The Regional Growth Strategy

The Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw No. 2500, 2011 received first reading from the RDNO Board of Directors on Feb. 16, 2011. RDNO will officially begin public consultation on Feb. 25, 2011. Links to the RGS Bylaw, the news release that will be going out tomorrow and the public consultation schedule will be available soon. The Regional Growth Strategy is available at www.rdno.ca/rgs and the survey will be up by Feb. 25, 2011 on the RDNO website

GREATER VERNON WATER HISTORY

During the past year, we have seen and heard a lot of information about Greater Vernon Water. Most of the information made available to us has been incomplete at best. We have attempted to put together an information package showing what took place that led up to the formation of Greater Vernon Water and what has happened since. There is a lot of information in this presentation and it is somewhat complicated. As such, it will take some time to view it. If you click on the "Greater Vernon Water" link to the right, it will open the Power Point Presentation. You can move from slide to slide by usung the Page Up and Page Down buttons on your computer keyboard. Please note that we have taken great effort to assure accuracy in this presentation. If anyone can demonstrate we have made any errors, we welcome the information. Happy Viewing!!!

The Town that Food Saved

Attention all local farm & food businesses and local food system supporters! Would you like to see more collaboration among local food and farm business in order to improve small farm viability, the local economy, and the long term sustainability of our local food system? Please consider attending the presentation and pass the word along! Also – learn about the new local food directory developed in partnership with UBC-O and how to use it to increase consumer awareness of your locally grown or produced food products. The Town that Food Saved Hardwick, Vermont underwent tremendous economic development adjustment after its granite quarries closed and the town was faced with empty stores and high unemployment. Hardwick is a town that was “saved by food” as agricultural entrepreneurs are expanding aggressively, reaching out to investors and working together to create a collective strength to revitalize the town’s economy. Over 100 jobs have been created through innovative local food enterprises and now these entrepreneurs are investing in a Center for an Agricultural Economy, a non-profit industrial center for agricultural businesses. The goal for the Center is to lead the way in generating a comprehensive food system that creates healthy communities and a revitalized economy. Mr. Tom Stearns, President of High Mowing Organic Seeds and President of the Center for Agricultural Economy, will discuss the transformation of the community, the local food initiatives developed, and the value of the partnerships that were formed. MONDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, 2009 7-9pm Presentation by Tom Stearns Includes a Discussion: “Revitalizing our local food system” Location: ALL SAINTS ANGLICAN CHURCH 3205 – 27TH St VERNON Phone 250-542-6920 for more information Free! Sponsored by the Food Action Society of the North Okanagan and the City of Vernon Economic Development

Building Sustainable Communities

This 3 day conference will include more than 100 speakers from public, private, non-profit and academic sectors. Featured topics include sustainable agriculture, sustainable business, commmunity and sustainability (for local governments) The conference will take place in Kelowna February 24 to February 26, 2009 in the Conference Centre at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort. For more information, contact host and facilitator, Fresh Outlook Foundation through their website at www.freshoutlookfoundation.org or by email at jo@freshoutlookfoundation.org, or by phone at 250-766-1777.

Winter tire requirements on BX/Swan Lake area roads

This is a reminder about the importance of winter tires and driving appropriately for road conditions. The snowflake inside the mountain symbol is given by tire manufacturers indicating a tire is designated as a winter tire and appropriate for use in snow. Not all roads in the BX area require winter tires or chains, and thus not all are viewed the same by the new regulations of posted roads stating you must have either. The RCMP has done much educating and advertising in this regard, and in nearly every issue of The Morning Star over the last few weeks, the importance of winter tires and driving appropriately for the road conditions has been stressed. Silver Star Road, Hwy 6, Hwy 97, Hwy 97A, Hwy 97B are all affected by this mandatory regulation. All other roads that are not posted are recommended to have snow tires installed for winter driving. Roads such as Hartnell Road are of concern, however are not signed. ICBC has additional information on buying snow tires in this fact sheet: www.icbc.com/road_safety/pdf/Road_Safety_Buying_Better_Tires_PI222A.pdf. For more information, you may contact: Kathryn Birnie Regional Programs Coordinator City of Vernon/RCMP Safe Communities Unit 101 - 3334 30th Avenue, Vernon BC, V1T 2C8 250.308.6591 Fax: 250.260.5866 Email: kbirnie@vernon.ca

Have Your Say on Rural Transportation Needs

The Regional District of North Okanagan, with the assistance of Boulevard Transportation Group, is undertaking the Transportation Options for Rural Residents Study, a community visioning and planning exercise to improve transportation options for North Okanagan’s rural residents. The study will involve exploring programs and infrastructure to improve transportation options for rural residents. Potential improvements will work toward increasing mobility, but also seek to make rural transport more socially equitable, universally accessible and environmentally sustainable. The study will address transportation options within rural areas as well as connections to existing regional and municipal transportation systems. Community Survey As part of the Study, the Regional District has developed a community survey to better understand travel behaviour in the North Okanagan and identify barriers to more efficient, sustainable transport. The survey is available to be completed on-line at www.rdno.ca or paper copies can be sent to you by contacting the Regional District of North Okanagan, (250) 550 3700. The survey is open until February 27th 2009. Your assistance in completing the survey would be greatly appreciated. Community Mapping Workshops North Okanagan electoral area residents are also encouraged to attend a series of workshops held by the Regional District in mid-February. The workshops will be an open forum where rural residents can work with the project team to identify and prioritize future transportation infrastructure improvements. Workshop date and location is as follows: Ø Electoral Areas B & C BX Elementary School,Wednesday, February 18th, 2009, 7.00PM For more information please visit the Regional District of North Okanagan’s website at www.rdno.ca or contact the Regional District of North Okanagan’s Sustainability Coordinator, Anna Page at (250) 550-3700.

Results of governance questionnaire

At the September 3, 2008 meeting, the Regional Board authorized the preparation and distribution of a questionnaire to all residents of the electoral areas of the Regional District of North Okanagan. The results of the questionnaire are non-binding and for information only, and are hereby presented to the Regional Board. Although the Electoral Area Directors recognized that, without the completion of a restructure study, only general, non-specific information could be provided to the residents about the concepts of incorporation and amalgamation, they believed it was important to conduct an informal poll to confirm the general opinion of their residents with respect to whether they wish to see a change in the way they are currently governed. The Electoral Area Residents Questionnaire consisted of a questionnaire and an informational sheet that outlined the purpose of the questionnaire and provided general information about three governance options - remaining as part of an electoral area within the regional district, joining an existing Municipality, or creating a new, separate Municipality. Specifically, the questionnaire posed the following two questions: 1. Do you want to change the way your Electoral Area is governed, either by joining an existing Municipality or becoming a separate Municipality? _YES _NO 2. lf change happens, which option would you prefer: _ Join an existing Municipality _ Create a new Municipality ln addition, links to more information were provided on the RDNO website at www.rdno.calgovernance. A total of 5,709* questionnaires were successfully delivered to residential addresses in the electoral areas. A total of 1,103* responses were received, for an average response rate of 19%. * as of December 1, 2008 Electoral Areas B and C results: Question I was answered by 97.5 % of respondents, of which 75% were not in favour of change. Question 2 was answered by nearly 70% of respondents (slightly higher than the average of 65%), of which 56% favoured joining an existing municipality. All of us at the BX-Swan Lake Community Association wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. We look forward to continuing our efforts in 2009.