Hockey No. 1 at Games

By Kate Bouey - Castanet Sep 14, 2017 / 2:00 pm |
Ice rinks in Vernon and Armstrong are busy this week, from sun up to sun down, as players from all over the province fight to win at the BC 55+ Games. While it may come as no surprise to many, ice hockey is the most popular sport of these games in terms of numbers. A total of 453 men and women signed up and have been suiting up to play in local arenas. Divisions are split in terms of age, ranging from a 55+ division to a 75+ division. That means any hockey player over 80 has to play with his younger counterparts. Former Vernon mayor Wayne McGrath, 74, has played hockey in past senior games and continues with his love of hockey. “I just love the guys I play with, good friendships there, and it's good exercise...as long as you don't get injured,” McGrath said. McGrath admitted there are still bumps, bruises and a few stitches for players along the way. “It's non checking, no contact they call it, but occasionally there are accidental contacts,” he laughed. No matter, McGrath said he'll be on the ice as long as he is able and as long as he enjoys it. “And I hope that's another 10 years.”

Equestrian society raising funds for lawsuit to resume races at Vernon track

August 29, 2016 - 1:00 PM By Charlotte Helston INfo.News.Ca
VERNON - The Okanagan Equestrian Society is launching a fundraising campaign to help pay for legal costs associated with an impending court case against the city. Society president Robyn Dalziel says they are planning to sell debentures — a type of loan certificate — as a way of financing the lawsuit. “There’s so many people asking how they can donate or how they can help, so we’ve been looking for a way that people can donate to help the society,” Dalziel says. The legal battle began after the society was evicted from the Kin Race Track property, which it leased for the purpose of holding equestrian events, in 2010. At that time, the property was jointly owned by the city and the North Okanagan Regional District, however regional parkland restructuring has since shifted ownership entirely to the city. Local government has expressed interest in using the land for something else, however the society insists it has a legal right to keep using the facility. Court dates have not yet been announced, however Dalziel is expecting the trial to be set for sometime in 2017. The debentures, she says, are a way for people to invest in the future of the society, and eventually get paid back. “As part of the lawsuit we are requesting damages and special damages. We 100 per cent think we will be successful with the lawsuit and that we will come out the other side of this with money,” Dalziel says. The society can’t start selling the debentures until a special resolution is made by the membership. That’s on the agenda for an Oct. 1 general meeting, Dalziel says. Only members will be able to purchase the debentures. Membership is currently $2 (although it may be raised to $5) and can be paid at the general meeting. “Those debentures will go to financing the lawsuit as well as rebuilding the grounds,” Dalziel says, noting the grandstands burned down in 2014. The society is also planning on holding a fall harvest dinner, dance and silent auction, tentatively set for Oct. 22. The society is also accepting direct donations in addition to the debentures. “We are really going to start ramping this up,” Dalziel says. Anyone interested in becoming a member is invited to attend the general meeting at 1 p.m. on Oct. 1, at the Army and Navy Club. You can also contact Dalziel directly at robyndalziel@hotmail.ca for more information.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES: Running on empty

