While hundreds of people cast ballots in the civic election held across the Thompson-Okanagan on Saturday night, residents in Vernon, Coldstream, and Lake Country also had the opportunity to participate in a referendum vote.
In a referendum, Vernon citizens approved borrowing $121 million to build a new multipurpose indoor recreational centre.
An indoor aquatic centre, community gyms, areas for walking and specific programmes are also part of the proposed development.
Developing the building’s design and continuing community consultation are the project’s next steps.
According to Kelly Fehr, a city councillor for Vernon, “the majority of people decisively voted in favour of the new Active Living Center, which is going to be really beneficial for Vernon.”
“Our current recreation facility is getting older. This will meet the community’s expanding needs and the urgent need for replacement.
Residents of Coldstream approved the district’s borrowing of $8. 5 million to improve and replace parts of its deteriorating infrastructure. The project entails constructing a new public works facility to take the place of the current Quonset, which is over 60 years old, as well as new storage facilities and finishing modifications to the old fire hall.
However, Lake Country voters decided against taking out a $8 million loan to buy lakefront property for future public use.
In 2006, Lake Country Council introduced a policy to review waterfront properties that come up for sale to decide whether the land is beneficial for the district to consider purchasing.
Just 15.8% of voters turned out in Lake Country, compared to 24.6% in Coldstream and 24.4% in Vernon, who all had residents cast ballots.
Lake Country votes against the initiative, but Vernon and Coldstream support it.
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