Vernon remains within film commission

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: August 01, 2009 12:00 PM

The City of Vernon will continue to play a lead role in the Okanagan’s film industry.Council has decided not to withdraw from the North Okanagan Regional District function that funds the Okanagan Film Commission.

“It’s been relatively effective. The payment has worked fairly well,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol.The previous council voted Sept. 24, 2007 to withdraw from the film commission function Dec. 31, 2009.However, Mayor Wayne Lippert says that move was purely procedural and is one of the few ways to trigger a review of the service if the city has any concerns. “Traditionally we give notice of withdrawal so we can keep that option open,” he said.One possibility would have been for the city to back out of the NORD function and directly provide a financial grant to the film commisison on its own.But Nicol thought that move may send a poor message to the other film commission participants — Lumby, Armstrong and Coldstream.“We need to keep some partnerships alive,” he said.

Through the North Okanagan Regional District, the film commission received $24,000 this year.Of that, $19,689 came from Vernon, $5,032 from Coldstream, $1,603 from Armstrong and $664 from Lumby. Keeping with past practices, council decided Monday to issue a withdrawal notice for the film commission for Dec. 31, 2010.