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Aug 24, 2016 at 1:00 AM
The pounding of the hooves and the cheering crowd reverberated through Osoyoos’ Desert Park race track Saturday. But beyond the thrill of the competition, there was the cold, hard reality that this was the only live horse racing in the Interior this year. All of the other tracks, including Vernon’s Kin, were mothballed for the season. And things don’t look much better for next year. “It’s looking very dim,” Pete Hormes, Interior Horse Racing Association president, told the CBC. The report from the national broadcaster indicates that while die-hard fans still flock to the track, the challenge is a lack of money. Track organizers are finding it difficult to raise the purse needed to draw riders. The expense of raising horses also appears to be a factor. “When you’re paying an exercise rider every day to get on that horse, you’re paying to feed it, you’re paying stall rental. How do you bring your horse in to train it to run one day a year?” Robyn Dalziel, president of Vernon’s Okanagan Equestrian Society, told the CBC. Some in the industry remain optimistic about the future, but the article also clearly highlights some pessimism, or reality, depending I guess on one’s perspective. Dalziel tells the CBC that she still hopes racing can return to Kin but she has doubts that the sport has a future in the Interior. “I don’t know if you can say if it’ll be back like it was before,” she said. This is an interesting comment to make when the Okanagan Equestrian Society has been locked in legal action for years with the City of Vernon and the Regional District of North Okanagan over Kin Race Track. The dispute started when local officials evicted the society from the site in 2010. The society immediately took both groups to court, claiming equestrian activities were guaranteed when most of the track was turned over for free to the city. The society has also claimed RDNO ignored an agreement for lease renewals. In turn, the jurisdictions have claimed the society hasn’t lived up to its terms of the agreement, including maintenance of the property and holding events. The last races were in 2013 and while the fire that destroyed the grandstand in 2014 created some complications, other options for structures could have been found to keep horses running the last few years. The bottom line is there are fewer volunteers to help organize these events and I suspect fewer people interested in sitting in the stands, especially given the multitude of other gaming opportunities that now exist. Kin is expensive real estate and yet it stagnates. RDNO had envisioned sports fields, a BMX track, a gymnastics facility, trails and other amenities there, but everything is on hold because of the ongoing legal dispute. Even expansion of adjacent Kal Tire Place had to be reconfigured because of the conflict. In June, the city decided to ask the courts if there is an inherent obligation to use the land as a race track.No further details have been released since then, but given the CBC report, and some of the comments it contains, it will be interesting to see what the judge rules.
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http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/interior-bc-horse-racing-down-to-one-day-1.3727236

Here’s how you can get tickets to the Lumby Hockeyville NHL game

by Charlotte Helston InfoNews.ca August 23, 2016 - 7:27 AM

LUMBY - An emphasis has been placed on making sure Lumby residents get to see an NHL game their community won in a national competition. Ticket details have been released for the NHL pre-season game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings. There will be two draws, one specifically for Lumby residents and one for other supporters, organizer Angie Clowry says in a media release.People will have the chance to win tickets to the pre-season game, as well as a practice session between the teams set for Sunday, Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m. The game itself will happen at 6 p.m. at Kal Tire Place in Vernon.“Tickets will be distributed by way of a supervised public draw which will take place at Lumby and District Chamber of Commerce,” Clowry says. “The public is invited to come in person to submit a ballot for a chance to win two tickets to the game or practice.”

You can submit ballots at the chamber, located at 1882 Vernon St., on Aug. 27, 29, 30 and 31 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

“The ‘Residents’ Draw’ is for residents of the Village of Lumby and North Okanagan Regional District Area,” Clowry says. Entrants to the residents’ draw must have documentation showing their postal code, and be 19 years old or over.Everyone is welcome to enter, and is reminded that photo identification will be required to confirm eligibility with the draw guidelines. The residents’ draw will consist of 617 ballots drawn, representing 1,234 tickets for the pre-season game and 716 ballots drawn, representing 1,432 individual tickets, to the team practice session.

The ‘Supporters’ Draw’ is for anyone 19 years old and over on the date of entry, regardless of your place of residence. The supporters’ draw will consist of 155 ballots drawn, representing 310 tickets for the NHL pre-season game and 179 ballots drawn, representing 358 individual tickets, to the practice sessions.Each entrant may only submit one ballot in either ballot box marked for residents or for supporters, not both.

Ballots will be drawn Tuesday, Sept. 20 with winners posted Thursday, Sept. 22 on the Vote for Lumby to be Kraft Hockeyville 2016 Facebook Page.

