CAMPING TRIP | Lumby mayor to spend weekend at highway pullout for a good cause [A17]
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Wednesday, June 24, 2015
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No break for plant RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Activate Life is the new tag line for the community unveiled by the City of Vernon at council Monday afternoon.
CITY OF VERNON PHOTO
City unveils new ‘call to action’ RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Vernon residents and tourists are being encouraged to get active. A new brand or tag line, Activate Life, was unveiled for the community at city hall Monday. “We wanted something that separates us from other communities,” said Glen Benischek, chairperson of the city’s economic development committee.
The brand was selected after a survey of visitors and tourists indicated that people associate Vernon with an active lifestyle, whether it’s recreation or culture. “It’s a call to action. It can mean anything from bocce ball to spending time with the kids on the beach or skiing at Silver Star or Sovereign Lake,” said Benischek. Activate Life will be found on all advertising, but the brand will also be amended for
specific interests, such as possibly, “Activate your game” for sports, “Activate your menu” for culinary experiences and “Activate your imagination,” for culture. A committee of business and marketing representatives worked together on the brand. “Our objective was to create a strong brand message to represent the city in all markets,” said Benischek. Key issues that were considered were activities, the natu-
ral environment, location and community pride. “Non-residents see Vernon as a community with stunning surroundings,” said Benischek. Mayor Akbal Mund was part of the brand advisory committee until he was elected to office. “We’re trying to focus on Vernon and what it has to offer,” he said. “I think it’s great and it’s important to bring tourists to Vernon.”
Communities set to form living flag Morning Star Staff
It’s patriotic, and it’s on a day special to the nation. So it’s perfect for creating a living flag. Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #35 and the Armstrong Farmers’ Market invite everyone to join in the creation of a living flag in honour of the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag on Saturday, National Multicultural Day. “What better day to form a living flag than on Multicultural Day?” said Andrew Laird, president of the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce. “Our community is proud of our Stk# UD2610
multicultural heritage. From Chinese market gardeners to Dutch dairy farmers, our business community has thrived and prospered due to immigrants.” The living flag Andrew Laird will be formed on the IPE fairgrounds in riding ring #1 (green grandstands) and a photo will be taken to commemorate the event. The schedule for Saturday is as follows:
10 to 10:45 a.m.: free T-shirts for the first 100 children to sign up to participate in the living flag (go to the tent at the Farmers’ Market); 11:00 a.m.: formation of the living flag and official photo, Riding Ring #1 on the fairgrounds Everyone is invited to attend. Show up dressed in red and white patriotic attire and help create a living Canadian flag. Attracting young and old, Canadians of every heritage, this event is a great way to Celebrate! Countdown to Canada Day in Armstrong and Spallumcheen. For more information on the free family event, visit www.aschamber.com.
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A new industrial activity won’t get a break from the tax man. Coldstream council voted unanimously Monday not to extend the Lavington industrial revitalization area to include the new Pinnacle Renewable Energy pellet plant next to Tolko’s mill. “We have given enough benefit to Tolko by changing the zoning to allow for the pellet plant,” said Coun. Peter McClean. Had final adoption of the bylaw proceeded and the revitalization boundary area been extended, taxes for the operation would have been reduced by about $30,000 a year. While the industrial revitalization area was formed to encourage development, some residents told council Monday that the pellet plant should not get tax relief. “The boundaries of the revitalization area were known to Tolko and Pinnacle before Peter McClean selecting this location,” said Tom Coape-Arnold, who has been a vocal opponent of the pellet plant and is concerned about air quality. “Why should citizens of Coldstream subsidize this industry? Coldstream should keep the taxes to protect our air.” Resident Stephanie Hoffman also blasted the prospect of reduced taxes for the pellet plant. “The community should be compensated because Tolko and Pinnacle are the biggest user in Lavington. Taxes should go to the wear and tear of the roads,” she said. “With the mud and dust (from operations and trucks), taxes need to go to cleaning that up.” Pinnacle first applied for a boundary adjustment to the revitalization area in 2013 and council gave three readings to the bylaw Dec. 16, 2013. “I’m a little disappointed given that previous readings were voted on positively,” said Leroy Reitsma, Pinnacle president, of council’s decision. “I’m not surprised though as usually these tax programs assist projects to move ahead and we are moving ahead.” Mayor Jim Garlick says he voted against providing a tax break because of the ongoing conflict with residents over the pellet plant. “There is no use rubbing salt into a wound. We will put the taxes to good use and try to build some goodwill,” he said.
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