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.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.