Referendum
Piece by piece, Vernon’s Civic Arena is literally falling apart: City
VERNON - Cracked walls, crumbling concrete and a heaving floor are among a long list of problems plaguing the Civic Arena in Vernon. Bit by bit, the 77-year-old arena is falling apart, says Vernon recreation services manager Doug Ross. “Just as you repair one thing, something else crops up,” Ross says. Cracks in the floor...
Performing arts centre open house in Brocklehurst tonight
KAMLOOPS - Yet another chance is being given to residents to find out more information about the performing arts centre proposed for downtown Kamloops. The North Shore Business Association, in partnership with the city of Kamloops, will host an information session tonight, Oct. 29. “We have a lot of businesses concerned about the costs of...
Building a new arena is in the hands of Greater Vernon voters
VERNON - Greater Vernon residents will head to the polls to vote on a new arena next month. A referendum is set for Nov. 28 which will ask voters to borrow $13.2 million to decommission the Civic Arena and add a second arena at Kal Tire Place. “Civic has served its purpose, its time is...
Open house for Kamloops performing arts centre as referendum nears
KAMLOOPS - With a referendum only two and a half weeks away, Kamloops residents will get the opportunity to have all their performing arts centre questions answered by city staff. An open house will take place Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Sandman Centre’s Parkside Lounge. Mayor Peter Milobar says the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m....
Questions arise over new Vernon arena cost, location
VERNON - Building a new arena in Vernon hasn’t even gone to referendum yet and is already generating concerns. Local officials are currently waiting for the province to sign off on a borrowing referendum to decommission the Civic Arena and add a second ice sheet at Kal Tire Place — a process that has been...
Vernon MLA disappointed by arena ‘hiccup’, says minister is on it personally
VERNON - Vernon’s MLA isn’t happy about ongoing delays surrounding a referendum for a new ice sheet. The provincial government rejected, for a second time, a referendum proposal from the City of Vernon and the North Okanagan Regional District, putting the initiative even further behind schedule. Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster says he’s ‘disappointed with how...
Ongoing delays for new Vernon ice sheet costing taxpayers: Mayor
VERNON - Red tape continues to delay a borrowing referendum for a new ice rink in Vernon. The North Okanagan Regional District still doesn’t have authorization from the provincial government to hold a referendum asking voters to borrow up to $13 million to decommission the aging Civic Arena and build a second ice sheet at...
Future of Civic Arena unclear if Vernon’s ice sheet referendum succeeds
VERNON - As the conversation around a new ice rink in Vernon continues to move ahead, some are wondering what that means for the historic arena it would be replacing. When the Civic Arena was constructed in 1938, it was the first indoor ice rink in the Okanagan Valley. In April of that year, the...
Clock ticking on Vernon ice sheet referendum
VERNON - It’s crunch time for local government officials looking to hold a November borrowing referendum for a new Vernon ice sheet. The City of Vernon wants to decommission the aging Civic Arena and add a second ice sheet to Kal Tire Place — but has had to jump through some hoops just to bring...
240 per cent return expected on Kamloops performing arts centre investment
KAMLOOPS - An annual economic impact of $11 million, a 240 per cent return, is expected by the time the proposed performing arts centre reaches its fifth year of operations. The 97,600 square foot building will feature a 1,200 seat main theatre, a 350 seat studio theatre, an artist’s studio and several rental and rehearsal spaces. The...
The ‘cost of democracy’ calls for a $160,000 referendum
KAMLOOPS – Residents will decide if they are in favour borrowing $49 million to finance the purposed performing arts centre in a fall referendum, but it was the $160,000 cost of the referendum that recently came into question. Coun. Denis Walsh debated nearly every point raised on the referendum, including the cost of advertising, the...
Taking the next step towards a performing arts centre
KAMLOOPS – The next step in moving forward on a referendum for the proposed performing arts centre is set to take place this week. Residents will be asked if they are in favour of the city borrowing up to $49 million to design and construct the parkade and performing arts centre complex in a fall...
Performing arts centre referendum: Are you in favour of a $49M debt?
KAMLOOPS – Are you in favour of the City of Kamloops borrowing up to $49 million to design and construct the parkade and performing arts centre complex? That will likely be the official question of a fall referendum. A steering committee looked at several questions and came back recommending this one because it was the...
Council prepares for likely performing arts centre referendum
KAMLOOPS – The results of the performing arts centre open house have been collated and based on discussion at City Hall Tuesday it looks like a referendum will, most likely, happen by late fall. While the topic of the centre produced a lively question and answer session in council chambers Tuesday, May 5, the big...
City council to decide what’s next for performing arts centre
KAMLOOPS – The people have spoken, the comments have been sorted and now city council members will review them and decide what the next steps should be on the proposed performing arts centre. The city received public feedback regarding the proposed performing arts centre at an open house April 18. City staff have continued to...