Vernon City Hall

French Tricolour tribute to people of Paris at Vernon city hall

VERNON – Three trees at Vernon city hall have been lit with the red, white and blue of the French flag in an effort to express solidarity with the people of France following the terror attacks in Paris. Infonews.ca columnist and Vernon city councillor Scott Anderson posted a picture of the decorated trees to Facebook...

Vernon councillor calls for action over ‘crazy loud’ shrimp boats on Okanagan Lake

VERNON - It might be saving Kokanee salmon populations, but a Vernon city councillor says shrimp harvesting on Okanagan Lake is ‘crazy loud.’ “It’s like, wow, you hear this thing from across the whole lake,” Coun. Brian Quiring said at a council meeting Tuesday, Oct. 13. “I mean, we have to find a way that...

Vernon residents upset about noisy shrimp harvesting on Okanagan Lake

VERNON - Noise concerns are being generated by shrimping operations on Okanagan Lake, but it's unclear which level of government complaints should be directed at. Vernon city councillor Juliette Cunningham raised the issue at a public meeting Monday, saying the noise from a shrimp boat working around Paddlewheel Park is leaving some residents complaining to...

Vernon council decides town hall meetings aren’t needed

VERNON - Elected representatives believe Vernon residents have all the opportunities they need to raise issues with the city.  That’s why council has opted against hosting periodic town hall meetings in which citizens can bring up any topic they wish to discuss. Councillors voted 5-2 at a meeting Monday, Aug. 10, to keep things status...

City of Vernon to enter race for B.C. Seniors Games

VERNON - The city is preparing to bid on a major sporting event, but it needs a little back-up from its neighbours. The City of Vernon wants to host the 30th anniversary of the 55+ B.C. Games (formerly called the Seniors Games) in 2017 at its new sports track next to Okanagan College. It was...

NEW VERNON WELCOME SIGNS: ‘We’ve been waiting for you’

VERNON - They’re supposed to be inviting, but the signs that welcome travellers into Vernon are looking a little worse for wear and no one is sure exaclty who is reponsible for the upkeep of those signs. Installed at each of the three main gateways to the city the 'Welcome to Greater Vernon' signs greet...

Vernon night market to proceed despite concerns

VERNON - A Friday night market in downtown Vernon will go ahead this summer, but there’s still some unease among city councillors about the event.  Coun. Catherine Lord says she’s been contacted by several businesses, some anonymously, wishing to express their concerns about the market. “We’ve been getting some really upset people with it because...

Doubt cast over 2015 season of Vernon’s Avenue Market

VERNON - There’s concern that a Vernon market designed to attract people to the downtown core is actually having a negative affect on some merchants. The summertime Avenue Market, which is coming into its second year, invites vendors to set up on 30 Avenue on Friday evenings. When it started, the hope was that it...

Citizens call for drastic changes to Greater Vernon Water

VERNON - A citizens group is calling on local politicians to overhaul plans for Greater Vernon’s water supply, including the cost to residents. Citizens for Changes to the Master Water Plan made their case to Vernon City Council Monday afternoon, asking for support in taking a “fresh new look” at the plan. Spokesperson Eric Jackson...

Vernon parents left frustrated with City Hall over student safety

VERNON - Vernon parents are disappointed local government isn’t planning to do more to make the roads around Beairsto School safer as a drive-through Tim Hortons is built across the street. Out of 11 traffic safety recommendations made by the Beairsto Parent Advisory Council — such as widening sidewalks, reducing the speed limit on 27...

Changes could be coming at Vernon parking meters

VERNON - Vernon currently has the shortest grace period among nearby communities when it comes to expired parking meters, but that could be about to change. City council will vote on changing the grace period to five minutes from the current two next Monday to make downtown Vernon more customer friendly. City staff reviewed other...

Mixed Martial Arts ban won’t affect local youth

VERNON - Kids can compete in mixed martial arts tournaments in Vernon, but not professional fighters. That’s the stance Vernon councillors took Monday when endorsing a ban on mixed martial arts (MMA) contests in the city. Council postponed dealing with the proposed bylaw last month because of concern the wording was too all-encompassing. Coun. Mary...