Kal Tire Place will host Kraft Hockeyville NHL pre-season game Oct. 2

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star posted Jul 26, 2016 at 3:00 PM— updated Jul 26, 2016 at 4:42 PM

Vernon's Kal Tire Place will be the venue for the Lumby 2016 Kraft Hockeyville NHL pre-season game. The contest, between the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, will take place Sunday, Oct. 2 (though a game time has not been announced). The Village of Lumby won the title of Kraft Hockeyville 2016. Along with $100,000 in arena upgrades for the Pat Duke Memorial Arena comes the chance for the village to host an NHL pre-season contest. The Pat Duke Memorial Arena, Kal Tire Place and Prospera Place in Kelowna were under consideration to host the game. Lumby organizing committee spokesperson Angie Clowry made the announcement by video on Facebook Tuesday. "Kraft Hockeyville is more than just a game, it's a community celebration that has been felt from the time we all started to share that hashtag, #KHV_Lumby on all our social media posts," said Clowry. "It will also be felt long after the puck drops." Clowry said a full ticket structuring plan will be released in the coming weeks once ticket details are finalized. Tickets will be distributed, she said, by way of a supervised ticket lottery. All tickets for the game will be free of charge. The Lumby Organizing Committee will keep the community up to date with planned events surrounding the pre-season game. Updates will be posted on the event's Facebook page, Vote Lumby For Kraft Hockeyville.

http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/

Lumby cheers win

by Kate Bouey - CASTANET Apr 2, 2016 / 4:11 pm

http://khv2016.ca/en/

The Village of Lumby went crazy Saturday afternoon. The roar of jubilation from the crowd shook the rafters of the Pat Duke Memorial Arena as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced on national television that Lumby had won the Kraft Hockeyville 2016 title. In addition to $100,000 for upgrades to the arena, the village will also host an NHL pre-season game. Local organizer Angie Clowry, the driving force behind efforts to push Lumby to the top of the contest, said she is not certain if the game will be played in the local arena or a nearby community. An NHL committee will visit the area to make a decision in the coming weeks, said Clowry. The second-place finisher, St. Isidore, Que, also wins $100,000 for arena upgrades but no game. Ahead of the announcement, villagers partied beside the arena, listening to a rock band, dancing and picnicking, while children jumped on a number of bouncy castles and clambered over local fire trucks. “I feel like we've already won,” said Clowry, just ahead of the announcement. “The community spirit and just getting everyone together for a common, positive goal, it's been fantastic.” Clowry had teams of local people voting online day and night for the village during that stage of the process, urging other communities to take part. Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster made an appeal for support in the Legislature. Mayor Kevin Acton lifted the Hockeyville trophy high after the announcement, joined by other regional politicians including Foster and Rick Fairbairn, chair of the North Okanagan Regional District board. The amount of excitement and cohesion (the contest) has generated, not just in Lumby but the region surrounding it, and even Armstrong and Enderby, Vernon and Kelowna, it's been amazing,” said Acton. “It's kind of hard to fathom the amount of support that's been given by everybody.” Villagers in Lumby are ecstatic after winning the Kraft Hockeyville 2016 title. The winner was announced Saturday afternoon by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on a Hockey Night In Canada broadcast. National media organizations, including CBC and Sportsnet, were on hand in the village to broadcast the reaction live to the nation. Organizers, led by cheerleader Angie Clowry, worked tirelessly over the preceeding months to push the village to the top. Villagers, from teens to grannies, spent countless hours voting online. In the end, only St. Isidore, Que. stood in the way as the two communities beat eight other towns across Canada to each win $100,000 for renovations on their local arenas – with Lumby coming out on top. The village's Pat Duke Memorial Arena is slated to undergo work to transform the girls' changing room. As winner, Lumby gets an NHL preseason game played in the local arena or nearby. Villagers partied all day Saturday before meeting in the arena later in the afternoon to watch the broadcast live on a big screen.
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In addition to $100,000 in arena upgrades to Pat Duke Memorial Arena, the community will host a pre-season game between Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers andDrew Doughty’s Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 2.

Kin Race Track discussion delayed

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jan 18, 2016 at 6:00 AM
Mother Nature has delayed discussions about the future of Kin Race Track. Members of the Okanagan Equestrian Society were supposed to debate proposals to end the legal dispute with the City of Vernon but the annual general meeting was cancelled because of heavy snowfall. “There were questionable roads and we didn’t want to chance it,” said Ed Woolley, society spokesperson. The meeting was adjourned until Jan. 31. Most of our directors live out of town and didn’t want to chance things on the highway. Similarly, a lot of our members live out of town and we expected that they would be deterred as well.” The society has been pursuing legal action against the city and the Regional District of North Okanagan to use the property since a 2010 eviction. Some city and regional district officials have stated they would like the site designated for other recreational activities.

