Federal candidates go before voters during forums

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 12, 2008

Okanagan-Shuswap residents will have a chance to hear from those wanting to represent them in Ottawa. All-candidate forums are scheduled for Vernon, Armstrong and Enderby leading up to the Oct. 14 federal election. “It’s a long-standing tradition that we do it,” said Dianne Skinner, office administrator for the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce. The chamber and the Downtown Vernon Association will host the event Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Schubert Centre. All of the candidates are invited, and Skinner hopes the public will take an active role in the forum. “We are recommending people send questions to us in advance so we can put them to the candidates,” she said. The Armstrong-Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce will hold an all-candidates forum Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. at Centennial Theatre. “We would like to encourage the community to come and ask questions so they can become informed,” said Sandra Starke, president. There will also be a forum at the Enderby Seniors Centre Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. “We want to connect residents with the local candidates,” said Tate Bengtson, manager of the Enderby Chamber of Commerce.“It will be an opportunity for our residents to ask questions of the candidates.”