks from around the world, as well as their families, support staff and curling fans. Nicol says the event will provide substantial exposure for the entire North Okanagan, and he believes there is a need for the city to rally around the organizing committee. “They gave a demonstration of what other communities have done and this is within range.” Nicol points out that other North Okanagan communities are also financially supporting the event. “I think there is a will to do this in the region,” he said.

The event’s organizing committee had asked the North Okanagan Regional District for $60,000, but because it does not have a grant function, it passed the request on to its six member municipalities and five electoral areas. The only opposition Monday came from Coun. Barry Beardsell, who is concerned that the curling organizers are also seeking support from the Greater Vernon Services Committee, which is also funded in part by the city. “I’m not against what they are doing, but I’d like the overall picture loud and clear first,” he said. Also on Monday, council agreed to write a letter of support for the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club. The club is seeking provincial funding so it can host a Haywood FIS NorAm cross-country ski competition Dec. 1 and 2. This event will involve 260 athletes, 100 volunteers, 600 spectators, 30 coaches and 30 officials.
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Out in left field
By Richard Rolke Aug 29 2007

Obviously politicians are elected to represent their constituents, but occasionally they need to pull their heads out of the sand and take a look at the world around them. Recently, two politicians have clung to their turf, ignoring the fact that their communities are part of the broader North Okanagan. In the one case, Coun. Carolyn Farris told her Spallumcheen colleagues last week that the township will not benefit from the 2008 Ford Women’s Curling Championships so why should it provide funding. Her contention is that Spallumcheen doesn’t have any restaurants, hotels or shops that will garner revenue from the visiting curlers and fans.
And while Farris is technically right, she is so woefully wrong. I wonder how many Spallumcheen residents own or work at businesses in Armstrong and Vernon that will benefit from a major international sports event coming to the region? From that revenue, they will raise families and pay property taxes in Spallumcheen, including Farris’ annual salary.

But Farris isn’t the only elected official with such a narrow focus. Joining her in that club is Coldstream Coun. Bill Firman, who opposes turning farm land into a sports complex. If Firman had made his argument based on planning issues that would have made sense. But he strayed into left field in July when he said, “Funtastic is a Vernon issue, not a Coldstream issue. All of the benefits go to Vernon.” Like Spallumcheen, Coldstream isn’t rolling in commercial enterprises but virtually all of its adult residents make a living in Vernon. Many of them own or work at shops, restaurants and motels that directly or indirectly make money off of Funtastic.
Firman has also fallen into the trap like many others of claiming the sports complex would only be for Funtastic. Funtastic is such a small part of the plan it’s laughable. Yes there will be ball fields but they would be directed primarily towards league play for local residents. The designs also call for soccer, football and track and field. Thousands of Coldstream residents play these sports, so Firman’s suggestions that a complex will only benefit Vernon are false. But Firman’s narrow view isn’t just limited to the sports complex. While council debated curling funding Monday, Firman denied any potential benefit for Coldstream residents. “How is it a benefit to me when people come to town, throw rocks down the ice and get drunk?” he said.

As a Coldstream resident, a curler and a Ford Women’s volunteer, it could be very easy for me to take offence to Firman’s comments. But luckily some politicians are willing to look outside the box. The North Okanagan’s five electoral area directors recently agreed to provide funding towards the 2008 Ford Women’s Curling Championships. Representing such far-flung areas as Cherryville, Mabel Lake and Mara, it would have been easy for these five politicians to say there is no benefit to them and their residents. But they took a different approach. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for the North Okanagan,” said Rick Fairbairn, rural Lumby director. Fairbairn believes all North Okanagan communities will benefit from a worldwide audience taking in the event. “The exposure will be invaluable,” he said. Thankfully the views of the electoral area directors and most municipal politicians appear to be the majority and those of Farris and Firman are in the minority. But it’s still extremely troubling that these opinions actually exist. They are serving absolutely no one, including Firman and Farris’ constituents.