By Tyler Olsen Morning Star Staff Sep 16 2007
An Armstrong councillor wants senior levels of government to step up to the plate with money for O’Keefe Ranch. Coun. John Trainor said that with the ranch struggling financially, provincial and federal governments should help fund the historic site. “It annoys me that we have absolutely no co-operation from senior government and I wish someone would do something about it,” Trainor told council Monday. “I know it wasn’t too long ago that we were told that the O’Keefe Ranch was the number one repository of Western Canadian history in Western Canada,” he said. “If that sort of facility was in Ontario or Quebec, you would have politicians falling over each other to fund it.” Trainor spoke after Armstrong Mayor Jerry Oglow, who also chairs the North Okanagan Regional District, told council that the ranch was asking the regional district to halt the joint programs funding arrangements.
Oglow said the ranch will pursue grants and funding from its owner, the City of Vernon, as well as higher levels of government. Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes said he is open to helping the ranch find funding. But, he said, such a facility needs to actively apply for grants. “All of these things need to be applied for but I’m definitely open to supporting them on any application they would like to make,” said Mayes. The ranch has also asked that municipalities and rural areas provide money from provincial tourism grants. Trainor is not alone among regional politicians asking senior government to help fund the ranch. Spallumcheen Mayor Will Hansma made a similar plea to the federal government in June.
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