Secret proposals exchanged over Vernon horse racing dispute

By Charlotte Helston INFO-TEL.CA January 14, 2016 - 6:30 PM
VERNON - Proposed resolutions over an ongoing legal dispute between the City of Vernon and the Okanagan Equestrian Society are on the table, but neither side is commenting on the details. The society’s lawyer, Ed Woolley, says proposals were exchanged this week and both parties are now considering their options. The legal dispute has been going on for years. “I don’t think we’re necessarily on the cusp of solving this, but at least we’re having discussions that can lead us there,” Woolley says. While both parties have said they want to resolve the dispute out of court, Woolley says it’s premature to say court is off the table. The society is looking for a resolution that allows horse racing and other equestrian activities to continue in Vernon, preferably at the Kin Race Track, although it’s not ruling out a new location. Moving to a new site in the city would require buy in from other levels of government and organizations, as well as the city. “The city would have to come forth with funds for it,” Woolley says. “We would also need other elements to fall into place.” The society has been unable to host races since the Kin Race Track grandstands burned down in a suspected arson in 2014, and Woolley says there’s some disagreement over how the insurance proceeds should be used. “Our position would be pursuant to the trust agreement, that the insurance proceeds should be put back into the grandstands or some sort of similar building for the purposes of the race track,” Woolley says. “That question around the usage of those insurance proceeds needs to be resolved.” He says the application of the insurance proceeds could provide a resolution to the dispute. Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund wouldn’t comment on what proposals were made, but remains optimistic 2016 will be the year the dispute is resolved. “We’re in the phase of discussing what’s best for the equestrian society and the City of Vernon,” Mund says. “You’re going to go back and forth with stuff.” The equestrian society plans to discuss the city’s proposal at an Annual General Meeting this weekend, and will respond to the city’s offer after it has consulted with its membership. “Assuming there’s no outright acceptance one way or another, we’ll see what we can do as far as counter proposals,” Woolley says.

Civic Arena's future

by Kate Bouey -CASTANET Dec 23, 2015 / 5:00 am
The Civic Arena may have a future in Vernon after Kal Tire Place is twinned. Mayor Akbal Mund says he would like it to remain standing and used for something else once its days as an ice sheet come to an end. A new arena is expected to be built and opened by the fall of 2018. Until then, the Civic will be babied along by city staff in hopes the ice sheet will last. “I know people are waiting to hear council's direction on the Civic Arena, which is obviously a decision we'll make in a couple of years, but I know, in talking with most of council, we'd like to use it for something else,” says Mund. The mayor says the big concern is the aging ice plant at the Civic, which staff say could fail at any time, knocking user groups off the ice. Mund says it would cost too much to replace the plant. “(But) the actual structure is sound, and I don't think there's anyone on council who would like to see that building torn down,” says Mund. City staff may not agree. Vernon recreation staff have pointed to the cracked floor, broken toilets and other issues. As well, exterior wall cracks were identified in a 2014 engineering report. When the walls were opened, water was found to have damaged the concrete foundations.

Groups state case for Marshall courts

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Dec 13, 2015 at 1:00 AM

It’s not known if taxpayers will rally behind proposed sports facilities. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has been asked to support development of covered pickleball and tennis courts at Marshall Field. Juliette Cunningham, GVAC chairperson, says the request will be considered, but it may be too late to include it in the 2016 budget. “Is it realistic, I am not sure,” she said. The proposal won’t be discussed further by GVAC until its next meeting in early January. While the two sports groups have not identified an exact dollar figure from GVAC, the 12 pickleball courts and four tennis courts could cost up to $2.2 million. “I hope they will put funds towards it,” said Don Friesen, with the Greater Vernon Pickleball Committee, adding that other sources of revenue are through fundraising and membership fees. “We totally expect to pay our way and be responsible.” There are currently about 300 pickleball players and rental facilities at four different indoor sites are at capacity. “We have people showing up an hour ahead to get a spot,” said Friesen. “We’re turning people away all of the time.” The Greater Vernon Tennis Association has 110 members and a desire to expand participation. “The next step we need to get moving is junior tennis,” said Loren Guenette, with the GVTA. The goal, according to both groups, is to create a facility that can handle tournaments and bolster the economy. “If you want to buy a home, individuals look for amenities. If you are a retiree, you look for pickleball or tennis,” said Guenette.  A GVAC director asked if Civic Arena would be suitable for the sports, but Friesen believes there are some logistical issues with the aging structure. “I’d love to use Civic but the cost would go through the roof. There’s maintenance, repair and it’s not going to heat itself. It would cost to operate,” he said.

