Non-school events in gyms

I am writing on behalf of many concerned community members regarding School District 83’s (North Okanagan-Shuswap) recent decision to prohibit the use of school gymnasiums for non-school functions where liquor is involved.

In many of our small and rural communities, school gymnasiums are the only facilities capable of safely hosting gatherings of 200 people or more. We do not have large recreation centres or convention spaces like those found in Salmon Arm, Vernon or other larger centres. When access to school facilities is restricted, there is often no alternative.

This issue has become deeply personal for one local family. A respected Sicamous resident, who was born, raised and proudly called this community home for 68 years recently passed away. During his lifetime, he owned local businesses, employed residents and contributed significantly to the fabric of this town. His widow is now struggling to find a venue that can accommodate more than 300 people for his memorial service—simply because of this new policy.

Elderly community members may now be forced to navigate stairs or be excluded altogether at a time when compassion and accessibility should matter most.

This is not an isolated concern. The local snowmobile club’s long-standing annual event was nearly cancelled after the rule was introduced following months of planning and ticket sales. Organizers received notice only weeks before the event was scheduled to take place. It required intervention from the municipal council to prevent cancellation. Without that intervention, a major community gathering would have been shut down.

That should concern everyone. Had there been no intervention, the policy might have taken effect quietly until another family or community group faced sudden and serious consequences.

Compounding the issue are newly approved facility rental rates that place additional strain on small-town recreation departments operating on limited budgets. These departments work hard to provide accessible health and wellness programming—especially important in rural areas and during long winter months. Increasing costs and restricting access only undermines these efforts.

School buildings are not abstract assets. They are owned and maintained by the taxpayers of our communities.

Community use of schools has long been a cornerstone of rural life in British Columbia. Policies that significantly restrict that use should involve meaningful consultation and a clear understanding of rural realities.

Rural communities deserve governance that reflects their needs, not decisions made at a distance without considering their impact.

Tammy Brown, Sicamous