Vernon votes: candidates give their opinions on new Active Living Centre

Castanet asked all candidates in Vernon's municipal election for their thoughts on five local topics. Today, they sound off on the city's proposed new Active Living Centre.

We've separated comments from council and mayoralty candidates. Note that not all candidates responded.

TERESA DURNING: I am unsure if the public understands the urgent need for the Active Living Centre, specifically the pool. With the current recreation centre and pool aging and each year becoming less functional, I feel taking action on this item now is critical.

Maintenance on the current pool is becoming more and more difficult and a critical failure in the dated infrastructure could result in Vernon and area residents having no pool. The price to build this facility is not likely to go down. It is unfortunate that the region did not support this initiative and will not be able to vote in the referendum.

KELLY FEHR: A review of the current Vernon Recreation Centre’s use and building condition identified that there is a need for a larger facility. Vernon is outpacing its estimated growth rate, which tells us the need for additional services will continue. The rising costs of labour and construction materials will continue to escalate. If the municipality were to wait until the next election to hold the referendum, the need would be significantly greater and the costs significantly higher.

On the other hand the cost of living is increasing quickly, and wages are not keeping up with the rise of inflation. The residents of Vernon will have to carefully consider if they are willing to take on a tax increase to ensure adequate recreational services are available. I understand why someone would vote either way.

KARI GARES: We are unable to meet the needs of our community effectively, and that is putting a real strain on families who need access to affordable recreational programming such as swim lessons. We know our pool is aging and with that will come additional costs that will be inevitable. These costs are substantial, with a real threat to losing the pool for much longer extended periods of time while costly upgrades are done.

As for the Kin Racetrack development plan, I believe wholeheartedly that building a recreational facility that caters to a wide range of sports and athletics coupled with walking trails and other programming brings a one stop mentality to our community.

BRIAN GUY: Vernon needs modern, high-quality recreational facilities with the capacity to meet the needs of the entire community, including those with lower incomes or physical or other barriers to access. The proposed new Active Living Centre is intended to help achieve this vision.

Following public consultation, in 2022 council approved a concept plan for the redevelopment of the Kin Racetrack Park. The plan provides for a variety of uses, and includes space for the proposed Active Living Centre. I support the proposed redevelopment, recognizing that the final plan may depend on the outcome of the Active Living Centre referendum.

ROSS HAWSE: While the timing may not be perfect with rising costs due to inflation, it is a facility that we really need. We have families and seniors who need access to recreation programs that can’t be offered with our out-of-date, urgently needing repair facilities.

If we want to grow as a community, we need to attract and keep young families, skilled workers and retirees, and to do that we need modern, accessible facilities. It does mean a tax increase, something that not everyone may feel comfortable with and that’s why the referendum is on the ballot. We have to be transparent and responsible with tax dollars. It’s not a never-ending tap.

STEPHANIE HENDY: I'm a kinesiologist, clinical exercise physiologist, and rehab consultant by trade, so I am always interested in supporting recreational infrastructure and facility upgrades. The more space created for people to exercise increases everyone's quality of life, and increases a sense of community, a physical activity hub, for everyone to participate in, together.

I'm also big on ensuring that all facilities are planned with an accessibility lens: does the layout support mobility challenges? Does the layout support people with sensory challenges? Would the materials create too much echo? Are the washrooms and change rooms trans-inclusive? Can people of all income levels connect here?

AKBAL MUND: The development of Kin Racetrack Park and the ALC are very important to the future of growth in Vernon. When I was elected mayor, one of the goals was to get this site developed, and we are almost there after eight years. The cost of $120 million is very small compared to what this could cost even four years from now.

he H2O Centre in Kelowna was built for just over 42 million and opened in 2009. If Vernon had moved earlier on the Kin Racetrack site, we would have saved the taxpayer a large sum of money. The cost increases over the last three years alone have doubled.

ED STRANKS: I am glad there is a referendum for funding of the Active Living Centre so that the public has the ability to make their choice known.

I have concerns regarding the price of the facility and taxpayers' ability to afford this in light of all the other expenses faced by residents at this time (utility bills, higher prices for gas and food, etc.). If the public supports proceeding with this facility, I will work to keep costs down and lobby for grants to minimize the burden.

DAWN TUCKER: I fully support investing in recreational facilities and parks and would like to continue to explore ways for our city to work together with our regional neighbours to not only build new sports, recreational and cultural facilities, but also to repair and maintain our shared and existing infrastructure at service levels that are acceptable to all users in our Greater Vernon community.

If Vernon residents vote yes in the referendum to long-term borrow the funds required to build the Active Living Centre, I will do my best to attract grants and sponsorships to help reduce this tax burden for Vernon residents.

PATRICK VANCE: I support the Active Living Centre and the borrowing that would take place to make it happen.

It's an important amenity for both our recreation and health, with appeal to users of all age and abilities. It will further enable our community to accommodate diverse needs and interests of our growing population.

Mayoralty candidates' responses appear below.

SCOTT ANDERSON: I know the tortuous process we went through on council to get this far, and most of all I know that the reason the Active Living Centre is a topic in the first place is because of widespread demand for a new swimming pool.

But I also know we're holding a referendum, meant for citizens to choose, and I know the cost bothers many, so I'll simply say to anyone who asks, that I'm personally voting for it but I'm not going to try to convince others to do the same. I’ve pushed for more community involvement and citizen control since I was first elected to council in 2015, and I'll keep it up as long as I'm in Vernon’s council chambers.

I will add that if the ALC doesn't pass, I'll accept the result and strongly oppose the use of the Alternative Approval Process as an end run around the community.

VICTOR CUMMING: The city needs increased indoor and outdoor recreation facilities to accommodate the growth in the number of people interested in participating in recreation activities. Also, some of our key indoor facilities, primarily our pool, but also our gyms, and fitness facility badly need upgrading which is better spent on new facilities rather than repairing and/or renovating existing facilities.

Yes, the expected cost of the new Active Living Centre is significant, and if the approval is delayed the costs are expected to continue to increase. Individual households' shares of the total financing costs are expected to decrease over time with the increase in the total population in the city and in Greater Vernon just a it did with the Performing Arts Centre and Kal Tire Place, which are both now completely paid off.

Kin Racetrack Athletic Park will be a jewel for the city and the region. The planned future combination of buildings, outdoor fields, trails and courts will serve the city for many decades to come. Council has set aside an initial $10 million from the Fortis Legacy Fund to complete the planning, initial site grading, and starting the process of putting in formal accesses, trails and some other outdoor facilities. The build-out is expect to take decades with new facilities added as funding becomes available.

ERIK OLESEN: I am happy to see this going to the public as a referendum for voters to decide a directional position on the financial impact. I am in support of the new facility if everything adds up financially, it benefits residents and has the ability to provide services needed.

I have two concerns with the project which are the taxation to residents and the decision to not include a housing option.

The unfortunate reality is the current pool and recreation facility is at its lifespan and major investments will need to be made if the Active Living Centre wasn't to happen. The cultural centre is also in the works and has faced bumps along the way since 2018, so I want to avoid those when it comes to the process of the Active Living Centre considering there is no support from surrounding communities.