Do Not Occupy order lifted for one of two buildings at Okanagan Rhythmic Gymnastics Club

VERNON – The regional district has lifted a Do Not Occupy for assembly use order at the Okanagan Rhythmic Gymnastics Club mere days after posting it.

The club, run by former Olympian Camille Martens, operates out of a gym and dance studio on East Vernon Road. On Friday, June 9, the regional district posted a Do Not Occupy for assembly use order on the facility's two buildings.

But, it didn’t take long for the district to rescind the order for the main building. 

“In recognition of the efforts undertaken by the property owner including the closure of the mezzanine area of the building, and the continuance of the Do Not Occupy Order on the secondary accessory facility, the RDNO is satisfied that appropriate progress is being made on the primary health and safety concerns along with a commitment to eventually meeting the requirements of the B.C. Building Code,” the district says in a release issued today, June 12. 

The district says it “remains committed to working with the property owner to meet all of the building and zoning requirements in a timely manner to allow for the issuance of a valid building permit for assembly use.”

In a press release posted June 9, Martens said it was “shocking and upsetting” to come home and find the signs posted at 4 p.m. on a Friday.

“At no point did the building inspector attempt to contact me. He did not enter either building to look for himself at any potential areas of concern, nor did he attempt to speak with the adults (who were coaching 16 rehearsing students) inside the gym at that time,” Martens said in the release. “To do that just before the weekend when we have no way of doing anything seems sadly in line with how they have done everything else.”

It’s not the first time the regional district and the club’s owner have gone head to head. This past winter, the club was at risk of closing due to a zoning issue.

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