Banner botched

 by Darren Handschuh | CASTANET- Aug 30, 2015 / 12:19 pm

Um, how's that again? While hundreds of elite athletes participate in the 33rd edition of Valley First Challenge Penticton today, many people are talking about a banner that was designed by someone who was spelling challenged. The large, bright red banner with bold white letters proudly states Triathlon "Pentiction" We are triathlon.Several people have tweeted pictures of the botched signage and Kimberly McKinley sent a picture of the banner to Castanet and speculated had the banners been made locally, chances are the spelling error would have been caught."*OMG quick cover it up with stickers" tweeted Mørgan ‏@MRivers18.

Society Not Budging On Track Demand

Posted on 5/21/2015 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
The group involved in the ongoing dispute over Vernon's Kin Race Track, is standing firm in its demand to continue having a horse racing track. Ed Woolley from the Okanagan Equestrian Society says they would be open to moving to another site, but it would have to have a track, and the city would have to provide funding. "We would be agreeable to looking at that as a settlement to this dispute. However, the city would need to be coming forward with some capital expenditure to build the new track," says Woolley. Woolley disagrees with Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund who has said horse racing is no longer viable. "We could have had three days of horse racing this year, thoroughbred, and we were in talks with the standard bred racing for cart racing at the track before the grandstand fire last year." Meantime, the broken fence around the track is the latest rift between the sides. Woolley says the city should pay to repair it, but the city says it's the society's responsibility. "The previous agreement where we were to maintain the property was based on that they were going to be giving us a $10,000 budget each year with which to do it. They haven't paid that for eight years, so if they are not going to pay the budget for the maintenance, they can at least do the maintenance themselves," Woolley tells Kiss FM. One thing the two sides do agree on, they both want to settle the dispute by the end of this year.

Flying discs in city's future

by Kevin Rothwell CASTANET - Apr 29, 2015 / 10:39 am

A well-worn Vernon rumour appears to be more than just that. During discussion about Marshall Field, Vernon city council was told there is potential to locate a disc golf course there. City staff are taking measurements of the area to confirm its feasibility. The sport is played on nine- or 18-"hole" courses. The object is for players to hit targets and specially made baskets in as few throws as possible, with various weighted flying discs. Disc golf began in the 1960s with “Steady” Ed Headrick, the inventor of the Wham-O Frisbee. The first formal course opened in 1974, in California. The sport has experienced a resurgence in the past few decades, with more than 40 courses listed on the B.C. Disc Sports website, including courses near Vernon, Kelowna and West Kelowna.

More Track Talks Expected

Posted on 4/21/2015 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
Vernon's mayor is still trying to find a solution to the long running stalemate over Kin Race Track. The city-owned facility on 43rd Avenue has been in limbo for eight years since the Okanagan Equestrian Society started a legal fight with local governments to avoid removal from the site. Mayor Akbal Mund says the group is willing to move, but wants to have a race track at another location. He says horse racing is no longer viable. "What they need to do is say, 'How can we continue to function as an organization but move to the 21st Century?' And would that mean, instead of horse racing, that we do other equestrian events?" says Mund. Mund is hoping to have another meeting with the society in the coming weeks, as the city works toward a a solution for the site, by the end of the year."I like the fact that we're talking. That's a lot better than pointing fingers and blaming each other. I like to see things always moving forward, and that's what we're trying to do here," Mund tells Kiss FM. Society vice president Ed Woolley said earlier he hoped that some of the insurance money from the grandstand fire last year, could be put into a multi purpose facility for equine and other activities.

