Bo.ttega weddings back on

Photo: Instagram - devonregier

On-again, off-again weddings at Bo.ttega Farms in Kelowna are back on.

A spokesman for the company said, following a media blitz by the Agricultural Land Commission Tuesday, a cease and desist order imposed in October has been lifted, meaning weddings booked for 2016 can go ahead.

The issue came to light this week when it was learned the ALC had told Bo.ttega in October to stop hosting weddings because it had not applied for, or been granted, a non-farm-use permit for the property, which is within the Agricultural Land Reserve.

Bo.ttega contact several dozen brides who had already booked weddings to say those bookings would have to be cancelled.

But ALC member Gerry Zimmermann told Castanet Tuesday the intent of the cease and desist order was for future, not current bookings.

Bo.ttega is now in the process of contacting clients to let them know the venue is again available.

Meanwhile, lawyer Reinhard Burke who specializes in municipal law, tells Castanet the blanket view the ALC seems to have prohibiting weddings on ALR lands is simply not the case.

"The regulations under the Agricultrual Land Reserve Act specify that agri-tourism activities are permitted as a farm use, and then it defines what the criteria are for an agri-tourism use," says Burke.

"Generally, if it is seasonal and if it is used to market or promote the agricultural product, it can be an agri-tourism use."

Burke is going to court in February, representing a client he says had his wedding business shut down by the ALC.

If it does promote your business, it can be an agri-tourism use, says Burke, who will try to make that claim in court.