Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Friday, 03 February 2012 15:03
A popular arts and culture attraction in Vernon is looking to get on the public pay roll. The Okanagan Science Centre is seeking annual funding of 150-thousand dollars from the Regional District of North Okanagan. Executive director Sandi Dixon says they provide valuable educational
programs that attracted 20-thousand visitors last year to their
location in Polson Park. "We are the smallest community in Canada to have a science centre and
obviously the community really values that and we need to be supported
as such. We need to add staff to properly do what we do.' Dixon says they have 3,600 members, but don't have the funds to keep up to the growing demand. "We need increased (staff) hours. Everyone is doing a lot of things
off the side of their desks. The staff and volunteers are really
passionate about what they do and they want to make it happen, but we're
at a pace that we just can't sustain." Board member Bob Clarke says 150-thousand would be used in a number of areas. "Increasing the number of staff, providing more services, programs and increasing the quality of the exhibits." While the committee will consider the larger request, the Centre will
get a cheque for $32,500 from the Greater Venron Advisory Committee
committee to make up for a 50 percent cut to their provincial gaming
grant. Several directors noted concerns about the ongoing downloading of costs from the province to local governments. Director Catherine Lord stated, "The more downloading, the more we fill the gaps."
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