Horse racing scrapped again; Vernon’s Kin Race Track in legal limbo

CHARLOTTE HELSTON /InfoTel Multimedia April 10, 2015 - 2:33 PM

VERNON - It will be another quiet summer at Vernon’s historic horse racing track as plans for its future remain mired in uncertainty. Arson gutted Kin Race Track’s grandstands last summer, and without them the Okanagan Equestrian Society’s president says no events can be held. “Everything runs out of the grandstand,” Robert White says. The rubble left behind from the burnt-out grandstands remains blocked off, and over the winter part of the fence around the grounds collapsed, he says. “To have the public come in there, it puts people in jeopardy. We could bring toilets and stuff in, but the biggest thing is to make it safe for people,” White says. The society leases the land from the City of Vernon, and is currently fighting to keep horse racing alive after being evicted from the property in 2010. The city sees other possibilities for the land, but the society argues an agreement made years ago called for the site to be used in perpetuity for equestrian activities. The insurance from the grandstand fire goes to the city, not the society, and while White believes it has an obligation to rebuild, Mayor Akbal Mund isn’t so sure. “First we need to get the money, then we’ll look at, do we want to go back and rebuild the grandstand? Is that the best thing to do, or is it better to build something better than the grandstand that’s more useful to the community?” Mund says. During a recent strategic planning session, council made its desire clear to resolve the dispute with the Equestrian Society by the end of 2015, and Mund is hopeful that can be done outside of court. “We have to look at it logically and ask if the society's vision makes sense, or if moving forward does and saying maybe (horse racing) should move somewhere else," Mund says. "There’s options out there and everything needs to be looked at." Informal discussions are taking place between Mund and the society, but no official meeting dates have been set to discuss next steps. The society insists horse racing is still viable, but White worries the longer Kin Race Track goes without events, the further it will fall into a state of disrepair. “As long as it’s not being used, it just falls apart. No one fixes it. We need people to use the facility,” he says. “Almost on a weekly basis I get a phone call from someone asking if they can use the facility and I have to say the same thing. Nothing is moving forward.”

Revelstoke Golf Club asks for rent forgiveness

by Alex Cooper - Revelstoke Times Review posted Feb 22, 2015 at 9:00 PM
Revelstoke city council is being asked to forgive all rent money owed to the city by the Revelstoke Golf Club, and to draft a new lease that eliminates the club's rent. A report to council from city finance director Graham Inglis recommends that "all outstanding rent, accrued interest and applicable taxes owed by the golf club to the City of Revelstoke be written off," and that "staff be directed to draft a new lease with the golf club that eliminates any future rental obligations." The Revelstoke Golf Club leases the golf course from the city for an annual amount, however Inglis' report shows the club has not paid rent for the past three years and owes the city about $43,000, including taxes and interest. The golf club made the news in December after asking for direct city funding as part of the parks, recreation and culture budget. The club has been working hard to turnaround its finances after a series of losses in recent years. The request was discussed at the closed-door portion of the Dec. 22 meeting of council. According to a Dec. 22 report by Inglis to council that has now been made public, the golf club entered into a five year lease with the city starting Nov. 1, 2012. Under the lease, the club would pay a lease equal to two per cent of gross revenues in the first two years, three per cent in the third year, and five per cent in the third and fourth years of the lease. The club owes the city $35,858 in rent, not including taxes. Writing off the unpaid rent would impact the city's bottom line, wrote Inglis. "The city budgeted a general operating surplus for 2014 of $51,277. A write off of the club's rent would reduce this budgeted surplus to $15,419." The write-off would be the equivalent of raising property taxes by 0.4 per cent, the report states. The 2015 draft financial plan doesn't include any rent from the golf club. The report will be discussed at the Tuesday, Feb. 24, meeting of council.

