City Supports More Symphony Funding

 Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 09 November 2010 12:39 107.5 KISSFM

The city of Vernon wants NORD to provide more funding for the Okanagan Symphony--but one councillor says that's not enough.  Mary Jo O'Keefe thinks the city should provide extra funding on its own, not just in conjunction with it's regional partners. She tells KISS FM, "I would like to see us be more visible in our support of the symphony because I think it has a direct benefit to our children and our citizens, so I was disappointed that as a city, we didn't make that statement  O'Keefe was the lone council member to vote against a motion to request the regional district place the issue of increased funding to the Okanagan Symphony on an upcoming regional board agenda for consideration.

The city currently provides the symphony $3,600, as part of NORD's annual grant of $6,500. The musical group, which is dealing with cuts to its provincial funding, has asked Vernon and NORD for up to $50,000 a year.