Central Okanagan

Photo: Contributed - David Cooper

The Fintry Queen waits in open waters for a new home

The mayor of Peachland says the iconic Fintry Queen might make a great addition to his community.

While there have been no discussions, formal or informal, between the municipality and owner Andy Schwab, Mayor Keith Fielding says he would welcome that conversation.

"We certainly wouldn't want to discourage such contact," Fielding told Castanet this week.

"There would be a lot of things to talk about and figure out but we certainly would be interested to explore what some of the issues would be if he did want to talk to us."

Fielding says the issues that would arise are the same ones currently facing the District of West Kelowna after Schwab made a formal presentation before that council Tuesday.

"There would be all kinds of issues we would have to look at such as where it would be moored and what kind of parking facilities would be needed to accommodate the vehicles while could be quite extensive," says Fielding.

"I don't know what other kinds of servicing needs it would have. If he (Schwab) was interested in talking to us we would be happy to sit down and try to figure out some of these things."

He adds the the Fintry Queen would make a nice addition to the small community.

While there have been no formal talks with the municipality Fielding says others within the community have likely been talking.

"I think there might have been on the part of maybe the Chamber of Commerce. We also have potential expansion at the Pewntowna Marina so a conversation with them would be important to see whether something could be incorporated into that plan."

Schwab is looking for a new home for the Fintry Queen after the City of Kelowna said no to a proposal to moor the vessel in front of the old City Park Pavilion.

He is currently in discussion with West Kelowna about the possibility of docking the vessel at the CNR Wharf.

Parking, or lack of it, was one of the major concerns brought forward by West Kelowna Council when the idea was presented Tuesday.

The Fintry Queen is being moored, temporarily, in Sutherland Bay while Schwab looks for a new home.