Group Ready To Find Solution To Kin Track

Written by Ron Manz 107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 17 February 2015 06:00
There is a new board, with some new faces, but the goal of the Okanagan Equestrian Society remains the same....to get a resolution over what happens to the Kin Race Track land. The group's annual general meeting was held Sunday and Vice-President Ed Woolley says the board will work with local governments and organizations over the next year hoping to get a concrete decision and plan in place for the city-owned site. Woolley says it's hoped a multi-purpose facility that would include equine and other activities on the current race track site can result. "There are proceeds from the insurance claim from the fire that could potentially be used for that purpose, and that's part of the discussion were having with local government representatives," Woolley tells Kiss FM. The Society has been in litigation with regard to the race track for eight years, so Woolley says he's not optimistic on any quick decisions. "Hopefully we can strike while the iron is hot with new people in government locally, and see if we can get a resolution to this matter for everybody's best interests," says Woolley. It's hoped a multi-purpose facility could be constructed to include the current horse racing track, that would also be available for other sports or activities. "We're willing to work with the local governments with regards to a solution that addresses other sports and special interest groups in the area, so the land can be used by everybody for their benefit," says Woolley. Robert White is the society's new president, but Woolley will remain as the group's spokesman and legal rep.

Lumby eyes Hockeyville title

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Feb 15, 2015 at 1:00 AM
Lumby residents hope to get off the bench and enter the big game. The Lumby Minor Hockey Association will know March 14 if its bid for Kraft Hockeyville has been accepted and if voting for upgrades to Pat Duke Memorial Arena will proceed. “We are just waiting to hear,” said Sherry Kineshanko, with the LMHA executive. “Some communities have lots of nominations and others are right across the map.” LMHA submitted about 26 Nominations. “The support from the community has been incredible so far,” said Kineshanko. Kraft Hockeyville 2015, in partnership with the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association, invited communities across Canada to show their love for the game. The community that wins the grand prize will host an NHL pre-season game and receive $100,000 for arena upgrades. There is also $100,000 in arena upgrades for the second place community, and $25,000 for each of the remaining eight prize winners. The goal is to have Lumby place in the top 10 March 14. “We have our fingers crossed,” said Kineshanko. If that occurs, then residents throughout the North Okanagan will be galvanized to vote for Pat Duke Arena online in an attempt to win the grand prize. “I know our community rallies together,” said Kineshanko. Any winnings will go towards much-needed upgrades at Pat Duke Arena, including heating units in the bleacher area, a referee room and equipment storage. However, the most pressing issue is change rooms, and particularly for female players. “The area is eight-feet-by-four-feet and at times, it can have girls from four different teams in it at the same time,” said Kineshanko. “Because it was an old closet, the door is also just a door that opens up to the arena ice and spectators, so girls coming in at times are not always aware of privacy issues. The girls are just as important as the boys on their team and should be given all of the same opportunities on and off the ice, including an area to get dressed proudly in their Lumby Stars jerseys.” Kineshanko points out that Lumby has a small tax base and the Hockeyville title would provide a major boost to the community. “It is the little communities that really need your support and help as it is the small communities that have to work twice as hard to keep hockey going in their community,” she wrote in her nomination letter. The LMHA’s campaign has the full support of Mayor Kevin Acton. “The people with Lumby Minor have energy that’s non-stop. It’s fantastic,” he said, adding that he is confident residents will embrace the Hockeyville bid if the arena moves on to the next stage of the competition. “It motivates a community and brings a town to its peak for participation.”

Cotter Wins Second Straight BC Title

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Sunday, 08 February 2015 15:49
Jim Cotter's team from Vernon and Kelowna has won its second straight B.C. Men's Curling Championship. The Okanagan rink defeated Dean Joanisse of New Westminster 7-6 in the 11 end final at the Vernon Curling Club. Cotter drew to the four foot with his final stone for the win, his fifth provincial title. The skip made 95% of his 22 shots in the final game, while Joanisse was at 88 percent. The Cotter team, which includes new member Ryan Kuhn at third, along with Tyrel Griffith and Rick Sawatsky on the front end, will represent B.C. at the Tim Horton's Brier February 28 to March 8 in Calgary.