A new report gives the Vernon area a passing grade when it comes to services and facilities available to residents. The Community Foundation of the North Okanagan got input from 25 community leaders and 179 citizens for its Vital Signs study. The report--which took eight months to complete--concludes the community is doing an adequate job, and meeting the needs of most residents.
Project leader Marty Armstrong says participants were asked to give letter grades in eleven key areas, ranging from safety and security, to work. "When we asked the people for their perceptions, we were looking to find out how they felt about their community., and how our community supports them." The highest mark, a B-minus, went to Arts and Culture, with the report saying, "Events such as cultural/theatrical events, museums, art galleries and musical presentations are readily available in Vernon." Dauna Grant from the Vernon Public Art Gallery says the grade shows the public supports arts and culture and like what they have. "What the B minus doesn't reflect is the funding levels that the individual organizations such as the Public Art Gallery are facing...so now we have to do more education on that." A lack of affordable housing was one of the key needs. Annette Sharkey from the Social Planning Council says the report will keep the issue on the front burner. She tells KISS FM, "We are still hearing that people whether it's homelessness, or middle income folks, are still having trouble finding affordable rentals or getting into home ownership." Safety and security got a C-plus which RCMP Superintendent Reg Burgess says is similar to what their studies have shown. "The feedback we're getting is, everybody knows we're trying really hard. We're making considerable and constant improvement. I'm getting good feedback and it does fall in line with what I perceive the community feels about how we're doing." Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert says he appreciates the public input which gave the community an overall grade of C. "I am happy to see we're in the C's. I would like to be higher but it's by no means below average. As Marty (Armstrong) said, we're adequate." Lippert says he'll be making sure his council members get a copy of the report which is available online. The report says areas needing improvement are the lack of affordable housing, making a livable wage and getting more people biking, walking and taking transit. CFNO president Mike Tindall says as well as providing a basis for discussion, Vital Signs will also assist their annual grants program, offering "guidance of compelling funding needs."
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