Fate of West Kelowna civic centre decided Saturday night

ADVANCE POLLS SAW OVER 1,500 VOTES CAST IN CITY HALL REFERENDUM

WEST KELOWNA – Politicians in West Kelowna will find out Saturday night just how deep opposition to the proposed civic centre really is.

The City of West Kelowna estimates there are 26,000 voters eligible to give an answer to the referendum question of whether the city should borrow $7.7 million and dip into its reserves to build a new city hall.

When Mayor Doug Findlater and council asked last May for $10.5 million using the alternative approval process, some 4,000 voters said no, well over the requirement for 10 per cent of the electorate.

The resulting referendum has drawn considerable interest if advance polls are any indication. Some 1,540 voters have already cast a ballot.

No-siders say the city is has its spending priorities wrong and should be focusing on the city’s water systems and other infrastructure.

They argue the partnership the city would be entering into for the project is flawed and that its needlessly paying for land when it already owns several sites close by.

Yes-siders say West Kelowna needs a proper city hall to match its status as one of the fastest growing cities in the province and point out the agreement allows the current municipal hall to be returned to its status as the Mount Boucherie Community Centre.

General voting day is Saturday, Sept. 17 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polls will be open at:

• Constable Neil Bruce Middle School, 2010 Daimler Drive;
• George Pringle Elementary School, 3770 Elliott Road;
• Glenrosa Middle School, 2974 Glen Abbey Place; and,
• Mar Jok Elementary School, 2101 McDougall Road.

All voters will register at the polling station on the day they vote by bringing with them two pieces of identification, one with a signature and one with an address, that verify who they are and where they live.

Voters must be:

• Eighteen years of age or older on general voting day;
• A Canadian citizen;
• A resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before the day of registration;
• A resident or registered owner of real property in the City of West Kelowna for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration; and,
• Free from any disqualification from voting under the Local Government Act or any other enactment and not be otherwise disqualified by law.

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