Greater Vernon residents can expect to hear about the merits of a new sports facility next to Okanagan College, in 2012. The campus in Coldstream has gotten approval from the Agricultural
Land Commission to use ten acres just north of OC and owned by the
college, for non farm use. OC president Jim Hamilton says it's good news. "We have cleared the first hurdle in the process, and I'm very happy
the college is one more big step on the road to being a partner in what I
think is a project of tremendous benefit to the community." The college will lease the land to the Regional District of North Okanagan for $1 a year, for 40 years. A rubberized Olympic running track and lighted playing field with
artificial turf is planned, but would need to pass a 7.8 million dollar
borrowing referendum first. Tannis Nelson, Community Development Coordinator with the Regional
District of North Okanagan, says a number of groups would use it. "I think this facility will get a tremendous amount of use, from the
North Okanagan Youth Soccer Association, minor football, a significant
amount of use from the schools, and I think we can expect to see a bit
of a bolstering of the track and field programs." Nelson says lacrosse, rugby, the Kal Rats running club, Heart Smart,
the BC Summer Games, and athletes training at Sovereign Lake could also
use the facility. The next step will see the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee
discussing if there's consensus to hold a referendum, which would add 18
dollars a year to homeowners tax bills. Vernon councillor and GVAC director Patrick Nicol says there's 12-hundred elementary students who after grade six have no program to go
into in this area due to a lack of a proper track. "There's a host of benefit for Okanagan College, and for the general
population. It's a beautiful piece of land to do something very
special." Regional District chairman Herman Halvorson feels people will support it. "I fully support sports because it keeps everybody active, keeps them occupied, and I think it's a very positive step." If approved, it would mean an extra 18 dollars a year--for 20 years---for the average Greater Vernon homeowner. Nicol was not willing to guess how soon a referendum could be held,
saying the regional board--which will have some new members--will have
to discuss the issue first. "There will be seven individuals that decide that." Halvorson believes all of the regional partners will support going to a vote as soon as possible. The ALC has set a condition that the facility be developed within
three years, and that top soil be retained on the site to allow it to be
converted back to farm use if needed in the future. It would take about seven months to build the facility.
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