West Kelowna

Rebuffed by the City of Kelowna, Andy Schwab, owner of the Fintry Queen, is making his pitch across the lake.

Schwab will appear before West Kelowna Council Tuesday night asking for support to dock the vessel at the CNR Wharf in Gellatly Bay.

Photo: Contributed - Andy Schwab

Drawing shows a proposed home for the Fintry Queen at the CNR Wharf in West Kelowna

As a component of the CNR Wharf Park, Schwab says the Fintry Queen would:

• Create a waterfront destination
• Be an economic generator through direct jobs and spin offs
• Be a focal point for the community for meetings, events and activities
• Increase safety and public facilities along the waterfront
• Be a partner in the development of the Park Plan

Schwab adds that the Fintry Queen could either operate as a working vessel, open to the public while docked during the day while providing evening dinner cruises and charters or as a stationary dockside, as a museum, restaurant or banquet and meeting facility for 325 people.

As an operating vessel, Schwab envisions more than 200 trips a year from May through October each year.

The Fintry Queen was moved from its traditional space adjacent to Kerry Park to Sutherland Bay in Oct., 2012 to allow for construction of a new downtown pier.

Schwab had hoped to, at least temporarily, dock the vessel in front of City Park, however, the city nixed the idea in favour of other plans it has for the park.