Penticton wants to take sport and event management to the next level

PENTICTON – Penticton is going to make the job of finding and managing events a full-time gig.

The position of sports and events project manager has been on the City's payroll since March 2016 but has been an annual contract. The job became vacant last month.

From 2010 to 2016, a similar contract existed but the position was intermittent and managed by the City's former tourism partners.

City staff say in a report going to council that Penticton now hosts 50 events each year with opportunities for more in the future.

The sports and events project manager’s primary responsibility will be to support and assist events organizers in obtaining the appropriate permits, in addition to providing resources and information that will help them develop and conduct community events.

Staff emphasize the position would also be a critical one in terms of providing communication and coordination to the public so they are aware of the events and any possible effects on traffic.

The 2017 budget includes $90,000 for the position, which is also included in the city’s full-time employee count. By making the position full-time instead of continuing to offer it as a contract position, staff believe the City will be able to attract a more highly qualified person for the role.

Council will be asked to approve the position as full-time at tomorrow's, Oct. 3, regular meeting.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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